There are many who preach well but struggle to pastor. Preaching reaches the ears, but pastoring touches the heart. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has learned to do both. His ministry is not confined to the pulpit. It reaches deep into the lives of the people God has entrusted to him. He doesn’t disappear when the sermon ends. He walks with the people, prays with them, and stays near.
From his early days as a young pastor preaching on university campuses to his present role as a global church leader, Bishop Dag has always believed that a shepherd must smell like the sheep. He doesn’t hide behind titles or distance. He moves toward the people. He teaches pastors not to settle for stage ministry, but to step into the daily lives of the flock.
This is what makes him a true shepherd. He doesn’t just speak from a pulpit. He journeys with his people in the trenches of life.
A Pastor Who Knows the Path
To lead people well, a pastor must know the path they are walking on. Bishop Dag knows that ministry is not theory. It is life-on-life. He has walked through the seasons of singleness, marriage, parenting, grief, financial pressure, and spiritual warfare. Because of that, he can guide others with wisdom that comes from experience.
His sermons are full of truth, but they are also full of empathy. He speaks not as someone observing from a distance, but as someone who has walked the same road. That’s why his messages land so deeply. He doesn’t preach down at people. He walks beside them. He teaches not only what to do, but how to endure.
There is great strength in being led by someone who has walked ahead of you and is still walking with you.
Being Present in Private Moments
Pastoring happens most deeply in the quiet, often unseen moments of ministry. It happens in the hospital room, the counseling session, the phone call, and the prayer meeting. Bishop Dag has always made time for those moments. He believes that a pastor who cannot be reached will eventually lose his reach. He doesn’t just want to lead people on Sundays—he wants to be part of their lives through every season.
Even as his influence has grown, he has held on to this value. He doesn’t let busyness rob him of personal ministry. He still makes time for conversations. He still checks on struggling members. He still gives himself to the flock in ways that many would consider unnecessary. But for him, it’s not extra—it’s essential.
From the pulpit to the people, he remains a faithful shepherd.
A Legacy of Presence and Care
The people Bishop Dag has pastored over the years do not only remember his sermons. They remember his presence. His visits. His letters. His phone calls. His correction. His encouragement. His tears. And his prayers.
He has led people through heartbreak, failure, sickness, restoration, and joy. His pastoral legacy is not built on moments of public ministry alone—but on years of consistent, private faithfulness.
This is the journey of a pastor with his sheep. Not from afar, but alongside them. Dag Heward-Mills has walked it well. And the footprints he leaves behind are filled with compassion, truth, and care.
Leave a Reply