A church is only as strong as its shepherds—its pastors and leaders. The Bible describes pastors as shepherds who must care for, protect, and guide the flock. However, many churches today struggle because their leaders do not understand the true role of a shepherd. Some pastors focus only on preaching but do not nurture and disciple their members. Others lack compassion, patience, and dedication, leading to weak and unstable congregations.
Dag Heward-Mills has strengthened the modern church by teaching and demonstrating the biblical principles of shepherding. His book “The Art of Shepherding” has become a training manual for pastors and church workers worldwide, helping them learn how to care for their members, disciple new believers, and build spiritually strong churches. His teachings have helped restore the true role of pastors as shepherds, ensuring that churches are healthy, growing, and deeply rooted in the faith.
Restoring the Biblical Role of Pastors as Shepherds
Many church leaders today see themselves as motivational speakers, event organizers, or administrators, but Dag Heward-Mills teaches that pastors must first be shepherds. The Bible repeatedly compares church leaders to shepherds, showing that their primary responsibility is to care for and nurture God’s people.
Through his teachings, he has emphasized that a true shepherd knows his flock, feeds them with the Word, protects them from spiritual attacks, and ensures that they grow in faith. His books and training materials have helped pastors refocus on their true calling, leading to churches that are spiritually healthier and more united.
Training Pastors to Care for and Disciple Their Members
Many churches struggle because their pastors do not actively care for their members. Some pastors only focus on preaching on Sundays but do not engage with their congregation during the week. Dag Heward-Mills has addressed this problem by teaching that shepherding is not just about preaching but about building strong relationships with members.
His training programs emphasize pastoral care, personal discipleship, and counseling, helping pastors learn how to pray for their members, visit them in their homes, and be personally involved in their spiritual growth. Churches that have applied his teachings have seen greater member retention, stronger faith among believers, and deeper relationships between pastors and their congregations.
Helping Pastors Identify and Protect Their Churches from Spiritual Attacks
A shepherd’s responsibility is not just to feed the sheep but also to protect them from danger. Many churches suffer because their leaders fail to recognize spiritual attacks or do not know how to guard their members against false teachings and deception.
Dag Heward-Mills teaches that pastors must be watchful, prayerful, and ready to defend their flock. His books, such as “The Good General,” equip pastors with spiritual warfare strategies, leadership wisdom, and discernment to protect their churches from division, confusion, and external attacks. Many pastors who were once passive in their leadership have become strong and protective shepherds, ensuring that their churches remain spiritually safe and secure.
Building Churches That Are Spiritually Strong and Well-Organized
A strong church is not just about having large numbers—it is about having spiritually mature and well-trained believers. Dag Heward-Mills has taught that a good shepherd does not just gather people but helps them grow into strong disciples.
His leadership model includes mentorship, structured teaching programs, and active involvement in the lives of church members, ensuring that every believer is well-fed spiritually and trained to serve in the ministry. Churches that follow his shepherding model do not experience spiritual weakness or lack of direction—they continue to grow and flourish under the guidance of dedicated and well-trained pastors.
Conclusion
Dag Heward-Mills has strengthened the church by restoring the biblical role of pastors as shepherds. Through his books, leadership training, and personal mentorship, he has helped church leaders care for their members, protect their congregations, and disciple believers effectively.
His teachings challenge pastors and church workers to move beyond preaching and truly shepherd their people, ensuring that churches become spiritually strong, united, and deeply rooted in the faith. A church that is led by a true shepherd will always thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God.