casa de fe Update

Casa de Fe (CDF) is the Spanish-speaking congregation of WestGate Church (WG), serving first- and second-generation Spanish-speaking individuals and families. What began as an independent church searching for a location in 2015 became a beautiful partnership when, through a friendship between Andy Barron and the WG leadership team, CDF merged with WG in January 2016, launching a season of shared ministry.

WG is one church with multiple congregations across different locations. This model allows us to share a unified vision, mission, and values while leveraging our collective strengths and resources to serve local communities more effectively. Practically, it means our congregations work from the same ministry philosophy and strategy. While this approach isn’t the only approach, it’s the way we’ve felt called to play our part in God’s greater work in Silicon Valley in this season.

In the Summer of 2024 WG elders and leadership team - including members of both WG and CDF - observed our two churches embracing distinct ministry strategies in order to best serve our congregations. As an independent church, CDF will shape its own vision, mission, values, strategies and ministry approach to thrive as a unique expression of God's Kingdom while still maintaining a deep and cherished relationship with WG.

No, this decision was not based on any relational/or political issues. There has been and continues to be a strong, loving, and supportive relationship between CDF and WG, amongst our leadership teams and our congregations. This transition is a way to empower CDF to thrive while ensuring WG can continue to serve its congregations well. The congregants of CDF and WG are brothers and sisters invited together into the family of God and we celebrate the unique calling God has placed on our two churches.

CDF will officially become an independent church in September 2025.

As an independent church, CDF will establish its own elder board, leadership team, and ministry structure and strategies, as well as a distinct vision, mission, and values.

The CDF leadership team is exploring a few options. 

WG has offered for CDF to continue gathering at the South Hills campus if they’d like with a lease agreement that provides meaningful support, including a significantly reduced rate (essentially at no cost in the first year), to ensure financial sustainability as CDF transitions back into an independent church. In this case, CDF would gather on Sunday afternoons, following WG South Hills’ morning services, with the added benefit of allowing second-generation and bilingual congregants the option of attending both services if they’d like.

CDF leadership is also open to prayerfully exploring a new meeting location should the right opportunity arise. While WG would grieve the loss of proximity to our CDF brothers and sisters, we are collectively praying that God guides CDF in whichever direction he would have them go in this new season, with our full support.

In the case that CDF continues to gather at the WG South Hills campus, both leadership teams have carefully discussed and agreed upon terms to ensure the arrangement supports CDF while continuing to allow all WG gatherings, events, and functions to continue without disruption, maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of each church’s ministry schedule.

CDF will provide its own support for all CDF ministries, including children, students, college, worship, production, guest experience, and discipleship. WG will continue to ensure alignment with facility usage policies and child protection guidelines. Designated storage space has also been allocated for CDF’s needs.

This decision was not driven by financial concerns or considerations but by a desire to faithfully steward both congregations’ callings. CDF will take full responsibility for its staffing and ministry expenses starting in September 2025. We believe this transition will strengthen both churches and allow us each to live out our unique calling with greater clarity and faithfulness.

Ultimately, this transition is a step forward in faith—one that honors both the unity and diversity of God’s Church. We are excited for all that’s ahead and are grateful for the years of partnership and the deep, ongoing relationship we will continue to share.

If you consider CDF your home church, we’d ask that you do the following:

1. Pray - Commit to praying for our leadership and for clear direction as we become an independent church (Ezra 8:21-23).

2. Give - As we become an independent church, our ministry will be supported exclusively through the sacrificial giving of those who call CDF their home. Click here to email our campus admin to learn about ways you can give to CDF.

3. Serve - As we become an independent church, we will need more of our church family serving. Serving is what Christ has called us to do; in serving others we reflect Christ (Mark 10:45) and have an opportunity to reach others with Jesus’ love. Click here to email our campus admin to learn about ways you can serve at CDF.