From the Senior Pastor
There is a biblical basis for Cultivating Generosity, one of our five guiding priorities at Providence. We believe that God is generous, and so the fact that we are created in God’s image means that we are to be generous as well. The way we give says something to the world about what we believe our God is like.
It’s been five years since we lifted up Cultivating Generosity as a priority in our Providence Will strategic plan—long enough for us to make a fair assessment of how we’re doing. Are we successfully cultivating generosity at Providence? The fact that we finished 2022 in a deficit, despite holding our ministry costs well below what we planned, suggests that we have room to grow.
So, to help us assess what we are and aren’t doing well—and how we can encourage one another to become more generous givers—our Stewardship Committee in March invited Allen Walworth, a financial strategist who works with churches and non-profits, to do a Generosity Diagnosis for Providence. A summary of Allen’s observations can be found here: www.providencebc. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ GenDiag-Summary.pdf.
Allen also provided us with specific recommendations for how Providence can better cultivate generosity going forward. Over the next year, these recommendations will be put into practice. I don’t mind sharing that one of them is that I do a better job of articulating expectations for generosity at Providence.
With this mind, then, here are three guiding principles for how I want us to approach giving as followers of Jesus at Providence. One: We will celebrate every gift because every gift matters. Two: We will expect every member of our church to be a giver to our church. Three: We will encourage all givers to set a goal of becoming tithers, which is a biblical term to describe people whose total annual giving is equivalent to ten percent of their annual income. These principles aren’t novel. They can all be found in the Providence Will plan that we adopted, as a congregation, in 2018. Nor are these principles unrealistic. They are, however, ambitious—and that’s not a bad thing. Being created in God’s image means that we have a lot to live up to. With God’s help, we can.
May the peace of Christ be with you!
WITH CHRIST AT THE CENTER JULY 2023
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE VBS AN INCREDIBLE WEEK! WE HOPE YOU’RE READY TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT SUMMER!
Ministry @ Providence
ADULT DISCIPLESHIP
Blake Kendrick, bkendrick@providencebc.org
Volunteer at the Market
Join us in supporting the Cotswold Farmers Market on our campus every Saturday by volunteering to help set up or take down the Market!
Adult Mission Trip
College age through Senior Adults are invited to our Adult Mission Trip to Washington DC from November 26-December 1 for $350 per person. Sign up on Realm by September 15.
ACTIVITY CENTER
Joshua Jones, jjones@providencebc.org
Summer Camp Enrollment
Are you still looking for summer plans? There are a few spots remaining for our summer camps. Choose from one or more of our specialty themed camp weeks and register your child today on Realm!
Fall Soccer
Come kick it with Providence this fall! Fall Soccer Registration will be open on Realm from July 1-31! Fall Soccer is for youth ages 5-10.
Summer Hours
Our Activity Center has new hours for the summer!
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
(The indoor walking track opens at 12 p.m. Monday through Friday)
CHILDREN
Elizabeth Maye, emaye@providencebc.org
Extended Session
The Extended Session Calendar is now available. If you have not received a copy by email, please contact Elizabeth.
COLLEGE
Caitie Jackson, cjackson@providencebc.org
Missions
Join us for two opportunities! Help inspect food or items at Second Harvest on July 7 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., followed by lunch at Camp North End. Following worship on July 16, we will clean and restock the Little Free Library and Little Free Pantry.
Community Coffee
Community Coffee will be an intentional time to build community and connect with one another. Our first meeting will be at 11 a.m. on July 14 at Brakeman’s Coffee.
Game Night
We will gather for fun and games at 7 p.m., location is TBA.
MUSIC
Timothy Hill, thill@providencebc.org
Church Organist
Our Church Organist, Jordan Locke, will share his last Sunday with us on July 16. Join us in wishing him farewell as he prepares for graduate school at LSU and congratulations in his engagement to Sara Terwilliger.
PASTORAL CARE
Martha Haigler, mhaigler@providencebc.org
Prayer Requests
Your Ministers and Providence family are praying for you! If you have a specific prayer concern or would like to be added to the prayer list, please contact Martha Haigler or fill out a form online.
STUDENTS
Dane Jackson, djackson@ providencebc.org
High School Mission Trip
Please pray for our High School
Mission Team as they serve July 14-24 in Važec, Slovakia. They will be teaching English classes and doing a “Backyard Bible Club” for Roma children in the town with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel (and PBC Encourager Church Partners) Shane & Dianne McNary.
SENIOR ADULTS
Wilna Eury, wilna.eury@att.net
PrimeTimers Bingo
Now that summer has arrived, it’s time for our “Annual Bingo” get together taking place on July 20 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. We’ll meet in the Eddins Room located in the Mission Center for an afternoon of bingo, fellowship, and snacks. RSVP on Realm.
Mark Your Calendars
PrimeTimer’s Luncheons will resume on September 21. Flat Rock’s annual “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas” matinee on December 7.
CHURCHWIDE
Acts 2:42 Groups
“2:42 Groups” extends an invitation to members and families to gather around the table 4 times from September-May with a group of Providence families. Each group will be made up of 4 family units and the host will rotate at each gathering. Sign your family up by August 15 for this initiative that focuses on building community, connection, and fellowship.
Mission Collection
We are collecting school supplies for Rama Road Tutoring and Burmese Students Pleasedropoffyourdonations inthehallwayleadingtotheFellowship Hall during the month of July. Supplies needed: notebooks, paper, composition books, #2 pencils, zippered pencil cases, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners, scissors, folders, crayons, markers, gently used children’s books.
Quarterly Church Conference
Our Q3 Church Conference will be held on July 16 at 11:30 a.m. following worship in the Sanctuary.
New Members
Prayer Vigil
You are invited to come sit and pray quietly from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Chapel on July 29. Suggested Prayer guides are available.
Cotswold Farmers Market
Visit the Market every Saturday from May until October from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. to shop from local farmers and artisans, hear local musicians, and meet entrepreneurs from the surrounding area.
Providence Closed Providence Campus will be closed on Tuesday, July 4.
Midsummer Ice Cream
Bring your favorite batch of homemade ice cream for our Midsummer Ice Cream on July 26 at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Sign up on Realm and let us know what flavor you’ll be bringing.
July Calendar
SUNDAYS
9:15 a.m. Faith Formation classes (all ages)
10 a.m. Come Sing Choir (begins June 11)
10:30 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary
SATURDAY, JULY 1
8 p.m. Cotswold Farmers Market
TUESDAY, JULY 4
Providence Campus and CDC Closed
FRIDAY, JULY 7
9 a.m. College Missions Morning, Second Harvest
12 p.m. College Lunch, Camp North End
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
SATURDAY, JULY 8
8 a.m. Cotswold Farmers Market
FRIDAY, JULY 14 11 a.m. Community Coffee, Brakeman’s Coffee
JULY 14-24
High School Mission Trip, Slovakia
SATURDAY, JULY 15
8 a.m. Cotswold Farmers Market
SUNDAY, JULY 16
11:30 a.m.
Q3 Church Conference, Sanctuary
11:45 a.m. College Missions, College Lounge
MONDAY, JULY 17
Second Session of CDC Preschool Summer Starts
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
7 p.m. College Game Night
SATURDAY, JULY 22
8 a.m. Cotswold Farmers Market
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26
6 p.m. Midsummer Ice Cream, Fellowship Hal
SATURDAY, JULY 29
8 a.m. Cotswold Farmers Market
8 a.m. Prayer Vigil, Chapel
4921 RANDOLPH ROAD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28211 | 704.366.2784 | PROVIDENCEBC.ORG
through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday
MARGARET MARSHALL May 21 LUCY GENETT May 27 JACKSON JORDAN June 11 EVA JORDAN June 11 HAZEL CLODE May 21 AMANDA AMOS & CARTER MILLS May 27
The Record We Wrote
Save The Date
Staff Transition
We welcome Carl Flood, our new Hospitality Manager!
In Christian Sympathy
We remember with gratitude these members of Providence who have recently died.
4921 RANDOLPH ROAD CHARLOTTE, NC 28211 Periodicals Postage PAID Charlotte, NC USPS 979-940
5 College Missions Morning AUGUST 13 CDC Celebration Sunday AUGUST 27 Blessing of Students & Teachers
30 Rising 6th Grade Event
31 CDC Family Orientation
AUGUST
AUGUST
AUGUST
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT: JAN 1 – MAY 31, 2023 OPERATING INCOME MINISTRY COSTS Financial Contributions Missions and Ministries YTD Actual YTD Plan YTD Variance 850,489 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 151,966 985,172 209,280 (134,683) 57,314 PBCDC Tuition Operations, Maintenance, and Grounds PBCDC Staff 779,545 388,404 845,507 365,927 (65,961) (22,476) Other Ministerial and Operational Staff Total Operating Income Total Ministry Costs Net 57,683 624,715 549,334 68,401 677,381 577,964 (10,717) 52,666 28,629 1,687,717 1,714,419 (26,702) 1,899,079 1,830,552 68,526 (211,361) 116,133 (95,228)
• Robert I. Mulder (Bobby), June 2 FOLLOW US @providencebccharlotte @ providence_baptist_clt