History of Providence

Walking With God at Our Side
The Journey of Providence Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dallas, Georgia In the late 1990s, Cherokee Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., envisioned the establishment of a Presbyterian Church in Paulding County, a rapidly growing county in northwest Georgia, where no other Presbyterian Church had previously existed.

This was truly a journey of faith starting from scratch. In 1998, a committee was formed to search for an organizing pastor; and that search was completed in early 2000 with a young and energetic pastor heeding God’s call.

On March 12, 2000, the new minister hosted a Bible study at his home with 12 people attending. Out of that study grew the desire for the group to share their fellowship publicly. Plans were made for a first public worship service with the name Providence chosen for the new church. The first worship service of Providence Presbyterian was held in Hiram Elementary School in September, 2000. Worship continued there every Sunday for over a year with the obvious challenges of converting a school cafeteria into an appropriate setting for a worship service, and then changing it back after worship.

The early beginnings of Providence sometimes proved difficult with no heat or air-conditioning when someone forgot there would be a church worshiping there on Sundays, but people began to come. They were finding something that made them want to return. In the summer of 2001, Providence held its first Vacation Bible School, and it was attended by 17 children who were led through a program of Christ-centered study, fellowship, and activities in the sweltering Georgia heat with no air-conditioning. The ministry of Providence was growing, and the number of people who were calling Providence home was growing as well.

In December, 2001, the leadership of Providence was given an opportunity to lease space at another church building, which afforded a more conducive facility for worship and ministry. A family center with broader facilities on site provided for more fellowship opportunities and helped Providence in creating a community awareness of her presence. The church family grew and more families were welcomed into membership.

After a couple of years, this Christ-centered family called Providence realized the leased space would not be adequate for our growing family, and preliminary plans were needed to build a new place to call home. There was an obstacle, however, to those plans. For various reasons, property that was originally purchased by Cherokee Presbytery for establishing a new church was unsuitable, and the search was on for new property on which to build. By what some on the New Property Committee termed God’s providential guidance, a parcel of land on Macland Road in Dallas was identified and acquired in March, 2003. More and more people were finding Providence a place to call home.

The groundbreaking ceremony held in October, 2005, was an exciting moment in the life of Providence as we felt our season of waiting was nearing its end. Our plans, however, were not God’s plan. We still needed to be patient throughout construction and delay after delay in anticipation of moving into our new building by the end of 2006. And then, unexpectedly, we were uprooted from our comfortable 5-year respite at the leased church building while waiting for construction to be completed on our own church.

With two weeks’ notice to vacate, like Moses’ Exodus, we moved lock, stock, and barrel to storage and worshiped in the Hiram Community Centerenter for a couple of weeks, and then to the Amberley Community Center, just down the street from the Macland Road construction site. We continued to grow – in faith and in size.

Providence welcomed many seniors into our midst during this time, and new ministries developed with them and through them as we also had families with children join Providence. We were blessed. Finally, on Easter Sunday, 2007, our waiting was over as we were able to worship with joy and thanksgiving at the first worship service in our new building. On that day during that service, it seemed liked we had been there all along. After a little over six years, one thing was for sure – God led us every step of the way.

During the short time in our new church, God’s grace flowed. We were offered the chance to receive a substantial grant, and another round of financial commitment was asked of the church family to meet the terms of the grant. Hence, the 4-for-1 Campaign was instituted where members pledged to meet a set goal of giving in order to receive $3 on each $1 pledged to be eligible for the grant. Again, through obedience to God’s will for us and in faith that God would provide, pledges were received and the grant was given. With this grant, Providence was able to pay down the construction loans and mortgage by the full grant amount, and that was a blessing to a young church with big debt.

Our 4-for-1 Campaign continues with one year remaining. In June, 2008, our organizing minister of Providence, accepted a call out of state. Another step in our journey was to begin. We began Interim Steps and sought an Interim Minister while inviting supply ministers to preach the Word of God each Sunday for a few months. Although facing new challenges, the situation offered the opportunity to explore our origins and further define what we wanted, the direction we were headed, and to develop a vision of growth, both spiritually and through the Holy Spirit leading many to find their talents. Our leadership stepped forward with new responsibilities and excitement.

We stand at a crossroads in the growth of Providence Presbyterian Church, the journey that began in a young minister’s living room to the facilities we call home are now shepherded by an Interim Minister, and our Pastor Nominating Committee is developing their plans to call a new Permanent Pastor. This is a tentative but exciting time for members of Providence. We look toward the future with enthusiasm, hope, and a little apprehension as we struggle to remember it is all in God’s hands, and we look to His Will to guide us as He has always done. This is not the end of our story, rather the beginning of a new season of ministry in this community.

As we remember our journey – the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows – may those experiences lead us into a future where we continue to grow in service and commitment to God’s plan for each of our lives and the life of Providence Presbyterian Church. We have truly been blessed and we pray that Providence – in the many meanings of this word – leads believers and non-believers to a strong faith and trust in the Lord through the example and sacrifice of Jesus Christ so that we may go out into the world as Witnesses to the greatness of God.

Providence was chartered as a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by Cherokee Presytery in September, 2003.