One of the distinct programs at Providence is the 4-W Experiences Program. For class credit, this integrated part of our curriculum moves students out of their comfort zone and into the wonderfully diverse Southern California community, thus the world becomes our classroom.

The four W’s stand for Weekends of Work and Worship in the World. The title of the program points to the broad definition of "worship" that Paul uses in Romans when he states that our lives should be "living sacrifices" as an "act of worship" (Romans 12:1, 2). We desire that every area of our students' lives would be characterized by the worship of God.

With this in mind, the 4-W program incorporates a wide range of experiences that we hope will teach our students that worship is not simply a personal experience limited to one hour on Sunday. Instead, worship of God should be in "every square inch" of our existence with everything done to God's glory.

Students participate in this program many times during their time at Providence. And you don’t have to worry about getting your homework done because we don’t have class during the day on Mondays—ever. It is just one of the ways we are changing the perspective on education at Providence.

Make sure you click on the links to the left to see what Providence students have been up to on the 4-W’s lately!

4-W Experiences (2009/2010 Schedule)

September 4
LA Philharmonic (directed by John Williams) and the "Music of the Movies" at the Hollywood Bowl
This event brings together four unbelievable musical elements: the LA Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl, John Williams, and the great music of movies. This is perfect for all classical music lovers, but will also be a great experience for anyone who recognizes the impact of music on movies. More information can be found here.

September 25-26
All College Retreat at Idyllwild Pines- Speaker: Bill Godfrey
Mr. Godfrey will be focusing on our theme for the year- "In Christ All Things New." This annual event has become a great Providence tradition- and will be held at a new location.

October 3
LA Exposition Park
One of the greatest historical locations in the LA area is Exposition Park, a park established in 1913. It has been home to many significant events including the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. These 160 acres just south of downtown include the LA Science Center, an IMAX theatre, the Natural Histroy Museum, an Air & Space Museum, and other attractions.

October 23
Mt. Wilson Observatory: "A View of the Universe"
This evening will be filled with star gazing at its best. The Mt. Wilson Observatory, long recognized as a leader in astronomical research, has the world's largest telescope open for public use. This evening astronomy session (from sunset to 1:00am) will be a fascinating guided tour of the universe... up close! More information can be found here.

November 14
Inner City Service Project at the Union Rescue Mission in LA
How should Christians respond to the homeless? What is our responsibility to helping the poor? In conjunction with discussions on these topics, this 4W will take us to the Union Rescue Mission located in downtown LA. Working with the URM in their Box Outreach Program, we will distribute 3,000 hygiene boxes to needy and homeless people in an area known as Skid Row. Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in America, and the URM is one of the largest rescue missions in the country as well. This 4W will truly shape our perspective on the issues of poverty and homelessness. More information can be found here.

January 15-16
Westminster Seminary Conference: “Christ, Kingdom, & Culture”
Highlighted by the Westminster faculty, this conference will challenge you to think about how you live in this world as a Christian.

A description from the Westminster website: “Questions concerning how Christians ought to relate to the broader culture, how to serve God in their daily vocation, and how to relate the Word and kingdom of God to every aspect of life are as ancient as the Christian faith itself. Whether it was the question whether to pay taxes or whether to eat meat offered to idols, Scripture addressed these issues repeatedly. Throughout its history the church has always been challenged to distinguish the faith from the culture without hiding from the culture and without being taken captive by it. This conference will address the sovereignty of God as it relates to his kingdom, to our role as Christians in God's world, in the state, at work, at school, and in the church.”

More information may be found here.

February 8 and 12
Jewish Awareness Weekend
Los Angeles has a vibrant and influential Jewish population, and this experience will provide you with an up close view of this culture. You will examine the religion, history, and food of the Jewish people. By looking at various aspects of Jewish culture, you will have a great opportunity to see the distinctives of their life and faith. We know the history of the Jewish people found in the Bible, but what do they believe today? How is Judaism similar and different from Christianity? How should we communicate with members of the Jewish culture? This 4-W experience will provide answers to these questions and build a strong foundation for a richer understanding of the Bible.

February 15
Law and Justice w/Jared Haringsma, Deputy District Attorney, Riverside County
Experience the California court system first hand on this 4W. We will be touring the courthouse (including the judge’s chambers) as well as having a discussion with lawyers about their vocation, cases they have worked on, and seeing the inner-workings of the judicial system. We are also planning to invite a Deputy District Attorney from Los Angeles out to speak as well.

March 12-13
Local Theater Experience
Many of you have seen the top-notch performances of Broadway musicals in Hollywood. This theater experience will show you that you don’t have to be a Broadway star to act, and that, in fact, the locals have some pretty fine talent of their own. Also, we will be comparing Christian theater to secular community theater in this experience.

March 20
The Getty Center/ J. Paul Getty Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. With beautiful gardens and architecture, this serene setting is sure to please any person who loves art and will create, at minimum, an appreciation of art for those unfamiliar with this sort of experience.

More information may be found here.

April 10
Local Service Projects
You don’t have to go to downtown LA or to Mexico to serve those around you. We will be working with local service/community organizations in the immediate Pasadena area. The drive of this 4W will be to demonstrate that you can serve regularly in your local community.

April 23
Mt. Wilson: A View of the Universe
(Due to the wildfires, this one was rescheduled from the Fall semester)
This evening will be filled with star gazing at its best. The Mt. Wilson Observatory, long recognized as a leader in astronomical research, has the world's largest telescope open for public use. This evening astronomy session (from sunset to 1:00am) will be a fascinating guided tour of the universe... up close!

More information can be found here.

Senior Self-proposed 4W Experience
Date TBD- Available to all senior status students (as of the beginning of the semester)
Seniors, you have participated in a wide variety of 4W Experiences during your time at PCC. This option will give you the chance to plan your own 4W Experience during the Spring semester. You will be required to research, plan, budget for, carry out, and reflect upon the experience. The experience must be discussed with and approved by Justin to count towards your 4W Experience requirement for the semester.

Questions about the 4W Experiences Program may be directed to the Office of Student Life.