Bishop David Oyedepo’s favourite Bible scripture is 1 John 5:4 – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” With a mind-blowing net worth of $150 million, David Oyedepo has indeed overcome the world. He’s gracious enough, though, to reveal how he became a billionaire.
“God is not a taskmaster,” he said.
“He won’t give you N10 and ask you to bring a tithe of N2. No! When I say such, I say it as God leads me. My friend, instead of dropping N10 in service and you are going to be in two services, divide it into two: put N5 in the first service, put N5 in the second service. God knows your level, don’t pose. It is not on anybody else; it is on yourself.
“Do you know my tithes were part of what we counted in Kaduna when our income was N18,000? But He never failed once. He never failed once! I was giving testimony of N1000 a week. How many years ago? But when you just sit down and watch, God will open the windows of heaven.”
Bishop David Oyedepo preaches faith and prosperity in a very simple and exceptional manner, yet God has not opened the windows of heaven to some members. There are still poor, sick, oppressed and depressed people in his church.
It’s contrary to the Mandate at the birth of his calling. What, then, is the problem? Why are many Christians in his church still struggling?
“Firstly, many Christians are suffering from spiritual ignorance, and this is the bane of their fulfilment in life (Hosea 4:6),” he said.
“Secondly, many Christians disregard the place of Covenant practice, i.e., the immutable law of giving and receiving (Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-8; Philippians 4:15-19).
“As I have often said, there are no mountains anywhere; everyone’s ignorance is his mountain. What we don’t believe, we are not empowered to become (John 1:12). Until we see what belongs to us, God is not committed to delivering (Gen 13:14-15).”
We present Bishop David Oyedepo’s biography.
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Bishop David Oyedepo: Birth
David Oyedepo was born on September 27th, 1954, in Osogbo, Osun State. He’s, however, from Omua-Aran, in Kwara State. His father, Ibrahim Oyedepo, was a Muslim, while his mother, Dorcas Oyedepo, was a member of the Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement.
David Oyedepo was brought up by his grandmother in Osogbo. She introduced him to the ideals of Christian life through early morning prayers, which they both attended. His guardian also taught him the significance of tithing.
“Growing under my grandmother was an experience I will be eternally grateful to God for,” he said.
“She made a man out of me as a child. I was exposed to highly profitable lessons, such as character, hard work, focus, and financial integrity. Under my grandmother, you are not permitted to do what you like, but what is right.
“Such upbringing gave me respect among my peers and audience with my superiors. It is this man-child concept that informed the founding philosophy of our university system.”
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David Oyedepo: Education
We have no information about his primary and secondary schools. But he read architecture at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He also has a PhD in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA.
David Oyedepo’s Ministry
Bishop David Oyedepo worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing, in Ilorin, before quitting to tend the Lord’s Vineyard.
He had been a born-again Christian at 15. That was in 1969. But he was called into the ministry on May 2nd, 1982. This day is known among his followers as The Mandate. In the 18-hour vision, God gave him the order to “liberate the world from all oppression of the devil, through the preaching of the Word of faith”.
He recalls his Damascus Road experience.
“I had a missionary teacher while still in secondary school called Betty Lasher,” he said.
“She communicated the love of God with such passion and led me to Christ on February 19, 1969, when I was only 15 years old. My calling into ministry via a divine vision was such a dramatic one; it was so crystal-clear that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had called me to the ministry.
“The vision lasted 18 hours between May 1-2, 1981, and I arose from it fully persuaded of God’s call upon my life into ministry. There was nothing to consider; there was nothing to prove; the mandate was very clear.”
The vision led to the founding of the Living Faith Church in 1981. The church was first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries. On September 17th, 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, ordained David Oyedepo and his wife as pastors while commissioning the new church.
In 1988, David Oyedepo was ordained as Bishop by his mentor, Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel International, started in Kaduna but moved to Lagos in July 1989. According to David Oyedepo, the location change was an instruction from God to reach out to the people in the former capital of Nigeria.
Now, the church’s network of branches is in over 300 cities in all states of the country and across 45 African countries. It can also be found in Dubai, the United Kingdom and Europe, in Asia, the USA and Canada.
In taking to the ministry, David Oyedepo encountered some personalities that had positive effects on his life.
“Firstly, the Holy Spirit who delivered The Mandate to me on May 2, 1981,” he said.
“Secondly, most of the personalities involved I encountered by proxy and mostly through books.
“For instance, my spiritual life was boosted largely through the faith teachings of Kenneth E. Hagin and E. W. Kenyon. T. L. Osborn taught me how to hear from God, without which, perhaps, I will not have been in ministry today. Kenneth Copeland taught me how to access divine supplies both for my life and the work of the ministry.”
David Oyedepo’s Messages
The teachings of David Oyedepo have placed him alongside what is commonly called the Word of Faith Movement. His mentors are the principal exponents of the Faith Movement, like Copeland, Hagin, Kenyon, Osborn, Smith Wigglesworth, Adeboye, and Idahosa. And like those clerics, he has been described as a prosperity gospel preacher.
“I believe it is the will of God for all His children to prosper, just like every parent wishes all their children well; God also wishes above all things that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers – 3 John 2,” he said.
“However, God’s prosperity is only accessible by covenant practice, that is, by engaging the law of giving and receiving.
“These include giving to God in tithes and offerings, giving to parents, giving to low-income earners, and generally giving for the good of humanity. This is why God’s prosperity plan is only actualized in the lives of those God can trust to use it for His purpose – Luke 16:11-12.”
His church operates a Bible training programme called the Word of Faith Bible Institute for members and non-members alike. Its objective is to develop the knowledge of Christian principles and to groom leaders and future pastors. The major branches of the church carry out this programme.
But if you ‘live’ online, you can listen to Bishop David Oyedepo’s message on Mp3 download or from his YouTube page.
However, the bishop is not just about nourishing your soul with Christian messages; he also expands your mind to the ills of poor governance.
The fiery cleric is a powerful critic of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He once described the president as an “error” Nigerians made in 2015. He now says the error was made because people have a “short memory”.
“There are people God confides Himself in, not because of their experience or age, but because of their heart for Him. I knew Nigeria was heading for a waterloo. He confided in me. They are under torture.
“Somebody commented recently. Do you know why Bishop stopped? He shouted and shouted, but they didn’t hear. What will I ever get from it? Will I get elected from it?
“I knew that in 1984, there is no position on this earth that I will fight for. I have taken a sound position in Christ. Now they are going again, deceiving you. What a people with a brief memory.”
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David Oyedepo’s Church
In 1998, David Oyedepo said God told him to build a new base to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. The church bought the 530-acre facility, later known as Canaanland, which serves as its headquarters.
Construction was completed within 12 months, with zero debt incurred. The 50,000-seat edifice was dedicated on September 18, 1999, by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“God spoke to me as far back as April 10, 1982, saying: At the base of this church, a tent is going to be built to contain 50,000 people’,” Oyedepo said.
“Canaanland is God’s city, and it was built by Him. My team officially visited the proposed site on January 9, 1997, and as we prayed, God spoke: ‘This is the place!’ Before we knew it, we had bought 530 acres of land, fully fenced and by May 8, 1998.
“We had secured all the titles to the land and held a ground-breaking service on August 29 of the same year for the commencement of construction activities.
“Less than a month later (September 18), we held a Victory service on the site now christened Canaanland, and God spoke prophetically that the tabernacle would be dedicated exactly 12 months from that day on September 18, 1999! The odds against putting up such a gigantic structure within a year were around a million to one.
“It seemed like an impossible directive, but when God speaks regarding any matter, it is as good as done (Isaiah 14:24). As God would have it, Faith Tabernacle, a 50,000-seat auditorium, an architectural masterpiece to His glory, was dedicated exactly on September 18, 1999, exactly as God had said.”
Canaanland is in Ota, Ogun State. It houses the 50,000-seat auditorium, the church secretariat, the church’s youth chapel, a primary school called Kingdom heritage model school, a full boarding mission secondary school called Faith Academy, the Covenant University, and several staff quarters.
Other facilities in the compound are a bakery, a bottled water processing plant, a petrol station, various restaurants and shopping stores, several residential houses, and guesthouses.
There are four banks present on the estate. Three are branches of commercial banks; the fourth is a community and micro-finance bank owned by the church.
Shiloh, the church’s biggest annual meeting, holds every December in the same Faith Tabernacle. It welcomes thousands of congregants across the world.
David Oyedepo’s Books
Bishop David Oyedepo, a product of books, has written several religious and motivational books and magazines. Dominion Publishing House, his publishing firm, was commissioned on December 5th, 1992. The company handles his books, audio, and videos.
Some of his books are…
Satan Get Lost
Success in Marriage
Breaking Financial Hardship
Secret of Preparation
Success System
Looking Unto Jesus
The Advocate
Amazing Restorations
Ambassadors for Christ
Marriage on the Rock
The New Anointing
The Force of Freedom
The Healing Balm
The Winning Wisdom
Ruling Your World
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David Oyedepo’s Family
Bishop David Oyedepo married Florence Abiola Akano, now known as Faith Oyedepo, in August 1982. They have four children: David Jr., Isaac, Love, and Joyce. Kenneth Copeland ordained his two sons as pastors in May 2007.
David Jr. formerly pastored the London branch of the church with his wife, Kemi. Now, he’s the resident pastor of Faith Tabernacle in Ota. On the other hand, Isaac pastors Winners’ Chapel International, Mitchellville, Maryland, in the USA, with his wife, Ayomitide.
The bishop’s first daughter, Love, is married to Stephen Ogah. They are both pastors in the church. Their last child, Joyce, is married to Abimbola Abodunrin. They tied the knot in 2020.
His two sons are doing well in ministry. That smells like grooming them to take over from him. No?
“I have so many children – biological and spiritual, and I keep investing time, energy and resources in developing their leadership potentials through seminars, summits and conferences, most of which centre around spiritual leadership development.
“However, succession in the Kingdom is absolutely at God’s prerogative, as in the case of Moses and Joshua,” he said.
“Furthermore, in this ministry, we have an operational manual called The Mandate. This 504-page book contains, among others, details of statutory procedures for succession. This book, which was released in 2012, is the second Bible of this ministry as it were, and the content shall not be subject to review until after the first 50 years, that is 2062, if at all.”
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David Oyedepo’s Net worth
According to Forbes, David Oyedepo’s estimated net worth is $150 million. He reportedly owns four private jets and several buildings in London and the US. He owns Dominion Publishing House, Covenant University, Faith Academy, Kingdom Heritage Model Schools, and Crown University.
The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is one of Africa’s largest worship centres. It has a seating capacity of 50,000.
David Oyedepo’s Cars
He owns several cars, the most prominent being a Toyota Land cruiser and a Mercedes Benz.
Bishop David Oyedepo’s Private Jets
Bishop Oyedepo and his church have four private jets. They are Gulfstream I, Gulfstream IV, Bombardier Challenger 604, and Gulfstream V.
Bishop David Oyedepo’s Houses
Bishop David Oyedepo lives in Canaanland, the headquarter of his church. However, he has several houses in different parts of Nigeria, across the continent, in London, and in the USA.
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Conclusion
Grace, faith, discipline, diligence, and sacrifice. Those are the words responsible for Bishop David Oyedepo’s outstanding performance in the Lord’s vineyard. The sixth word is spelt G.O.D.
“Life is a privilege, not a right,” he said.
“No one brought himself or herself to life, and no one can sustain his or her life on their own. I’m just grateful to God for all His goodness and mercy to date.”
