Building a thriving church is a monumental task, but building a global church movement is an even greater achievement. Dag Heward-Mills is one of the few Christian leaders who have successfully built a mega church that has expanded into an international denomination. His ministry, United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC), has planted thousands of churches in over 90 countries and continues to grow exponentially.
His journey from a small fellowship of university students to a worldwide church network is a testament to the power of vision, faith, and spiritual leadership. His ministry model combines evangelism, church planting, leadership development, and discipleship, ensuring that his movement is not just large in numbers but also spiritually strong.
The Birth of a Mega Church
Dag Heward-Mills’ journey in ministry began as a young medical student at the University of Ghana, where he started a small Bible study group. His passion for soul-winning and discipleship caused the fellowship to grow rapidly, eventually leading to the birth of Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI).
From the beginning, he had a vision not just for a church, but for a global movement that would train and send pastors to plant churches around the world. Unlike many churches that remain stagnant after reaching a certain size, Dag Heward-Mills focused on continuous multiplication, ensuring that his church expanded into new territories.
The Mega Church Concept: Growth Through Multiplication
One of the core principles of Dag Heward-Mills’ ministry is the belief that every church can become a mega church. He teaches that church growth is not accidental—it is intentional and requires a clear strategy. His book, “The Mega Church”, provides a blueprint for pastors who desire to grow their congregations into strong, large, and influential ministries.
His approach to building a mega church includes:
- Aggressive evangelism – Churches must constantly win souls to experience continuous growth.
- Discipleship and leadership training – Raising leaders ensures that the work of ministry expands beyond one individual.
- Church planting and multiplication – Instead of keeping members in one location, churches should spread out and establish new congregations.
- Loyalty and faithfulness – Building a strong, united leadership team prevents division and ensures long-term growth.
Through these principles, his ministry grew from a single church to thousands of congregations worldwide, proving that church growth is possible when biblical principles are applied consistently.
The Expansion of His Church Network
The success of his church planting movement led to the restructuring of his ministry into what is now known as United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC). This new structure allowed for greater organization and expansion, ensuring that each denomination within the movement remained focused on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
Unlike many church leaders who focus solely on their headquarters, Dag Heward-Mills empowers pastors and leaders in different nations to run their churches effectively. His belief in decentralized leadership has allowed his movement to spread rapidly while maintaining spiritual depth.
Training the Next Generation of Mega Church Pastors
Dag Heward-Mills knows that a church is only as strong as its leadership. He has committed himself to raising and training a new generation of pastors who will continue the work of church expansion.
Through his Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center, he equips pastors with the necessary skills and spiritual discipline to:
- Plant and manage growing churches.
- Preach the Gospel with power and conviction.
- Develop strong leadership structures within their churches.
This system ensures that his vision for a global mega church movement will continue long after him, as his spiritual sons and daughters take the Gospel to new territories.
Conclusion
Dag Heward-Mills has built one of the most successful mega church movements in modern Christianity. His focus on soul-winning, church planting, leadership training, and loyalty has resulted in a thriving global denomination that continues to grow. His ministry proves that mega churches are not built by chance but by consistent application of biblical principles. Through his work, millions have been led to Christ, and thousands of churches have been planted, making him one of the most influential church leaders of our time.