Reformed and Baptist

We are a Reformed and Southern Baptist Church.

Our Mission: To glorify God by making disciples who love God and others.

We are affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas. Providence Church is also a member of FIRE (Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals) and is listed among those churches that affirm the “9 Marks of a Healthy Church.”

What Does Reformed Mean?

First of all, it doesn't mean that we've “arrived”. We're not perfect, as individuals or as a church, but we pursue such through reliance on the Holy Spirit. In fact, part of being a Reformed church entails a recognition that it is always in process. Or, as it was put centuries ago,ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est (“The Reformed church is always reforming”).

Being “Reformed” means an adherence to and advancement of the theological principles of the Protestant Reformation. This is most clearly seen in our doctrinal statement and in our subscription to the “5 Solas” of the Reformation as expressed in The Cambridge Declaration. It declares that our authority is Scripture Alone by which we hold to salvation by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone. Thus, we proclaim To God Alone Be the Glory!

Cooperation with other Reformed churches is seen in our membership in FIRE. Our theological framework might also be referred to as Calvinistic or Augustinian.

Reformed Distinctives

As a Reformed congregation, we hold firmly to the doctrines of grace, often summarized by the acronym TULIP:

What Does Southern Baptist Mean?

It means that, although we are an autonomous body, we voluntarily associate ourselves with other Baptists for the purposes of cooperation in missions and other ministries. At the national level we are aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention. At the state level we are uniquely aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

For further information, see: From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention: What Hath Geneva To Do with Nashville?

Baptist Distinctives

Our Baptist identity is characterized by several key principles that shape our church practice:

• Biblical Authority: The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice, sufficient for all matters of doctrine and Christian living.
• Believer's Baptism: We practice baptism by immersion for those who have personally trusted in Christ for salvation.
• Congregational Government: The local church is autonomous under Christ's headship, with decisions made by the congregation.
• Priesthood of All Believers: Every Christian has direct access to God through Christ and the responsibility to minister.
• Religious Liberty: We believe in the freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state.

Core Biblical Convictions

We hold firmly to the fundamentals of the Christian faith that unite us with believers throughout history:

Scripture

We believe in the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture. The Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God, without error in its original manuscripts, and is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice.

Salvation

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It is not by works or merit, but is a gift from God to those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Gospel

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe.

Expository Preaching

We are committed to the importance of expository preaching in the life of the church. Our pulpit ministry focuses on carefully explaining and applying the text of Scripture, allowing God's Word to set the agenda for our teaching and preaching.

Confessional Heritage

While Scripture alone is our ultimate authority, we value the wisdom of historic confessions that articulate biblical truth:

• The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689): This historic confession expresses our Reformed Baptist theological convictions.
• The Baptist Faith and Message: As Southern Baptists, we affirm this contemporary statement of Baptist beliefs and practices.

These confessions serve as helpful summaries of biblical teaching, but they are subordinate to Scripture and must always be tested by God's Word.

Our Founding Documents

These foundational documents guide our church's beliefs, practices, and governance. They represent our commitment to biblical faithfulness and organizational clarity.