In many church circles today, growth is measured by how full a sanctuary is or how popular a ministry becomes. But true growth—the kind that lasts and multiplies—goes beyond numbers. Dag Heward-Mills has made it clear through his life and ministry that the true key to church growth is church planting.

He has taught, modeled, and reproduced this belief across his network of churches, showing that when more churches are planted, more people are reached, more leaders are raised, and more souls are won. His conviction is rooted not in strategy alone but in Scripture and the example of Jesus and the apostles.

Expanding Reach by Multiplying Locations

Dag Heward-Mills teaches that planting more churches increases a ministry’s ability to reach more people. No single church building can contain the harvest God desires to bring in. By planting churches, the ministry is not restricted by geography or space.

Each new church becomes a point of contact for the Gospel—a place where people in that community can hear the Word, grow in faith, and become part of the body of Christ. With every new branch planted, the reach of the Gospel expands farther and deeper.

Raising More Leaders Through New Churches

Church planting creates opportunities for leadership development. When a new church is planted, a new leader must be raised. Dag Heward-Mills has used church planting as a training ground for pastors and shepherds, giving them real responsibility and a chance to grow.

This process ensures that leadership in the church is never stagnant. It keeps the ministry dynamic and growing, always preparing the next generation to carry the vision forward. It is one of the reasons his movement continues to grow without collapsing under the weight of its own expansion.

A Proven Path to Spiritual and Numerical Growth

Many churches try to grow by enlarging their buildings or increasing their programs, but Dag Heward-Mills teaches that planting more churches is a more effective and biblical approach. It leads to spiritual growth by putting the focus back on discipleship, outreach, and local community engagement.

It also leads to numerical growth because it makes church more accessible. People are more likely to attend and commit to a church that is close to them and culturally relevant to their environment. By multiplying churches, the chances of reaching more people increase dramatically.

Conclusion

Dag Heward-Mills believes that church planting is the key to church growth because it embodies the mission of the Church—to go, to teach, to baptize, and to make disciples. His commitment to this principle has resulted in a movement that grows year after year, not just in numbers, but in strength and depth.

Through his life and leadership, he has shown that if the Church is to grow, it must plant. And by planting churches, the Gospel will continue to spread until every corner of the earth has heard the name of Jesus.