In today’s world, it’s easy for leaders to become distant. As ministries grow, the temptation is to move further away from the people and closer to the platform. But Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has modeled something different—something deeply biblical and beautifully pastoral. He has shown that you can lead many and still care personally. That you can grow big and still stay close.
The strength of his ministry lies not just in his reach, but in his touch. He still counsels. He still follows up. He still visits. And his churches are filled with members who don’t just know him as “Bishop” but as “Pastor.” That personal connection is not by accident. It is intentional. It is sacrificial. And it is powerful.
Taking Time for the One
Bishop Dag has preached to crowds all over the world, but he still knows the value of one soul. He takes time to talk to individuals, to listen, to pray, and to guide them. Whether it’s a new believer, a struggling pastor, or a long-time member facing a crisis, he makes space for personal ministry.
This kind of pastoring takes humility. It takes patience. It takes love. And Bishop Dag has all three—not because he’s trying to impress people, but because he genuinely carries the heart of a shepherd. He doesn’t just teach pastors to care—he shows them how.
His life preaches louder than his sermons.
Letters, Visits, and Follow-Ups
One of the ways Bishop Dag maintains this personal connection is through regular follow-ups. He writes letters. He sends messages. He makes calls. He even shows up when it’s least expected but most needed. For him, pastoring is not just about preaching well. It’s about checking in. It’s about remembering birthdays, noticing absences, and showing up in hospital rooms.
This kind of attentiveness is rare in large ministries, but it’s what makes his churches feel like family. It creates an atmosphere where people feel seen, heard, and valued. And when people know their pastor cares, they flourish. They grow. They stay.
Personal pastoring creates a strong foundation for spiritual growth.
Raising Pastors to Do the Same
Bishop Dag hasn’t kept this to himself. He has trained thousands of pastors to do the same. In his books like The Art of Shepherding and The Model Pastor, he teaches that effective ministry is not about stage presence but pastoral presence. His shepherds are trained to visit, to follow up, to teach, and to know their members by name—not just by number.
He has created a culture of closeness, where church leaders are not celebrities, but servants. And that culture is now visible in the churches he’s planted all over the world.
What began as a personal conviction has become a global model.
Love That Can Be Felt
At the end of the day, people don’t remember every sermon—but they remember how they were loved. Bishop Dag’s ministry is full of testimonies from people who were comforted, counseled, and cared for personally. That love is what draws people to Christ. That love is what makes disciples stay. That love is what makes ministry meaningful.
Dag Heward-Mills has reminded the Church of something simple, but powerful: that personal pastoring still matters. And in doing so, he has left a mark that goes deeper than numbers—it reaches the heart.
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