Who We Are

Providence is a church in the moderate Baptist tradition that seeks to serve God and the world, with Christ at the center of its mission and ministry.  

Part of the Cotswold neighborhood in Charlotte since 1954, Providence builds a strong community of faith by emphasizing Jesus Christ as our common ground, and life-giving relationships with God and one another as our common goal. We honor historic Baptist faith convictions and practices while acknowledging that we also belong to the wider body of Christ. 

Worship at Providence is participatory and focused on God. We pray together, sing together, give together, and listen together to God’s Word. Our sacred music comes from a variety of traditions, both old and new. Faith formation for people of all ages happens at Providence on Sundays and throughout the week.

Because Jesus commands us to share God’s love with all people everywhere, Providence works with mission partners in Charlotte and around the world. Our primary affiliations with other Baptists are with the global Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.  

At Providence, unity in Christ is a priority.  Uniformity in thought, opinion, and theological interpretation is not. This way of being together, we believe, best reflects the spirit of a New Testament church as found in Scripture. 

Learn about the History of Providence Baptist Church.

What We Believe

The Providence way of being Christian is both shaped and strengthened by historic Baptist principles. At Providence, we make room for a broad spectrum of theological perspectives, while celebrating unity around a handful of shared faith convictions.

Providence is . . .

Centered on Christ

We agree with the apostle Paul: The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is of first importance to us, both as individuals and as a congregation of believers. Our common faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior brings us together, binds us together, and allows us to worship, serve, and grow together. In a diverse world, Jesus is our common ground.

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: That Christ died for our sins … was buried … and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Grounded in Scripture

We believe that the Bible is God’s written word and, as such, reveals to us God’s will and God’s way. Because the Bible is our most trusted authority in matters of faith and practice, it is essential for followers of Jesus to know and obey its teachings. We interpret Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the exemplary life that Jesus lived among us.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Committed to Freedom

We affirm each believer’s responsibility to follow the dictates of conscience, each local church’s ability to govern itself and call its own leaders, and each individual’s right to worship—or not—without being either privileged or penalized by the state. Because a coerced faith cannot be a genuine faith, we oppose all forms of religious compulsion and put our trust in the power of the Gospel to change hearts and minds in the name of Jesus.

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

United by Mission

We work together to share the good news of Jesus Christ, both in what we say and in what we do. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God—and then showed us what God’s reign looks like by feeding, healing, forgiving, and extending compassion to all people. We seek to follow his example by putting our faith into action in ways that honor Jesus and further the priorities of God’s Kingdom.

“For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good work, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Enriched through Relationships

We invest ourselves in forming, strengthening, and sustaining friendships within our church that reflect God’s abundant love. Because we understand these life-giving connections to be good gifts from a good God, we extend hospitality to strangers and welcome newcomers into our fellowship as part of our Christian witness. At all times, we seek to follow the way of Jesus by loving our neighbors and treating all people with dignity and respect.

“Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

Gifted by the Holy Spirit

We rejoice in the fact that all of us—men and women, old and young—are given blessings, talents, and leadership abilities to use for the good of the church and the glory of God. We do our best to recognize these spiritual gifts in one another and to encourage all believers to respond positively to God’s invitation to serve, for the body of Christ is always strongest when its members work together as God intends.

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Providence Will

Providence Will, A Strategic Plan for Providence 2025, was adopted by the Deacons in March of 2018. This Strategic Plan is organized around the following five priorities: 

Providence Will Strategic Plan
Providence Bylaws

Pledge of Commitment

Providence’s Pledge of Commitment was adopted in August 1973. It exemplifies the qualities of a Providence Baptist Church member.

  • To the faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed in history, disclosed in the Scripture, and experienced in human life;
  • To be faithful to the public worship of God, gathering with the family of the church to celebrate His glory and remember His grace;
  • To take seriously the responsibility and privilege of personal Christian growth, diligently seeking to establish and maintain a Christian atmosphere in our homes;
  • To be faithful stewards, as God has prospered us, contributing our financial support for the church and its ministries, and by offering ourselves for God’s work in the world;
  • To so live our lives that others, seeing the joy of Christian living, may seek to know Jesus Christ our Lord;
  • And to be a servant in a servant church, recognizing the infinite worth of every person and believing that Christ has called us to be His ministers in our world.