WHO WE ARE
Light the Way Ministries is a non-profit corporation organized in the state of Utah. The mission of the organization is to bring the light of the gospel of the true Jesus Christ to the people here in the ripest mission field in the United States. To do that LTWM hosts evangelism outreaches and prayer conferences encouraging the brethren of Utah to unite and reach the lost and encouraging the brethren outside of Utah to join them in prayer, support and actually coming here for short term mission trips. In addition to ministering in Utah, Gene and Janet Short are available to minister elsewhere as the call comes. They specialize in reaching non-believers (friends and family around the world) and in helping Christians everywhere live with the light of Jesus shining through their lives.
Recently God has expanded that vision to bringing Prayer Summits to awaken the church all over the world.
Recently God has expanded that vision to bringing Prayer Summits to awaken the church all over the world.
In the fall of 1999, Gene Short was ministering at a small church in Silverton, Oregon. He had moved his family to Silverton 9 1/2 years prior to this and though the work was hard at times, it was rewarding. He had seen the church grow, through the grace of God, both physically and spiritually.One morning in prayer he heard the Lord say to him, “Gene, you have been faithful in small things. I want to give you authority over ten cities. Resign your church and move to Utah.” Gene said, “Lord, I’ve read that in the Bible somewhere. Where is it?” The Lord told him to look at Luke 19:17 and when Gene opened his Bible, it fell open to that exact passage: “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”
He and Janet prayerfully told their flock that they were moving to Utah, a state famous for being populated by the cult of Mormonism. They took one exploratory trip to look at the lay of the land, so to speak, then came home and, after being told by God that they could choose where to live, decided on the Provo/Orem area of Utah County, south of Salt Lake City. They recommended a new pastor for the church in Silverton, packed all their belongings and with their two youngest children, they moved to Orem.
It didn’t take very long to realize that Gene had had his own kind of “Macedonian Call.” The Christian churches in Utah County were few and small. The Christians there were beat back. They felt the persecution of not being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Everything in the state — commerce, politics, education, real estate, the economy — was ruled by that organization.
On the outside it seemed very conservative and family-friendly, but it was hard to serve God and live here if you didn’t conform: If people came to your church, they often parked around the corner in case their boss drove by and saw their car in the parking lot. The children of Christians left the faith to become Mormons because of the lack of other Christians with whom to be friends and eventually court and marry.
On the outside it seemed very conservative and family-friendly, but it was hard to serve God and live here if you didn’t conform: If people came to your church, they often parked around the corner in case their boss drove by and saw their car in the parking lot. The children of Christians left the faith to become Mormons because of the lack of other Christians with whom to be friends and eventually court and marry.
God continues to call Christians from all over the world to Utah. Today, Salt Lake City has less than 50% Mormon population. In Utah County it is still in the 90%s, but the Christian presence is growing stronger as people respond to God’s call on their lives. It is our hope that the leaders of the Mormon church will have a personal encounter with the real Jesus Christ, and lead their people to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life! And that the true Church in Utah will be ready for that influx of souls!
1752 N. 645 W., Orem, UT 84057-2006 (801) 427-9454 [email protected]