A Sunday at Southeast on Vine Street
Southeast Christian Church meets at 1881 East Vine Street in Murray, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City. The church has called this neighborhood home for years, and its identity is built around a simple Sunday rhythm: Bible study at 9:15 in the morning, a worship service at 10:30, and a front lobby that fills with the smell of fresh coffee and bagels between the two. Visitors are encouraged to come early, linger, and stay through noon.
On any given Sunday, you'll find people in jeans, cargo shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and the occasional slacks or skirts. The dress code is "come as you are," and the sanctuary is a space where coffee cups are welcome and singing is encouraged at full volume. The 10:30 service is broadcast online through a dedicated church platform, and a sermon archive is maintained on YouTube for those who want to catch up or revisit a teaching.
What Southeast Believes
Southeast identifies plainly as a non-denominational Christian church. "We simply want to be known as Christians," the church explains, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the focal point of everything taught and shared. The congregation holds to a straightforward statement of faith organized around seven foundations:
- The Bible is the inspired, error-free Word of God.
- God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ is God's only Son, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He is the only way to heaven.
- The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Son and lives in every believer from the moment of salvation.
- Mankind is of priceless worth as God's creation but has fallen into sin, with forgiveness available through faith in Christ.
- Salvation comes through the blood of Jesus, received by repentance, confession of faith, and baptism.
- The Church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be salt and light and to make disciples.
Southeast Kids: Birth through Fifth Grade
Southeast Kids welcomes children from birth through fifth grade at both the 9:15 Bible study hour and the 10:30 worship hour. The nursery, for infants through age two, is a nurturing, volunteer-staffed space that lets parents step away with confidence. Preschoolers gather in a pre-K classroom that brings Scripture to life through worship, play, and hands-on lessons. Elementary-age kids in first through fifth grade experience a sequential program where each week's lesson connects to the next through engaging activities, music, art, games, and group time.
Safety is built into the Sunday flow. A children's check-in station sits just inside the front entrance on the right, where a volunteer helps register each family. Parents receive a sticker that matches their child's, and all kids through fifth grade must be checked in and escorted to their classroom by a parent or guardian. Families can pre-register before their first visit to make the check-in faster; otherwise, the Kid's Information Center volunteer walks newcomers through the system when they arrive. A typical Sunday classroom opens with prayer, moves into worship, then a lesson, a craft, a game, and snack time.
Southeast Students: Sixth through Twelfth Grade
The Student Ministry serves middle and high schoolers in two weekly gatherings. On Sunday mornings at 9:15, students head upstairs for a Bible study that walks through a passage verse by verse, discussing how it applies to everyday life. Hot chocolate and bagels are usually waiting in the lobby before class. During the 10:30 worship service, students sit with their families in the sanctuary.
Sunday evenings, the group meets again from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the back lobby for an evening of games, snacks or a meal, a devotional message, and small-group discussion. The student ministry also ventures off-site for outings like bowling, park games, and other activities throughout the year. There is no registration required to attend; students are simply encouraged to show up. Gracie Hickson, the Student Ministry Resident, leads the program and welcomes adult volunteers who want to help.
Serving the Neighborhood: Food Bank and Pastoral Care
Once a month, on the second Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Southeast opens its food bank to anyone in the community. Families can come and pick up groceries and baby items at no cost, with no requirements or questions asked. A smaller shelf-stable pantry is also available for households with needs that fall outside the monthly distribution. Volunteers arrive an hour early to set up and stay after to clean up, sorting boxes, staffing the information tent, and praying with people who stop by.
Beyond the food bank, the church offers grief resources, premarital counseling, pastoral counseling, baby dedications, weddings, and funerals. Prayer requests can be submitted through the church's prayer form and are kept confidential to staff and elders. Those who want to be contacted about a specific request can request a follow-up.
Lion Academy: A Preschool Rooted in the Church
Lion Academy Childcare is a ministry of Southeast Christian Church, sharing the same building and leadership. The program is designed to nurture each child's emotional, social, physical, cognitive, and spiritual growth in a safe, Christian environment. Teachers and staff communicate God's love and grace through both words and actions, with the goal of instilling a love of learning, curiosity, and compassion for others.
Julie serves as both Children's Director and Lion Academy Director. The preschool has its own home at lionacademychildcare.org, where families can find current enrollment information.
Sending Out: Seven Mission Partners
When you give financially to Southeast, ten percent of every dollar goes to missions. The church partners with seven organizations that span Bible translation, church planting, college ministry, medical care, and family support:
- Boise Bible, a Christ-centered college in Idaho that trains servant leaders for the church.
- Christhia Seva Mission, founded in 1980 in Karnataka, India, now serving more than 4,000 people across 300 villages.
- Impact the U, a campus ministry building "intimacy with God" among university students across America.
- Intermountain Church Planters Association, a network planting disciple-making churches throughout the Intermountain West, including Utah, Idaho, Montana, Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Western Wyoming, and Alberta.
- Kontaktmission, an international mission movement connecting and sending Christians worldwide.
- Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake City, offering free, confidential services and support for those facing unplanned pregnancies.
- Wycliffe Bible Translators, working to bring Scripture into every language.
Becoming Part of the Church: Baptism, Membership, and the Newcomer Gathering
Southeast walks new believers through three clear next steps. The first is baptism, which the church practices by immersion as soon as someone believes. Baptisms can happen anywhere water is available, including during a weekend service, and the church encourages friends and family to attend. Wear shorts and a top or swimwear; candidates are asked to affirm trust in Jesus, repentance from sin, lifelong commitment to follow Him, and the confession that "Jesus is Lord."
The Newcomer Gathering is a relaxed, no-pressure introduction to the church for anyone curious about getting involved. The gathering is held periodically on Sunday mornings at 9:15 in the back lobby, with bagels and coffee served in the front lobby and childcare available in the Kids Ministry. Membership Classes are offered periodically as well, running for four weeks during the 9:15 Bible study hour and covering the church's core beliefs, mission, and what it means to be a member.
Joining a Group or Serving on a Team
For those wanting to go deeper, the church's group finder lists active small groups that meet throughout the week, with options to filter by day. Topics range from Bible study to fellowship to shared interests.
Southeast also runs a wide array of volunteer teams. The Worship Team needs musicians, vocalists, and tech volunteers handling sound, slides, and cameras; the Cafe, Greeting, and Communion Teams serve on Sunday mornings; the Prayer Team, Visitation Team, and Meal Maker Team care for members during life events; the Communication Team needs online hosts and photographers; and the Building and Grounds Team handles everything from mowing to interior projects. The Food Bank always needs extra hands on the second Saturday of the month.
Meet the Team
Mike leads Southeast as the lead minister. A Salt Lake City native, he served as the church's youth minister from 2002 to 2006 before earning a bachelor's degree in Christian Ministry from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. After four years leading Warrenton Christian Church on the Oregon coast, he and his wife Jamie returned to Southeast in 2014 with their four children and three huskies.
Julie wears two hats as Children's Director and Director of Lion Academy. A lifelong educator who grew up on a family farm in West Jordan and previously directed Mount Olympus Christian Academy, she also trains childcare teachers through the Office of Child Care.
Gracie Hickson is the Student Ministry Resident. A 2024 graduate of Ozark Christian College, she grew up in WaKeeney, Kansas, and brings a particular heart for junior high and high school students.