About Providence

We believe that the Bible is God's inspired and infallible Word, through which He has revealed his entire counsel and will. The Bible is the final authority on doctrine and life. Through His Holy Spirit, God works repentance and faith into the hearts of believers. We confess that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Head of the church. Through His sacrifice on the cross, and by the grace of God, our sure salvation and the full forgiveness of our sins are attained.

The Church of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ died for His Church, and that He gathers, defends, and preserves His Church, which has as its foundation the teachings of the prophets and apostles as found in the Bible.

The name "Reformed Churches" dates back to the sixteenth century. In Europe at that time there was great deformation in doctrine and morals within the Roman Catholic Church. The Lord Jesus Christ used men like Martin Luther and John Calvin to reform the Church, which means bringing the Church back to the foundation of the Scriptures. Since Rome would not heed the exhortation of the reformers to be faithful to the Scriptures again, churches were established according to biblical norms. Strictly speaking these were not new churches, but the legitimate continuation of the Church of Jesus Christ. Thus "reformed churches" basically means churches which are faithful to God's Word.

History in Canada

The Lord also gathered His Church in Canada. Many immigrants who arrived from the Netherlands in the late 1940's and early 1950's intended to find a church which they could join. It was certainly not their intention to start a separate church. Unfortunately, in spite of an earnest search to find a church which was faithful to the Bible and with which they could seek unity, no such unity could be established. Thus it became necessary to institute new reformed churches in Canada. Hence the name "Canadian Reformed Churches". These churches stand on the same foundations as the Church in the time of the apostles. This should not be taken to mean that anyone who does not belong to the Canadian Reformed Church cannot be saved. It does mean that everyone is called to seek the church which faithfully proclaims God's Word, purely administers the two sacraments, and properly exercises church discipline.

In 1950, a Canadian Reformed Church was instituted in Edmonton. Since 1981 there have been two congregations in Edmonton (Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church and Providence Canadian Reformed Church). These two congregations together with approximately 40 sister churches in Canada and the United States form the federation of Canadian and American Reformed Churches.

About our Web Site

This web site is maintained by the Providence Canadian Reformed Church Evangelism Committee.