Lochlan had always dreamed of raising a family on his family’s farm. During his high school years, he and his dad even built a cabin there for his future family.

The cabin is finished, and Lochlan is now married. Yet he and his wife felt called to set aside that dream and move to St. Albans, West Virginia, to join the launch team of Radiant Church, a new Acts 29 church plant launching this month.

Lochlan’s story is just one example of how God faithfully laid the groundwork and built the team that church planter Ryan Bandy needed as he prepared to plant.

In a city once known as the “city of churches,” where many church buildings now sit vacant, Radiant is equipping people like Lochlan to bring the gospel into their neighborhoods.

Ryan shared, “We have a year-one goal of 300 gospel conversations—equipping the church to share the gospel, then nudging them to go for it. If we’re all living as sent missionaries (not just me), there is no ceiling on what the Lord can and will do.”

That vision is already taking shape, as a men’s discipleship group that began last winter with four men now regularly draws more than 30.

Acts 29 has walked alongside Ryan as he has prepared to plant, providing practical guidance, theological clarity, and accountability through the church planter assessment process.

“The process is second to none,” Ryan says. “It restored in me something that was broken. It wasn’t just a test for me to pass. It was a significant milestone in our ministry.”

Today, Lochlan and his wife are active on the launch team and rent a home just three blocks from the church building. Ryan says their presence has been a tremendous blessing in this season. 

As Radiant begins its ministry, the church is praying that it will live up to its name—shining the light of Christ throughout St. Albans and beyond.