When someone thinks about Providence as a church, we hope that these are the traits that come to mind. As a people, as a church, we are aimed at manifesting these characteristics. They are each essential to who we are and who we want to be. 

Ordinary Means — Centrality of the Word

Providence is committed to being an ordinary means church. We will rely and center our ministries, worship and outreach upon the Word of God. We will preach the Word, pray the Word, see the Word (Lord’s Supper and Baptism), and sing the Word. 

Romans 10:14-17; Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-2 

Praying Church

Providence is committed to being a praying church. We will rely upon the grace and strength of our Lord by seeking His direction, guidance, encouragement, and correction through corporate and individual prayer. We will support the greater Church, Providence, our ministries, and one another by seeking our heavenly Father both corporately and individually. 

Isaiah 31:1; Matthew 6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Jude 1:20-21

Shepherding Leadership

Providence is committed to being a church with a leadership that shepherds. We will shepherd our congregation through the leadership, rule, love, discipline, exhortation, and encouragement of a committed body of elders (pastors and ruling elders). The elders (pastors and ruling elders) of Providence will be committed to devoting their time, energy, and gifts to caring for the sheep under their charge. The elders are under-shepherds of the Great Shepherd (Jesus Christ) of the flock. Thus, by the grace of God and in Christ, the elders will protect, guide, lead, nourish, feed, maintain, encourage, exhort, love, discipline, and provide for the sheep of Providence. 

Matthew 9:36; John 10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:6; 1 Timothy 5:17

Discipling/Equipping

Providence is committed to being a church which disciples and equips its members. We will disciple and equip our members to do the work of the ministry. Discipleship is a necessary and vital aspect of every healthy Christian life and any vibrant church. Therefore, every member of Providence will be intentionally discipled and equipped to engage in the intentional and deliberate work of the ministry. 

Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 10:24

Worshipping — Corporate, Family, Private

Providence is committed to being a worshipping church. We will worship corporately together, we will worship with our immediate families at home, and we will worship as individuals in private worship, as these are the three spheres of worship in the Christian life. Providence is a gathering of people that have been transformed into worshippers of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We will encourage and equip each other to worship in every area of our lives. 

Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 96:9; John 4:23; Romans 12;1-2; Hebrews 12:28

Family Encouraging

Providence is committed to coming alongside of and helping families in the worship of God. We will nurture, instruct, and watch-over families within the church. The family is being assaulted in our culture and we want to help minister to and safe-guard this first institution of creation. Therefore, we will equip every member of the family for their respective ministries. We will hold parents accountable to disciple their children, worship with them, and raise them in the Christian faith. 

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 78; Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Confessional and Reformed

Providence is committed to the historic Christian faith. We will uphold the truth of the Scriptures as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and its Larger and Shorter Catechisms. 

1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:3-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23ff; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Deliberate and Focused

Providence is committed to being deliberate and focused in its ministries, worship, and outreach. We will only commit to ministries, worship, and outreaches which are wise, prudent, and aimed at the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 10:31; Proverbs 16:3; 19:21; 21:5

Winsome

Providence is committed to being winsome. We will be a gentle witness of Christ in our words, deeds, and interactions with a watching world. 

Proverbs 15:1; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15; Proverbs 15:26; Proverbs 16:24

Friendly, Loving, and Gracious

Providence is committed to being friendly, loving, and gracious. We will be a congregation marked by a love for visitors, one another, our community, and the lost, remembering that our God has given us friendship, love, and grace beyond measure. 

1 John 3:11; Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 13:1

Evangelistic

Providence is committed to being an evangelistic church. We will joyfully engage in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with our families, our community, and the world by our words and deeds. 

Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:8; Acts 17; Colossians 1:28-29

Mission’s Minded and World Sending

Providence is committed to being a mission’s minded and world sending church. We will use our time, energy, and resources to send members from our own congregation and other congregations to a lost and dying world with the Good News of Christ Jesus. 

Genesis 1:28; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Stepping out in Faith

Providence will be a church which steps out in faith. We will not shrink from the difficult or hard, but will step out in faith and in service to our Lord. 

Matthew 14:28-32; Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Psalm 69:9; Mark 5:36

Church-planting

Providence is committed to being a church-planting church. We will help to support and plant other churches in Michigan, the United States, and the world. We believe that the church moves forward by the planting of local churches. 

Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 8; 1 Corinthians 3:6; Acts 16

Engaging in theological and cultural discussions

Providence is committed to engaging in theological and cultural discussion. We will engage the culture wherever possible and not reserve our faith for the confines of the church building or fellowship. 

Acts 17; Acts 15; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 5:14-16

Community Impacting

Providence is committed to impacting its community for the glory of Christ. We will impact the greater Lansing and East Lansing area with the message and fruit of the Gospel. 

1 Timothy 4:12; Acts 19; Psalm 24:1; Mark 6:30-44