When God called Eric and Jodi Van Rhee to plant a church, it was far from their ideal location—in fact it seemed like a whole new country.
Happy at their church in the San Francisco Bay area, the Van Rhees dubbed themselves “domestic missionaries” when God called them to the Salt Lake City-area of Utah. The region is just 3 percent Christian, has a high teen suicide rate, high meth production and, of course, most people in the area are Mormons.
Seeing the opportunity instead of the challenge, Eric says that while there were many challenges—even their four kids experienced resistance from the neighborhood kids—he realized that “everybody’s got God on their mind.”
Upon their arrival to Draper, Utah, the couple got to know their neighbors through casual parties. A year after moving to the area, the couple launched The Adventure (Draper Foursquare Church).
“We love the Mormons, we just don’t love Mormonism. There’s a big difference,” explains Eric, who serves as senior pastor of the church.
The congregation has since launched six church plants. Through much prayer, the Van Rhees themselves have raised their four kids to serve God, often through music.
Watch this 15-minute interview with the Van Rhees, which took place at Foursquare Connection 2012 in Phoenix, for insight on serving and church planting in unique communities.
Eric and Jodi Van Rhee Love Mormons from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.
This video was recorded at Connection 2012, which took place in Phoenix from May 28–31. Bring home recordings from the main speakers as well as the Learning and Connection Tracks through the Connection 2012 Experience Kit, available for $149.
