In many modern churches, the art of visitation has been lost. Pastors have become preachers from a distance. Shepherds have become organizers and event managers. But Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has led a revival of this forgotten but powerful ministry: the ministry of visitation.
He teaches that a shepherd must know his sheep, not just on Sundays but throughout their lives. He must walk with them, check on them, pray with them, and show up at their door. There is something sacred about a pastor who comes to visit. It speaks of love, care, and spiritual responsibility. It shows that the ministry is not just public—it is personal.
Bishop Dag himself has modeled this consistently. In the early days of his church, he would visit member after member, walking or taking public transport, just to pray and encourage them. That habit never left him. And now it has become a pillar in his churches around the world.
A Pastor Who Knows Where the People Are
Bishop Dag trains his pastors to keep track of their members—not to control them, but to care for them. He teaches that every member matters. And when someone is absent or struggling, the pastor should know. He believes that visitation helps a pastor connect to the real lives of the people—not just their Sunday expressions, but their weekday realities.
He teaches that problems are often hidden in silence. But a visit opens hearts. It allows pastors to pray directly into situations, to encourage weary souls, and to offer timely counsel. Many lives have been transformed, not through a sermon, but through a simple visit. A knock at the door. A quiet conversation. A moment of care.
This is what Bishop Dag has restored. He has brought dignity back to the act of visitation. He has reminded pastors that real ministry happens in the small spaces—in homes, in hospital rooms, in quiet offices.
Visitation as a Tool of Discipleship
For Bishop Dag, visitation is not just about checking in. It is a tool for discipleship. It is a way to follow up on the Word. A way to reinforce spiritual truths. A way to build trust and accountability. He trains his pastors to use visitation as an opportunity to teach, correct, and build up the faith of believers.
He teaches that members grow when they are known. When they are seen. When their spiritual journey is not anonymous, but acknowledged and guided. A pastor who visits is a pastor who disciples. And a church where visitation is strong will always be a church that matures.
His books and training materials reflect this emphasis. He offers practical wisdom on how to organize visitation, how to follow up effectively, and how to maintain a shepherd’s heart in the process.
A Return to the Ways of the Shepherd
Bishop Dag’s emphasis on visitation is not just a personal preference—it is a return to the way of the Good Shepherd. Jesus walked among the people. He went to their homes. He visited the sick. He sat with the lost. He was not distant. He was present. And so must we be.
Through his life and leadership, Bishop Dag has sparked a revival. Pastors who had grown distant are becoming shepherds again. Churches that had lost touch with their people are reconnecting. And believers are experiencing the love of Christ—not just in the pulpit, but at their doorstep.
This is the revival of visitation. And it is making the Church stronger, deeper, and more like Jesus.