Dallas/Fort Worth — Some twenty centuries ago, Peter and his brother Andrew were the first to respond when they heard Jesus say, “Come, follow me …” Since that day, millions have answered that same noble call to follow in his steps.

However, in today’s Christian culture of shallow commitments and half-hearted discipleship, where many believers deem it their right to choose when, where and how far they will follow, unconditional obedience is often perceived as a legalistic and lifeless proposition. In his newest book, “The Art of the Follower” (summer 2013), Dag Heward-Mills, world-renowned pastor, author and evangelist, assures readers of the joys of unbridled pursuit of God and encourages them to follow from a sincere heart of gratitude for his great grace and love.

“Our motivation for practicing the art of following must come not from feeble obligation, but from a deep awareness of God’s love for us, and our longing to love him back, to please him and to know him better,” Heward-Mills said. “That deep love for God was the impetus for my choice to leave a career as a medical doctor to follow him into full-time ministry. Sometimes I look around at the many lives that have been changed as a result of my decision and wonder, ‘Would these people have ever come to know the Lord if I were a practicing doctor in a clinic somewhere?’

“We just may never know the far-reaching effects of our obedience,” he added.

“Art of the Follower” offers not only essential motivation but also scriptural principles to succeed at following and even catching up with those ahead in the faith. With skillful artistry, Heward-Mills unfolds the lives of 11 of God’s champion followers — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, Esther and Daniel — providing a virtual training manual of right-here, right-now lessons on following God. Each of the selected biblical role models demonstrate the practices and passions of a person who is willing to give all they have for who and what they consider to be most important.

“Many today have been taught by the church how to have a good life, how to be happy, how to raise good families, how to prosper, and how to be safe and secure. Few have been taught to give up their lives, to pay the price to follow,” Heward-Mills said. “It seems it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for Christians to forsake their own comfortableness to follow anybody or anything on a daily basis.”

The haunting invitation to follow Jesus still goes forth today. “My desire,” Heward-Mills said, “is for believers to bask daily in God’s marvelous grace and to more willingly follow Christ.”

As the author of more than 75 books distributed worldwide, Pastor and Medical Doctor, Dag Heward-Mills also leads a worldwide ministry and presides as Bishop of Lighthouse Chapel International, with almost 1,300 churches spread across the globe in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Australia, including 63 churches in 24 U.S. states. Heward-Mills holds highly-successful evangelistic outreaches throughout Africa and other emerging countries and leads a myriad of other endeavors, including a Medical Missions Team, Bible training centers, schools, a hospital, an orphanage, church leader conferences, a host of media outlets including an on-line television site and more.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. Philippians 3:17

Indeed, over the past 20 years, evangelist, pastor and author Dag Heward-Mills has impacted millions through a multi-faceted world-wide ministry—one that shines with many amazing, bold arcs of light. An array of soul-winning projects, all of which he leads, directs or has written, are woven together to create a powerful force for Christ. And today they continue to gain brilliance and momentum.

These bright, evangelistic embers can be traced back to a time decades ago. Born in the UK to a Ghanaian lawyer and Swiss mother and growing up in the West African coastal country of Ghana, Dag gave his life to the Lord as a teenager. Soon after, while completing a seven-year training program at the University of Ghana Medical School, he felt God anointing him to teach and, testifying to God’s fervent call on his life, began holding meetings in a campus classroom. As attendance swelled, meetings were moved to larger and larger rooms—and thus the first Lighthouse Chapel was born. Meanwhile, Dag earned his medical degree in 1989 and was ordained into the ministry in London the following year. Six years later, in 1996, the International Ministerial Council of Great Britain consecrated him as bishop.

Through all these occurrences, one of many sweeps of light began to intensely shine. As more churches were planted under Dag’s leadership as presiding bishop, Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) grew into a world-wide denomination with almost 1300 churches spreading across every continent in 60 countries, including 63 churches in the United States. Back in Accra, Ghana (LCI’s home base), Pastor Heward-Mills commissioned in 2006 the construction of one of the largest church complexes in Africa—called the Qodesh (the Hebrew word for consecrated, dedicated or Holy Hill)—where attendance today often overflows its capacity.

Yet another gleaming glint of light appeared in 2004 when Dag held an evangelistic event, sparking the much-acclaimed Healing Jesus Crusades across Africa and other third-world countries. Today, this ministry seems to glow with God’s blessing. Picture massive crowds gathering, listening and responding to the truth of God’s Word, with thousands committing their lives to Christ and others receiving healing in His name. While the first crusade drew just over 600 attendees, each gathering now attracts up to five hundred thousand at each event.

To follow up each crusade, faith-building books and pamphlets written by Heward-Mills are freely “seeded” to help disciple and lead throngs of new believers to a closer walk with Christ. In fact, he is now known as a prolific author, with more than 75 titles to date, including 30 international bestsellers and many new releases anticipated in the coming months (including the much-acclaimed 5-book series Loyalty and Disloyalty). These books, including bestseller The Art of the Follower and many others, help pastors build stronger churches and motivate readers to effectively bolster their ministries, families and marriages.

Still other lights sparkle in multiple arenas—inspiring the next generation to ministry, healing the sick and rescuing orphans from lives of pain and abuse. In 1995, he established the Lighthouse Christian Mission Schools and, in 1997, added the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Center. In 2006, he established three more rays of hope: the Lighthouse Mission Hospital, the Healing Jesus Medical Missions and the Lighthouse Christian Orphanage. Partnering with other ministries such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Dag and his dedicated team are helping communities around the globe.

The list continues. He has held multiple conferences to equip church leaders, serves on the board of Church Growth International and produces radio and TV programs, DVD’s and CD’s, all to share the Gospel world-wide. He has also teamed up with his wife, Adelaide, to speak to crowds across Africa on the importance of a strong, faith-filled marriage and its vital role in the life of a Christian.

The blessed parents of four wonderful children—David, Joshua, Daniella and Paula—Dag and Adelaide reside in Accra, Ghana, where their passion for outreach continues to radiantly shine. Indeed, he and his ministry team have set robust goals, which include “to build 25,000 churches in 150 countries,” “to continue to fight fiercely and relentlessly in all battles for the advancement of the churches and the Gospel” and “to produce passionate Christians who work for God.”

Perhaps a final goal, in its simplicity, proves the most telling: “to go to Heaven and hear Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” Looking back, Pastor Dag Heward-Mills may indeed see many arcs of light all intertwined—a unified beam cutting through the darkness as millions are enlightened with the hope of the Gospel. Until then, the “faithful servant” stands in the lighthouse, shining the Way.

Liberia is a country dealing with the continuing effects of a devastating civil war which plagued the nation for more than a decade. Heward-Mills’ recent Mission Liberia Healing Jesus Campaigns centered on bringing hope and healing, as well as repentance and revival to this land facing enormous challenges. Targeting seven critical cities in Liberia, the campaigns kicked off on April 22nd in Zwedru and concluded with the final campaign on May 12th in Monrovia.

With great expectation of the changes the evangelist’s visit might bring to their beloved Liberia, government officials, traditional chiefs, pastors, church leaders and townspeople welcomed Heward-Mills with open arms. Eager crowds flocked early to each campaign venue in anticipation of the evening services, often filling seats on the grounds by 4:00 in the afternoon. Thousands of enthusiastic pastors attended the special training conferences to be schooled in the gentle, healing ways of Jesus.

Many came, hoping to experience firsthand an authentic, tangible touch of the love of God. Perhaps the most tender moments involved the children. In Kakata, Liberia, a young man, blind from birth, pressed his way to the front of the crowd, believing with all his heart he would be healed. After the evangelist and his team prayed for him, the boy exclaimed, “I can see! I can see everything!” Another child, two years old, had been paralyzed in his legs for three months due to illness. No doctor had been able to help. After the prayer time, the boy cried to his mom, “Let me down!” Not only did he stand, he began to walk.

Heward-Mills is not surprised. “I believe in miracles, because I believe in God,” he explained “I love to watch the healing Jesus in action, the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever. I challenge people of all ages to respond to the call of salvation and pledge to live for Jesus fully – spirit, soul and body.”

Together with his campaign team, Heward-Mills has held 70 evangelistic events across the globe, resulting in millions of decisions for Christ. Lives have been radically transformed, sick people have been spiritually and physically healed and those who were once afraid are now boldly expressing their faith in Jesus. “To see the kingdom of God come on earth as it is in heaven — this is my life and my joy,” said Heward-Mills.

The Healing Jesus Campaigns in Liberia were broadcast live from Liberia each campaign night on GMT. Visit healingjesus.tv to view clips from the live streaming of these crusades. See daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade for more information about Heward-Mills and his ministry.

Hundreds of thousands pack a huge sports field in an African town, some carrying children, most standing with eyes glistening, a few leaning on canes, all attentively focused on the large stage ahead. “Who really is this man, the Jesus of the Bible, that they are singing about?” some wonder, and “How can He give me hope and healing?”

Then, with exuberant warmth and passion, the Bishop Dag Heward-Mills steps on stage as huge loud speakers boom his welcoming message of praise and exaltation to God. Simultaneously, a roar of cheers and applause resounds through the crowd, and thousands more on surrounding rooftops and balconies beam their approval. Over a span of four days, thousands give their lives to Christ. All these find healing in their souls from their sinful lifestyles or lives of despair, for their eternal destinies. Dozens also experience visible, authentic healing from blindness, diseases, infirmities and more. Unbridled joy abounds as scores of amazing miracles take place.

No, this scene is not taken from a recent Hollywood movie or lifted from the pages of a fictional novel.

In fact, this time in Dakar, Senegal in July 2012, another life-changing “Healing Jesus” evangelistic campaign has begun. Hundreds of thousands come to Christ; a two-day pastors’ conference bolsters the ministry of hundreds of local church leaders; the Healing Jesus Medical Missions Team provides free healthcare and medications to thousands; a huge supply of “Pastor Dag’s” books are distributed seeking to reach as many households as possible; and incredible stories of blessings, hope and healing come pouring in.

“In His amazing love and grace, the Lord Jesus Christ is allowing His message to sweep across Africa and the entire world,” Heward-Mills smiles broadly. “Through His Spirit, He wants every nation to hear, see and experience His saving power!”

Indeed, not only are seven ground-breaking “Healing Jesus Crusades” such as the one in Dakar taking place in the depths of west Africa in 2012, but, since 2004, forty-five of these crusades have resulted in over six million decisions for Christ, both in Africa and other emerging nations across the globe. With six “Healing Jesus Crusades” planned for the remainder of 2012 and twelve for 2013, the momentum continues to soar.

“I’m excited to see how God uses the ‘Healing Jesus Crusades’—along with the Medical Mission outreaches—as they gain world-wide attention,” he continues. “His plan will prevail as we continue to share His extravagant love.”

Yet, even these amazing, evangelistic triumphs represent merely a piece of the story.

Over the past 20 years, evangelist, pastor and author Dag Heward-Mills has proclaimed the Gospel to millions through a multi-faceted, world-wide ministry. As presiding bishop, Heward-Mills heads up Lighthouse Chapel International, now with close to 1,300 churches in over 60 countries, including 63 churches in 24 U.S. states. He has authored dozens of books (73 to date and growing, with millions of copies distributed world-wide in several languages) and has inspired and leads a myriad of other endeavors—including Bible training centers, schools, a hospital and orphanage, church leader conferences and more—all to advance the saving power of Christ.

“We are all clay in God’s hands,” Heward-Mills attests. “He molds us for His glory, and I’m just thankful that He can somehow use me—and this ministry—to bring honor to His name and healing to His people.”