Reach Idaho Aims to Bring More Churches to the Gem State

The nonprofit organization wants to plant Southern Baptist churches in every Idaho county to reach the state's largely unreached population.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:53pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of an iconic Idaho landscape object such as a potato or mountain range, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol, conceptually representing Reach Idaho's mission to revitalize the spiritual landscape of the state.Reach Idaho aims to plant new churches and strengthen existing congregations to spread the gospel across the Gem State.Rexburg Today

Idaho is one of the least evangelized states in the U.S., with several counties having less than 1% of the population identifying as evangelical Christian. Reach Idaho, a new nonprofit organization, is working to change that by planting Southern Baptist churches across the state and strengthening existing congregations. The group's first major goal is to establish a Southern Baptist church in every county in Idaho.

Why it matters

With a large portion of Idaho's population unreached by evangelical Christianity, Reach Idaho sees an urgent need to expand the presence of Southern Baptist churches throughout the state. The organization believes this will help bring more Idahoans to know Christ and provide them with local congregations where they can grow in their faith.

The details

Reach Idaho was founded by a group of Southern Baptist leaders and pastors who are passionate about reaching the state's lost population. The nonprofit is working with churches, associations, and state conventions to plant new congregations and strengthen existing ones. They are also focused on raising up the next generation of Christian leaders to serve in the Rocky Mountain West.

  • Reach Idaho incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2025.
  • In April 2025, churches from 8 states came to Rexburg, Idaho for an evangelistic outreach event.
  • Reach Idaho's first full-time employee, Richard Dugger, joined the organization in 2026 after retiring from his previous role as a church planting catalyst for NAMB.

The players

Mike Palmer

Pastor of Salmon Valley Baptist Church and planting pastor of Lemhi River Cowboy Church, as well as the director of Reach Idaho.

Rob Lee

Executive director of the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention, a partner organization of Reach Idaho.

Richard Dugger

Retired NAMB church planting catalyst in Idaho, now the first full-time employee of Reach Idaho.

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What they’re saying

“What a tragedy that, within the borders of the United States, we have a state that includes a lost population at a higher level than many third-world countries.”

— Mike Palmer, Director, Reach Idaho

“Reach Idaho is propelling the gospel impact in Idaho with at least five new plants this year. Join us in praying to the Lord of the harvest to raise up and bring in more laborers to join us in sharing the gospel with all who live and come to recreate in Idaho each year.”

— Rob Lee, Executive Director, Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention

“We want to continue all the progress the Lord has made over the last 15 years in Idaho. We have just shy of 100 churches at this point. We had 60 churches a decade ago. It would be great to have 125 or more active, solid and connected cooperating Southern Baptist churches in Idaho over the next five to seven years.”

— Richard Dugger, First Full-Time Employee, Reach Idaho

What’s next

Reach Idaho is actively seeking partnerships with churches and associations from other states to come to Idaho and assist with planting new congregations or supporting existing ones. The organization is also working to secure long-term funding to sustain its full-time staff beyond the initial June 2026 timeline.

The takeaway

Reach Idaho's ambitious goal of establishing a Southern Baptist church in every county of the state highlights the significant need for evangelical outreach in Idaho, one of the least evangelized regions of the United States. The organization's collaborative approach with local churches and state conventions aims to expand the Kingdom of God throughout the Gem State.