If you've ever searched "church near me," you know you're not really looking for a list of locations. You're looking for somewhere to belong. A place where faith feels real, community is genuine, and you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not.

Maybe you're new to Providence. Maybe you haven't been to church in a while. Maybe you've been burned before and you're not sure you want to try again.

Whatever brought you here, you don't have to figure this out alone.

Not all churches are the same, and that's okay. The goal isn't to find a perfect church. The goal is to find one where you can grow, connect, and encounter God in a real way.

Here are a few things worth looking for.

Look for a church where the Bible is taught honestly, practically, and in a way that connects to your real life.

James 1:22 puts it simply: don't just listen to the word. Do what it says.

At Hope City, we teach the Bible in a way that's accessible to everyone, whether you grew up in church or you're reading scripture for the first time. The goal is always helping you live your faith out loud.

Walking into a new church is awkward. We know because we've all done it. The best churches make room for that. They don't expect you to show up already knowing everyone and having it all together.

A few things worth paying attention to on a first visit: Do people seem genuinely glad you're there? Is there a way to connect beyond Sunday? Does it feel like a place you could actually belong long-term?

At Hope City, we make room for people exactly as they are. We're imperfect and sometimes a little awkward ourselves, and we think that's part of what makes community feel real.

Worship should re-center your heart, lift your faith, and remind you why God is worth everything. If you've left church before feeling unmoved, you know the difference between going through the motions and actually encountering God.

At Hope City, worship is the space where that encounter happens. We're focused on creating room for people to engage, regardless of where they're coming from.

Faith isn't just for one kind of person.

Kids should want to be at church. Students should feel seen. Adults should have room to grow, serve, and connect.

A church that's genuinely multigenerational is rare and worth looking for.

One visit doesn't always tell the whole story.

Give a church six weeks before you make up your mind. That's enough time to get a real sense of the community, the teaching, and whether it's a place where you could grow. And if you try Hope City for six weeks and it's not the right fit, we'll genuinely help you find a church that is.

A few questions worth asking yourself after a few visits:

• Am I being challenged to grow?
• Do people seem authentic?
• Does worship help me engage with God?
• Are there ways to connect beyond Sunday?
• Could I see myself building relationships here?

Choosing purely based on convenience is one of the most common ones. Location matters, but a church that's five minutes away and doesn't help you grow isn't really saving you anything.

Similarly, giving up after one visit is easy to do. Community takes time and first impressions aren't always accurate. Give it a real chance before moving on.

If you’re searching for a Christian church near you, Hope City Church is a bilingual church in Providence, RI gathering every Sunday at 5 pm at 372 Wayland Avenue, inside Community Church of Providence.

We're a newer church, launched in March 2024, and we're building something we believe Providence needs: a multigenerational, multicultural community where everyone is genuinely welcome.

Click here to plan your visit to Hope City Church this Sunday.

If you've been curious about Hope City Church but aren't quite sure what to expect, this is for you. We get a lot of great questions from people considering their first visit, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to find a home here. Here are some of the most common ones.

What time is your Sunday service?
Sunday service starts at 5:00 PM and typically wraps up around 6:30 PM. We meet at 372 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, inside Community Church of Providence.

Where is Hope City Church located, and is there parking?
We meet inside Community Church of Providence at 372 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906. When you arrive, skip the front entrance and head around to the back of the building via Hobart Street. You'll find a small parking lot there, marked by a feather flag at the entrance. There's also plenty of street parking in the surrounding area.

Do I need to dress up for church?
We like to call our style dressy casual. Think slightly elevated streetwear. That said, on any given Sunday you might see someone in pajamas and someone in a suit and tie worshipping side by side. Wear what makes you comfortable and come ready to encounter God.

What if I arrive late?
Don't worry about it! Just come on in and be ready for what God is going to do while you're there.

What should I expect at my first visit?
When you walk through the rear entrance, restrooms are on the left and the welcome desk and worship center are straight ahead. Before service starts, grab a hot beverage from the Hope City Café, fill out a connect card at the welcome desk, and say hello to a neighbor. Services typically last about an hour and a half and include prayer, worship, and Bible-based preaching. There's no pressure to perform. Just come as you are and let God meet you where you are. You can save your seat in advance at hopecityri.com/save-my-seat.

Do I have to be a Christian to attend?
Not at all. We welcome people from all walks of life. Whether you grew up in church or consider yourself an atheist, there is a place for you at Hope City Church.

Do you have children's programs?
Yes! Hope City Kids is currently geared toward toddlers and runs from the end of worship through the preaching portion of service. It's a great opportunity for little ones to learn about God in a fun, age-appropriate way while parents engage with the message.

Who are the pastors at Hope City Church?
Hope City Church is led by Pastors Joshua and Holly Smith. Josh is passionate about teaching the Bible in a way that everyone can understand and brings a background in ESL education and working with diverse communities into everything he does at the church. Holly is one of the most authentic people you'll ever meet. She brings her whole self to every relationship and is always willing to listen and counsel without judgment. You can schedule time to get to know them personally by grabbing coffee here.

Is Hope City Church a new church?
Hope City launched in March 2024, so yes, we're newer. But we're growing fast and building something we believe Providence deeply needs: a multigenerational, multicultural, multilingual church where everyone is welcome.

Is Hope City Church bilingual?
Yes! Our Sunday services are fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Rather than separating into different services, we worship together as one congregation, because we believe the whole family should be able to participate regardless of the language spoken at home. Providence is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the country, and we want our church to reflect that. We also minister as part of an interdenominational Chinese fellowship on Friday nights and hope to expand to include additional languages in the future.

Does Hope City Church have services in Spanish?
Yes. Sunday services are fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Hope City Church serves Providence's diverse community and believes families should be able to worship together across language and generational lines.

What denomination is Hope City Church?
Hope City Church is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) and identifies broadly as Apostolic Pentecostal.

What does "Apostolic" mean?
Apostolic refers to the doctrine of the apostles. Acts 2:42 tells us that after the birth of the first century church on the day of Pentecost, the believers continued in the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. While many churches point back to the Council of Nicea as their standard of church practice, Hope City Church aims to point back to the Bible and what the first century church practiced and believed.

Do you speak in tongues at Hope City Church?
Yes. The Bible talks about tongues in three ways: as the initial evidence that you've received the Holy Spirit, as a prayer language that allows the Holy Spirit to speak through us and edify our spirit, and as a gift of the Spirit that operates alongside interpretation of tongues to deliver a specific message from God. In a given service, you may witness one or all of these ways.

Is there anything for youth or teens?
We love our youth. They are a core part of our serve teams and the life of the church as a whole. While we do have specific fellowship nights for them, we believe that students who get plugged into the full life of the church have a stronger foundation in their faith long term. So you'll find our youth right alongside everyone else on Sundays, serving, worshipping, and growing together.

Do you have small groups or Bible studies?
Yes! Our small groups run from fall through spring. In the summer, when many people are traveling, we shift our focus to one-on-one discipleship and monthly gatherings for broader fellowship. Keep an eye on our social media or reach out at hopecityri@gmail.com to find out what's coming up next.

How can I get involved at Hope City Church?
We'd love to have you serve with us. Whether that's using your talents on the Dream Team or giving your time through community outreach like ESL classes, Celebrate Recovery, or local service projects, there's a place for you here. Head to hopecityri.com/give or reach out to us at hopecityri@gmail.com and we'll help you find the right fit.

Do you offer baptism?
Yes! Water baptism is a central part of our faith at Hope City Church. We baptize by full immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, following the pattern of the first century church as recorded in the book of Acts. Baptism is an incredible step of faith and we would love to celebrate that with you. If you're ready to be baptized or just want to learn more, reach out to us at hopecityri@gmail.com or call/text us at 401.484.0243.

How do I become a member?
Membership at Hope City Church is open to anyone who believes in the Bible as their foundation for faith, has a personal faith in God, and has repented of their sins. Beyond that, we're simply looking for people who want to be here, show up regularly, and grow together with us in the life of the church.

For those who want to take a deeper step into voting membership, the additional qualifications reflect our core beliefs: faith in one God as revealed in Jesus Christ, water baptism by immersion in Jesus' name, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and a commitment to living a holy life. Voting members are also asked to attend services consistently and support the church financially through tithes and offerings.

If you're interested in membership, the best first step is just to connect with us. We'd love to walk you through it personally. Reach out to us at hopecityri@gmail.com or call/text us at 401.484.0243.

How can I give to Hope City Church?
You can give online at hopecityri.com/give, through the app, or in person during Sunday service. Hope City Church is a registered 501(c)(3) and all financial contributions are tax deductible.

How can I watch sermons?
Select messages are available at hopecityri.com/media and through the Hope City Church app, available on iOS and Android.

Still have questions? We'd love to hear from you!

Reach out at hopecityri@gmail.com or call/text us at 401.654.0306. And if you're ready to visit, save your seat here. We can't wait to meet you.

There are two sides to every story, and Hope City's origin story is no exception.

Pastor Holly moved to Providence in 2009 as a student at Brown University. Before she ever stepped foot on campus, God spoke to her about reaching it. After graduation, He allowed her to keep serving there as a campus missionary, and somewhere in that season, her vision grew beyond one campus to the whole city.

Pastor Josh first visited Providence in 2016 and was blown away. The diversity was extraordinary. But what struck him even more was something harder to name: an almost tangible sense of hopelessness in the people around him, set against the backdrop of historic buildings that were supposed to symbolize hope and freedom. A burden to reach this city started to stir inside him.

They got married, and life took them elsewhere for a few years. But Providence had a way of coming back up. In quiet moments, in prayer, in conversations that kept circling back to the same city. At some point they stopped treating it like a someday dream and started treating it like a calling.

In February 2020, they found themselves in a car, somewhere in Arkansas, and the conversation turned to Providence. What it could look like. What the city needed. What they felt God stirring in them. A few weeks later, COVID turned the world upside down. God used that season to lead them back to Providence in the fall of 2021.

In March 2023, they started holding weekly worship gatherings in their home. In March 2024, Hope City Church officially launched. And in that first year, they watched God start to bring the vision He had given them to life, confirming His call to this region with miracles, signs, and wonders.

A church for this city
Providence is one of the most culturally rich, linguistically diverse cities in the country. Over 100 nationalities call it home. It's a city full of people from everywhere, with stories from everywhere, looking for somewhere to belong.

Hope City exists for that city.

We gather every Sunday at 5 pm at 372 Wayland Avenue in Providence, inside Community Church of Providence. Our services are fully bilingual in English and Spanish. One congregation, worshipping together, because we believe families should be able to encounter God regardless of the language spoken at home. We also minister as part of an interdenominational Chinese fellowship on Friday nights, and we're eager to see more languages find a home among us as we grow.

Our mission is to be an authentic community where everyone can find refuge and hope from a lost and broken world, be renewed by the power of God, and be equipped to share the Gospel with the world.

That shapes everything about how we do church.

Where we're headed
We're building toward being a church that is genuinely multicultural, multilingual, multigenerational, and multisited. Providence has geographic challenges and neighborhood-level diversity that a single campus can't fully reach. Our vision is to grow into every corner of this city through home groups and multiple campuses, so that no matter where you are, there's a community close to you.

We're just getting started. And we believe the best is ahead.

Come get to know us
The easiest first step is to schedule a personal conversation. Pastors Josh and Holly would love to grab coffee with you.

Find a time that works for you
Or save your seat and we'll make sure your first Sunday is taken care of.