Church planting is more than just opening a new location—it is about spreading the Gospel, establishing spiritual families, and bringing God’s light into dark places. For many church leaders, the idea of planting churches may seem overwhelming or out of reach. But Dag Heward-Mills has not only shown that church planting is possible—he has created a clear, reproducible model that has been used to plant thousands of churches worldwide.

His strategies are practical, spiritual, and deeply rooted in biblical principles. They are not based on large budgets or glamorous buildings but on the power of the Holy Spirit, the obedience of called individuals, and a deep love for the lost. Through his church-planting strategies, Dag Heward-Mills has built one of the largest and fastest-growing church movements in the world today.

A Vision That Fuels the Mission

At the heart of every strategy is vision. Dag Heward-Mills carries a burning vision to see churches planted in every nation, city, town, and village. This vision is not just a good idea—it is a divine mandate that he believes every Christian and church should participate in. He often teaches that the best way to reach the world is not simply through evangelistic crusades, but by planting churches that remain in the community and disciple believers for the long term.

This vision is communicated constantly to his leaders, church members, and Bible school students. It fuels their actions, informs their decisions, and becomes the foundation of their ministry goals. When everyone shares the same vision, church planting becomes a unified and unstoppable mission.

Raising Leaders Through Intentional Training

One of the reasons many churches struggle to plant new congregations is the lack of trained leaders. Dag Heward-Mills solved this problem by developing training centers like the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center, where future pastors and missionaries are taught the Word of God, trained in ministry, and sent out to plant churches.

This training is hands-on, practical, and spiritually enriching. Students are not only taught how to preach and teach but how to build a church from scratch—how to evangelize, gather people, disciple new believers, and manage the work of ministry. By the time they are sent out, they are equipped and confident in their calling.

Start Small, Think Big

One of the most striking aspects of Dag Heward-Mills’ church-planting strategy is the encouragement to start small. He teaches that churches do not need elaborate buildings or massive crowds to begin. Many of his churches start in classrooms, under trees, in living rooms, or rented halls.

The focus is on gathering the people, preaching the Word, and building a spiritual foundation. As the church grows spiritually and numerically, the infrastructure follows. This approach allows for rapid expansion, especially in places with limited resources.

Focus on Evangelism and Follow-Up

No church can be planted without souls. Evangelism is the engine of church planting in Dag Heward-Mills’ ministry. Church planters are trained to actively engage in soul-winning wherever they go—on the streets, in markets, schools, hospitals, and homes. They are encouraged to witness daily and to turn every conversation into an opportunity to share Christ.

But evangelism alone is not enough. There is also a strong emphasis on follow-up. Every new convert is followed up with phone calls, visits, Bible studies, and integration into the life of the church. This combination of outreach and care leads to lasting fruit.

Replication and Multiplication

Dag Heward-Mills doesn’t only plant churches—he teaches his pastors to plant churches too. This creates a ripple effect. Each pastor is encouraged to raise leaders within their congregation who will eventually go out and start new churches. This model of replication leads to multiplication, and multiplication leads to exponential growth.

It is common within his denomination for a single church to give birth to several others within a few years. This mindset of continuous expansion keeps the movement alive and dynamic.

Conclusion

Dag Heward-Mills has developed a church-planting strategy that is simple, biblical, and effective. By combining a compelling vision, strong training, practical methods, and a deep commitment to evangelism, he has created a model that churches around the world can follow.

His work shows that church planting is not reserved for a few—it is the responsibility and privilege of every believer and every church. With faith, determination, and guidance from God, it is possible to plant churches anywhere and everywhere. And through his leadership, many have learned how to do just that.