A Life Given Fully to the Flock
Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has never treated ministry as a weekend responsibility or a side calling. From the very beginning, he gave himself wholly to the call of God—not in part, not on the surface, but in the deepest way possible. He embraced the role of a full-time shepherd with conviction and joy. His life is a testimony of someone who counted the cost and still said yes.
To him, pastoring is not a job. It is a spiritual assignment that demands everything. His time, his heart, his focus, and his energy are poured out daily in service to the sheep God has given him. He teaches that a full-time shepherd is one who lives among the people, walks with them, and is available when they are weak, lost, or broken.
This kind of dedication is not common today, but it is necessary. A full-time shepherd lays down his life, not only in sacrifice but in presence. He stays. He watches. He listens. And Bishop Dag has lived this calling for decades.
The Value of Being Available
One of the most overlooked qualities in ministry is availability. Bishop Dag has often emphasized that a pastor’s strength is not only in his ability to preach but in his willingness to be present. He reminds his leaders that people do not only need sermons—they need shepherds. They need someone who will be there in the middle of the night, someone who answers the phone, someone who shows up when it matters most.
His availability is not accidental. It flows from love. Love makes room. Love interrupts schedules. Love picks up the phone. Love shows up, even when it’s inconvenient. This is the kind of love Bishop Dag has modeled throughout his ministry. He is not too big to be reachable. Not too busy to notice. And not too far away to respond.
Being a full-time shepherd means being interruptible. And Bishop Dag has taught that when you are truly sent by God, you won’t see interruptions as distractions—you will see them as ministry moments.
Raising a Generation of Full-Time Pastors
Bishop Dag’s commitment to full-time ministry is not something he has kept to himself. He has raised a generation of pastors who have also laid down their careers, ambitions, and plans to serve the Lord full-time. He believes that the harvest is truly great and that part-time commitment cannot meet the weight of the need.
He teaches that full-time ministry is not for the fainthearted. It is a call to die to self. To embrace long hours, quiet sacrifices, and the joy of seeing souls transformed. His Bible schools, pastoral conferences, and leadership camps all emphasize the glory of this call—not as a burden, but as a beautiful surrender.
His life inspires many to say yes. Not just in theory, but in lifestyle. Because they have seen what it looks like to live for God without reserve.
A Heart That Keeps Beating for the Sheep
After so many years, Bishop Dag’s heart has not grown tired. If anything, it beats louder for the sheep. He wakes up with souls on his mind. He prays for people by name. He preaches as though each message might be someone’s last chance. He pastors like Jesus is returning tomorrow.
That kind of heart is what defines a true full-time shepherd. Not just someone with a title, but someone with a burden. Not just someone who stands on stage, but someone who walks beside the flock.
Through his life, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has shown the Church that the full-time shepherd is not an outdated model. It is still God’s design for His house—and it is still one of the highest callings on earth.