Founder and Presiding Bishop of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches (UD-OLGC), Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, delivered an inspiring sermon titled “Oh, Timothy” during the Family Service at the Qodesh Family Church in Accra on Sunday.
Preaching from 1 Timothy 6:20 — “Oh, Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust” — Bishop Heward-Mills exhorted believers to guard and preserve the sacred truths entrusted to them. Reading also from the Amplified Bible, he highlighted the call to “turn away from worldly and godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.”
Stewardship of Truth
The Bishop cautioned against teachings that differ from sound doctrine, quoting 1 Timothy 6:3. “Anyone who teaches something different disagrees with the correct and godly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. He explained that teaching “something different” is not trivial — it reflects a departure from the spirit of truth and unity in the gospel.
Ministry as a Family
Drawing on Ephesians 3:14-15, Bishop Heward-Mills taught that ministry is fundamentally about creating and nurturing a family. He explained the Greek roots of the words pater (father) and patria (family), saying they reveal God’s intention for the church to function as a family unit. Using Paul’s affectionate address to Timothy — “my own son in the faith” and “my dearly beloved son” — he illustrated the importance of spiritual fatherhood and continuity in ministry.
Commitment to Presence and Unity
During the service, Bishop Heward-Mills also introduced the church’s new slogan, “Home by Sunday,” urging members to prioritize returning to church every Sunday regardless of travel schedules. “Church is a family meeting,” he emphasized. “No matter where you are in the world, you have to be home by Sunday.”
The message culminated with a strong appeal for faithfulness and consistency in the calling of every believer. He encouraged the congregation to remain loyal to the teachings, books, and messages God has given the church, and to pass them on unaltered to future generations.
