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: The First PCA Church in Wichita
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, becoming the first Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) church in Wichita. Jim Spurgeon was called as our first pastor, and that same year David Burke began serving 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 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.
A Ministry of Reformed Teaching
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.
During Pastor Don’s ministry, Evangel became known for hosting an annual spring Reformed Conference. First held in 1991 and continuing for more than fifteen years, the conference welcomed many prominent pastors and theologians, including Jerry Bridges, Dr. Derek Thomas, Dr. Michael Horton, Dr. James M. Boice, R.C. Sproul Jr., and Drs. John and Jonathan Gerstner. Over the years, these conferences helped establish Evangel as a center for Reformed teaching in Wichita and the surrounding area.
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 that the limitations of the existing facility were becoming increasingly apparent. The decision was made to add a second Sunday morning worship service, and the church began praying whether to expand our building or to seek a new location.
A New Church Home
In 2009, the building committee recommended purchasing a church property in west Wichita on the corner of Kellogg and 135th 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 congregation held its first worship service in Evangel’s current sanctuary. The new location provided greater visibility in the community and additional space for the congregation’s growing ministries.
Much has changed on campus 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.
Ministry in Recent Years
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.
At the end of 2025, Pastor Tim left Evangel after 27 years of ministry. This marks a significant season of transition in the life of the church. The congregation is now prayerfully seeking God’s guidance as we begin the process of calling our next senior pastor. In early 2026, an additional ruling elder and two deacons were ordained, strengthening the leadership of the congregation during this season of transition.
As we look toward the future, we remain committed to the same mission that has guided our church since its founding: faithfully proclaiming God’s Word and cultivating a congregation rooted in the historic Reformed faith.