Church planting is one of the most powerful ways to fulfill the Great Commission. It is the method used by the apostles in the early church and remains the most effective way to spread Christianity across the world. However, in recent times, many churches have become more focused on growing their existing congregations rather than expanding into new territories. Dag Heward-Mills has revived the passion for church planting, making it a central part of his ministry and inspiring countless pastors and leaders to embrace the call to start new churches.
Through his teachings, structured leadership training, and personal example, he has demonstrated that church planting is not just for a select few but is a responsibility of every believer and church leader. His church movement, the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC), has successfully planted thousands of churches worldwide, proving that expansion is possible when the right strategies are applied.
Church Planting as a Biblical Mandate
One of the strongest messages Dag Heward-Mills teaches is that church planting is not just a good idea—it is a command from Jesus Christ. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 instructs believers to make disciples of all nations, and one of the most effective ways to do this is by establishing new churches. Many churches stagnate because they do not actively plant new congregations. Instead, they focus only on maintaining their existing members.
Dag Heward-Mills challenges this mindset by emphasizing that the true strength of a church is in its ability to multiply. He teaches that every strong church must be a church-planting church, always looking for new areas to establish a presence and win souls. His commitment to fulfilling this mandate has led to the rapid expansion of his ministry, with churches planted in both highly populated cities and remote villages.
Training Leaders for Church Expansion
A major reason many pastors avoid church planting is because they feel unprepared or lack trained leaders to send out. Dag Heward-Mills has solved this problem by developing a strong leadership training system that equips believers with the skills and confidence needed to start and sustain churches. His Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center serves as a leadership hub where pastors, missionaries, and evangelists are trained to plant and lead churches successfully.
He does not believe in waiting for perfect conditions before planting a church. Instead, he teaches that churches can be planted with faith, dedication, and the right leadership mindset. His training emphasizes that church planting is not reserved for the elite few but is something that any passionate and committed believer can do when properly trained and supported.
The Long-Term Impact of Church Planting
Dag Heward-Mills’ church-planting movement has resulted in a multiplication effect, where new churches do not just grow but also plant other churches. This model ensures that church expansion does not rely solely on one central leadership team but continues to spread organically. Many of the churches he has planted have gone on to plant other churches, creating a chain reaction of growth that is unstoppable.
Because of his influence, many pastors who previously resisted church planting have now embraced it as an essential part of ministry. His teachings have helped shift the mindset of churches from being inward-focused to being outward-focused, always looking for opportunities to bring the Gospel to new regions.
Conclusion
Dag Heward-Mills has revived the passion for church planting in a time when many churches have become comfortable with maintaining their existing congregations. Through his teachings, training programs, and personal example, he has shown that church planting is not only possible but necessary for the continued spread of Christianity. His work challenges churches and pastors worldwide to adopt a multiplication mindset and to take seriously the biblical mandate to plant churches and win souls.
His success proves that church planting is not reserved for large, well-funded ministries but can be done by any believer who has faith, vision, and the right training. His model of continuous church planting ensures that the Gospel reaches new communities and nations, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.