To watch over souls is one of the greatest responsibilities a pastor can carry. It is not glamorous, and it is often unnoticed, but it is deeply sacred. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills understands this charge with profound seriousness. He does not take the souls entrusted to him for granted. He watches over them with prayer, with teaching, with correction, and with love.
He often reminds his pastors that souls are not numbers—they are eternal lives, entrusted temporarily to our care. What we do with them matters. How we guide them, teach them, love them, and lead them will be accounted for. This is why he watches, not with casual glances, but with intentional vigilance.
The role of a shepherd is not simply to feed. It is also to guard. To protect. To notice when danger is near. To stand between the sheep and the wolf. This is the unseen work that Bishop Dag does daily—the work of watching over souls.
Prayer as a Watchtower
Bishop Dag believes that one of the most effective ways to watch over souls is through prayer. He teaches that every pastor must pray for the flock—not only collectively, but individually. He wakes early to intercede. He calls out names. He lifts up his churches before the Lord.
In the place of prayer, he sees what cannot be seen naturally. He discerns spiritual attacks. He senses discouragement. He receives wisdom for specific members. He knows that a praying pastor is a watchful pastor. And when the shepherd is alert, the flock is safe.
This kind of prayer does not happen once in a while—it is a lifestyle. He has built prayer into the rhythm of his ministry. It is the invisible shield around his churches. And it is one of the secrets behind the strength and unity they enjoy.
Correcting Without Condemning
Watching over souls also involves correction. Bishop Dag does not shy away from speaking hard truths. He corrects sin. He addresses rebellion. He speaks up when someone is drifting. But he does it with the heart of a father, not a judge.
He teaches that correction is not rejection—it is love. It is care. A shepherd who does not correct is not protecting the sheep. He is leaving them vulnerable. Bishop Dag has raised leaders who are not afraid to confront wrong, but who do so with grace and truth.
People trust him because they know his correction comes from love. They know he wants their best. That’s why his words carry weight. He watches not to control, but to guide. And the result is a Church that grows in maturity, not just in size.
Watching as a Steward, Not an Owner
Above all, Bishop Dag watches over souls with the heart of a steward. He knows that these are not his people—they are God’s. He has been entrusted with them for a season, and he must be faithful. He teaches that every soul belongs to Christ. We are just caretakers of what He has purchased with His blood.
That understanding creates reverence. It brings humility. It causes a pastor to kneel before God and say, “Help me take care of what belongs to You.” And that is how Bishop Dag serves—not as a superstar, but as a steward.
Through his life and ministry, the Church is reminded that the work of watching over souls is holy. It is weighty. And it is the call of every true shepherd.