Church growth is a crucial part of the Great Commission, and Dag Heward-Mills has pioneered a unique and effective church growth model known as “Anagkazo.” This biblical principle, which comes from Luke 14:23, teaches that church growth is not accidental but must be pursued with intentionality, force, and persistence.
Through this model, he has grown his ministry from a small Bible study group into one of the largest church networks in the world. His United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC) now has thousands of churches in over 90 countries, proving that when churches apply Anagkazo, they experience supernatural expansion.
What Is the Anagkazo Model?
The word “Anagkazo” is a Greek term used by Jesus in Luke 14:23, where He says: “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel (Anagkazo) them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Dag Heward-Mills teaches that Anagkazo represents the aggressive and determined approach needed to grow a church. It involves:
- Relentless evangelism and soul-winning.
- Strategic follow-up and discipleship of new converts.
- Persistent church planting and leadership training.
Churches that apply the Anagkazo principle experience rapid and lasting growth because they do not wait for people to come to them—they go out and bring people in.
How Anagkazo Drives Church Growth
Aggressive Evangelism
One of the core principles of Anagkazo is taking the Gospel to the people instead of waiting for them to come to church. Dag Heward-Mills teaches that churches must:
- Conduct regular evangelistic outreaches.
- Preach the Gospel in public places like markets, schools, and workplaces.
- Train every church member to become a soul-winner.
This aggressive evangelism ensures that churches are always reaching new people, leading to continuous growth.
Follow-Up and Retention of New Converts
Many churches struggle with losing new believers shortly after conversion. The Anagkazo model emphasizes follow-up as a key to church growth. It encourages:
- Regular visits to new converts.
- Assigning mentors to help them grow in faith.
- Creating small groups to foster deeper connections.
By following up effectively, churches ensure that new members stay and mature in the faith.
Church Planting and Multiplication
Instead of focusing on growing a single large church, Dag Heward-Mills teaches that every thriving church should plant new churches. His strategy includes:
- Training pastors and sending them to new locations.
- Using evangelism crusades to start new congregations.
- Providing spiritual and financial support for church plants.
This approach has led to the planting of thousands of churches worldwide, demonstrating that multiplication is key to lasting church growth.
Conclusion
The Anagkazo church growth model has transformed countless churches worldwide. By emphasizing aggressive evangelism, follow-up, and church planting, Dag Heward-Mills has demonstrated a practical, biblical strategy for supernatural church growth.
His ministry is a blueprint for pastors and leaders who desire to expand their churches and fulfill the Great Commission effectively.