OUR STORY

Providence Church began as a dream in the heart of Knoxville native Lance Robinson while he was attending Seminary in North Carolina. Questions like, “Why can’t there be a church that is committed to God’s word and yet communicates effectively to contemporary people?” went around in his head. Providence began in February 1993 with a small group of six or eight people. After much preparation, prayer, and canvassing the community, this small group sent out invitations to hundreds in West Knoxville to consider being a part of a new kind of church. Only 54 people showed up at a local office building for the first “official” service on Easter Sunday of 1993. Attendance leveled off to about 30 people, about half of whom were kids! Providence Church was born. The next three years were hard, but lives were being changed. After meeting at a couple of different places, Providence settled at Cedar Bluff Middle School.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

Early in 1996, as a result of much prayer, the elders believed the church needed to make a faith investment in staffing. The elders decided to bring on another full-time pastor to team with Lance. This concept of team-leadership within a plurality of elders was (and still is, to some extent) distinctive. But it is a biblical model and practical in many ways to boot. Lance’s long-time friend and 29-year-old Knoxville native, Chad Sparks, was asked to join the elders as teaching pastor. Before Providence, Chad had served as the pastor of two established churches. Joining a new church of less than 60 people may have been considered risky, but he sensed God’s leadership. Chad and his wife Darla moved their family in February 1997 and lived with the Robinsons until finding a place of their own several months later.

EXCITING TIMES

Providence grew steadily the next three years at Cedar Bluff Middle until space became an issue. Attendance had quadrupled. The gym was becoming crowded for worship, and finding places for children’s ministry was particularly difficult. Our growing nursery was forced to move into the hallways! It was time to find another place for the church to meet. In 1999, a “Vision Team” was appointed and much work was done to consider God’s will for the future. The church gathered for two vision nights over the course of a year and it was decided the time had come to make a move. The elders and other leaders searched all over West Knoxville. Leasing opportunities were investigated. Several existing structures were examined for suitability. Many pieces of property were considered, including an undeveloped 11-acre lot on the corner of Pellissippi Pkwy. and Lovell Rd. which had been for sale for years. Through some amazing circumstances, which included the offer of a local foundation to buy property for the church’s use, the land was secured. A building was built and leased to Providence for $1 a year until the church was able to take on ownership. Providence moved in February 2002. A sacred assembly—a first for Providence—was held that same year for the following reasons: “[To] seek God’s purity, power, and passion. [A]cknowledge our incompetence and our sinfulness. [P]roclaim his sovereignty and ability. [S]eek God’s face and ask him to be our strength and to do great things in this generation, bringing fame to his name. [And ask God] to prepare us, protect us, and guide us as we attempt to best accomplish the mission that he has given us.”

Providence grew briskly and added staff. Greg Greer, who was already an elder at Providence, after spending eleven years in the health care products industry, sensed God calling him to “step out of the boat” and pursue ministry as a profession. After discerning God’s leadership, Providence Church called Greg to come on staff as administrative pastor soon thereafter. Significant ministries began including a cutting edge student ministry, and a dynamic ministry to children and families called Kidstuf. But most importantly, Providence stayed focused on her mission and continued to see numerous people begin a growing relationship with Christ and be unleashed for his glory.

Providence quickly grew to fill their new building and began a second service in 2003. Kidstuf also grew to become a service of its own for families with school-aged kids that same year and a unique rotating stage was built so the worship center could serve a dual purpose on Sundays. Parking and space became a challenge as the church kept growing.

At the end of 2004, the church celebrated Missio Dei (God’s Mission), which included a shared commitment for 2005 to serve, give, belong, pray, and tell for the sake of God’s glory. In 2007 and 2008, Providence recast the vision and turned up our efforts to have “Beautiful Feet” (Rom. 10:13) by unprecedented missions involvement. Over 200 members of Providence engaged in international mission trips and many more participated in local missions.

CHANGING ROLES

In April of 2006, after what he called a “midlife assessment,” Lance Robinson decided to resign as a pastor of Providence to accept an opportunity to become the president of a Christian foundation where he would take “a strategic role in helping churches, missions organizations and ministries worldwide.” His years at Providence are not forgotten.

PLANTING CHURCHES

An important aspect of Providence’s vision has always been church planting. Internationally, God has opened the door to initiate and cooperate with missionaries and indigenous people to plant churches, support planting efforts, and train church planters in strategic places like Romania, South Africa, Brazil, Central Asia, Jordan, and India. Providence is currently working to plant churches in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Locally, our church planting strategy has worked out differently than we first envisioned. We had long desired to deliberately send groups from our church to different parts of our area in order to launch new churches. Plans were made and money budgeted but God did not allow us to achieve this goal until more recently. However, along the way God did bring several planting pastors to us, and led us to support their efforts to plant churches like LakePoint Church in Jefferson City, Fellowship Bible Church in Knoxville, and Blount Community Church in Maryville. In 2008, Providence planted Roane Church in Kingston. Future planting efforts are already being planned, including a cooperative effort with other churches to plant OneLife Church in Powell (fall 2009).

COOPERATION

In 2004 God began bringing pastors of several area church plants and restarts together to pray and encourage each other and to discuss God’s will for them regarding cooperation for spiritual transformation. This group is known as East Tennessee LINK. As a founding part of this continuing effort, Providence is committed to working with these other Bible-believing, culture-engaging churches for the fame of God’s name. In fact, due much to the LINK churches (and other evangelical churches in Knoxville) a Dallas Theological Seminary extension is beginning in Knoxville in the fall of 2009 (click here for more).

THE VISION LIVES

Presently Providence Church is reaching more people than ever in her history. Easter 2009 saw around 1300 in attendance, and the church has an average attendance of around 1000. As we continue to grow we face many new challenges and opportunities, yet our original vision is alive and thriving. Space continues to be a challenge. Providence took over ownership of our facility in 2006 and we are aggressively trying to pay down this debt so that we can address the need for physical expansion. We are also under-staffed by comparison to other churches our size and depend on scores of committed volunteers who lead Life Groups, ministries, and serve in many other ways. This “everybody-pitch-in-and-lend-a-hand” mindset is very much a part of our church-plant DNA. Another aspect of our DNA is a “come as you are” culture. Unchanged is our commitment to the Bible and our desire to share God’s grace with people! Unchanged is our determination to see Christ impact the culture of Knox and the surrounding counties of East Tennessee. Unchanged is our laser-beam focus on the mission of “making, being, and unleashing” disciples! This is Providence Church. And you can be a part of God’s work in our area and grow with us in the process. Come join our family!

For more information, e-mail us at info@providencechurch.com.