Listen Live
Praise Charlotte App Graphics
Praise 100.9 Featured Video
CLOSE
Church

Source: Getty Images / getty images

In 1922, six black families planted a church in Kearnes, Utah.  At the time of the church plant of New Pilgrim Baptist, US Census data shows African Americans were less than .5% of Utah’s population. Pastor Corey J. Hodges says the ministry was inspired by the traditional Southern Baptist style of worship.  New Pilgrim Baptist has since been renamed to The Point Church, which is located in one of Utah’s most diverse cities. Hodges says he was intentional about changing the church to a multi-cultural congregation. To transform the ministry, Hodges says that the music was changed from gospel to contemporary Chirstian.  The dress attire was changed from Sunday’s best to casual with jeans, khakis and other casual attire.  And Hodges says that he changed his preaching style from a strong cadence delivery to more of a teaching style. The Church now represents thirty-two different nations.

Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, formed in the 1880s, is the oldest African American church in Utah.  Utah is the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the Mormon Church or LSD Church.  A 2014 report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows that 55% of people aged 18 and older identify as a member of the Mormon Church.

Pastor Hodges says that at the heart of the outreach, the music, and the dress of The Point Church is Jesus Christ. Hodges also says the church has not forgotten its African American roots.