In today’s fast-paced church culture, it’s easy to focus on crowds, events, and programs, while neglecting the timeless principle of shepherding. Dag Heward-Mills has brought this role back to center stage—not as a nostalgic concept, but as a powerful, biblical model for building the Church. His emphasis on the pastor as a shepherd has shaped the identity of his ministry and multiplied its growth globally.

For him, shepherding isn’t about managing systems—it’s about loving people, feeding them with the Word, guiding them with wisdom, and protecting them from harm. This approach has birthed churches that are not only large in number, but healthy in spirit. The shepherding model has become a pillar of how his ministry functions and flourishes.

The Heart of a True Shepherd

Dag Heward-Mills teaches that being a shepherd is first about having the heart of one. A true shepherd doesn’t just preach on Sunday and leave the flock to wander. A shepherd knows the sheep by name, prays for them daily, and seeks them out when they go astray. This love-driven leadership is modeled throughout his ministry. Pastors are not trained to be distant professionals—they are raised to be caring, involved, and spiritually responsible for their people.

He often reminds leaders that ministry is not about convenience, but commitment. The shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, just as Jesus did. This is the tone he sets for his churches and the standard by which leaders are measured.

Teaching and Caring Go Hand in Hand

One of the reasons the shepherding model works so well in Dag Heward-Mills’ ministry is the balance between teaching and care. He doesn’t separate preaching from pastoring. In his view, every sermon is an act of shepherding. Every phone call, every visit, every follow-up message is part of feeding and tending the flock.

This has created a culture where members feel seen and known. They are not just attendees—they are sheep with a shepherd. They grow not only through the pulpit but through personal attention, counseling, and one-on-one discipleship. This close pastoral care strengthens the spiritual foundation of the church.

Raising Many Shepherds

Dag Heward-Mills also believes that shepherding is not the job of one man alone. That’s why his churches are full of lay shepherds—ordinary members trained to care for smaller groups within the larger church. These lay leaders visit, teach, pray, and lead people just like full-time pastors.

This strategy ensures that no one is neglected and that the church remains intimate even as it grows. By multiplying shepherds, he multiplies care. And as care increases, so does commitment, loyalty, and growth.

Following the Shepherding Model of Jesus

The shepherding model that Dag Heward-Mills teaches isn’t a man-made system. It is the same model Jesus used when He walked the earth. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. He fed, led, and protected His disciples, teaching them not just with words, but with His life.

Dag Heward-Mills constantly points leaders back to that example. He urges them to lead with compassion, to rebuke with love, to correct with patience, and to guide with integrity. His shepherding model is not only practical—it is deeply spiritual, built on the love and leadership of Christ Himself.

Conclusion

The lessons Dag Heward-Mills has taught through his shepherding model are transforming churches across the world. His approach reminds us that no matter how large a ministry grows, it must never lose the heart of the shepherd. It is this heart that sustains the flock, multiplies leaders, and creates lasting spiritual growth.

In a generation hungry for real connection and guidance, shepherding remains one of the most powerful tools for building the Church. And through the life and ministry of Dag Heward-Mills, this biblical pattern is being restored and reproduced—one shepherd, one sheep, and one church at a time.