Presbyterianism is a form of church government that emphasizes rule by elders. This structure is not merely a tradition, but a thoroughly biblical model rooted in both the Old and New Testaments. At Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church, we wholeheartedly embrace this form of leadership, believing it to be God’s design for the oversight and care of His people. The term “Presbyterian” reflects our conviction that the Church should be governed a plurality of elders who are spiritually mature, wise, and grounded in Scripture.

 

We are committed to following the biblical standards for leadership as laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, where the qualifications for elders and deacons are clearly outlined. These include qualities such as integrity, faithfulness, self-control, and a clear understanding of the gospel. At Providence, the men who serve in leadership were chosen by the congregation itself—a reflection of our belief in shared spiritual discernment within the body of Christ. These leaders have made solemn vows to uphold the truths of the Christian faith, particularly as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and its accompanying Larger and Shorter Catechisms, which provide a clear and historic summary of what we believe the Bible teaches.

 

Today, Providence is blessed with a faithful and committed leadership team composed of three deacons, two ruling elders, and one minister. Each plays a vital role in the life of the church: the deacons serve by attending to the physical and practical needs of the congregation, the elders provide spiritual oversight and guidance, and the minister leads in preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments. Together, they work as a united body to shepherd the congregation, encourage discipleship, and ensure that all we do remains centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What does Providence Church believe?

The Short Answer:

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are God’s Word given by inspiration so that everything we need to know about what we are to believe and how we are to live is either expressly set forth in the Scriptures or may be discerned by the careful study of them. As a result of a careful and faithful study of the Bible, we firmly hold that the God of the Bible is the creator of all things and the redeemer of all he chose to save. We believe he did this through the incarnation, perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that all who trust in Jesus as their one and only savior is saved. 

The Long Answer:

The question about what we believe demands more than a phrase or a short mantra. It actually asks for a creed or a statement of faith. We could say, “we believe the Bible”, but that would not help much since it is too general. It begs the question, “What do you believe about the Bible and what do you think it teaches?” For that a more specialized statement is needed. Thankfully, we have a statement of faith which we gladly share with everyone. It is called the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). Building on the best of 1600 years of Christian history and Bible study, a confession of faith was written that addresses 33 areas of faith in a clear and concise format. 2 catechisms were also written by the assembly, one shorter and one longer. The questions and answers contained in these catechisms still serve today as a time-proven way of instructing God’s people in what we are to believe and how we are to live.

We are interested in . . .

Loving . . .

. . . Because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)

. . . From a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5)

Proclaiming . . .

. . . Jesus who is the Christ (Acts 17:3)

. . . Repentance and forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:27)

. . . Jesus as Lord with ourselves as your servants (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Worshiping . . .

. . . the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:24)

. . . with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28)

Contending . . .

. . . for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3)

Teaching . . .

. . . everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28)

. . . what accords with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1)

Seeking . . .

. . . first His kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

. . . to abound for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:12)

. . . the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1)

Walking . . .

. . . In newness of life (Romans 6:4)

. . . as Children of the light (Ephesians 5:8)

Our Pastor

Rev. Stephen J. Dufresne

E-mail—[email protected]

Church — 740-927-1331

Cell — 740-475-8611

Our Elders

Michael Diercks 614-937-1018

Chuck Michaelis 614-893-5986

Our Deacons

Phil Levison 614-425-6347

Glenn Williams 740-641-9232

Ryan Worbs 740-405-7926