The maiden edition of the MAINTENANCE OF THE AIM CONFERENCE (MOTA) 2021 kick-started with the Evangelist, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. This Conference is being hosted by the Loyalty House International (LHI) Headquartered at Abbey-Dawhenya, with branches in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger and Nigeria.
It was a charged atmosphere with thousands of members from Loyalty House International, Makarios Church and other Denominations from the United Denominations (UD) as well as Non-UD members from within and outside Dawhenya/ Tema.
Although the starting time for the Conference was 9am, by 6am, long queues had already been formed by members who had travelled from far and near, expectant and desirous of an encounter with the Lord through the ministration of the Prophet, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. By 8am, the 2,000-seater auditorium of the Truth Cathedral of the Loyalty House International, Abbey Dawhenya, was filled to capacity, necessitating the usage of other Halls of the ultra modern facility for seating.
The Prophet’s arrival was electrifying as everyone stood up, clapped and shouted to warmly welcome daddy home.
Being the first time the Prophet was visiting the Church Complex after its completion, Bishop Sam, the Host and Convener of the Loyalty House International Denomination, expressed his joy about having his Father, the Prophet visit the Church. He said that just as Jesus did not have to say anything for the demons to run to Him to question what they had to do with him (Luke 4:34), the Prophet’s visit was enough to deal with any demons of Ministry and their personal lives.
The Prophet also expressed his joy to be at the Truth Cathedral, recounting the first time he visited the site as bare land with red sand. Having seen some familiar faces at the Conference, he emphasized the need to maintain the unity since the Church is like a Family and just as one cannot leave a Family, in the same way one cannot just leave the Church Family.
Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, in introducing the theme for the Conference, MAINTENANCE OF THE AIM, indicated that maintenance of the aim is one of the most important secrets of war. Preaching from Chapter 8 of his book, the GOOD GENERAL, he emphasized that Selection and Maintenance of the Aim was the main and most important strategy of war, illustrating with United States of America’s withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan and how America’s inability to maintain the aim came with huge financial costs.
He stated that successful maintenance of the aim results in a single unambiguous victory. Quoting 1 Corinthians 2:2 and 2 Corinthians 15:58, he emphasized that maintenance of the aim brings many benefits. He warned that often it is the refreshments and rewards (which are the benefits and gifts you receive while doing the work of God) which prevent or distract us from maintaining the aim. He stated that we must not forget that those rewards and refreshments came as a result of our first or initial obedience and so we must be steadfast in maintaining the aim and as we do that, more rewards and refreshments will come.
Using his own life as an example, he revealed that his quest to maintain the aim made him to go and start the First Love Church from nothing. He recounted how they had to meet in halls and classrooms but because he was determined to maintain the aim, he was not discouraged. Starting First Love, he said, has literally given him a new lease on life, he has gone back to his first love, he has gone back to doing his first works, and that has rejuvenated him in Ministry!
Using the NASB version of Acts 4:20, he admonished the church not to stop what God has called us to do. The entire congregation joined in a chorus of this phrase “WE CANNOT STOP!”, to remind ourselves that we cannot depart from the aim of winning souls, planting churches, sending missionaries, and all the things that by the Grace of God the Church is good at doing. Job 27:6 says “my righteousness I hold fast…. He encouraged Loyalty House not to shift from what is good about them.
Bishop Dag exhorted all to desire Full Time Ministry. He taught that Jesus believed in Full Time Ministry. He was in the Lay Ministry till He was 30, then the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness – nothingness – Full Time Ministry. In order to maintain the aim, Full Time Ministry is necessary. Full Time Ministry ensures that one take heed to himself, and one’s gift is not neglected.
