A healthy church is not just measured by the number of people who attend services but by the number of disciples it produces. Many churches today struggle because they focus only on gathering crowds rather than developing strong believers who can lead, serve, and reproduce themselves in others. Dag Heward-Mills has built one of the most effective discipleship-driven church movements, ensuring that new converts grow into mature, committed Christians who can lead and expand the church.
Through his teachings, mentorship programs, and structured discipleship systems, he has successfully raised thousands of trained pastors, missionaries, and church leaders who are now actively planting churches and spreading the Gospel across the world. His ministry proves that true church growth is not about attendance but about multiplication through discipleship.
A Culture of Mentorship and Spiritual Growth
Dag Heward-Mills has instilled a culture of mentorship in his churches, ensuring that every believer is connected to a leader who can guide them in their spiritual journey. In many churches today, people come in, sit through services, and leave without ever being personally discipled. However, his ministry operates differently, making sure that every new believer is nurtured and trained to become an active participant in the work of God.
His discipleship system is modeled after Jesus’ approach to raising His twelve disciples. Just as Jesus spent time training His followers, teaching them, and sending them out to preach, Dag Heward-Mills emphasizes close mentorship and personal investment in spiritual growth. Through structured training, new believers are not only taught biblical principles but are also encouraged to develop their personal walk with God, engage in ministry, and eventually train others.
Bible Schools and Leadership Training for Future Leaders
One of the ways Dag Heward-Mills ensures the continued expansion of his ministry is by training and developing church leaders through formal education. His Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center serves as a major hub for raising pastors and church planters who are fully equipped to handle the work of ministry.
The school provides a combination of theological education, practical ministry training, and spiritual discipline. Students are taught not just how to preach, but also how to lead people, plant churches, and disciple others. Many of the graduates of Anagkazo have gone on to start churches in various countries, contributing to the rapid multiplication of the ministry.
By prioritizing leadership development, he ensures that his churches never experience a shortage of trained leaders. Unlike churches that depend on a few key figures, his model creates a steady supply of qualified, anointed pastors and evangelists who are ready to serve at any time.
Faithfulness and Commitment in Discipleship
Discipleship is not just about learning; it is about commitment and long-term faithfulness. Many churches struggle with inconsistency among leaders, as people come and go without developing deep roots. Dag Heward-Mills has addressed this challenge by emphasizing loyalty and faithfulness in discipleship. He teaches that a true disciple must be committed, dependable, and willing to serve for the long haul.
His book “Loyalty and Disloyalty” has been widely used to train leaders in commitment to their churches, their mentors, and their spiritual calling. This teaching has helped prevent the instability that often comes when church leaders are not fully dedicated to the ministry they are entrusted with.
A Discipleship Model That Multiplies Churches
The greatest evidence of effective discipleship is multiplication. Dag Heward-Mills’ discipleship model has led to the planting of thousands of churches worldwide. The pastors and leaders he has trained are not just maintaining churches; they are starting new ones, mentoring others, and expanding the Gospel’s reach.
Because of his strong discipleship foundation, the ministry continues to grow exponentially, with each trained leader passing on what they have learned to the next generation. His model ensures that the church does not depend on one leader but continues to expand through well-trained disciples.
Conclusion
Discipleship is the key to sustainable church growth, and Dag Heward-Mills has successfully built a movement based on training and multiplication. Through mentorship, Bible school training, and an emphasis on faithfulness, he has ensured that new believers mature into leaders who can continue the work of the ministry.
His approach challenges churches worldwide to move beyond gathering crowds and start developing disciples who will carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.