30 Years of Webster Community Church

By Rev. Brian Burkhart 

In January 1991, while pastoring at McLaurin Baptist Church, Tracy and I moved our young family to an acreage in the rural Webster area, about 35km north of Grande Prairie. We soon met other Christians there, who had a passion to see an outreach established in the community. A monthly Gospel Music Night was started in the old log hall, the only “public” building in the area. A Friday night youth group and Vacation Bible Schools in the summer followed. Then, Wednesday prayer meetings. By the summer of 1994, more and more people were asking if we couldn’t also offer church services. The leadership at McLaurin allowed me to be at Webster one Sunday per month.  

Those early services in the hall were attended by 30-40 individuals. The core group of local believers represented at least 5 different congregations (and denominations) from both Grande Prairie and Sexsmith (the closest town to Webster). A number of people had no previous church connection. It didn’t take long for people to ask if we could have a service every Sunday. In response, a steering committee was formed to look at the possibility of planting a church. Tracy and I were part of that committee but thought that we were only there to help the church get started, until one of the Webster ladies asked us to pray about pastoring this new work. We did pray, as did the people of Webster and our congregation at McLaurin. On March 1, 1996, we were commissioned by McLaurin to pack our bags and lead the newly incorporated Webster Community Church. 

The church continued to grow, and it soon became apparent that it would be great if we could have a building of our own, especially after several floor joists broke one Sunday morning—during a church service—in that old hall. One of the local farmers who had started attending (his wife had already been there from the get-go) donated 10 acres of land, and we started fundraising. In 2001, the church was built, debt-free, with our own labour. A highlight was a group of 19 Germans who came for 3 weeks to help during the main construction phase. 

Over the years, there have been many ministries that have helped to share the gospel in word and deed. For several years we had a preschool in the church. One of the preschool families started attending church, after which the husband made a commitment to Christ and was baptized. A summer soccer program saw up to 150 children and youth on the church property every week. A vibrant youth group not only ministers to youth, but mentors and disciples them to be in ministry. Care groups have been a vital component of church life, with over 50 adults and many children presently involved. A beautiful flower garden attracts hundreds of people annually, along with the county recycling bins and community mailboxes, which are also on church property. This year we celebrate 20 years of partnership with McLaurin and Rwanda through the CBM STEP program. Many mission trips have been made to Africa and Mexico. 

In recent years, a skating rink on our property has been extremely well used by both church goers and community members. Presently we’re in the process of exploring the possibility of some pickleball courts (initiated by community members), a commercial playgroup, and possibly a community garden. 

With regular attendance on Sundays now reaching up to 120 and more, we’re starting to look at the capacity issue. We're discussing options like expanding the building, going to two services, or starting a sister church nearby. 

A big transition is coming up this August: my retirement. Pastoral leadership is being passed to a younger, gifted individual. Joseph and his family have attended Webster for 8 years. He’s about the same age I was when we helped to start the church. The plan is for me to stick around as a volunteer and continue to mentor and support Joseph.  

Thirty years have gone by in the blink of an eye. Tracy and I have not been at the church for all of those years, only the first 18 with me as lead pastor, and then again, the past 2 as transitional pastor. God has been faithful to us as a congregation, and we look forward to the chapters yet to be written in the life of this body of believers.