OGDEN -- Members of the small congregation at Victory Christian Church say their latest triumph is scoring a real church building for their services.
The congregation now shares a building with El Buen Pastor, The Hispanic Church of God, at 3104 Porter Ave. The members previously met at the Country Club Theater, at 3930 Washington Blvd.
The unique congregation of the Church of God appeals primarily to second-generation Hispanic immigrants who speak English as their first language.
But anyone is welcome to attend.
"Our church has a unique blend, a unique sense," said Pastor Luis Saucedo, of Ogden. "Our church is Hispanics, but a new generation of Hispanics. We are English speaking first. Our culture is American culture. We know there are a lot of Latinos out there that are like us."
Saucedo said when he organized the church three and a half years ago, it was the first English-speaking church in a Hispanic denomination.
"We like eating beans and rice, but we prefer to speak in English," he said.
As church participants have felt comfortable, finding their niche, Saucedo said he's seen lives changed.
"We have a lot of people who have done bad things who have transitioned in our church who are good, abiding citizens," he said. "We just want to be a church without walls."
One person who told of the changes he's experienced since attending Saucedo's church is the pastor's own uncle, Jose Saucedo, of Ogden.
The uncle told of a difficult previous life in which he broke the law frequently and was imprisoned three times and also divorced.
But he said his life changed when he started attending the Victory Christian Church.
"People are surprised," he said. "You find a place where you can feel God's love. You can share God's love. Now, I'm in this place where we share, we participate, we give to the community."
Jose Saucedo said he's happy now that he's making better choices and earning the respect of his family now that his life is centered in God's love.
"God will restore everything that the devourer has taken," he said. "My heart overflows with gratitude toward God. ... The anger, the dependence, all those things that used to be a part of my life, are gone."
Jose Saucedo said that because God wipes away everything, those who come to Him with a believing heart will experience mighty, miraculous things in their lives.
Courtney Spencer, of Roy, said she's seen a big change in her life as she's attended the church since it opened at the theater.
"It has gotten me out of alcoholism," she said. "I was saved three years ago. I haven't had a drink in three years."
Spencer said she believes the congregation has become her closest family.
"They are my spiritual parents," she said. "They guide me through everyday situations. They have saved me and many people in our congregation from dying in the world."
She recognizes that the congregation is small, but she said it attracts the presence of the Lord and that's all that counts.
"We do it for one thing and that is God," she said.
Besides changing those who attend his church, Saucedo said his congregation's goal is to become the "cool church" as it reaches out to society.
"(We) want to give outreach to the community and be a blessing to the community," said the pastor.
"We do a lot of outreach," Saucedo said. "We've given out free bottles of water at Farmer's Market. We've done free car washes to give back to the community. We've given out free hot chocolate downtown."
Among his members' efforts have been shoveling snow for the elderly.
"We like just going and doing it for no charge just to give back," he said.
Also included in the church's efforts are efforts to visit hospitals and serve those in waiting rooms who are in distress for their loved ones.
"We are taking families in waiting areas food and beverages, something to refresh them while they are in their dire situation," he said.
Besides these efforts, the pastor said he would like to partner with other churches in the area to create even better community-service opportunities.
"We want to empower our city and better our city," he said.
Services are held at the building for the Victory Christian Church at 3 p.m. Sundays. Weekday prayer meetings are held there at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and weekday worship services and prayer meetings are at 7 p.m. Thursdays.
For more information, call Pastor Luis Saucedo at (801) 549-8107.
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