A Forest Park Congregation Since 1929
Dayspring Church of God sits just off I-275 in Forest Park, in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati, and the building at 1060 Smiley Avenue has been a gathering place for believers for most of a century. The congregation traces its beginning to 1929, when a small group first met in Mary Apple's home. What started as a neighborhood Bible study has grown into a body of believers who describe their calling in four phrases: Pursue God, Find Community, Make Disciples, Impact Your World.
From a single Sunday gathering in 1929, Dayspring has expanded into a multi-generational ministry. The main English-language congregation shares the campus with Nueva Esperanza, a Hispanic congregation led by Pastors Ercides and Flora Estrada, and with Agape Children's Center, a state-rated preschool that has operated out of the same building for years. A large parking lot, a clearly marked Main Entrance (Door 1), and a separate Family and Student Ministry Entrance (Door 5) make navigating the campus straightforward for first-time guests.
Sunday Morning: Bible Study at 9:30, Worship at 11:00
Sunday is the rhythm of the week. From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., the church offers Bible study classes for kids, students, and adults running at the same time. The adult options are wide: a co-ed study on A Father Who Keeps His Promises in Room 101, another co-ed class in Room 102, ladies-only groups walking through studies like Peaks and Valleys and The Life You Long For, and men's classes on the 33 Series and an Old Testament survey. There's also a multi-purpose class called Bridges for adults of any background. Coffee is poured in the Main Lobby from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., bridging the two hours.
Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. and runs about an hour. The service is contemporary in style, though the team weaves in older hymns and traditional songs from time to time. A few songs of praise open the gathering, followed by the offering, a sermon (usually from Lead Pastor Andy Hoover), a time of reflective prayer at the altar, announcements, and a closing blessing. Visitors are not required to check in, but a Welcome Center volunteer near the Main Entrance is happy to hand out a first-time guest gift in exchange for a completed Connection Card from the seatback in front of you.
For first-timers, the church keeps things easy. There is no dress code - business casual is the norm, and jeans are common. Coffee and other drinks are welcome in the sanctuary. Nursery and children's check-in sit just inside the Main Entrance, down the hallway to the left, with the Nursery at floor level and preschool and elementary classrooms up the stairs. Kids are also welcome to stay with their parents for the entire service if that's preferred.
Wednesday: An Hour of Praise and Mid-Week Ministries
Wednesdays at Dayspring are a second front door for people whose week is busier on Sundays. The day opens with Hour of Praise at 10:30 a.m., a prayer and praise gathering in the main sanctuary that draws seniors, stay-at-home parents, and anyone with a flexible schedule.
From 7:00 to 8:15 p.m., the building fills again. AWANA runs for children ages 2 through 6th grade, with Bible memorization, games, and small-group time. The Brink, the student ministry gathering for 6th through 12th graders, features student-led worship and a teaching from God's Word, drawing close to 40 students from across the community. Adults can join a co-ed Bible study on Spiritual Disciplines in the Multi-Purpose Room, a ladies-only Seamless study in Room 102, or a men's study in Room 108. The Worship Team also rehearses on Wednesday evenings.
Dayspring Kids: Nursery Through Fifth Grade
The children's ministry is led by Children's Pastor Lindsey Piccirilli and a team of volunteers who describe the program as a place where high-energy fun and spiritual learning collide. Children are grouped by age and development, and the rooms are designed to meet them where they are.
- Little KidZone serves infants through Pre-Kindergarten on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, providing a first impression of the heavenly Father and the wonder of His love.
- KidZone is the Sunday environment for Kindergarten through 5th grade, where kids dig deeper into faith, build friendships, and learn to make wise choices.
- AWANA meets on Wednesday evenings for children ages 2 through 6th grade, focusing on Bible memorization and Scripture-based activity.
- Wonder Works provides a buddy-led class for children with special needs during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday worship service, offering a tailored environment for kids who benefit from a unique approach to teaching.
Dayspring Students: Grades 6 Through 12
Student Ministry is led by Student Pastor Michael Yost and is built around three commitments: a safe place to belong, time with peers, and teaching straight from God's Word. Throughout the year the group runs student conferences, summer camps, lock-ins, skating nights, scavenger hunts, and leadership-training events. On Wednesday evenings, The Brink gathers students for games, student-led worship, and teaching. On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., middle and high schoolers meet for Bible study - often led by the students - to dig into Scripture together.
Emergence Young Adults, Women's Ministry, Men's Ministry, and ELMS
For those between high school and midlife, Dayspring runs Emergence, a young adult group that meets on Sunday evenings at Pastor Andy's house. The group is built around the idea that the twenties and early thirties are simultaneously a great and a challenging time, and that walking it with others makes the difference.
Women's Ministry offers weekly Bible studies on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m., monthly fellowship events, and quarterly outreach opportunities. Men's Ministry brings men of different ages and backgrounds together around a common goal of living authentically as Christ set forth, with a weekly Bible study on Sunday mornings at 9:30, monthly outings, and quarterly outreach.
ELMS (Enjoy Life Ministry) is the 55-plus community of the church. ELMS enjoys monthly fellowship events and outreach opportunities coordinated through Pastor Lia Yost.
Worship and Creative Arts
The Worship and Creative Arts team is led by Worship Director Casey Liston and serves the congregation every Sunday morning. Vocalists, instrumentalists, audio technicians, camera operators, and presentation operators all serve together to support the livestream and in-person services. There's also a Dayspring Choir that comes together seasonally to prepare music for Easter, Christmas, and other special services - all vocal parts are welcome. A separate Worship Design Team handles decorating and environmental builds for the sanctuary and common areas, with one planning meeting per month and two to three days of building and decorating per season.
Baptism by Immersion
Dayspring practices believer's baptism by full immersion. The church teaches that water baptism is an outward declaration of an internal change, symbolizing trust in and reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, unity with the body of believers, and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Baptism does not earn salvation, which comes by grace through faith; it is a step of love and obedience that follows belief. Those interested are encouraged to email Pastor Andy or call the church office to take the next step.
Local and Global Missions
Local Missions at Dayspring include a Cancer Support ministry, a Food Pantry, the Giving Tree (a Christmas-season outreach), a School Supply Drive, and a Summer Community Festival. The church partners with and supports Awana Clubs, Burlington House, Caring Partners International, The Gideons International, and Life Forward.
Through Faith Promise, Dayspring financially supports missionaries serving in Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Estonia, Japan, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and across the continent of Africa. A long-standing partnership of note is the Helping Hand School in Santarem, Brazil, which since 1982 has nurtured child development - mind, body, and soul - for children in the region.
Agape Children's Center
Housed in the same Forest Park building, Agape Children's Center is a star-rated Step Up to Quality preschool and daycare operated as a ministry of Dayspring Church. The center enrolls children from six weeks old through Pre-Kindergarten, with a toddler transition beginning around 18 months and a preschool program for potty-trained three-year-olds through to kindergarten entry. During the summer, Agape opens a school-age program for children who have completed kindergarten through age ten, with weekly crafts, music, movement, language, math, and outdoor play.
Agape's teaching philosophy is built around Psalm 139:14: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Staff use the Creative Curriculum, screen children with the Ages and Stages tool, and assess using Teaching Strategies Gold, aligning daily work with Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards. Many staff members have served Agape for ten or more years, and the program emphasizes partnering with families through regular conferences and a class-based communication app. Hours run Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Nueva Esperanza: A Hispanic Congregation on the Same Campus
Nueva Esperanza is Dayspring's Hispanic congregation, sharing the 1060 Smiley Avenue campus and meeting under the leadership of Pastors Ercides and Flora Estrada, with Rigo Garcia serving in administration. Nueva Esperanza exists to serve Spanish-speaking families in the Forest Park and greater Cincinnati area, giving them a church home in their heart language while remaining part of the broader Dayspring family.
How To Connect and Give
Sunday worship is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel each week, beginning about five minutes before the 11:00 a.m. service. Past sermon series, including recent walks through Ephesians, Psalms, Family Matters, and First Followers, are archived on the Dayspring YouTube page. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; the office is closed on Fridays. Giving can be dropped off in person through Door 2, made online through the church's secure giving portal, or arranged by emailing the church office. A weekly e-newsletter keeps subscribers connected to upcoming events, prayer opportunities, and ministry news.