Emmanuel Praise & Worship Centre is a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church committed to helping people encounter God, grow in His Word, and live out their faith with purpose.
We are passionate about worship, prayer, discipleship, and building strong, faith-filled families who reflect the love of Christ in everyday life.
At Emmanuel Praise Worship Centre (EPWC), our mission is to connect people to Christ, grow them as disciples, and equip them to serve with purpose—in the church, in the community, and throughout the world.
We envision a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church where lives are transformed as people:
Through a personal relationship with Jesus and meaningful relationships with one another
Through biblical teaching, spiritual formation, and the work of the Holy Spirit
By using their God-given gifts to glorify God and advance His Kingdom
This vision is rooted in the Great Commission:“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV)
Pastors William and Vanessa Dover are the founding pastors of Emmanuel Praise & Worship Centre. With a deep love for God and a passion for people, they have faithfully served the church and community since answering God’s call to ministry in 2001.
What began as a small gathering in their home has grown into a vibrant church family where lives are being transformed through the power of Jesus Christ. Through their leadership, Emmanuel Praise & Worship Centre has been built on a strong foundation of prayer, biblical teaching, heartfelt worship, and a commitment to discipleship.
Pastors William and Vanessa are passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with God, discover their gifts, and live out their faith with purpose. Their ministry emphasizes the life-changing power of God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of strong families and Christ-centered community.
They continue to lead with vision, faith, and a heart to see lives transformed and God’s Kingdom advanced in Ajax, throughout the region, and beyond.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1 (NKJV)
The story of Emmanuel Praise & Worship Centre is a testimony of God’s faithfulness, provision, and guiding hand through every season.
In 2001, after much prayer and waiting on the Lord, Pastors William and Vanessa Dover stepped out in faith and responded to God’s call on their lives. What began as a small gathering in their home soon became a place where people came together to worship, pray, and grow in their faith. With the support of a few committed families who shared the same vision, a church community began to form.
As the congregation grew, God opened the door for the church to purchase an industrial unit in Ajax, Ontario. After transforming the space into a place of worship, the church family gathered there faithfully, continuing to build a foundation of prayer, teaching, and fellowship.
But God had an even greater vision ahead.
In 2004, the church acquired a 2.2-acre property on Harwood Avenue North, Ajax, Ontario. What stood there was a simple house and an open property, but the members saw it through the eyes of faith — a future home for worship, ministry, and community impact.
Years later, in December 2010, that vision took a visible step forward when the ground breaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction for the church’s sanctuary. The very next day, the foundation was laid. Throughout the following year, construction progressed with determination, prayer, and the dedicated efforts of many volunteers who gave their time and talents to help build the house of the Lord.
Then, on June 3, 2012, the newly constructed sanctuary was joyfully dedicated to the glory of God and for service to the surrounding community.
Looking back over the years, we can truly say what the prophet Samuel declared: “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”— 1 Samuel 7:12 (NKJV)
From humble beginnings in a living room to the church home we worship in today, Emmanuel Praise & Worship Centre continues to be a place where people encounter God’s presence, grow in His Word, and are equipped to serve His Kingdom.
And the story is still being written.
Our beliefs are rooted in the authority of Scripture and the historic teachings of the Christian faith.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now intercedes at the right hand of the Father. We believe all have sinned and must repent. Salvation, justification, regeneration, and the new birth are received by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith and life.
We believe in sanctification following the new birth and that holiness is God’s standard for His people. Through the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, believers grow in spiritual maturity and obedience.
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit subsequent to a cleansed heart, with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. We believe the Spirit empowers believers for victorious Christian living and service.
We believe in water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We observe the Lord’s Supper and the washing of the saints’ feet. We believe divine healing is provided in the atonement.
We believe in the premillennial second coming of Jesus Christ — first to resurrect the righteous dead and receive His saints, and later to reign on the earth for a thousand years. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people: eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked.
