Bishop Dag Heward-Mills Dedicates 500 New church buildings in the North of Ghana

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 transformed daily life for everyone around the globe. The pandemic had a profound impact on global health and economies, leading to the loss of many lives. Businesses, airports, and workplaces worldwide shut down as a result of COVID-19.

This period introduced the "new normal" of remote work, with many offices transitioning from physical spaces to virtual environments. Even after the COVID-19 crisis, numerous workplaces chose to maintain remote work due to its cost-saving benefits. Unfortunately, many people faced significant financial hardships due to the pandemic. The church also faced many challenges during the pandemic season.

Many churches had to close down due to governmental regulations that restricted physical gatherings. However, some churches thrived during the pandemic. One such church is the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UDOLGC), pastored by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. During the COVID season, he took the bold step of commissioning the construction of 500 new church buildings.

Opinion on building the church 

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” One of Jesus' primary missions today is building His church. While the church is fundamentally the people, physical buildings are essential as they provide a sense of permanence.

Many Christians believe that the church should focus on building hospitals, schools, housing facilities, or other projects instead of church buildings. Although these initiatives are important, they should not be the primary focus, as Jesus' main desire is for His church to be established. In Haggai 1, God emphasizes the significance of building His house: "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord."

God expressed displeasure when people prioritized other constructions over His house. The church is the only institution entrusted by God with the mandate of winning souls and building His church. If the church does not prioritize this mission, no other institution will. It is for this reason that Bishop Dag Heward-Mills decided to help advance the Kingdom of God by building 500 new church buildings in Ghana.

About Dag heward-Mills 

Dag Heward-Mills is a mega church pastor, healing evangelist, international conference speaker, and bestselling Christian author. Born in 1963 to a Swiss mother and Ghanaian father, he felt called to start a church while still in medical school. Today, the church he founded has become one of the largest in the world. The United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UDOLGC) spans over 90 countries with nearly 4,000 branches. Additionally, Dag Heward-Mills pastors the First Love Church, the largest single congregational church in Ghana.

Throughout the years, he has felt a strong calling to train pastors and send them out as missionaries. To support this mission, he established the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center, dedicated to training individuals who want to fulfill God's call on their lives. The center has successfully trained and dispatched many young men and women into the mission field to advance God's kingdom.

Dag Heward-Mills firmly believes in seeking the Kingdom of God above all else. This commitment led him to commission the building of 500 new churches during the pandemic season, furthering his mission to spread the gospel and establish strong Christian communities worldwide.

The commission to build 500 church buildings 

During one of his online Sunday services amid the pandemic, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills launched the ambitious project of constructing 500 new church buildings. Anyone familiar with construction would know that such a project requires substantial funding. Despite the high cost of building just one church, Bishop Dag was determined to make his vision a reality.

He encouraged viewers of his online service to contribute to the church-building project. Individuals or groups who donated $10,000 towards a church building would have the new church dedicated in their name with a commemorative plaque. Although the total cost of land and construction exceeds $10,000, this amount significantly contributes to building the church. Many supported the vision, believing in the advancement of God's kingdom.

In March of this year, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills proudly announced the successful completion of 500 new church buildings in Ghana. The announcement was met with cheers, applause, and gratitude to God for enabling the church to accomplish such a bold feat. Following this major announcement, Bishop Dag expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the 500 church building project and blessed them for choosing to support God's work. Today, many UDOLGC churches across Ghana have permanent places to worship and serve the Lord.

New vision to get to 1000 churches 

After the successful completion of the 500 church building project, Dag Heward-Mills launched the new vision of building 1000 churches in Ghana. After making a bold declaration, it's crucial to ask, "Why not?" Why not attempt something great for God? Why not do something for God while we have the chance? If we truly love God, we must do everything we can to help build His church. More churches are needed in the remote areas of Ghana, providing people with places to worship and serve God. More Christians must believe in the vision of building more churches and decide to support God's work.

Building is an act of war. Historically, one way to fight was by constructing fortifications. Similarly, building solidifies the church's gains and stabilizes it for the future. Establishing 1,000 new buildings will undoubtedly solidify the church's gains and bring stability for years to come. Without sufficient church buildings, Christianity in Ghana as we know it could easily cease to exist in the coming years. 

The advance of the gospel 

When Jesus mentioned building His church, He also spoke of the gates of hell. Every Christian must understand that the gates of hell are fundamentally opposed to the building of God’s church. The construction of God’s church will always face significant opposition because Satan does not want the church to advance. When Jesus was building His church, He chose to build on a rock.

He needed a solid foundation because He knew the church would encounter fierce opposition. Christians must realize that our adversary will never sit quietly and allow us to advance the kingdom of God; he will always oppose the building of the church. Satan would prefer the church focus on building hospitals, schools, and housing facilities rather than actual church buildings. Christians should recognize that God has entrusted us with the advancement of His kingdom. Jesus' last words before ascending into heaven were to go into all the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples.

The last words of a dying man typically reflect what is most important to him. While Jesus spoke many things and gave various instructions during His time on earth, His final directive was for His disciples to go into all the world. The church must do everything it can to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. We must remain steadfast and immovable in our mission to build the Lord’s church. If we seek God’s kingdom above all else, all other things will be added unto us. By focusing on building the church and reaching the lost, other initiatives, such as constructing hospitals, schools, and housing for the poor, will follow.

This scripture has been fulfilled in the ministry of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. By the grace of God, Bishop Dag’s ministry has built hospitals, schools, and orphanages and engaged in numerous charitable efforts to help those in need within our communities. He established a facility called the Hope Center to provide free prosthetic legs to amputees who cannot afford them. Through prioritizing the kingdom of God and aiming to build more churches, God has enabled Bishop Dag to better assist the less privileged.

Conclusion 

If the church does not commit to obeying the Great Commission, Satan and his forces will continue to spread darkness throughout the world. The church must prioritize the advancement of God’s kingdom, and in doing so, many other blessings will be added to it. The 500 church buildings that Dag Heward-Mills has built are a step towards fulfilling Jesus' command to the church. His vision of completing 1,000 church buildings demonstrates a dedication to building the Lord’s church. Constructing more churches will help solidify the church's gains in Ghana and establish it for years to come. This initiative should inspire many Christians to support the work of the Lord.