Upcoming Preaching and Informational Meetings
It’s been almost two months since our family moved back to our hometown of Roanoke, Virginia to plant Providence Presbyterian Church.
Our boxes are unpacked, our house is starting to feel more like home, and we’ve been able to get back into our routines (which has been good for all four of us!).
At the top of Mill Mountain, overlooking the valley. We’re still working on getting the kids to cooperate for pictures!
I’ve spent time meeting with other pastors in the Valley, something I’m extremely grateful for. I’ve started writing articles on the church plant’s website to explain more about the reasons behind worship and answer common questions about the church.
But the greatest highlight of these past two months has been connecting with folks in the area.
We’ve hosted people in our home for meals and play dates, met up with people for lunch and coffee around town, and enjoyed times of fellowship in other people’s homes.
We’ve heard from people who love church planting and have a desire to be on the “front lines” of ministry. We’ve met with people who haven’t gone to church in months and are hungry for a rich community of believers. We’ve connected with folks who have nearly walked away from the church altogether.
These conversations have confirmed the need for a new church in the Roanoke Valley.
We’re greatly anticipating several exciting things that are coming up for the church plant right after the New Year.
Our Timeline
Preaching in January
For the next six weeks, I’ll be preaching through the Psalms of Ascent at the Sunday evening worship services at Westminster Presbyterian Church (location linked). This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in the church plant to come worship with us!
Sunday, January 2nd at 5pm
Sunday, January 9th at 5pm
Sunday, January 16th at 5pm
Sunday, January 23rd at 5pm
Sunday, January 30th at 5pm
Sunday, February 6th at 5pm
Families are welcome to have their children in worship, but there is also a nursery available during the service.
If you’re in the Roanoke Valley and able to join us on Sunday evenings at Westminster, we’d love to host you back at our house after worship. It should be a wonderful time of food and conversation, and a great opportunity to connect with others who are interested in the church plant.
Informational Meetings in February
After preaching at Westminster over the next six weeks, we’ll continue meeting on Sunday evenings for three Informational Meetings. Dinner will be provided as I share more about the need for a new church in our area, our denomination, and our vision for worship and community.
Sunday, February 13th
Why plant a new church in the Roanoke Valley? Where will the new church be located?
Sunday, February 20th
Why denominations and specifically the Presbyterian Church in America?
Sunday, February 27th
What will Providence Presbyterian Church be like?
We’ll announce more details in the coming weeks about time and location, but be sure to mark these dates on your calendar. I hope you can join us!
After February…
…is to be determined.
We would love to be able to launch worship sooner rather than later, but a lot depends on the number of people who are interested in being a part of the church plant.
We’re hoping that after preaching on Sunday evenings at Westminster and gathering for Informational Meetings in February, we will have a better sense of what the next steps are for Providence Presbyterian Church.
Support Update
Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to begin a new church is no small task. Our prayer throughout this entire process is that the Lord would go before us in every way, and He has used many generous individuals and churches to bless the church plant by giving. It has been both humbling and affirming.
We are grateful to be at 97% of our Year One budget!
Our Year One budget will be completely funded by outside support. The goal for Year Two is to have 33% of the budget funded by internal giving and 67% external. Year Three, 67% internal and 33% external. And by Year Four we hope to be fully self-sustained by internal giving.
That means we’re only $3,500 away from reaching our support goal for the first year. If you would like to give to Providence Presbyterian Church, you can click the Give button below to give through our online platform or reach out to me here.
Current Prayer Requests
Please be in prayer for:
This time of transition between being a part of a church family in South Carolina and gathering a new church family in Virginia. One of the personal struggles of church planting is feeling homeless. We were blessed with a great church family in South Carolina, and our family misses them. We’re grateful for the opportunity to visit different churches in the area for worship on Sunday mornings, but we’re very much looking forward to begin worshiping with our new church family.
The gathering process. Please pray that the Lord would bless us with a solid group of people who are excited to be a part of the church plant.
On the most fundamental level, the church is a body of believers. And believers need fellowship with and encouragement from one another in our walk with Christ. In this gathering phase, I’ve been the connective tissue among all the people who are interested in the church plant. But what excites me is connecting them with one another!
So please also pray for the next six Sunday evenings of worship at Westminster and the Informational Meetings coming up in February. Pray that the Lord would be glorified in our worship, bless our time together, and provide clarity and discernment for those who are considering being a part of the church plant.
Support raising. Please pray that the Lord will continue to provide for the church plant in every way and allow us to meet our support raising goals for the first three years of the church plant.
Thank you for your prayers and support. As always, please reach out to me if you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about the church plant.
As 2021 comes to a close, we’re grateful for all that the Lord has done over this past year and greatly anticipate what He has in store for 2022!
-Jake
