Church of the Living God Galveston serves the island community from 3315 7 Mile Road on Galveston's West End, at the end of the Seawall, and from a Downtown campus in the heart of the city. It is known for its Be like Jesus vision, contemporary worship, family-focused gatherings and a wide network of groups that connect people through study, prayer and service. Its story carries a distinct local identity: the church began with a West End tent, grew into a permanent 7 Mile Road congregation and now carries an outward emphasis into Galveston through groups and teams serving beyond the church walls.
Sunday Together on 7 Mile Road
Regular gatherings at 7 Mile Road include Sunday worship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday worship at 7:00 p.m. The 11:00 a.m. Sunday and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday services are livestreamed on YouTube. A Saturday 5:00 p.m. worship gathering meets at the Downtown campus, 2222 Postoffice in Galveston. Together, these services form the weekly rhythm around which the church organizes worship, children, groups and connection.
At 7 Mile Road, a service is designed to take about 90 minutes. It begins with vibrant contemporary worship, includes time for personal prayer and moves into Bible-based teaching with practical insights for everyday life. The congregation includes people from diverse backgrounds and denominations united by love for Jesus. Coffee is available in the sanctuary.
The church makes a point of describing its atmosphere as relaxed and welcoming. Whatever someone wears, they will not be judged for their clothes, tattoos or past. Casual slacks and a polo, or a comfortable pair of shorts and a shirt, all fit the congregation. The new parking lot at 7 Mile Road offers a choice of spaces, and visitors may take whichever one they prefer.
A First Visit Without the Awkwardness
Visitors who prefer not to arrive alone can use Plan Your Visit. A church host meets them at the front door, introduces them to church members, helps check in any children, gives a tour of the building and saves a seat in service. The visit also includes an introduction to Pastor Trey and Marlo Dowdy, with the aim of making a first Sunday feel smooth, personal and easy for the whole family.
The church's approach is intentionally low-pressure. There are no confusing church phrases to decode and no judgment about tattoos, dress or a difficult past. Visitors can wear whatever they want, drink coffee in the sanctuary, hear a sermon from Pastor Trey and meet people who can help them find a place in the church. A visit is also a practical orientation for families: the host helps with child check-in, answers questions and gives families time to take in the building before the service.
At 7 Mile Road, the welcome process starts before the service with a KidCheck station available and a hospitality team ready to help families. The 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday services give families a choice of arrival times, while the Wednesday gathering includes the high school group. The aim is simple: a first-time guest can focus on worship and relationships rather than church procedure.
From a West End Tent to Two Galveston Campuses
Church of the Living God Galveston was founded in 1976 by Pastors Robert and Doris Dowdy in a cozy shotgun house in Galveston. Its early character was shaped by the fervor of the Jesus Revolution that swept across America in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The founders carried that spirit of revival into Galveston, first gathering in rented buildings around town and then holding a tent meeting on the West End.
The tent gathering continued for two years and became the bridge to a permanent home. The church purchased land on 7 Mile Road and built its first church there as the congregation expanded. By 1997, growth required the sanctuary to be doubled. In fall 2018, the church launched its Downtown campus to extend its evangelistic emphasis into the heart of the city. A building remodel at 7 Mile Road was completed in summer 2023, reshaping the main worship and gathering space for a flourishing congregation.
Pastor Trey and Marlo Dowdy have led the church for more than 15 years. Pastor Trey is described as having a heart for teaching righteousness and seeing true change in Galveston. Their shared vision remains Be like Jesus: Re-present Jesus wherever we go.
Jesus Kids, Nursery Through 12th Grade
Jesus Kids serves children from nursery through 12th grade and meets during every service at 7 Mile Road. Classrooms are organized by grade and taught by trained Jesus Kids volunteers who want children to learn about Jesus in a fun, engaging setting. Children experience age-appropriate lessons about God and His love, with interactive teaching designed for different learning styles. The stated goal is for children to understand who Jesus is and how they can be like Jesus.
Safety is built into the children's program. Every volunteer is screened with a background check, the kids' hallway is monitored by security personnel and security cameras are used. Families use KidCheck for check-in and can create an account and pre-register a child by searching for Galveston. Check-in begins at 8:40 a.m. for the 9:00 service and at 10:40 a.m. for the 11:00 service. The high school group gathers during the Wednesday 7:00 p.m. service.
The program is designed to feel like a complete children's service rather than a supervised breakaway. It includes fun activities, engaging worship music, Bible lessons, games, prizes and free candy. The hospitality team greets first-time families, directs them to check-in and answers questions so parents know where their children are and what they will experience.
Six-Week Groups for Every Season of Life
Jesus Groups, also called home groups, are the backbone of the church's discipleship and community life. Groups for all ages connect people to one another, invite them to go deeper in the Bible and put faith into action as the hands and feet of Jesus. Each gathering lasts one hour and runs for six weeks, with sessions in winter, spring and fall. Meetings take place at the church, in local coffee shops and neighborhoods, off the island and online.
The group roster includes:
- Sundays: Davidic Dudes for young adult men at 1:00 p.m.; Servants of the King for men at 6:00 p.m.; Gate Keepers for new members at 6:00 p.m.; and Miriam's Mosh Pit for young adult women at 6:00 p.m.
- Mondays: The Restored and As Iron Sharpens Iron at 6:30 p.m., both centered on healing, identity, Scripture and mutual support.
- Tuesdays: Cornerstones, Rooted & Flourishing for singles, Bethel Beauties for women and The Word Warriors at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays: Esther's Tribe for women at 11:30 a.m. and Lampstand for seasoned believers at 1:00 p.m.
- Thursdays: West End Warriors at 6:00 p.m. and Yaweh's Island Crew at 6:30 p.m.
- Fridays: New Creation in person at 6:00 p.m. and Higher Ups online at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturdays: Downtown Disciples at 7:00 p.m. in the Downtown campus area.
Those names reflect different emphases. Davidic Dudes encourages men to stand firm in faith and serve with courage; Gate Keepers creates a welcoming place for new members through discipleship, friendship and prayer; Miriam's Mosh Pit combines worship, discipleship, sisterhood and action; and The Restored focuses on identity in Christ and spiritual renewal. Rooted & Flourishing gives single adults a multigenerational community for faith, service and everyday life together.
Other groups carry similarly distinct purposes. Cornerstones describes members as being restored by the Holy Spirit and calls them to uphold one another through prayer and sacrificial love. Bethel Beauties centers on women embracing their God-given purpose, while The Word Warriors is committed to standing firm in God's Word and helping people become disciples. West End Warriors uses faith, prayer and Scripture as tools for spiritual warfare. Yaweh's Island Crew gathers as a church family for rest, encouragement and growth. New Creation carries the church's Be like Jesus vision with identity, healing and the Holy Ghost at its center, and Higher Ups encourages people to pursue their calling and reflect God's glory in every part of life.
Young adults ages 18 to 30 also gather throughout the month for social events, Bible studies, volunteer work and outreach. Their groups are designed not only to study but to become active in the mission of the church.
A Downtown Gathering and a Church Without Walls
The Downtown campus is part of the church's 2018 expansion into the heart of Galveston. Its Saturday 5:00 p.m. worship gathering and the Saturday 7:00 p.m. Downtown Disciples group give the city center a regular place for worship and community. Downtown Disciples is focused on making disciples and bringing hope, love and the message of salvation to urban neighbors.
That outward movement is central to the church's identity. The leaders describe the church as a community without walls, drawing on the call of Jesus to go beyond the church to reach people who are lost or broken. The aim is to extend grace, offer hope in Jesus Christ and see the city changed in the spirit of the church in Acts. Groups and serving teams therefore reach beyond the church buildings rather than keeping their ministry within them.
Beach baptisms give that Galveston setting a distinctive expression. New believers and those re-dedicating their lives to Jesus gather after the 11:00 a.m. service, then walk across the street to the beach or ride a shuttle. Participants and families cross FM 3005 together under the direction of the church's transportation team, with a baptism team stationed at the beach to help those taking part. The church describes baptism as an outward expression of what God is doing inwardly, followed by opportunities to remain connected through groups, serving and the life of the church.
At the church, participants and their families first gather in the parking lot near the mailbox after the 11:00 service. Team members in reflective vests mark the meeting point at the beach, where Jesus flags make the group easy to find. The shuttle returns riders to the church's front entrance. Participants are encouraged to bring comfortable clothes for the water, a towel and drinking water, and extra towels and water are available.
Be Like Jesus: Vision, Goal and Foundation
Church of the Living God Galveston is not affiliated with a specific denomination. It describes itself as a Christ-centered, Bible-based and Spirit-filled church, and it holds that the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God and the standard instruction for living life.
Its vision is Be like Jesus: Re-present Jesus wherever we go. Its goal is the transformation of people. The foundation is stated in three words: Identity, Healing, Holy Ghost. The church understands its members as children of God, believes healing still happens today and emphasizes a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. It also teaches that the righteousness of God makes people holy, blameless and restored in God's sight.
Community is not an added activity but part of the theology of the church. The congregation describes itself as a community of believers in which fellowship draws people closer to God and one another. The image of iron sharpening iron expresses the conviction that relationships help people grow stronger. The transformation pursued in worship is meant to continue in society, schools and workplaces as people carry their faith into daily life.
More Than 20 Ways to Serve
The church counts more than 20 ministry teams, with opportunities to serve both inside the church and beyond its walls. A monthly Welcome Party at 7 Mile Road is the clearest introduction to that path. Held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., it covers the church's history and vision, tours the campus and introduces the more than 20 teams. It is also where people are encouraged to recognize their gifts and consider how those gifts can be used in ministry.
The Welcome Party is also open to people who have attended once or for several months. It explains the heart behind the mission, gives a tour and helps each person consider a next step in community, purpose and service.
The serving culture is closely tied to discipleship. The church's stated intention is to use what God has given each person to strengthen fellowship, help others and work toward the mission of transforming people and society. Young adults contribute through volunteer work and outreach, and the same outward posture informs the Downtown campus and the church's beach baptism gatherings.
Marriage Support and Practical Giving
Marriage support is offered through The Path Marriage Seminar, a series of practical, engaging videos for married couples, dating couples and single adults. The teaching is designed to help couples move forward with clarity, connection and purpose, while singles can prepare intentionally for the future. Phillip and Laura Baker lead the series, whose central message is that a healthy marriage is built intentionally over time.
Giving is available through Flocknote and PayPal, and checks can be mailed to the church at 3315 7 Mile Road. The church connects giving to worship and stewardship rather than presenting it only as an expense of operating the church. Its giving statement emphasizes faithful stewardship, ethical business practices and accountability to the lead team, with the larger aim of lives changed through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the region and beyond.
Across the week at Church of the Living God Galveston, worship leads into teaching, children learn in Jesus Kids, people gather in groups for six weeks at a time, and serving carries the church beyond its walls. The through line is the church's Be like Jesus vision: people encounter God in worship, become like Jesus through community and transformation, and re-present Jesus wherever they go.