Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is a "Family-Integrated" Church?
A: Family-Integrated Churches (FIC) come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. There are FICs in virtually every denominational and theological tradition, and in most sections of the country. While no two FICs are exactly alike, they do have certain distinctives in common:
Families Worship Together
If you’ve ever walked into a FIC during a worship service, perhaps the first thing that struck you was the fact that there were so many babies and small children in the service. While some consider this a "distraction" or inconvenience (didn't we all at first!), we believe that children are gifts, blessings, from God, entrusted to parents and the whole church family for their nurture, and their presence in the service is part of their "training up in the way they should go".
We have grown accustomed to, and delight in, the presence of children in the service, and the children quickly grow accustomed to being a part of the worship experience. (An appropriate level of informality in the services allows parents to take time-outs for any counseling they feel appropriate.) No one will stop you at the door if you try to enter our service with your toddler! Our young men are certainly invited to participate and serve the body with our public readings of the Word, as their confidence-level grows. Families together for worship is the biblical model, and we reluctant to conceed to the world's thinking in promoting a "generation gap" culture within our body and our families. Amen?
No Systematic Age Segregation
One of the biggest distinctions of a FIC is the absence of age-graded ministries. We do not have segregated youth ministry, or children’s ministry. First, these ministries are not part of the biblical church model we see in Scripture. The Bible is clear on whose job it is to disciple children... the parents! FIC serves to support the parent better minister to their child. Second, these ministries can work against the biblical model. Parents who are relieved of their discipleship duties tend to become dependent on those who have taken over the job. Finally, these ministries have failed. 75-88% of teens are leaving Baptist churches as well as their evangelical family roots by the end of their freshman year in college! And as Dr. Alvin Reid has noticed, “The largest rise of youth professionals in history has been accompanied by a decline in youth evangelism effectiveness.”
Evangelism/Discipleship Through Homes
We teach parents to evangelize and disciple their children and their neighbors. We emphasize and encourage the ministry of hospitality, family worship, catechism, and family discipleship. Thus, instead of placing the burden on paid professionals to “do the work of the ministry,” we equip the saints to do it.
Education as a Key Component of Discipleship
Jesus said, “A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Whoever educates a child is discipling that child. We work hard to help parents see the importance of Christian education, and to help them make biblical choices as it relates to this part of their children’s discipleship.
Q: Won’t it be difficult to bring the family together especially with very young children?
A: Certainly, at first. It will pose new challenges to parents who are not used to being in Bible study and worship meetings with their children, particularly since we live in a society that tends to segregate families for activities like this, and there is an underlying feeling that children can receive little from worship services because of their age. We believe the long-term value will be greater than the short-term difficulty parents will experience as they learn to worship and learn together. Parents will have the privilege of training their children to hear and respond to God’s Word and to honor the other people in the meeting by their quiet and respectful behavior. This teaches Community to a child, that he/she is not the center of the universe. Yes, we realize this may not be easy, and it will require patience. But we do not see it as a "problem, but an "Opportunity"!
This is a process that may take some time to establish in each of our families as we all are very different or diverse. Parents will be provided with teaching and tools to help their children understand the theological concepts presented during the services, and after the services as we will encourage the heads of households to elaborate and complete the ideas presented, even to young children. We realize that our culture does not support the idea that children can understand complex ideas at young ages and that parents are not qualified to teach. We reject this notion and believe that a rich transfer of truth can be accomplished during as well as after the services. We also believe that even though very young children may not understand everything that is said or done, they can understand something very valuable as they see the head of their household truly honoring and adoring God in worship and enthusiastically studying His Word.
Q: Why does PROVIDENCE promote a confession of faith?
A: We see no shortage today of anti-confessional "seeker-friendly" mega-churches popping up, especially in the media. Often these bodies spring up, almost overnight, built on the agreement to worship together holding in common as few teachings as possible. These often "Emmergent Church" bodies are too often laced with the relativistic poison of Post-Modernism, which rejects absolute truth, and bows to the individual's sentimentality. This results in a lack of depth in teaching and preaching, as well as a frequent neglect of the public reading of the Word.
"Confessional" churches approach it from the opposite view, that a body should come together holding as MANY Biblical teachings as possible, to proceed from milk or the "elemental doctrine of Christ" (Heb. 6:1), to the meat of the word, or deeper understandings of Scripture and God's Providence to us. If we are TRULY to be "seeker friendly", or truly-friendly-to-seekers-of-God, we must hold to His absolute truth, the clear teaching of scripture regarding our utter and total sinfullness and God's unique and exclusive finished work on the cross, His provision for salvation to us..."while we were still sinners Christ died for us"!
We agree with the historic position which views the various creeds and confessions as invaluable, though not infallible, summaries of the major teachings in the Word of God. A creed (meaning “I believe”) is inevitable. Even the anti-creedal statement, “No creed but Christ,” is a creed! The Christian creeds and confessions affirm the authority of God’s Word and provide the framework to help us rightly interpret it. Many cults profess simple “belief in the Bible,” yet they reject the creeds and confessions, and very often even the diety of our Lord Jesus!
1) A confession is a useful means for the affirmation and defense of the truth.
2) A confession serves as a public standard of fellowship and discipline. 3) A confession serves as a concise standard by which to evaluate leadership.
4) Confessions contribute to a sense of historical continuity.
Q: What must I do to be saved?
A: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We must all realize that we are sinners, separated from God, and that we need forgiveness. We are not worthy of God’s grace.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through Jesus, God gave us a way to be saved from our sins. God showed us His love by reconciling us to Himself through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and repent of our sins, we will have eternal life.
Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Sincerely confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” There are no other religious formulas or rituals -- Call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved!
If your heart's desire is to call “on the name of the Lord [and] be saved,” or if you have any questions regarding what you have just read from God's Word, please contact us so that we can help answer any questions you may have and so that we may rejoice with you about what God is doing in your life!