Kansas Church Serving Rural Communities through Revitalization as Multiplication

Walking into the small Assemblies of God church in Larned, Kansas, Ryan Webster could not have imagined the ministry influence that was about to unfold in rural communities across the state.

A fourth-generation AG adherent, Webster felt called into the ministry at just 15 years old. After graduating from Evangel University, he worked as a professional counselor for four years before following the Lord’s leading into full-time pulpit ministry. In 2000, Webster and his wife took their first pastoral position as youth ministers and served faithfully for over three years. However, the couple quickly began to feel that their next role would be as senior pastors. 

After prayerfully searching for a church, the Websters became aware of Valley Community Church, formerly Larned Assembly of God, a congregation that needed revitalization in the small town of Larned. With a small 2,000-square-foot building and regular attendance of about 20, the Websters began to seek God’s will concerning the church. While the pair had always had a heart for church planting, they had not given much thought to revitalization. Yet, in obedience, the Websters accepted the position.  

“I told God I would give the church at least 20 years, the best years of my life, but that I wanted to be able to raise my kids in this church,” says Webster. “God honored that and all three of my kids grew up at Valley Community Church.”

In 2011, eight years into his pastorate, Webster began driving in a 60-mile radius around Larned, praying for the small communities and dreaming what God might be able to do in them. As a photography hobbyist, Webster also began taking photographs of the water towers or grain elevators that bore the names of the communities through which he drove.

“I took the photos back to the church, hung them on the wall, and we began praying over the smaller communities that surrounded us,” he says. “I believe that is when God birthed the vision for our church to do what He has been empowering us to do.”

In November of 2017, the church started a capital campaign to build a new facility that would accommodate the church’s growth. Yet in the middle of the COVID pandemic, many things were put on hold regarding the construction. Webster describes that season as a “holding pattern” from the Holy Spirit.

Assemblies of God Kansas Ministry Network Superintendent Nathan Sheridan says, “Ryan has walked through seasons of leadership that could have crippled many others. Instead of breaking, he chose to become tender before the Lord. That tenderness produced humility, openness, and a steady strength that God is now using far beyond his local context.”  

As he managed rising construction prices to the tune of an extra $1 million and delayed advancement, he was “shocked” when he felt God asking him if he was willing to plant a new church while building the new facility.

Though uncertain, yet completely reliant on the Lord, Webster said, “I am willing.”

Not long after, Webster was contacted by a church in a rural community 20 miles west of Larned whose population was only 220 people. The church had broken away from its former denomination and was seeking spiritual covering and family. Though its weekly attendance was less than 15 people, it was the last remaining church in the community, and they knew that God was calling them forward to greater things.

Through prayer, conversations, and theological dialogue, the church officially asked to become an AG campus of the church.

On September 3rd, of 2023, Valley Community Church launched its first multisite campus. One week later, on September 10th, the church held its first service in the newly finished building.

This year, Webster was again asked to take on another church as a third campus in the same scenario. Just 60 miles away in a rural community, a newer church plant without senior leadership has officially found spiritual family with Valley Community Church.

“Last week, I had another call about adding a fourth church to our campus. Our goal is to continue looking out for communities smaller than Larned, helping revitalize rural churches that are in need of support to continue reaching their community,” says Webster.

He continues, “There are opportunities out there that people may not truly understand. We aren’t out to ‘take over’ churches, we want as many rural communities as possible to have healthy, life giving churches.”

There have been an additional seven offers presented to Webster for revitalization opportunities in recent years.

For Webster, building healthy churches also means building up healthy leaders. He and his team have created a culture of investing in the next generation which has resulted in every single pastor within their church growing from the pew into the pulpit. “We can’t do this without a team,” Webster says, “and we want to be intentional in building that team.”

“The Lord is entrusting him with opportunities that only Heaven could orchestrate” Sheridan says. “As a Network, we have been praying for the bold vision of planting 15 churches in 5 years. I assumed it would happen in the traditional way. But God had other plans.”

Sheridan added, “I honor Pastor Ryan Webster. His faithfulness has strengthened our Network. His resilience has encouraged our pastors. And his obedience is helping reshape the spiritual landscape of western Kansas.”

Reflecting on the past 22 years of blessing, Webster is thankful that God has grown Valley Community Church into a vibrant hub of ministry and the launching point of a growing multisite movement that is breathing new life into rural communities.