OGDEN -- During this time of celebration for Christ's birth, planters of a new church are working to bring hope for His resurrection to those who don't have it now.
The Hope Resurrection church, an affiliate of The Pentecostal Church of God Utah-Wyoming Churches, is opening Sunday with a mission to serve primarily the "unchurched."
"There are some folks who don't believe there is hope at any turn," said Associate Pastor Fred Lopez, of Layton. "We are bringing salvation to people who otherwise have no hope or anyone to talk to about Jesus Christ."
Lopez, Pastor Ed Jones, of Ogden, and a host of their ministerial friends and associates have been showering West Ogden and West Haven neighborhoods with information about the church to open with the first service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at 2711 Midland Drive. They've also advertised on radio and in the newspaper.
Just east of the Ogden Industrial park, the new church is in a section of a business mall. It's most recognizable by red and white wooden signs positioned on the sidewalk to mark its location.
Neither Jones nor Lopez are new to planting churches.
Both have planted churches in Ogden that are operating in some form today. Since planting those churches, both moved to other areas of the country and have come together for this ministry.
Lopez said in his experience, he's seen people who suffer from drug abuse, sexual abuse, prostitution, no education and other problems bring themselves out of their trials through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"They get to the point where they don't like themselves anymore," he said. "We spend a lot of time with them and pick up the pieces of their lives."
Lopez said he's seen the Lord come into the lives of such people and break their downward cycle.
"They do have hope," he said. "They live their lives for more when they know they can spend the rest of eternity with the Lord."
He said he's seen people become productive citizens. He's seen them have relationships where none existed before.
"It takes a lot of time," he said. "It takes a lot of commitment. It takes a lot of patience. You show them a whole way of living, a whole new life."
Lopez has more than a dozen years of ministerial service, including several church plantings and service in Utah, Texas and Arizona.
Jones has been a minister for 48 years and will come out of semi-retirement to oversee the church.
He has served most recently in Utah and California.
"There are eight people that have been asking me to start a church," he said. "The district bishop said he'd be attending."
Jones said the idea is a popular one among those who want to serve.
"We'll probably have 15 to 20 people helping us out," he said. "We just expect it to grow."
Jones used an analogy for the church's current state of infancy.
"It's in the crib right now, but it will grow a church," Jones said. "It's the people, not the building, that will make it into what it will become."
The new church will open Sunday with a special service titled, "What Shall I Give to the King?"
Also starting this week is a 7 p.m. Tuesday service each week.
For more information about Hope Resurrection Ministry, call Jones at (801) 612-2092 or Lopez at (928) 225-7392.
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