One of the clearest marks of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills’ ministry is his heart for the sheep. At the core of his calling is a deep, genuine love for the people of God—not just in theory, but in practice. He has taught again and again that ministry is not about building crowds, but about feeding sheep.
He follows the example of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep. He teaches that a pastor must be more than a preacher. A shepherd is someone who knows the state of the flock, who is willing to go after the one that is missing, who is ready to protect, feed, visit, and nurture.
His book The Art of Shepherding has shaped thousands of leaders to return to the heart of true pastoral work. He calls pastors to get close to the sheep, to learn their names, to understand their burdens, and to lead them gently. For Bishop Dag, shepherding is not a title—it is a life poured out.
Leading With Presence, Not Just Pulpit
Bishop Dag teaches that real shepherds don’t lead from a distance. They walk among the sheep. They are present in the lives of the people they serve. Ministry is not just what happens on the stage—it’s what happens in living rooms, at hospital bedsides, in counseling rooms, and on the phone late at night.
He has modeled this for years. He has followed up members personally, counseled broken families, and prayed through long hours for his people. Even as his ministry has grown, he has never grown distant. He continues to teach his pastors that presence is one of the greatest gifts a shepherd can offer.
A shepherd knows when a sheep is missing. A shepherd cares when a member is sick. A shepherd teaches with compassion and corrects with love. And this spirit has spread through the churches Bishop Dag has planted—pastors who love, who care, and who stay.
Laying Down Your Life
Being a shepherd is not always celebrated. It is often lonely, painful, and exhausting. But Bishop Dag has never run from it. He teaches that a shepherd must be ready to lay down his life. Not only in death—but in daily sacrifices, in long hours, in tears, in unrecognized labor.
He teaches that the call to shepherding is a call to die to self. It is a call to be available when it’s inconvenient, to listen when you’re tired, to serve without expecting thanks. That is why the work of a shepherd is precious to God—because it reflects His heart.
His own life has been poured out like a drink offering. He has traveled, written, preached, and trained with unrelenting dedication. Not for fame, but because he knows the sheep matter. Souls matter. And shepherds are God’s chosen vessels to care for them.
A Ministry That Honors the Shepherd’s Role
Bishop Dag continues to train shepherds—not event hosts, not motivational speakers, not entertainers—but true shepherds. Men and women who will stay with the sheep, who will feed them, who will fight off the wolves, and who will walk with them from salvation to spiritual maturity.
He teaches that the greatest honor in ministry is not in titles or crowds, but in knowing that you’ve cared for the sheep that God gave you. That you’ve loved them, taught them, and led them closer to Jesus.
Through his life and teaching, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has brought the shepherd’s call back to the center of ministry. And he continues to raise leaders who will love the flock—not for what they can give, but because God has entrusted them with His precious sheep.