Westgate Chapel is a non-denominational, cell-based church. We have Worship Services at our building, the Westgate Training Center in Chantilly, Virginia. We also have home cell groups in many locations in Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.
While we're not part of a major denomination, we are affiliated with DOVE Christian Fellowship International, a family of cell-based churches all over the world. DCFI provides us with support and accountability.
Every church has a unique personality and certain things that make it special. Below are several points of interest that define the vision of Westgate Chapel...
Discipleship is a Priority
Many churches focus on making "attendees" or "converts". But in Matthew 28, the Great Commission, Jesus told us to make disciples. At Westgate Chapel, we see being a disciple as a lifelong process that is worked out in the context of close relationships. While we value teaching from the pulpit, we don't expect one-way teaching alone to create changed lives. Rather than pour all our time and resources into elaborate events and performances, we focus on experiential learning and spiritual mentoring; usually in the context of small groups.
We Have Room for Leaders
Many churches have very few opportunities to exercise leadership gifts. Being discipleship-focused rather than event- and program-focused gives us unlimited opportunities for believers with leadership gifts to use and develop them. Many of our members have come from churches where they felt stagnated by the lack of opportunities to lead. If you'd like to start a Bible Study, a home cell group, or plant a church, that's great! Our pastor and elders are not threatened by initiative and energy. We have an authority structure and training to support leaders-in-training.
We Operate in Spiritual Gifts with Grace and Excellence
God still speaks to people. I never met a pastor yet who wasn't "called" to the ministry. If God still "calls" pastors, then I'm confident that He still speaks to others in many ways.
God also still performs miracles and does many things we don't understand. Now we all have seen excess and "flaky" behavior among people claiming to br influenced by the Holy Spirit. This excess has caused many churches to shy away from anything that appears to be outside our normal suburban existence. But in my opinion, to do that is to deny what makes the Christian experience unique and exciting above normal life.
At Westgate Chapel, we study miracles, healings, prophecy, and spiritual gifts with an open mind AND an open Bible. We try not to put limits on what God can do, but we also take care to discern and judge what is genuine and what is not. We have seen many wonderful manifestations of God's presence; some very dramatic and many that were very quiet and understated.
The home cell group provides a great, safe place to ask questions about such potentially confusing topics. This is also the perfect place to practice and learn about such things as prophecy and healing.
Every Member REALLY is a Minister, and Vice Versa
I, the Founding Pastor of this church, deliberately have a job in the "for-profit" world in addition to being the founder and vision-keeper of this church. (see 1 Thessalonians 2:9) One of the main reasons I do this is to make a statement that ministry is not just for professionals with seminary degrees. Every disciple can and should see themselves as a minister.
At our church, it's common to see one of our cell leaders or elders preaching on a Sunday morning. We have many well-educated, passionate, gifted speakers. It's even more common to see one of our members praying for someone at their workplace or speaking a prophetic word over a business decision. We take Ephesians 4:11-12 very seriously. The job of apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists is to EQUIP THE SAINTS TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, not to hog the ministry duties themselves. If you join our church, plan on growing in your ministry gifts and using them our in the world that needs them so desperately.
What Kind of People Are Not Attracted to Westgate Chapel?
If you're looking for impressive, elaborate services, lots of programs, and fascinating teaching that has no practical application, there are other places that you'd enjoy more. We are also just not the place to sneak in and out on a Sunday morning without being noticed. People here get noticed, accepted, cared for, tranformed, and sent out to serve. If that doesn't appeal to you, run away quickly.
What Kind of People Are Attracted to Westgate Chapel?
We attract people of all nationalities, and all stages of spiritual growth who seriously want to grow as a Christian and as a human being. From the un-churched to seasoned Christian leaders, we see people who are looking for real growth and real relationships. If you are looking for more from the Christian Life than a weekly meeting and theological head-knowledge; If you're not afraid to get involved in the lives of other imperfect people who need help and have help to give; If you're longing for a home that will help you identify your gifts and talents and encourage you to fulfill God's calling on your life, then you really need to drop by.