Providence Church exists to joyfully glorify God together by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Or, as we like to say, Jesus came, so we go.
God’s Word compels us to pursue this purpose together. We seek to achieve this mission through our three priorities.
Priority 1. Praising Christ
Why does Providence Church exist? Rather, why does any church exist? To praise Christ. Local churches are who they are and do what they do for the praise of Christ (1 Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 3:21).
Providence Church, then, exists to praise Christ. This priority comes before all others because every ministry of the church exists for the glory of Christ alone. Jesus bought us with His blood, and we are His. We will spend our lives gladly glorifying His name above all names, as we will in eternity (Revelation 5:8-14). If that is how we will live forever, it is how we ought to live now.
Because of this priority, we value Reformed theology and biblically-oriented corporate worship.
Priority 2. Proclaiming the Gospel
What is the gospel? That Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried in the grave, and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). In the gospel, God saves sinners for His glory by His grace through faith in Christ according to His Word. This is good news.
It is by this gospel that we are saved, so it is this gospel that Providence Church proclaims. God’s gospel brings life to dead sinners in conversion (John 3:3-8). But not only that. It also breathes new life into Christians throughout their walk with Him. Thus, we proclaim the gospel in our sermons, songs, prayers, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, and our witness to the world.
Because of this priority, we value expositional preaching and church-centered missions and evangelism.
Priority 3. Practicing Discipleship
How does the gospel apply to our lives? In every way. It shows us not only what Christ did but how we must live as disciples. Being a disciple informs who we are, how we live, and what we live for (Mark 8:34-38).
Providence Church is a gathering of disciples, or followers, of Jesus. As Jesus’ disciples, we both disciple others and are discipled by others. We faithfully follow Jesus together and help others to follow Him more faithfully (Matthew 28:18-20).
Because of this priority, we value meaningful church membership and discipline, elder-led congregationalism, and leadership development.