Some are called to inherit. Others are called to build. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills is one of those who was called to build—often from scratch. There were no mega budgets, no large teams, no platforms waiting for him. There was only a word from God, a burden in his spirit, and a decision to obey.
He started in a classroom with borrowed chairs and little else. But what many would have dismissed as too small, he saw as the beginning of something great. He believed that if God called him, then God would build with him. And that belief has proven true again and again.
The burden to build from nothing is not easy. It requires faith, endurance, patience, and vision. Bishop Dag has walked that road many times—not only once. He continues to plant churches in dry places, raise leaders where there are no resources, and train missionaries with limited support. But what he builds remains.
Faith That Sees a Future
To build from scratch, you must have eyes of faith. Bishop Dag has trained himself and others to see beyond what’s in front of them. He teaches that you cannot be moved by what you don’t have. You must be moved by what God has said.
He teaches pastors to stand on empty land and see a church. To preach to two people with the same passion as if there were two thousand. To serve faithfully in obscurity, knowing that God rewards faithfulness, not fame.
This is not theory for him—it is his life. He knows what it is to labor in places where no one claps, where the weather is harsh, and where the results are slow. But he also knows what it is to see God raise something beautiful out of nothing.
The Cost of Obedience
Obeying the call to build is costly. It will take your energy, your comfort, your time, and often your reputation. People may not understand why you choose the harder road. But Bishop Dag teaches that true builders are not driven by applause—they are driven by obedience.
He has often chosen the path of sacrifice over success. He has walked away from easier options to follow the leading of the Spirit. He teaches that builders must have the courage to begin when nothing is guaranteed. Because God honors those who move at His word, not their own convenience.
And every church, every ministry, every outreach that has come from his obedience is a testimony that building with God is always worth it.
A Pattern for Future Builders
The life and ministry of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has become a pattern for others. He has shown that you don’t need to start with much to build something great. You only need to start with God. He has trained countless pastors to do the same—to begin, to stay, to believe, and to build.
Many of his missionaries now find themselves in unfamiliar places, starting from scratch. But they carry his spirit. They build with the same faith. And they do not give up, because they have seen their father in the Lord do it before.
Through Bishop Dag’s journey, the Church is reminded that God still calls people to build. That He still uses those who say yes in the wilderness. And that what is built with His Spirit will last, even when it begins with nothing.