The mission of the Church is clear: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). One of the most effective ways to fulfill this mandate is through church planting—establishing new communities of believers in unreached, underserved, or expanding regions. While church growth is often celebrated in terms of attendance or building size, real Kingdom expansion is measured by how many healthy churches are being planted and sustained.
Church planting is not a random act; it thrives best through well-developed systems. These systems include leadership training, doctrinal consistency, pastoral support, financial planning, evangelism strategies, and accountability. Thankfully, across Africa and beyond, several visionary pastors are developing strong church planting systems that are not only multiplying churches but preserving spiritual health across generations.
This article highlights some of the pastors leading the way in strategic and Spirit-filled church planting—starting with one of the most prolific church planters on the continent, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills.
1. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills – Ghana
Ministry: United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC)
Core Strength: Structured church planting and missionary deployment
At the top of this list is Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, whose ministry is a global force for church planting. With over 3,000 churches in more than 90 countries, Bishop Dag has built a church planting system that is both deeply spiritual and highly organized.
The engine behind this system is the Anakazo Bible and Ministry Training Center, a full-time seminary in Ghana where hundreds of young men and women are trained annually to serve in ministry. Once trained, they are sent—often into difficult mission fields across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and even Asia.
Each church plant is not left to survive on its own. There is a clear structure of supervision, mentorship, and reporting. Regional bishops oversee pastors. Loyalty and faithfulness are emphasized to maintain unity in doctrine and vision.
His books, such as Loyalty and Disloyalty, Church Planting, and The Mega Church, are used as manuals across his denomination—and even beyond—to build strong, growing churches from the ground up. His passion for the lost fuels his desire to plant churches everywhere people need the Gospel, whether in a remote African town or a European capital. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills is a pastor Developing Strong Church Planting Systems.
Dag Heward-Mills’ system is a model of faith, discipline, and multiplication, making him one of the most influential church planters of our time.
2. Pastor Paul Adefarasin – Nigeria
Ministry: House on the Rock
Core Strength: Urban church planting and media-driven outreach
Pastor Paul Adefarasin is known for his visionary leadership and ability to reach urban populations with excellence and relevance. Through House on the Rock, which began in Lagos, he has established branches in major cities across Nigeria and internationally.
His church planting model blends media, worship, and strong teaching to attract a wide demographic of urban dwellers. Each new branch receives strategic support, including leadership development, branding, and infrastructure planning.
He believes in planting thriving, not just surviving churches—equipped with spiritual depth and cultural relevance.
3. Rev. Sam Adeyemi – Nigeria
Ministry: Daystar Christian Centre
Core Strength: Leadership development for church expansion
Though known more for leadership training, Rev. Sam Adeyemi has laid the foundation for a sustainable church planting movement by focusing on developing people. Through Daystar Leadership Academy, many emerging leaders have been mentored, trained, and equipped to lead church plants and ministries across Africa.
Rather than rush into multiplying locations, he has developed a strong internal system—a leadership culture that produces people ready to plant churches with vision, excellence, and character.
4. Pastor Oscar Muriu – Kenya
Ministry: Nairobi Chapel
Core Strength: Church planting through leadership multiplication
Oscar Muriu is one of the leading voices in African evangelical circles. He has articulated a vision for Africa to be a global missionary-sending continent, and his church, Nairobi Chapel, reflects that passion.
His system trains leaders in “huddles” (discipleship circles), then releases them to plant new churches. Nairobi Chapel has planted over 100 churches, and many of them are led by home-grown leaders discipled within the system.
Muriu’s mantra is simple but powerful: “Don’t grow a big church, grow big people.”
5. Apostle Emmanuel Makandiwa – Zimbabwe
Ministry: United Family International Church (UFIC)
Core Strength: Prophetic church planting with training hubs
Apostle Makandiwa has built one of Zimbabwe’s largest church networks through a blend of strong prophetic ministry and strategic expansion. New churches are planted with trained pastors, ministry teams, and discipleship structures.
Through church worker schools and training camps, UFIC raises leaders who can replicate the ministry’s values and reach new communities. This has resulted in a fast-growing but stable network of churches within and beyond Zimbabwe.
6. Pastor Craig Groeschel – USA
Ministry: Life.Church
Core Strength: Multi-site model and digital church planting
Though based in the U.S., Craig Groeschel’s church planting innovations are influencing African ministries as well. His multi-site model allows for one central leadership team to oversee dozens of campuses, each with their own pastoral team but connected through shared values and teaching.
Life.Church also offers free digital resources to church planters, making tools for growth and expansion accessible even to under-resourced regions.
7. Dr. Mensa Otabil – Ghana
Ministry: International Central Gospel Church (ICGC)
Core Strength: Organizational structure and cultural engagement
Dr. Otabil has built a strong denominational structure within ICGC, enabling growth without chaos. His churches are planted with trained leaders and operate under a constitution that safeguards doctrine, finances, and leadership succession.
His emphasis on biblical thinking, nation-building, and excellence ensures that every church is both spiritually effective and socially responsible.
8. Pastor Larry Titus – USA
Ministry: Kingdom Global Ministries
Core Strength: Mentoring church planters in developing nations
Pastor Larry Titus focuses on raising global leaders through mentorship. Many African pastors credit his coaching for helping them develop systems of church planting in their own nations. He believes in empowering indigenous leaders with biblical vision and practical tools for multiplication.
9. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Nigeria
Ministry: Christ Embassy (LoveWorld Nation)
Core Strength: Cell-based expansion and leadership deployment
Pastor Chris has created a church planting system based on cell growth models. As cell groups mature, they become the foundation for new branches. This model emphasizes evangelism, teaching, and leadership at every level.
His use of satellite campuses, media, and discipleship materials has allowed Christ Embassy to grow rapidly without losing its core identity.
10. Rev. Steve Mensah – Ghana
Ministry: Christ Pentecostal International Church (CPIC) / Youth Harvest Foundation
Core Strength: Evangelism-driven church planting
Rev. Steve Mensah combines mass evangelism with strategic church planting. After gospel crusades in rural or urban areas, his ministry plants churches as a follow-up strategy. Trained young pastors are placed in these communities to disciple new converts and grow the work.
Conclusion
In a time when the harvest is truly great, the Church needs leaders who can build more than one strong congregation—they must build systems that multiply churches across cities, nations, and continents.
Bishop Dag Heward-Mills stands as a leading example of what’s possible when spiritual vision is combined with strategic thinking and a heart for souls. His church planting system doesn’t just grow churches—it raises leaders, sends missionaries, and fulfills the Great Commission with clarity and passion.
As more pastors embrace the call to multiply, these church planting systems will become the backbone of a vibrant, global Church—one that’s expanding, discipling, and glorifying Jesus in every corner of the world.