Our History

1988

First Meeting

Evangel’s founding members first met at a Christian coffee shop known as The Dandelion.

1989

Church Established

Evangel became the first Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) church in Wichita. Jim Spurgeon was the first senior pastor.

1990

First Church Building

Evangel purchased its first church building at 2040 N. Westridge Drive, providing a permanent home for worship and ministry.

1993

Second Senior Pastor

Evangel called Donald Rackley to serve as its second senior pastor, beginning a long season of growth and stability.

2009

New Church Campus

Evangel held its first worship service at its current location near Kellogg and 135th Street.

2019

Third Senior Pastor

Evangel called Tim Rackley to serve as its third senior pastor, following Pastor Don’s transition toward retirement.

2025

Pastoral Transition

Pastor Tim left Evangel, marking a significant season of transition as the congregation began the process of calling its next senior pastor.

Our Beginning – Establishing the PCA in Wichita, KS

The founding members of Evangel first met on Sunday, November 6, 1988, at 1601 E. Douglas. At that time, they met in a Christian coffee shop known as The Dandelion. The following spring, on April 2, 1989, Evangel was formally established as a congregation and became the first Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) church in Wichita, KS. Jim Spurgeon was called as our first pastor and that same year we also welcomed David Burke as our first associate pastor.

By June of 1990, Evangel purchased its first church building at 2040 N. Westridge Drive. The first worship service in the new facility was held on July 22, 1990. Having a permanent location provided much-needed stability and opened new opportunities for ministry growth through the larger space.

In 1992, Pastor Spurgeon accepted a call to pastor Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Dale City, VA. Pastor Burke served as interim pastor during a search process that lasted more than a year.

Our Second Senior Pastor

In the summer of 1993, Evangel called Donald Rackley as its second senior pastor. Prior to Evangel, Pastor Don had served for twenty years at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Paxton, IL, where he had led the congregation into the PCA. Pastor Don brought with him a deep love for Reformed theology and a desire to see Evangel grow in faithfulness and maturity.

Pastor Burke continued serving in an associate role until 1996, when he accepted a call to Ortega Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jacksonville, FL.

Evangel’s continued growth made the need for additional pastoral leadership clear. Tim Rackley, a graduate of Covenant Seminary, and Pastor Don’s son, began serving in 1998 and was elected as Evangel’s second associate pastor in 2001.

By 2004, the congregation had grown to the point where space constraints became increasingly apparent. The decision was made to add a second Sunday morning worship service and the church began praying whether to expand the existing facility or to seek a new location.

Our Second Building

In 2009, the building committee recommended purchasing a church property in west Wichita on the corner of Kellogg and 135^th Street. At the time, the building was owned by Rolling Hills Baptist Church, which was seeking to downsize. In a providential arrangement, they agreed to take ownership of Evangel’s former building. On October 11, 2009, the first first worship service was held in Evangel’s current sanctuary.

Much has changed since that first service. Over time, the sanctuary, classrooms, offices, foyer, and fellowship hall were extensively renovated. The church grounds were also significantly landscaped, and signage was added along Kellogg and 135th Street.

Our Third Senior Pastor

Ruling Elder James “Bebo” Elkin (one of Pastor Tim’s seminary professors) gives him the right hand of fellowship.

By 2019, Pastor Don had expressed a desire to begin transitioning toward retirement. In April of that year, Evangel called Pastor Tim to serve as its third senior pastor. Pastor Don continued serving as an associate pastor until his retirement in 2021, concluding 28 years of service to Evangel.

In 2024, the church acquired four acres of additional land directly north of the existing property. During Pastor Tim’s tenure, the church also hired additional ministry staff and completed numerous capital improvement projects, including a new fellowship hall ceiling.