In a world where ministry can so easily become professional, transactional, or even distant, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills continues to demonstrate something rare and powerful—personal pastoral care. No matter how wide his influence spreads, he has not lost the personal touch that connects shepherd to sheep. His ministry, though global, still reaches hearts one by one. It still carries the fragrance of presence, the tone of care, and the heart of a shepherd who sees the individual, not just the crowd.
There is something comforting and healing when a pastor truly sees you. Not just as a church member or number on a register, but as a soul. A life. A person with a story, a need, and a journey. Bishop Dag has kept this awareness at the core of his ministry. Whether he’s preaching at a crusade or visiting a local branch, he is intentional about connecting on a heart level.
He teaches that ministry must not lose its humanity. It must not become so organized that it forgets the power of a handshake, a visit, a phone call, or a prayer said in private. That is what makes ministry personal—it is not the scale, but the spirit behind it.
The Heartbeat of Shepherding
Bishop Dag has often said that real shepherding is not done from behind a pulpit alone. It is lived out in moments—checking on someone, following up, noticing absence, and showing concern. These acts, small as they may seem, form the backbone of personal ministry. They are what allow people to trust. To open up. To receive not only instruction but love.
He teaches pastors that spiritual leadership must carry both direction and affection. A leader who teaches but does not touch cannot shepherd effectively. A leader who preaches but does not pursue the sheep when they are missing cannot call himself a shepherd. The work of the ministry is not complete until people feel they belong, not just to a church, but to a shepherd.
Bishop Dag lives this. He calls. He remembers names. He takes time to counsel. Even as he leads thousands, he is still concerned about the one who has fallen away quietly. He embodies the parable of the lost sheep—the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine and goes searching.
Remaining Approachable in a Growing Ministry
As ministries grow, it becomes more difficult to remain accessible. But Bishop Dag has modeled something that many leaders admire but few can imitate—he remains approachable. His pastors speak of him as a father, not a figurehead. His members speak of him with love, not fear. This is not because he lowers standards, but because he raises love.
He teaches that being a leader does not mean becoming unreachable. True greatness in ministry is marked by humility, by closeness, by the ability to sit with the least and the lost. That’s what Jesus did. And Bishop Dag follows that same example. He guards his heart from pride, guards his time for people, and guards the spirit of the ministry from becoming impersonal.
This is how his churches remain warm. It’s not just the preaching—it’s the presence. It’s the tone. It’s the sense that you are not lost in the crowd. That your life matters to your pastor.
A Ministry That Reflects the Good Shepherd
The personal ministry of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills points us back to Jesus—the Good Shepherd. Jesus said, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.” That’s the kind of ministry Bishop Dag has embraced. He knows his flock, and they know him. There is trust. There is love. There is safety.
Through his example, the Church is reminded that pastoral ministry must remain personal. It must touch lives, not just address audiences. It must reach hearts, not just fill rooms. And when it does, the Church becomes more than a place—it becomes a home.