As the church here in the greater Providence, RI, area nears its one year anniversary, we must pause to thank God and all of New England for your powerful partnership and prayers. We have felt your love and impact very much these past several months.

When our congregation began, we had zero undergraduate college students. For a city with such amazing campuses, that was sad. However, God specializes in making weak things strong and through your efforts and support, a miracle has begun.

First, in January of this year, a young, campus girl – Jaiyin Sperry – transferred into Rhode Island College. She came to us via the Pioneer Valley church in Springfield and by way of the Boston campus ministry. We quickly began a Bible Talk at RIC that was to be the foundation for what was to come.

In March, Ryan Painter, from Worcester, and others began planning a campus swap initiative for the week of spring break. Eight college students
from Southern CT, Worcester, Boston and New York gave up their vacation and came to Providence during a very cold and windy week. For days they
shared, cared, prayed and touched lives. Upon their departure, they left behind quite a few phone numbers and one eager, young RIC female studying the Bible. That study eventually became our first campus baptism, as Deisy Morales was immersed in June for the forgiveness of her sins.

One of the phone numbers gathered was that of RIC sophomore, Hakeen Jacobs. He was not quite as eager early on. But through perseverance and the power of the Word, he too made the decision to make Jesus Lord in June.

As if this was not enough support, a generous donor from outside Providence but inside New England sacrificially gave so we could put on campus interns for the summer. Murvi Babalola, a student from Tufts University in Boston, and Jaiyin were selected. Their evangelistic zeal and focused leadership not only helped Deisy and Hakeen become Christians but have set the stage for others to follow.

This past week, there were 19 people who attended the Brown University Bible Talk. Those were not all visitors, as several disciples from our church and other states happened to be present that night, but it does speak to the momentum getting started on one of the many campuses desperately needing God.

As we now look ahead to the fall, four campus disciples are coming in to begin their college lives here. One – Hector Morales, Jr., is traveling down from Boston to attend Brown. His entire family (Hector, Sr., Miriam and Hector, Jr.) – minus his younger sister – recently powerfully shared the communion lesson for our congregation.

I have shared all of this to say . . . THANK YOU! Your prayers, support, money and personal touch is changing the landscape of our church and heaven eternally. We love you all! Please know that you are an integral part of the Ocean State planting.