Who we are
Jesus, before He ascended into heaven, gave the Church a singular mandate: Go and make disciples. Refuge Church (Previously known as Northwest Christian Church) has been seeking to make disciples of Jesus for over 30 years in northwest Wichita. The church has walked through multiple seasons of transition, and is now in a phase of rebuilding for the next 30 years. In many ways, the Lord is "replanting" this local body with fresh vision, and a renewed sense of passion for reaching as many as possible with the good news of Jesus. We would love to have you come and be a part of what He is doing!
our mission
There are countless questions we have to answer in our lives, but none is as important as this: "Who is Jesus?" We were created to know Him and walk in a relationship with Him. (John 17:3)
The mandate Jesus has given His followers (Matthew 28:18-20) is to see all of life as mission. We are called to continually grow in our knowledge of Him, to grow to become more like Him, and to help others do the same. We never "arrive". We pursue Him together and grow more and more into His image.
Knowing Jesus changes everything for us. When we come to know Him, we are invited in to the greatest story ever told, and we are invited to share that story with everyone we come into contact with. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
our vision
know jesus
Make Him known
make disciples
We are committed to knowing Jesus according to the Scriptures' definition of Knowledge (John 17:1-3). We want to know Him in reality based on the truth of His Word, and we want to know Him as friend in a deep intimate relationship.
We won't pick and choose between the authority of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14-17) and the necessity of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 14:1)
Jesus came from the Father full of complete grace and total truth (John 1:14). We want to emulate Him as best we can: meaning we will welcome all with grace, but stand firm on the reality of truth of the Gospel that calls all to repentance and faith.
As Jesus walked the earth, He went about proclaiming the Gospel in Word and demonstrating the realities of the Kingdom of God in deed (Matthew 9:35-38). We will be dedicated to the same thing: sharing the Gospel in Word and demonstrating Jesus' Kingdom in acts of love and service.
In the early church, we see a deep familial love for one another, and also a complete openness and welcoming attitude to any and all who desired to come and learn about who Jesus is and what He had done (Acts 2:42-47).
There is a tension in sharing the Gospel: We are absolutely and completely dependent upon the Spirit of God to bring a heart to life, but we are also totally responsible to go and share the Gospel. We will operate in this tension, obeying the command to go, and praying for God to do a work in bringing life to dead hearts. (Romans 10:14-15, Ephesians 2:4-5)
There is a debate raging nearly constantly in the church about what the right size of a gathering is and what is most effective in ministry: large corporate gatherings or small groups in a home. We will live like the early church: we will be faithful to gather together corporately for worship, and to develop deep community in small groups (Acts 2:46)
Does the Church need to seek to grow in maturity and in number in a specific location - or should the Church seek to be about multiplying and planting in order to see Gospel fruit borne? We believe the answer is simply Yes. We want to be faithful and steward everything God has given us to reach as many as possible in West Wichita, and we want to seek to multiply and plant disciples and churches to see the nations reached with the Good News of Jesus. (Acts 14:21-23)
Jesus has called us to be a "come and see" and "go and tell" church. We want to be open to inviting friends and family to come and encounter Him in the gathering of the local church, but we also want to be faithful to obey the Great Commission that calls us to go into our spheres of influence and take the Gospel with us. (Matthew 28:18-20, John 1:46)
our values
theology & Intimacy
word & spirit
Grace & Truth
proclamation & practice
Fellowship & Hospitality
obedience & dependence
Temple & Table
Maturation & Multiplication
Invitation & Incarnation
RCW believes that Jesus is the only "Senior Pastor" of the church (1 Peter 5:4). His established plan for the leadership of His Church is a group of servant-leaders called elders who shepherd local congregations following His example (1 Peter 5:1-4).
These are Biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) who work together in a plurality for the sake of accountability, operational functionality, and for the flourishing of the local church.
Staff, ministry leaders, or Deacons serve to help fulfill the needs of the church.
And ultimately, every member of RCW (and every believer) is responsible for making
disciples in their neighborhoods and network of relationships.
Refuge Church believes that Jesus is the only "Senior Pastor" of the church (1 Peter 5:4). His
established plan for the leadership of His Church is a group of servant-leaders called elders
who shepherd local congregations following His example (1 Peter 5:1-4).
These are Biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) who work together
in a plurality for the sake of accountability, operational functionality, and for the
flourishing of the local church.
Staff, ministry leaders, and Deacons (Acts 6) serve to help fulfill the needs of the church.
And ultimately, every member of Refuge Church (and every believer) is responsible for making
disciples in their neighborhoods and network of relationships.
leadership
Elders
Elders
Ted Berning | Jon Doak | Matt Webster | Randy Williams
Ted Berning
Jon Doak
Matthew Webster
Randy Williams
DEACONS
Darrell Hacker | Chad Mercer | Erica Webster
deacons
Darrell Hacker
Chad Mercer
Erica Webster
staff
Jon & his wife, Meg, have been married since 2010. Both born & raised in Southern California, they moved to the Wichita area in 2017 as Jon felt the call to full time ministry. Jon has been serving in local churches in some capacity since he was young. They have 4 rambunctious boys, Kayden, twins Declan and Hunter, and their precious, but feisty daughter Jonah.
Passionate about: Jesus, music, church history and hearing about God’s faithfulness and goodness in the lives of believers and sharing in the joys of salvation.
Favorite Scripture: Joshua 24:15
Jon Doak
PASTOR OF WORSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
Charisse has been married to Jacob since July of 2013, and they welcomed their amazing daughter in December of 2024. She has been serving as a worship leader at Refuge and in other churches for many years, and carries a heart to lead all generations to encounter the Lord through worship. She also serves as our children's ministry admin, and is a gifted teacher with years of experience working with children.
Passionate about: Growing in relationship with the Lord, my beautiful family, worshipping our loving, faithful Father, cooking, gardening, and canning.
Favorite Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6
Charisse Esparza
CHILDREN'S ADMIN & WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
Julie has been married to Adam since June of 2015, and they have three amazing kiddos! She is passionate about seeing the local church grow and thrive in Jesus, and carries a heart to serve and disciple towards that end. She leads our children's ministry alongside our kids admin, oversees our women's ministry at Refuge, and also leads our connection/host team ministries. Her heart to lead people towards a deeper relationship with Jesus is a blessing to our body!
Passionate about: The Triune God, theology, connecting with the community, playing with my kids, sitting on the porch with Adam, worship, painting/crafts, and roadtrips.
Favorite Verse: Psalm 40:11
FAMILY CONNECTIONS DIRECTOR
Julie Lutes
Randy has been married to Sadie since December 2008. They have five amazing kids that keep them on their toes, and any number of foster kiddos from time to time. He has been serving in ministry in various capacities since 2007, and has a heart to see the church firmly rooted in her identity in Jesus, and following Him in their homes, neighborhoods, and city.
Passionate about: Jesus, the Scriptures, his family, teaching, Wichita, and somewhere down the list...
the Kansas City Chiefs!
Favorite Scripture: Psalm 139:1-16
Randy Williams
