By Marin Decker
When Pastor Bill Young set out to start a church in Salt Lake City, he had his share of concerns. But four years after the Salt City Rock Church began, he says he 'wouldn''t want to be anyplace else.'
'Obviously, as a church planter coming to Salt Lake, knowing that the valley is reportedly 70 percent LDS added to our concerns,' Young said. 'But once we got here we found out that people are people, and even those raised in the LDS faith - many who stopped going to church years ago - have a desire for truth.'
Young recognizes the theological disagreements between the Rock Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but preaches against disparaging other faiths.
'We can love people, even if we don''t agree with them theologically,' Young said. 'That''s the cool thing about loving the way Jesus did. He took a stand on issues that were eternally and morally important - but he loved people who disagreed with him.'
Young appreciates the sincerity of LDS friends, and respects the church''s leadership.
'The LDS faith has blessed many people in many ways,' Young said. 'It is a faith that emphasizes good family values, and I am thankful for that.'
Young estimates that former members of the LDS church make up more than 65 percent of his congregation. He said he finds they are generally eager to learn about the Bible, and to establish a personal relationship with Christ.
'''Religion like it''s always been done'' typically does not interest them,' Young said. 'Many are not interested in rules, regulations and legalism, but they are interested in finding out how God loves them, accepts them and can relate to them in their marriages, parenting and in life.'
'Religion like it''s always been done' is not something Young is familiar with.
'I grew up in Iowa with little or no religious input,' Young said. 'Sometimes we went to my grandmother''s Presbyterian church, but not very often. We were pretty much ''unreligious'' - just didn''t go.'
Things changed once Young got to Iowa State University.
'I was in college and facing the reality that something was seriously missing in my life,' Young said. 'That something turned out to be God.'
At Iowa State, Young encountered people his own age who were excited about their faith. He said they helped him establish a relationship with Christ that has changed his life.
Now Young is sharing that faith with others through traditional Sunday messages, and also through music.
'We believe music is a fantastic way to communicate truth and turn our hearts to God,' Young said.
On Sundays, the Rock Church has a contemporary Christian worship band, with guitars, drums, and keyboards, which Young calls 'upbeat and meaningful.' Every Saturday night, the Rock Church caters to the young, working, single crowd with a worship band Young describes as 'edgy.'
'It is loud and very attractive to the 20-35-year-old crowd,' Young said. 'But all of it points us to a relationship with Christ.'