Providence Brought Us Here

The mission of the Providence Forum is to preserve, defend and advance the Judeo-Christian values of our nation's founding. As Abraham Lincoln reminds us: We have been the recipient of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God...intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!
The Spirit of the Liberty Bell Event with Providence Forum Providence Forum presents a Bible Box to George W Bush

Our Logo

A Flag

The colors and semblance of the American flag, the freest nation on earth.

A Dove

A dove-like bird flying upwards, towards heaven

A Star

Not the 5-pointed star of our flag, but a 6-pointed Star of David

Our Logo

When you put all of these pieces together, you have the newly created Flag of Providence

Our Sacred Honor
From the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
True Penitence of Heart
Continental Congress, March 1776
Return of Praise
John Jay, 1826
Except the Bible
John Jay, February 28, 1797
Enemy of God
John Witherspoon, May 17, 1776
Religion and Civil Liberty
John Witherspoon
Supreme Ruler of the World
Samuel Adams, 1794
Restored the Sovereign
Samuel Adams, 1776
Let Us Humbly Commit Our Righteous Cause
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress
Obedience to Thy Law
Thomas Jefferson, March 4, 1805
Our Sacred Honor
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
From the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
True Penitence of Heart
It becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publickly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God . . .
Continental Congress, March 1776
Return of Praise
. . . earnest hope that the peace, happiness, and prosperity enjoyed by our beloved country may induce those who direct her national counsels to recommend a general and public return of praise to Him from whose goodness these blessings descend.
John Jay, 1826
Except the Bible
. . . except the Bible there is not a true history in the world.
John Jay, February 28, 1797
Enemy of God
Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy of his country.
John Witherspoon, May 17, 1776
Religion and Civil Liberty
God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable . . .
John Witherspoon
Supreme Ruler of the World
I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . .
Samuel Adams, 1794
Restored the Sovereign
We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient.
Samuel Adams, 1776
Let Us Humbly Commit Our Righteous Cause
Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe . . . Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and kingdoms of the earth as He pleases. [Upon signing the Declaration of Independence]
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress
Obedience to Thy Law
. . . and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. [National Prayer for Peace]
Thomas Jefferson, March 4, 1805

A Letter From Our Founder

“...we are seeking to be an organization that reengages and renews the curious seeker as well as the committed citizen in these foundational values and the exciting stories of God's providence in American history..”
Dr. Peter A. Lillback

Welcome to the Providence Forum. We were born out of a desire to tell the story of America’s founding in the greater Philadelphia area because we discovered that no one was telling that story well. Yes, we know about liberty and freedom, but we’ve entirely overlooked how that liberty and freedom are directly tied to the transcendent values of faith in God.

One of the lost words in our current vocabulary that was prominent and central in our founders’ minds and writings is the word Providence. Providence means that God is active in history. This explains why our American motto is “In God we trust”. From the discovery of America by Columbus to its settling by many different peoples, to the formation of our freedoms through the Sons of Liberty at the Boston tea party, and to the Declaration of Independence and on to our Constitution, we see the role of people of faith with lofty principles influenced by the Judeo Christian belief in providence creating a new nation dedicated to liberty as a nation under God and guided by His truth.

The Providence Forum has sought to tell these stories in books and articles, in public events and also through many different projects including liberty trees, foldable flags, curricula for teachers, and our engaging and highly educational website. Our logo, the Flag of Providence, reminds us that the Spirit of God is still exercising His providence in America as the reshaped American flag flies in the heavens and displays the six pointed star of the Great American seal.

So welcome to the Providence Forum! We seek to engage the curious seeker as well as the committed citizen in America’s foundational values and the exciting stories of God’s providence in America’s history.We want you to become a friend. We want you to become a spokesperson, an articulate communicator, and an intergenerational teacher sharing your discovery of the hidden treasures of American liberty presented to all by the Providence Forum.

Meet Jerry Newcombe, D. Min., our new Executive Director

Dr. Jerry Newcombe serves as the executive director of the Providence Forum, founded by me, for which I serve as president emeritus. The two of us wrote the bestselling book, George Washington’s Sacred Fire (2006). We have also written The Twilight of Liberty (2020).

Jerry also serves as the senior producer and as an on-air host for Truth that Transforms, the flagship television broadcast of D. James Kennedy Ministries (DJKM). Jerry produces TV segments, co-produces television documentaries, and writes a weekly column for DJKM. His columns appear weekly at WND.COM and often at TOWNHALL.COM, CHRISTIANPOST.COM, NEWSMAX.COM, and other national outlets.

Jerry earned his B.A. in history with honors at Tulane University (1978), his M.A. with honors in communications at Wheaton Graduate School (1983), and his D. Min. (Doctorate of Ministry) from Knox Theological Seminary (2008). Dr. Newcombe wrote his thesis on the importance of America’s Christian heritage and how pastors and laypeople can pass on that heritage. He later developed his thesis into his book, The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation (2009).

For D. James Kennedy Ministries, Jerry has produced or co-produced more than 80 television documentaries dealing with a variety of issues from a Christian perspective. This includes programs on America’s Christian roots.

Jerry is the author or co-author of 33 books, some of which have now been translated into several different foreign languages. His books include 17 written with Dr. D. James Kennedy, the best known being What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (1994). 

Dr. Newcombe’s love for history and keen interest in America’s Christian founding is also reflected in other books he has written, including: Answers from the Founding Fathers (2011); The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation (2009), which has now been translated into Chinese; American Amnesia (2018); A New Birth of Freedom; and with Dr. Mark Beliles, Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson (2014). With Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. (founder of the Christian Law Association), Jerry co-authored One Nation Under God: Ten Things Every Christian Should Know About the Founding of America (2003).

Jerry has appeared on numerous talk shows to discuss his books or specials. These include: Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (ABC-TV), In the Market with Janet Parshall, The Eric Metaxas Show, and Point of View. He has also appeared on Moody Radio, TBN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel, and C-Span2’s “Book Notes.”

Jerry is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), and serves as an assistant pastor at New Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Wilton Manors, FL.

Jerry and his wife Kirsti from Norway have been happily married since June 28, 1980. They have two children and three grandchildren. The Newcombes reside in South Florida.

 
Our Team
  • Dr. Peter A. Lillback President
  • Steven Grant Executive Director
  • John Kenyon, Ch. Lt Col, USAF (ret.) Chief Operation Officer
  • Emily McKenzie Communications Assistant
Our Board Members
  • Curtis Cheyney III, Esq. Chairman
  • Joseph W. Roskos, Esq. Treasurer
  • Alexandra Thompson
  • Steven M. Grant
  • Steven Fisher
  • Robert J. Pacienza
  • Larry Musick
  • David Rogers
  • Robert Westman