The church of Jesus Christ was never meant to stay local. From the Upper Room to the ends of the earth, the Gospel was always meant to travel. And today, some churches have taken this seriously — not just building mega auditoriums, but planting branches all over the world, one soul at a time.
While many ministries grow wide through media, these churches grow deep and wide through intentional missionary deployment. They don’t just win crowds — they raise and send workers. In this article, we’ll take a look at three powerful ministries with massive international footprints: Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, and Apostle Joshua Selman — and how the heart for missions turned their churches into global movements.
1. Dag Heward-Mills – UD-OLGC / First Love Church
You can’t talk about missionary-driven church growth without mentioning Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. The founder of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC) and First Love Church has one of the most aggressive and fruitful missionary strategies in the world today.
With over 3,500 churches in more than 90 countries, the impact of his ministry stretches far beyond Ghana. From South America to Asia, from the Caribbean to Europe, Lighthouse churches are being planted by men and women who were trained, tested, and sent.
🔹 How Did It Happen?
The backbone of the movement is missions. Bishop Dag didn’t just want to build one big church — he wanted to fulfill Matthew 28:19, which says:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
To do that, he built a missionary training center called Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Centre in Mampong, Ghana. “Anagkazo” means to compel, and that’s exactly the spirit he instills in his students. They are taught to love souls, sacrifice everything, and obey God’s call — no matter the cost.
Graduates are sent into every corner of the globe — sometimes to places they’ve never even heard of. Many go with nothing but their Bible, a suitcase, and the anointing. They start churches in garages, classrooms, street corners — and eventually raise congregations that thrive.
“A true missionary doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. He just goes.” — Bishop Dag Heward-Mills
This missionary-first mindset is what makes the UD-OLGC unique. Their growth isn’t from marketing — it’s from movement. A movement of people who’ve said yes to Jesus and are willing to go wherever He sends.
2. Matthew Ashimolowo – Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
While many African pastors are known for growing churches in Africa, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo did something different — he planted one of the largest churches in Europe, and then expanded globally.
As the founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), based in London, Pastor Matthew built a ministry known for excellence, prosperity teaching, and strong biblical preaching. What started with just a handful of people in the UK became a movement that has planted branches in over 30 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the United States, and several Caribbean nations.
🔹 The Missionary Impact
KICC may not always be referred to as a missionary organization, but their strategy says otherwise. Pastor Matthew believes in raising leaders from within, training them in the vision, and deploying them into cities that need strong, word-based churches.
Over the years, many of KICC’s pastors have been sent to start branches abroad, and these are not just satellites — they are full expressions of the KICC culture. These pastors aren’t just trained in theology, but also in finance, church management, and spiritual warfare — equipping them to handle both the spiritual and administrative challenges of international ministry.
“It’s not enough to be called. You must also be trained, tested, and trusted.” — Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo
This commitment to deploying prepared leaders has allowed KICC to maintain consistency across continents. And because Pastor Matthew is also a prolific author and broadcaster, many people join KICC branches abroad already familiar with the teaching — creating a natural hunger for physical community.
3. Apostle Joshua Selman – Koinonia Global
Though relatively younger than the other ministries mentioned, Koinonia Global, founded by Apostle Joshua Selman, has made an undeniable international impact — and fast. What began as a student-focused fellowship in Zaria, Nigeria, has exploded into a global spiritual hub, drawing people from North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Unlike traditional denominations, Koinonia’s growth has come from revival fire and intentional sending. The ministry now has bases in Abuja, Nigeria, and several fast-growing international hubs, including the UK, Canada, and the United States.
🔹 The Sending Culture
What makes Koinonia different is that many of its branches were not planted — they were birthed. The ministry teaches believers to carry the anointing and presence of God wherever they go. So when students and workers move to new countries, they start home fellowships, and over time, these grow into churches.
Though Apostle Selman has only recently begun formally commissioning international branches, the Koinonia DNA — deep worship, strong teaching, and hunger for revival — is now spreading fast.
“When God sends you, His grace goes ahead of you. We don’t just move — we are sent.” — Apostle Joshua Selman
And now, with an intentional strategy in place, missionaries and trained workers are being positioned globally to lead Koinonia centers and raise altars in cities that are spiritually dry. The vision isn’t just growth — it’s transformation.
Why Deploying Missionaries Makes the Difference
Looking at these three ministries, one thing is clear: international growth didn’t happen accidentally. It happened through sending.
Churches that grow big are good. But churches that send people out are unstoppable.
Here’s why missionary deployment makes all the difference:
✅ 1. It Creates Spiritual Footprints
When a church plants a branch overseas, it becomes a spiritual embassy — a place where heaven touches earth in a foreign land.
✅ 2. It Reproduces the Anointing
Missionaries carry the heart, spirit, and teachings of the house. This ensures that what made the home church powerful is replicated globally.
✅ 3. It Mobilizes Members
When churches deploy missionaries, members realize that church is not just about Sunday service. It’s a mission base, and every believer is a potential laborer.
✅ 4. It Fulfills the Great Commission
Jesus didn’t say “Stay and build.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” Churches that send are obeying the final words of Jesus, and that obedience attracts divine backing.
Lessons We Can Learn
Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or simply a believer with a heart for souls, here are some key takeaways:
- Train before you send. Don’t just push people into missions without preparation. Build Bible schools, mentorship systems, and spiritual covering.
- Start small. You don’t need to send a crowd. Jesus sent them two by two. One obedient missionary can shake a nation.
- Invest in your people. Every missionary sent is a seed. Nurture them, pray for them, support them — and watch the harvest come.
- Think long-term. Don’t just plant a church — plant a vision, a culture, and a spiritual legacy that will last.
Conclusion: This Is How Nations Are Won
When we look at the stories of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, and Apostle Joshua Selman, we don’t just see church growth. We see obedience. We see people who said yes to the call and then sent others to do the same.
Global impact doesn’t begin on a stage — it begins with a burden. A burden for souls, a passion for the Great Commission, and a willingness to go.
“How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” — Romans 10:14-15
Churches that send, grow. Churches that send, multiply. And churches that send, change the world.
The question is: Are we sending? Or are we just sitting?
Let’s rise up, raise missionaries, and send them to the nations. The harvest is waiting.