The future of the church depends on church planting and leadership development. Many churches grow stagnant because they fail to raise new leaders who will carry on the work of ministry. Dag Heward-Mills has built one of the most effective church-planting networks in the world, ensuring that the Gospel continues to spread across nations.
Through his teaching, mentorship, and structured training programs, he has successfully raised thousands of church planters who are actively expanding Christianity across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and beyond. His passion for church planting is a model for pastors and ministries worldwide who desire to multiply rather than just maintain their congregations.
The Biblical Mandate for Church Planting
Church planting is not a modern concept—it is at the heart of the New Testament. The apostles, especially Paul, traveled from city to city, establishing churches and training leaders. In Acts 14:23, it is written:
“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
Dag Heward-Mills follows this biblical model, ensuring that every new church has trained pastors and leaders to sustain the work of ministry. His approach to church planting is not just about opening buildings—it is about establishing strong spiritual communities that will thrive for generations.
Training and Equipping Church Planters
One of the main reasons many churches fail is that leaders are not properly trained before they are sent out. Dag Heward-Mills understands that a successful church planter must be:
- Spiritually prepared through prayer, fasting, and deep knowledge of the Word.
- Trained in leadership, evangelism, and pastoral care.
- Equipped with strategies to establish and grow a new congregation.
To ensure this, he established the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center, where pastors, missionaries, and evangelists are trained to plant and lead churches effectively.
Graduates of Anagkazo have planted churches in:
- Unreached rural areas, bringing the Gospel to people who have never heard it.
- Major cities, ensuring that urban populations have thriving churches.
- Foreign countries, expanding the reach of Christianity across continents.
The Strategy of Multiplication
One of the secrets behind the rapid growth of Dag Heward-Mills’ church network is his multiplication strategy. Instead of focusing on building one giant church, he believes in:
- Raising pastors from within a congregation and sending them out to start new churches.
- Encouraging every growing church to plant new churches instead of just expanding one location.
- Providing spiritual and practical support to new church planters.
This strategy has resulted in thousands of churches being planted in different nations, ensuring that the Gospel reaches new territories continuously.
Overcoming Challenges in Church Planting
Church planting is not without challenges. Many pastors face financial difficulties, opposition, and discouragement when starting a new church. Dag Heward-Mills prepares his leaders for these realities, teaching them to rely on:
- Faith in God for provision and success.
- Diligence in soul-winning and discipleship.
- Strong spiritual discipline through prayer and fasting.
His books, especially “Church Planting”, provide practical guidance on overcoming obstacles and successfully establishing a thriving church.
Conclusion
Dag Heward-Mills has demonstrated that church planting is the key to long-term Christian growth. His commitment to training, equipping, and sending out leaders ensures that Christianity continues to expand into new regions and cultures.
His success serves as a blueprint for churches and pastors worldwide, proving that when church planting is prioritized, the Gospel spreads, souls are saved, and the Kingdom of God is established on Earth.