“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us …” (Ephesians 3:20)

 

Here at Providence we are continuing to learn to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God—things far above anything we could ask or think. There is so much work to be done. However, as we reflect on what God has led PBC to do in missions over the last few years, we should look ahead to the next several years with a sense of hopeful anticipation.

 

LOCAL

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In the last five years, we have embraced our county with the love of Christ. We want to know and love the marginalized in our area, including the homeless, orphans, widows, distressed pregnant women, and disconnected youth. To that end, we have partnered with other churches to start the Community Christian Council, reached out to our community with block parties, ramped up our bus ministry, trained our members to evangelize, and encouraged them to consider adoption and foster care. 

 

NATIONAL

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• Donations to church planting efforts of the North American Mission Board in 2014: $0.

• Donations to church planting efforts of the North American Mission Board in 2017: $1,550.

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Not only have we donated to church planters, but we have sent a mission team to Montreal in support of those efforts.

 

In the Fall of this year, we are sending a few from our congregation to be trained in disaster relief. This will allow us to meet the needs of others in a crisis situation in the Southeast such as tornadoes and flood relief. 

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We have also sent several teams to Clarkston, Georgia to minister to and share the good news of Christ to refugees from all over the world. 

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INTERNATIONAL

 

• Number of international mission trip participants pre-2014: 3

• Number of international mission trip participants post-2014: 20

• Donations to the International Mission Board in 2013: $0

• Donations to the International Mission Board in 2016: $4,600

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As we have loved on the people in our community we have realized how true the saying is: "“The light that shines farthest shines brightest nearest home.” Our light has begun to shine farther and farther from our hometown in the last several years. We have taken two trips to Nicaragua (a third one in June) to train and disciple local believers. 

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We have also adopted a village located among an unreached people group in West Africa. We have a team going in October and another in April of 2018. Many in this village have begun asking questions about what it is like to follow Christ. We are going to boldly proclaim our Savior's message. 

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CONCLUSION

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These are only a few of the ways that we have seen the One who is able to “do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” And while we are both excited and humbled at how he has used our church to accomplish these things, we believe that even greater things lie ahead. God has only just begun. The greatest works of God are not in our past but in our future.

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None of this is for the fame or glory of Providence Baptist Church. A thousand years from now, no one may know the name of PBC, but praise God, they will know the name of Jesus Christ!

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“… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)