The Construction of Permanent Church Halls for effective Church Planting: A Model of the Lighthouse Chapel International

Emmanuel Louis Nterful

doi:10.38159/erats.2020095

Abstract

The construction of permanent church halls for effective church planting is one of the many models and ideals employed by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, founder of the Lighthouse Chapel International to rigorously drive its church expansion efforts across the nations of the world. This article accentuates the benefits and significance of the construction of permanent church halls on church growth and expansion and especially its apparent contribution to engendering confidence and commitment of congregants of new churches planted and overall ensuring stability of church membership. The multi-level model, known as the Anagkazo Church Planting Strategy, has been systematically developed by Heward-Mills, and implemented by LCI church planters worldwide. Using a qualitative research approach, the study analyses the use of the Anagakzo church planting strategy model. Data was gathered from relevant literature, interviews with key informants, views from focus group discussions as well as the use of qualitative questionnaires. The study’s findings indicate that within a relatively short period of implementing the model, the LCI has successfully undertaken church planting both nationally and internationally. It is being recommended that charismatic churches in Ghana endeavour to make the usefulness of permanent church halls in promoting church planting as part of their mission strategy. This can be achieved by pooling financial resources from all the churches within the particular denomination towards building projects. This would fulfil the biblical injunction for equitable distribution of God’s blessings among Christians (2 Cor 8:13-15). The study contributes to research knowledge on Church expansion through church planting.

Highlights

The construction of permanent church halls for effective church planting is one of the many models and ideals employed by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, founder of the Lighthouse Chapel International to rigorously drive its church expansion efforts across the nations of the world
AND DISCUSSION In an effort to avoid the pitfalls of holding church services in impermanetnt structures, the Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) has, since 1992,18 implemented a policy of constructing permanent church buildings for its missions where possible
A clear demonstration of the effectiveness of this strategy to impact church planting and catalyse the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the case of the three northern regions of Ghana, areas that are predominantly Islamic

Summary

Introduction

The construction of permanent church halls for effective church planting is one of the many models and ideals employed by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, founder of the Lighthouse Chapel International to rigorously drive its church expansion efforts across the nations of the world. It is being recommended that charismatic churches in Ghana endeavour to make the usefulness of permanent church halls in promoting church planting as part of their mission strategy This can be achieved by pooling financial resources from all the churches within the particular denomination towards building projects. INTRODUCTION2 The Lighthouse Chapel International, a charismatic denomination that started almost three decades ago in Korle Gonno, a coastal suburb of Accra-Ghana, has witnessed glowing achievements It has grown from its humble beginnings by the grace of God from a five member congregation to many congregations worldwide. For various reasons most charismatic churches in Ghana hold their worship services, often on permanent basis, in temporary premises such as classrooms, public halls, wooden structures, homes and on playing fields This situation has contributed to hindering the growth and expansion of the charismatic denominations. Lack of confidence amongst the congregants in the future of the church, which tends to derail their commitment

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