Connecting Ordinary People with an Extraordinary God
DOVE Westgate Church sits on West Main Street in Ephrata, in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The congregation describes itself as a non-denominational, contemporary family of believers made up of ordinary people who have discovered new life in Jesus Christ. Their stated mission is to transform their community and the world by connecting people with God and one another, unleashing God's extraordinary love with the healing, freedom, and hope available to all through Jesus Christ.
"DOVE" is an acronym for "Declaring Our Victory Emmanuel," and Westgate is part of a wider network called DOVE International, with churches on six continents and in hundreds of locations worldwide. While that broader movement gives the church a global family, the heartbeat of DOVE Westgate is local: small groups, prayer gatherings, kids' ministry, and outreach to neighbors in the Ephrata area.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
The church gathers for worship every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM at 1755 W. Main Street. Services are contemporary in style, with the worship team describing its goal as inspiring the church family to encounter God not only by singing songs together on a Sunday morning, but also by daily living out a lifestyle of adoration, surrender, and praise. Worshipers can expect a relaxed atmosphere where no one has to worry about what to say, do, or wear. Songs of praise, clapping, and raising hands are part of the experience, alongside quieter moments of singing hymns and psalms and times of reflection.
The 9:30 AM service is livestreamed each week on Vimeo for those who want to worship from home. The service is also recorded, and a sermon archive, testimonies, and additional media resources are available online. RightNow Media is provided as a library of Bible studies and small group lessons.
Before the service, families are invited to gather at 8:45 AM in the Conference Room for a pre-service gathering. The Gathering Grounds Cafe is open before and after the 9:30 AM service, serving lattes, mochas, chai, iced coffee, hot tea, and pastries.
Kid's Track: Infants Through Fifth Grade
Kid's Track is the children's ministry for infants through fifth grade, led by Kid's Track Director Joy Smith. Families begin the 9:30 AM service together in the auditorium. After a portion of corporate worship, children are dismissed to their classrooms, where parents pick them up after the service. On 5th Sundays, kids in Pre-K through fifth grade attend a special "Roundhouse" service held in the Gym; younger children proceed to their usual classes those days.
The church takes child safety seriously. Every Kid's Track volunteer carries a current state-required background check, at least two volunteers are in every classroom, and a check-in system is used for every child. A private nursing mother's room with a closed-circuit TV viewing of the service is also available.
Throughout the year, Kid's Track hosts Family Day, Harvest Fest, Vacation Bible School, and an annual Christmas program. Westgate also supports active Trail Life and American Heritage Girls troops that share the building on Monday evenings.
Launch and Elevate: Junior and Senior High
Westgate offers two distinct youth ministries. Launch is the junior high ministry for grades 6 through 8, meeting on the first, second, and third Sundays of each month during the 9:30 AM service, so youth can join the rest of the congregation on the fourth and fifth Sundays. Launch also meets once a month for "Invasion Nights" on fourth Friday evenings. Launch is directed by Allan and Trish Day, who describe it as a platform to give young people a running start from childhood into adulthood, teaching them important truths about life and about God.
Elevate is the senior high ministry for grades 9 through 12, directed by Youth Director Ellis Martin. Elevate meets every Sunday night at 7:00 PM in the auditorium, with open gym at 6:00 PM. The group's stated goal is to empower young leaders to thrive by answering the call of God on their lives, with retreat weekends and an annual EMT (Evangelistic Missions Training) held each July.
Young Adults and Small Groups
Young Adults is the career and college-age ministry, led by Wes and Juliana Dudley. Young Adult Small Groups meet weekly, with retreats and community outreach sprinkled throughout the year. The goal is to give young adults the tools and vision for their journey in Christ and to help launch them as leaders into a life of purpose and discipleship.
Small Groups sit at the very heart of DOVE Westgate's ministry. The church describes them as crucial in providing opportunities for connection, fellowship, growth, and laughter with fellow Westgate brothers and sisters in Christ, along with the experience and joy of building relationships and serving together. Groups meet at various times and locations throughout the week. Joining a Small Group is presented as the ideal launching point for getting plugged in at Westgate. Pastor Scott Greiner oversees the ministry, and a long list of open-enrollment groups is available through the church's online directory.
Men's Ministry and Women of Westgate
Men's Ministry, led by Pastor Scott Greiner, gathers for breakfast each Tuesday at 6:00 AM at Gus' Family Restaurant in Ephrata. Other events include motorcycle rides, a Men's Grill & Chill, and an annual Men's Retreat each January.
Women of Westgate (WOW) is the women's ministry, directed by Paula Horst. WOW offers an annual retreat in March, mentor groups, Bible studies, personal growth classes, and day trip events, plus daily connection through a private Facebook page.
For moms with young children, Purses & Pacifiers meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the Cove, offering a relaxed setting for mothers and their littles to connect and build friendships.
Families, Freedom, and Prayer
Family Ministries, overseen by Pastor Wes Dudley, actively advocates for strong families with parents equipped to take primary leadership in their children's spiritual journeys. Freedom Ministries, directed by Sue Snavely, is an inner healing and deliverance prayer ministry for those looking for hope and freedom from past wounds and ongoing struggles.
Prayer Ministry is led by Pastor Chris Tangert. In addition to multiple prayer and worship nights throughout the year, the church hosts two weekly prayer gatherings: Tuesdays at 12:00 PM in the Prayer Room and Fridays at 6:00 AM in the Cove. The church describes itself simply as a praying church, believing there is power in connecting to God in prayer individually and corporately.
Daytimers, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life
Daytimers is the 60-plus ministry at Westgate. Directed by Lester Eberly, the group meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 10:00 AM, with additional Young at Heart luncheons held throughout the year. Its vision is to be an example to younger members of faithfulness and perseverance.
American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered character and leadership development program for girls ages 5 to 18, meeting on Mondays at 6:30 PM at Westgate. The troop is led by Krista Cruz. Trail Life Troop PA-0221 is the parallel Christ-centered, boy-focused mentoring program, meeting on Mondays at 6:30 PM under director Jason Breckbill.
Local Outreach Across Lancaster County
Local Outreach, directed by Pastors Daniel and Luzanne Esmeraldo, keeps Westgate engaged with its neighbors in tangible ways. Throughout the year the church runs food drives, an Easter egg hunt, the annual Harvest Fest, family movie nights, outreach meals, and the delivery of Thanksgiving baskets to individuals and families in need.
World Missions: Brazil, Guyana, and Beyond
Westgate partners with missionaries in Germany, Brazil, Guyana, Mayreau, Kenya, and Switzerland, sending teams to serve through work projects and community outreach. Past teams have helped rebuild the YWAM base in Mayreau in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. The missions program is overseen by Pastor Wes Dudley, with periodic short-term trips serving both youth and multi-generational teams alongside DOVE network churches overseas.
The Pastoral and Ministry Team
Deryl Hurst has been part of the Westgate Church family for over 40 years and has served in a variety of roles, including Small Group Leader, Usher, Elder, and Executive Pastor, before becoming Senior Pastor in 2011. He serves alongside his wife, Mim.
The pastoral team includes Wes Dudley (Executive Pastor, with oversight of Children and Family, Missions, and Young Adults), Scott Greiner (Associate Pastor overseeing Small Groups, Men's Ministry, Prophetic Ministries, Hospitality, and Freedom Ministries), Luzanne Esmeraldo (Associate Pastor overseeing Events, Local Outreach, and Women's Ministry), Daniel Esmeraldo (Associate Pastor overseeing Worship and Local Outreach), Linden Sommers (Director of Operations with oversight of administrative, financial, operational, and human resource functions), and Chris Tangert (Associate Pastor overseeing the Community Events Team, Deacon's Team, Visitation, Small Group Ministry Team, and Prayer Ministry). The Elder Team includes Alex and Chelsey Hurst, Emily and Keith Neff, Mim and Deryl Hurst, Duane and Diane Ringler, and Pat and Tina Zimmerman.
What We Believe
DOVE Westgate's statement of faith begins with belief in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The church teaches that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, performed miracles, redeemed humanity through his atoning death and shed blood, rose from the dead, and will personally return in power and glory. The Holy Spirit is described as having inspired the writers of Scripture, dwelling inside each believer, and empowering believers through the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
The Bible is held to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. The church teaches that every person is born in sin and incapable of saving themselves, and that salvation comes only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, as a free gift of God's grace. Water baptism is practiced as a symbol of dying to one's old self and being resurrected anew, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is available to all believers who desire it. The church is described as a body of believers brought together by the Holy Spirit as a visible part of the body of Christ, faithfully proclaiming the whole Word of God.
Visiting DOVE Westgate
The church is located at 1755 W. Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number is 717-721-3775, and the general email address is info@dwchurch.org.
Visitors are welcomed at the 9:30 AM Sunday service. The livestream is available on Vimeo, and previous messages are archived online. Giving can be done online through the church's giving platform, by cash or check during the service, by mail, or by texting to 84321. DOVE Westgate Church is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.