Church planting is in the Providence DNA just as it is in our two Brazil church plants. In the last 11 years, Atitude Baptist Church in Rio has been able to successfully plant other churches, send out missionaries, and regularly minister to nearby areas. Our most recent church plant, Nova Campinas in São Paulo, is growing and looking forward to being completely independent in 2020. We are partnering with them in several ways including future church planting initiatives.

We are working closely with Favour Africa, a native church planting ministry pursuing unreached people groups in South Sudan. After multiple trips, we have been providentially led towards the Kachipo people in a remote eastern corner of South Sudan. The Kachipo people had never heard of the gospel until a group from Providence recently ventured there to share the good news of Jesus for the first time! Contact has been made and plans are being laid for our first church plant in this area. Short-term trips are planned for 2020 in conjunction with Favour Africa.

Iceland is “post-Christian” and one of the most unbelieving countries in Europe. We have made several contacts in the city of Reykjavik to explore ways to engage this culture, including commissioning some of our own to relocate there, studying abroad for college, and working with local Christians. All of which is to immerse in their culture and plant indigenous churches. Providence is navigating uncharted waters with our efforts in Iceland, but we are excited to learn, grow, and be a part of what God is doing there. Exploratory and short-term trips are planned for 2020.

Religious conversations are illegal in Nepal and oftentimes Christians are punished for sharing the gospel. They are forbidden from having worship services. 87% of all Nepali are Hindu, so there is a great need to share the good news of the Gospel. Madison McCalmon, previous Providence staff member, his wife Madelyn, and their two children are currently living and on mission with the Nepali people.  We are prayerfully considering and seeking God’s prompting in how we can assist and be involved in Nepal in the future.

Providence has a long standing relationship with the Uri Home in South Korea. This church ministry seeks and rescues young girls from North Korea in order to disciple, support, and educate them. The Uri Home joins us in praying for the fall of North Korea and the infiltration of the north with church planters and missionaries as soon as possible. Uri Home will often times send these young girls to Providence for an immersive ESL training experience while staying with host families in Knoxville. We pray for opportunities to support church planting in North Korea soon.

Our connection to England is through an up-and-coming young church, Redeemer Croydon, located in London’s largest borough, Croydon. Their church planting and disciple-making strategies are in line with our mission here at Providence. Several Providence members have gone to serve with them as they reach their city. Partnering with Redeemer Croydon will strengthen us both in our common goal of engaging our communities, loving others, and sharing the good news of Jesus.

Providence recently partnered with Favor Africa to reach an unreached people group in South Sudan.  We are hopeful to have a short term trip with Favor Africa in the near future. 

For the last couple of years we have partnered with our church plant in Brazil to have a marriage retreat. This trip will be for married couples only and ministry activities will be integrated into the Better Together Marriage Retreat event hosted by our most recent church plant, Igreja Baptista Nova Campinas. Ministry activities during the week will vary but will include some partnership activities with the Campinas Police Department and other community ministries. 

Providence is sending one of our members to be church planter in Iceland. We are so excited about this opportunity and hope to have a trip there soon.