Salt & Light Project

Salt & Light Project came about as a result of hours on my knees asking the Lord where He needed me in my new home of Arizona. Growing up and living all my life in the PacNW and Alaska, Arizona was new in so many ways. Not only was the climate drastically changed, but so was my church community. I had been so involved and deeply rooted in my former church, I was at a loss as to where to find my place. As I watched my daughter also struggle to find connections, and feel any sense of belonging, the Holy Spirit began to call me in a specific direction.

I observed the different opportunities for Young Adult Christians to find community, I realized quickly, it’s a LOT harder then it would seem stepping in as a new person. I had to imagine how much harder that would be for a young adult that hadn’t grown up in the church, for the one that had never stepped foot into a church sanctuary, let alone even knew for sure what a sanctuary was. How, if my lifelong church-going daughter was struggling so hard to find ‘her people’ in a new place, could we expect that anyone else trudging through this darkness in our surrounding community could find ‘their’ people too?

This began the birth of the ‘Salt & Light Project”. You see, it didn’t have a name, a clear logistical direction, or even any idea for how this was going to work, but I knew with absolute clarity, that the Holy Spirit had spoken to my heart one morning on the way to church. That calling was to build a church which would specifically minister to Young Adults (generally speaking, from post high school thru pre family or early family individuals and couples)

According to research, the most common age for someone to fall away from the church is between 18-24. This isn’t new – this has been going on for decades! What is the church doing about it? Well, I believe that we are not pivoting well enough. We are living on an analog island in a digital world – having no idea ‘how’ to communicate in today’s western culture. We are commissioned to tell the world and sadly, too many young people want nothing to do with us- so how can we tell them? It’s time to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in effective tools, listening and mentoring of young people. Speaking to someone’s felt needs has to start by understanding what they are.

If young adults aren’t encourage, mentored, listened to or given a place of value in the church – of course they leave. I would too.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”.

Timothy 4:12

So my goal, with the direction and aid of the Holy Spirit, prayer and constant checks and balances, is to begin to build a community of connection, of genuine love and compassion, outreach and deep learning of the Word of God and the undeniable power of prayer. This will eventually lead to a networked community of believers that has a focus on Spirit Lead Worship and Biblical Truth in God’s Law & teachings. It will be INTENTIONAL with the worship space calling for care and detail of colors and textures. It will be QUALITY in the music and visual atmosphere giving the worshiper an opportunity to release all worldly distractions to rest in the presence of the Lord. It will show VALUE in the dedication of it’s volunteers, doing all things to the highest ability of each individual whether by greeting and welcoming members, leading a Bible Study class, or even in leadership opportunities outside our immediate space. Each person that has been called according to His purpose, will naturally desire to give God their very best.

While the timeline and specific outcome remains to be seen, it is clear that a church IS the people. So for now, we grow organically, we get the word out digitally, we gain support , involving other talented people who want to be a part of the movement, and in God’s time alone, we may be blessed enough to see the fruits of our labors.

Danielle Farrell, Lead Organizer and Visionary for the Salt & Light Project