CHRUCH GROWTH CONFERENCE MAGAZINE

CHURCH GROWTH CONFERENCE 1ST EDITION CHRUCH GROWTH CONFERENCE ENTERS BURKINA FASO LEADING CHURCHES INTO CHURCH CGHRUORWCTHH EXPANSION AND FUFILLING THE GREAT COMMISION Church Growth….it is possible !

MHOASINT S&PEAKER Dear Minister BISHOP You Must Follow God’s Pattern EMMANUEL If we are going to succeed in any aspect of the ministry that L. NTERFUL God has given us, it is of utmost importance for us to learn to follow the patterns God provides (the lay outs, the direct instructions and specific designs) because God is a God of pat- terns! So then, what is a pattern? The dictionary definitions of pattern include among others the following A distinctive style, model, or form. An original or model considered for or deserving of imitation. Anything fashioned or designed to serve as a model or guide for something to be made A pattern is the repeated or regular way in which something happens or is done. A pattern can also be defined as a plan, original, guide, in- struction and template. Dear pastor, please remember that when it comes to building His church, God is not confused and disoriented at all. God has: A distinctive style, A model, A form, A plan An original, An instruction, A template. Be careful therefore to always follow the pattern He has given you. That’s the key to success in the ministry and life in general. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and over- take thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. Proverbs 22:28

Contents 04 06 11 12 How I came to Church Growth Testimonies Church Growth discover the cell Conference- Conference- Tarkwa Koforidua system 14 14 24 SHAKING THE DUST Church Growth THE HOLY SPIRIT OF COVID OFF Conference- IS A TEACHER Ashaiman CHURCH GROWTH CONFERENCE IN UK, LONDON 26 30 Church Growth Going Beyond Conference the Shores of Comes Home Ghana Church Growth Conference 2022 | 03

HOW I CAME PART 1 TO DISCOVER THE CELL SYSTEM The Cell System My very earliest encounter with Emmanuel L. Nterful the cell system was in the early 1990s, when we used to run Area Outreach and Follow-up Ministry in the Lighthouse Chapel International during its formative years. It was a great move by my pastor Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. It brought much fruit to our bourgeoning ministry. However, I must admit that my understanding then was very small. In October 2005, I had the privilege to be invited by Bishop Dag to accompany him to Seoul, Korea, to attend the Church Growth Conference hosted by Dr. Yonggi Cho. At that conference, one of the strategies for church growth that we were taught and experienced was the cell system. This really affected and impacted me dramatically. Because to think that a church that had eight hundred thousand people could be built through small, small groups was an 04 | Church Growth Conference 2022

amazing revelation. During the Church to growing the church. So I taught Growth Conference, on one of the days the church about the cell system, and we were all assigned to cell groups, to trained the shepherds (that is how we attend and to observe. And when we call our church workers,) in preparation arrived, we saw between seven to ten towards the cell strategy. However, Koreans (mostly women) attending something unfortunate happened these cell meetings; it is these small after I completed teaching the whole groups that when Dr Cho gathers congregation and actually training the together makes up the eight hundred initial cell leaders. I still cannot pinpoint thousand membership of his church. what exactly happened. Somehow I did not launch the cell system in my I left that cell meeting with great new church as planned. I still cannot excitement in my heart. understand why I delayed. In those days, the main strategies we deployed On one of the days, during the Church to build and run the church Growth Conference, Dr Cho gathered about 150,000 of his cell leaders and was fellowships and ministries like members in a stadium for a prayer Ushers, Fellowship for Christian meeting. This was just mind blowing! Businessmen and Professionals I came back from that conference International, Choir, welcome teams, very inspired by the cell system and I evangelistic teams and the like. decided to study it more intently. Now, as the months went by, in I read Dr. Cho’s book, Successful Cell 2008, I realized that the church was Groups and listened to his messages on reducing in attendance. I would go the cell system as well. I then decided to the Korle Gonno Cathedral on to start cells in my church. I was then Thursdays to oversee fellowship and in the Lighthouse Chapel International, ministry meetings and I was always Sakumono Satellite church. At the saddened by what I saw. I would come time, our attendance was just about across ministries like the choir and one hundred and fifty people in 2005. prayer with some five or ten people in attendance at that huge cathedral. Within a couple of months, the church I was so depressed and discouraged attendance more than doubled from during those months. the few cells that we started. Towards the end of 2007, I was transferred to By September of 2008, the church Korlegonno satellite church. When I had reduced from about two hundred landed in Korlegonno in April 2008, and fifty members to around one I knew what I was supposed to do. hundred and fifty. Our congregation We had a congregation of about two was just on a downward spiral and we hundred and fifty people and my first could not find the answers to arrest series that I preached was on Tell the decline and to grow the church. Them –a soul winning series. I did that for about two months. After a while, Go back to the cells! I started teaching the church about cells because I knew that was the key To be continued Church Growth Conference 2022 | 05

TARKWA WESTERN REGION - GHANA Over the years the church has suffered mining town in the Western Region a gradual increase in disengaged of Ghana, the conference was held in attendees but with the onset of COVID 6 exciting sessions. The conference 19 and its accompanying restrictions, saw in attendance 40 churches from the situation has risen exponentially. various areas of the Western Region such Tarkwa, Bogoso, Pretea, Hunny More than ever the teachings of Valley and Bompieso. church growth to champion the great commission and engage Christians is The atmosphere was charged with of the utmost importance. attendees expectant in receiving teachings to help them transform Therefore, spearheaded by Anagkazo their ministry. Assemblies’ convenor Bishop Louis Nterful, it was with great excitement The three (3) day conference had and anticipation that this year’s two sessions each day, a morning church growth conference, a non- session held from 8 am to 1pm and an denominational conference organized afternoon session held from 5 pm to and attended by thousands of pastors 8:30pm with the number of morning and their church workers could be held attendees peaking at 450 and 350 a second time since the onslaught of during the evening sessions. COVID 19. Each sitting was interspersed with Lasting from the 8th to the 10th of prayers, teachings, praise and worship June this year at Tarkwa, a renowned sessions but as the spirit would have 06 | Church Growth Conference 2022

it, attendees were transfixed in each as well as Three Powerful Keys to sitting into a state of spontaneous Building a Mega Church. worship and prayers which heightened the atmosphere each day. It is safe to Aside from the animated and zealous say no one left a session without a energy exhibited by the attendees degree of change that will certainly during various sessions of the be seen in their approach to church conference, another event worth growth in the future. noting is the number of Church Growth books they purchased during Teaching at the conference spanned the conference. At the end of the from powerful tried and tested conference, we had sold 184 copies messages such as Church Growth of Cell Systems, 23 copies of the Boosters, Two Right Attitudes for a Makarios, 48 pieces of The Zyme and Mega Church, 25 Reasons Why We 73 copies of Retention (Not sure if this Must Have a Mega Church to How is a book though) to Turn a Traditionally Run Church into a Cell Based Church. With a Overall, the Church Growth conference combination of role play, real-life at Tarkwa was very impactful, examples and bible teachings, Bishop nonetheless there were some Louis Nterful highlighted key church challenges with the sound, a lesson growth components such The Key of we will work hard to make sure does The Cell System, The Key of The Lay not happen in the next conference. Ministry, The Key of Church Growth Church Growth Conference 2022 | 07

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Church Growth Messages BISHOP EMMANUEL LOUIS NTERFUL Ingredientaninexorable for church growth Church Growth! Its is Possible!!

Testimonies Page Church Growth Conference 2022 | 11

KOFORIDUA EASTERN REGION - GHANA The days leading up to the church taught intently on the much- growth conference in Koforidua anticipated topic of church growth were utilized for planning the with his teachings honing in on conference as usual. Like the ones Church Growth and The Cell that had been held in the Western System. region, anticipation towards the conference was apparent. Despite The conference ended on a great the growing detachment amongst note on the 24th of June and saw believers, the need to rebuild an overall cumulative attendance and grow our local churches of 452 attendees made up of nevertheless resonates with a lot of both church workers and pastors Christians and it was no different in determined to revive their Koforidua. commitment to building the house of the lord. The three days conference was held from the 22nd to the 24th of This was made possible through June 2022 at the SC Appenteng the help of our key organizers, Hall, Koforidua. One of the city’s the Koforidua United Christian prominent conference halls. Ministers Network as well as the CGC Secretariat with the help of The beginning of each session Bishop Jamel Amponsah Baah of started with a time of prayer and the Machaneh Church, Koforidua. praise and worship to prepare attendees for the message ahead. The conference albeit successful did come with some setbacks. During the conference, Bishop First of them was the low response Louis Nterful, the convenor of the of the Koforidua Pastors’ Network, Anagkazo Church and the host of followed by a failure to reach most the Church Growth Conference Pastors who do not belong to 12 | Church Growth Conference 2022

the Network and the inability to mobilize pastors outside Koforidua. These have taught us to spend more time in the host city to mobilize pastors in the future and also not expect much from the Pastors’ Network in terms of mobilization but rely more on our internal resources. Aside from that, we also learned the need to acquire data on the number of pastors in the community hosting the conference to help forecast expected attendance and to all ways include towns or locations within at least a 50miles radius outside of the Conference Location Church Growth Conference 2022 | 13

SHAKING THE DUST OF COVID OFF CHURCH GROWTH CONFERENCE IN UK, LONDON In Matthew 16:18, when Peter comes to the realization of who the son of man is, Jesus says this “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail”. Centuries later, men of God and churches have taken up this mantle of building the house of God and waging war on the gates of hell and the United Denomination of the Light House Group of Churches is no exception. Held annually since 2009, the Church Growth Conference (CGC) has been one of the tools in making this unction possible. With the goal of teaching, empowering and providing pastors and ministers with small churches and ministries 14 | Church Growth Conference 2022

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especially the wisdom keys and these heavily anointed books needed biblically backed strategic plans to to grow a church into a mega one. grow their ministry, CHC has seen a surge in attendance and growth over Given the testimonies of the the years by God’s grace. participating pastors after each session, it is evident that the Led in recent years by Bishop Holy Spirit greatly encouraged, Emmanuel Louis Nterful, the convener inspired, strengthened and anointed of the Anagkazo Assemblies, CGC participants of the conference to build continued its two-year streak after the mega-churches for the glory of God. pandemic hit in 2019. In addition to direct teachings, the This year was a big one for us as we ministers had the opportunity to took the conference to London for the acquire, the world-renowned ministry first time since 2019, after a ministering materials of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, altering conference had been held especially MAKARIOS 51-100, a library two year in a role in several places in of anointed ministry books recently Ghana after the pandemic. launched. The Holy Spirit, the Cell System books, and other widely used Using personal experience, practical ministry materials were also available. examples, messages and church growth books by the father of the Approximately 470 bishops, house, Bishop Dag Heward Mills prophets, pastors, church leaders, and (Reasons Why You Must Have a church workers attended the four- Mega Church, Lay People and the day conference from ten different Ministry, Loyalty and Disloyalty and churches. Provisions were also made Supernatural Blessings for Soul for those who could not attend the Winners) and his book (The Cell conference physically. Thousands of System: Following God’s Pattern) people both locally and internationally Bishop Emmanuel Louis Nterful, a watched and benefited from the church planter and Megachurch pastor Church Growth Conference via social himself, taught in 4 powerful sessions media, especially live streaming on the great wisdom and strategic keys in Facebook. 16 | Church Growth Conference 2022

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FURTHER AND DEEPER INTO WEST AFRICA 4Countries Conferences Burkina Faso Takoradi Abidjan Cotonou Ouagadougou Ghana Ivory Coast Benin 21-23 Sept. 26-28 Oct. 02-04 Nov. 16-18 Nov. 20 | Church Growth Conference 2022

BURKINA FASO Ouagadougou GHANA Tarkwa Koforidua Ashaiman Kasoa-Ofaakor Takoradi Ivory Coast Abidjan Benin Cotonou Church Growth Conference 2022 | 21

Ashaiman GREATER ACCRA - GHANA 22 | Church Growth Conference 2022

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THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A TEACHER THE HOLY SPIRIT Emmanuel L. Nterful Have you seen a dog, which has gathered fellow dogs and is teaching them before? Or a senior goat that has gathered other goats to teach them before? Even our closest ‘brothers’, monkeys, cannot teach themselves! The Spirit of Jesus is a person because He teaches. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall TEACH you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you John 14:26 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: 24 | Church Growth Conference 2022

but as the same anointing TEACHETH The spirit of wisdom, understanding, you of all things, and is truth, and is no counsel and knowledge all speak lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye of the mind. He wants to teach you shall abide in him. about how to work for Him. He wants to teach you what to do. 1 John 2:27 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will The Holy Spirit is a person in your life guide thee with mine eye. who wants to teach you. The Holy Psalm 32:8 Spirit wants to teach you about your Pastors, He is the one who teaches us life, about what you don’t know, about about the ministry. He must teach you the ministry etc. He is the teacher before you go and teach. He is a great of the Word of God. If you want to teacher. understand the Word of God, you must rely on the Holy Spirit – the teacher. A He is the good shepherd or pastor must know teacher of the Word of God. And the teacher of the Word the Word of God is the Holy Spirit. The of God. reason why the Holy Spirit is able to teach us the Word of God is because If you want to He was the one who inspired it. understand the Word of God, you All scripture is given by inspiration of must rely on the God… Holy Spirit – the teacher 2 Timothy 3: 16 THE HOLY SPIRIT Knowing this first, that no prophecy Emmanuel L. Nterful of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost . 2 Peter 1:20-21 In order to understand the scriptures, we must tell the Holy Spirit to teach us the Word, and explain it to us. He will give you revelation and knowledge of the Word. Four dimensions of the Spirit of God have to do with our mind. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2 Church Growth Conference 2022 | 25

CHURCH GROWTH CONFERENCE COMES HOME KASOA-OFAAKOR CENTRAL REGION - GHANA 26 | Church Growth Conference 2022

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GOING BEYOND THE SHORES OF GHANA Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso 30 | Church Growth Conference 2022

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