Questions: Contact Jen Nixon
18-23-year-olds who want to explore their part in God’s story.
11 months of community, learning, and adventures in ministry intentionally designed to help you discover who God is, discern who He has made you to be and develop you for a lifetime of Kingdom work in the church, in your career and beyond!
Providence Church, West Chester, PA
Part-time, 20 hours, 11 months (mid-August - July)
$5,000
Ability to fundraise up to $16,560
Jen Nixon graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Music Education. While at West Chester, God changed her life through the ministry of Cru. Jen wanted to give other students the opportunity to know Jesus so she joined the staff of Cru post-graduation. She worked with the ministry of Cru for 17 years. Jen began her time with Cru at Penn State University. This is where she learned to engage people in spiritual conversations, and this is where she had her first experience leading a team.
In 2011, Jen's role as National Director of Campus Field Ministry brought her back to the West Chester area to be a part of the Mid-Atlantic Regional team. She set direction, coached, and developed the leaders of over 20 teams. During this time, Jen found a love of equipping leaders and empowering them to lead out of who God has created them to be. She finished her time with Cru as National Director of People & Culture for the NorthEast for 2 years and then back where it all began: discipling women and sharing Jesus with college students at West Chester University.
The story of how she ended up directing ProvGapYear at Providence Church is a God-story...he's not finished with her participation in bringing His Kingdom to Earth. Ask her about it sometime. She'd love to tell you.
Jen and her husband, Mark, currently have two little leaders at home: Avery (7) & Lucy (4).
At Providence, our church body is our family. We are committed to being in community with each other. This is where growth happens. The Gap Year will rely heavily on the growth and learning that happens when we are in community. We will learn from you. You will learn from others.
“The Scriptures were given not to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.” - D.L. Moody
Your year will include comprehensive theological training through discipleship and cohort learning.
During your gap year, you will be equipped to share your faith and disciple others. You will become active participants and leaders within the Providence Church ministries that align with your giftings and the current Prov needs. Providence is and has always been a part of the beauty of our local communities. You will actively participate and even create ministry opportunities within the local West Chester community.
Kenya, Senegal, Mexico, Czech Republic, and NYC: Providence Church is committed to building long-term relationships with partners around the world. During your Gap Year you will engage with our Global partners, experience an international mission*, and have multiple opportunities to learn and engage with God’s heart for the world. *Included in the cost.
Figuring out what comes next in life is never a once-and-done decision. It is a life-long process of discernment. You will experience a 3-day Leadership Intensive with the Center Consulting Group where you will have the opportunity to learn from leaders across professional fields, explore future career interests, and identify your leadership strengths and growth areas. We will provide you with 1:1 mentorship for your gap year, and you will experience extensive teaching and coaching as a gap year community to give you the foundational tools you need to accomplish what God has prepared for you.
At Providence, we believe that Emotional health is an integral piece of both spirituality and leadership. Using Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, Providence has a long history of integrating emotional health throughout every level of the church. During your Gap Year, you will be immersed in the teaching and practices of an emotionally healthy discipleship journey.
No. We know that for some, ProvGapYear will provide an opportunity to explore and discern a step into full-time vocational ministry, but for others, we believe it will be a year to gain important Biblical leadership skills and experience that will set a strong foundation for Christ-like influence in the marketplace. We want ProvGapYear to be a year to explore your unique giftings, develop as a leader, and be launched into whatever it is God has planned for you next.
This is a part-time commitment, 20 hours a week. There is a one-time fee to cover the cost of the program with the option to raise support.
Prov Gap Year will provide fund development training in the Spring prior to your support-raising experience. We will also set you up with a coach to come alongside you throughout the process.
Yes. We will have set times that you will need to be available for the Gap Year, but we intentionally created the schedule so that you will be able to have a part-time job as needed/wanted.
Potentially. We know that there are many opportunities to continue your education online as well as local in-person classes. We intentionally created the ProvGapYear schedule so that there is space to pursue other needs/interests as desired. However, there will be required times that you will need to be available for ProvGapYear as well as some extended time doing ministry work overseas and in NYC. You will need to consider whether or not you are able to give the time and focus needed to gain the full benefit for both ProvGapYear and college-level classes.
The good news is that deferring your college admission for a year has never been easier or more accepted. Deferred admission is often an option available to prospective students who have applied to university and been accepted. It’s a way to defer, or push back, your entry to college. For example, if you’re admitted to the fall semester, you can defer your admission to the following fall.
Contact your school to confirm that deferment is an option and review their deferment policy.
Gap Year does not currently provide housing for residents, but if a resident needs a place to live, we can help him/her find a potential host family. Contact Jen Nixon - to learn more.
Check out our core values, core beliefs, and position statements here.
Yes. Included in the program cost is an international mission.
