What Dag Heward-Mills Taught Us About Pastoring at Scale

When most pastors begin ministry, the focus is often on reaching and caring for a small group of people. But what happens when that small group becomes hundreds, and then thousands? How do you maintain spiritual depth, individual care, and effective leadership in a church that stretches across continents? Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has not only faced these questions — he has answered them with his life and ministry.

Pastoring at scale is not just about size. It is about stewardship. And what Bishop Dag has taught us is that it takes more than charisma or administration to lead a growing flock. It takes wisdom, systems, and most importantly, a heart that never stops caring.

One of the first things he models is how to keep people at the center, no matter how large the ministry becomes. It’s easy for churches to lose their personal touch as they expand. But Bishop Dag remains intentional about shepherding — not just preaching. He builds systems that make people feel seen, followed up, and spiritually nourished, even when they are part of a large congregation.

A core lesson he continues to teach is that no church is too big to disciple. Through smaller groups, center meetings, and lay shepherding, the large church becomes smaller in function. Every member has someone looking out for them. Every soul has a shepherd. The principle is simple: break the crowd into communities and raise faithful leaders to care for them.

Another powerful lesson from Bishop Dag’s ministry is the importance of raising leaders from within. Instead of depending on imported talent, he trains his own. Many of the pastors in the UD-OLGC family started out as ordinary members. Through teaching, camps, books, and real mentorship, they have grown into effective ministers. This homegrown approach allows the church to scale without compromising its values or voice.

His approach to pastoring also emphasizes order. As churches grow, so does the need for structure. Bishop Dag has developed systems for everything — from membership follow-up to leadership training, from pastoral development to missionary deployment. These structures are not rigid; they are spiritual tools. They bring stability, accountability, and consistency.

What makes Bishop Dag’s method unique is that it’s deeply spiritual yet very practical. He prays long hours, fasts often, and teaches continuously — yet he also understands delegation, logistics, and management. He doesn’t separate the sacred from the strategic. He leads with both the heart of a shepherd and the mind of a builder.

Pastoring at scale also requires a strong teaching ministry, and this is one of Bishop Dag’s greatest strengths. He teaches with clarity, repetition, and conviction. He doesn’t just motivate people — he grounds them. His teachings create unity, set expectations, and reinforce the vision. Through books, messages, podcasts, and leadership camps, the people are constantly being fed and formed.

Above all, Bishop Dag shows that pastoring at scale still requires personal sacrifice. He lives what he preaches. He travels, writes, counsels, and leads with unwavering dedication. Even with the growth of the church, his personal discipline has not diminished. He still rises early to pray. He still follows up on people. He still corrects leaders when necessary. That level of consistency is what keeps the ministry from drifting.

His life is a clear reminder that size should never replace substance. And growth should never dilute care. In Dag Heward-Mills, we see that it is possible to pastor at scale — and still keep the shepherd’s heart beating strong.