History & Vision

Our History

By the summer of 1978, a group of Christian families had concluded that God was calling them to pioneer a new Presbyterian congregation in the Bryan/College Station area. Through prayer and some remarkable providence, the group contacted the Presbyterian Church in America, a denomination that shared their desire for Bible-based family nurture, zeal for contemporary missions, and faithfulness to historic Presbyterian convictions.

The families contacted the denomination’s Mission to North America, which led to an informal meeting with Rev. Donald C. Graham in a Bryan home. Graham became the organizing pastor. Having previously met in homes on Sunday evenings, the emerging church first met for public worship in All Faiths Chapel in October 1978. On January 28, 1979, a group of forty-eight officially became Westminster Presbyterian Church, a part of the Presbytery of Texas, Presbyterian Church of America. Graham faithfully served Westminster through June 1980, when he retired.

The church then called Rev. Al LaCour to be their pastor. The church met in rented facilities until July 1982. On September 12, 1982, the current building was dedicated. Al LaCour served Westminster until May 1986. In July 1986, the church called Rev. John Ragland to be their pastor. In July 1988, the vision for growth came to fruition when the church called Rev. Legree Finch to be their associate pastor. In March 1996, John Ragland accepted a call to Hope Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia. Rev. Scott Wilkinson became Pastor in June 1997 and Rev. Shawn Dowd accepted a call to be associate pastor in 1999. In 2001, we dedicated a new buidling which added much needed office and classroom space. In May 2002, Shawn Doud accepted a call to plant a church in Canada. In December 2002, Scott Wilkinson accepted a call to plant a church in North Carolina. Rev. Wade Coleman became the church’s pastor in August 2003.

Our Vision

By the grace of Almighty God and the power of His Gospel, Westminster Presbyterian Church is committed to making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bryan/College Station and all nations that the Lord our God be glorified and enjoyed forever.

“making disciples of all nations”

Westminster Presbyterian Church
3333 Oak Ridge Dr
Bryan, TX 77803
979.776.1185

cross

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

Our Purpose

Westminster Presbyterian Church exists to worship, honor and glorify the one true God in the persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to equip believers in Christ for the works of service and obedience for the glory of God, and to present the gospel to Bryan/College Station and to the nations.

Our Priorities

Our biblically based (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47) vision as a reformed, evangelical congregation to fulfill this purpose will be, with prayer and guidance of the Holy Spirit to focus on:

  • Exalting God in Worship – Our priority is to glorify the Triune God with worship which is according to Scripture and heralds Christ. This is the ministry of Worship.
  • Evangelizing the sinner in need of Christ – Our priority is to share the gospel with those in need of salvation in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. This is the ministry of Evangelism.
  • Enfolding the believer into the Church – Our priority is to assimilate believers into the membership and ministry of WPC. This is the ministry of Shepherding
  • Edifying believers in the knowledge and truth of Scripture – Our priority is to develop a Biblical world and life view which informs every belief, attitude and action of the believer. This is the ministry of Christian Education.
  • Establishing believers deeply in Christ – Our priority is to strengthen believers at WPC in their faith and walk with Christ Jesus at WPC. This is the ministry of Discipleship.
  • Enabling believers to grow stronger in Community – The priority is to enable believers to realize and embrace their need for one another in the body of Christ. This is the ministry of Fellowship.
  • Equipping believers for works of service – The priority is to send believers into the ministry of Christ’s kingdom in order to advance the gospel within to our community and the nations. This is the ministry of Missions.

Our Principles

Our Profession Our Practices
1. Biblical Worship We believe the Lord has called us to worship him as directed in the Scripture in Spirit and truth by the means of grace He has ordained. (John 4:24)
2. Biblical Preaching Our commitment is to the expository preaching and teaching of God’s Word which is God’s absolute authority and revealed will as our only rule for Faith and practice. We believe the Word of God is to govern the whole life of the believer. (II Tim. 3:16)
3. Biblical Theology We are committed to the development of Biblically informed people who embrace the truth of God’s Word. We believe the best understanding of the Bible is found in the Reformation tradition and summed up in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism. (Col. 2:6-8, Titus 2:1)
4. Biblical Understanding of the Gospel We believe the gospel is the heart of Christianity. The cross of Christ stands at the center of redemptive history. Our salvation was accomplished in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has loved sinners at the cost of his Son. Salvation is received by grace through faith in Christ alone. Christ’s perfect righteousness is substituted for our sinfulness. (Eph. 2:1-11)
5. Biblical Understandingof Evangelism We are called to be ambassadors of Christ and to share the transforming message of the gospel in our families, church, communities, and the world. We are committed to the reconciliation of sinners to God. We believe in freely sharing the gospel and trusting God to convert a people unto Himself. We are committed to cultivating a gospel embracing and gospel sharing people. (II Cor. 5:11-21)
6. Biblical Understanding of Discipleship We are committed to every believer being an active follower and servant of Jesus Christ. We believe the church must be committed to the nurture and equipping of every saint through the Holy Spirit and the Word. The goal is for every believer to strive after God-honoring holiness. (Matt. 28:18-20, Eph. 4:11-13)
7. Biblical Understanding of Mutual Accountability We are a body of believers united under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As a community of redeemed sinners we acknowledge our need for the guidance of God’s Word, submission to godly leadership, and mutual encouragement of fellow believers. (Eph. 5:21, Heb. 13:7-8, 17)
8. Biblical Understanding of Church Government We believe in the Presbyterian Form of Church Government which is ruled by plurality of elders. We are associated with the Presbyterian Church in America, and we are governed, guided and guarded by the Book of Church Order of our denomination. (Acts 15)
9. Biblical Understanding of the Family Our commitment is to promote the biblical pattern of marriage, Christ-centered families and the purposeful development of godliness within the home. (Deut. 6:5-28, Eph. 5:20-6:4)
10. Biblical Pattern of Prayer We acknowledge that we are a dependent people and that we must seek God in all we do. Therefore, we will seek to develop a praying people in worship, work, witness and warfare for the glory of God. We believe our prayers must be grounded in Scripture and submissive to his holy will for our families, church, community and the nations. (Matt. 6:9-13, I Thes. 5:17)
11. Biblical Pattern of Mercy We believe the Scripture calls us to unfold mercy to those in spiritual and physical need. We believe that God has ordained the church to minister to the community holistically in the name of Christ. (Luke 10:25-37, James 1:27)

Westminster Presbyterian Church