David Oyedepo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bishop
David Oyedepo
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| Olaniyi | |
Oyedepo and his wife
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| Born |
David Olaniyi Oyedepo
27 September 1954 Omu-Aran, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in kwara State, Nigeria)
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| Other names | BDO, Papa |
| Education | Kwara State Polytechnic (HND, Architecture) |
| Alma mater | Kwara State Polytechnic |
| Occupation | Pastor, Author, Televangelist |
| Known for | Preaching of the Word of Faith |
| Title | President/Founder, Living Faith Church Worldwide |
| Spouse(s) |
Faith Abiola Oyedepo née Akano
(m. 1982) |
| Children | David Oyedepo Jnr (Son)
Isaac Oyedepo (Son) Love Ogah (Daughter) Joys Abodunrin (Daughter) |
| Parent(s) | Ibrahim and Dorcas Morenike Oyedepo |
David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born on September 27, 1954. He is a Nigerian preacher and the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide. He is also the Senior Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. His church is also known as Winners' Chapel International.
Winners' Chapel International has churches in over 300 cities around the world. David Oyedepo is seen as one of the first leaders of the Christian movement that focuses on spiritual gifts in Africa. He is the head of Covenant University and Landmark University. In 2011, Forbes magazine named him the richest pastor in Nigeria.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Osogbo, Nigeria. His family comes from Omu-Aran, in Kwara State. He grew up in a family with different religious beliefs. His father, Ibrahim, was a Muslim healer. His mother, Dorcas, was a member of a Christian church called the Holy Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement.
He was mostly raised by his grandmother in Osogbo. She taught him about Christian life through early morning prayers. She also showed him the importance of giving a portion of his earnings to the church.
Education and Early Career
Oyedepo studied architecture at the Kwara State Polytechnic in Kwara State, Nigeria. He also earned a PhD in Human Development from Honolulu University in Hawaii, USA.
After his studies, Oyedepo worked for a short time with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin. However, he soon left this job to focus on his missionary work.
Starting His Ministry
David Oyedepo says he became a born-again Christian on February 15, 1969, when he was 15 years old. This happened because of a teacher, Ms. Betty Lasher, who helped him during his high school days.
He believes he received a special message from God through an 18-hour vision. This vision happened between May 1 and 2, 1981. In this vision, he says he saw many people who were suffering and needed help. He asked God why, and God told him it was time to free the world from the devil's power. God said he was sending Oyedepo to do this by preaching the "Word of Faith." This vision led him to start the Living Faith Church Worldwide (LFCWW) in 1981. It was first called Faith Liberation Hour.
A few days after his vision, on May 8, 1981, Oyedepo shared his vision with friends. This group became his "Power House." It included about 70 young men and women who prayed and fasted for the vision to come true. The Power House worked from May 1981 until September 1983. The Living Faith Church was officially started in September 1983. His fiancée, Faith Abiola, and Bishop David A. Abioye were important members of this group.
On September 17, 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye officially made David and his wife, Florence Abiola Akano (now Faith Abiola Oyedepo), pastors. Five years later, Archbishop Benson Idahosa made Oyedepo a Bishop.
The Living Faith Church (also known as Winners Chapel International) began in Kaduna. In July 1989, it moved to Lagos, Nigeria's former capital. Oyedepo said he received instructions from God to start a new church branch there.
Church Growth and Impact
According to Forbes, David Oyedepo is one of the richest pastors in Africa. His church owns four private jets and many buildings, including some in London and the US.
Oyedepo is also an author and publisher. He has written over 70 books. He is the head of Dominion Publishing House (DPH), which is the church's publishing company. DPH has printed over 4 million books.
Through Oyedepo's ministry, several schools and universities have been built. These include Covenant University, Faith Academy, and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools. These schools aim to prepare young people for success. A third university, Crown University, is being built in Calabar, Nigeria.
In 1998, Oyedepo said God told him to build a new main center for the church. This was because more and more people were joining. This led to the church buying a large area of land called Canaanland. It is the church's headquarters and has a 50,000-seat auditorium called the 'Faith Tabernacle'. This building was completed in just 12 months and was reportedly built without any debt. It was opened on September 18, 1999.
Canaanland: A Large Community
Canaanland is in Ota, Ogun State. It is a very large area that includes the 50,000-seat auditorium and the church offices. It also has a youth chapel, a primary school (Kingdom Heritage Model School), and a boarding secondary school (Faith Academy) with over 1,500 students.
The Covenant University facilities are also on Canaanland. They house over 7,000 students in modern dorms. There are also faculty buildings and homes for many staff members.
Canaanland also has businesses run by the church. These include a bakery, a bottled water factory, a gas station, restaurants, and shops. There are also homes for the church's over 2,000 employees and guesthouses. Four banks are on the estate, including a community bank run by the church. By 2012, the entire Canaanland area, which includes a planned housing estate called Canaan City, had grown to 17,000 acres.
The church's biggest yearly event, Shiloh, happens every December in the Faith Tabernacle. Thousands of church members from all over the world attend. The ministry is currently building an even larger auditorium called "the Ark," which will seat 100,000 people.
Christian Teachings
David Oyedepo's teachings are part of what is called the Word of Faith Movement. He has been influenced by other famous preachers like Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin. He also looks up to Nigerian preachers like Enoch Adeboye and Benson Idahosa. Like many of his influences, Oyedepo teaches about the "prosperity gospel." This teaching focuses on faith and believing for good things in life, including health and wealth.
Winners' Chapel International has a Bible training program called the Word of Faith Bible Institute. It helps members and others learn more about Christian principles. It also trains future leaders and pastors. This institute is available in many of the church's main branches.
Oyedepo is the president of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). This is the main organization that includes the Living Faith Church World Wide, its global missionary work, the publishing house, Covenant University, and social projects like hospitals and schools.
He has also spoken out against bad leadership in government.
Books and Publications
Oyedepo's church has its own publishing company called Dominion Publishing House (DPH). It started on December 5, 1992. DPH has published over 70 Christian, inspiring, and motivational books, as well as magazines and other materials.
Family Life
In August 1982, David Oyedepo married Florence Abiola Akano, who is now known as Faith Oyedepo. They have four children: David Jr, Isaac, Love, and Joyce.
David Oyedepo Jr and Isaac Oyedepo became pastors in May 2007. David Oyedepo Jr used to lead the church's London branch. He is now the main pastor of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota. Isaac Oyedepo used to lead Winners' Chapel International in Mitchellville, Maryland, USA. Their first daughter, Love, is married to Stephen Ogah, who is also a pastor in Winners' Chapel. Joyce Priscilla is their youngest child and second daughter. She married Abimbola Abodunrin in 2020.
David Oyedepo Day of Service
The David Oyedepo Day of Service (DODOS) is a special event started by the Covenant University Alumni Association. It aims to celebrate Oyedepo's contributions and way of life. Every year on September 27, which is Oyedepo's birthday, people around the world who support this idea are encouraged to do something helpful for others or for society.
Awards and Recognition
- Award for Leadership in Improving Academic and Research Excellence in Higher Education – Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA (2011).
- Award for Excellence in Education, Administration, and Leadership – Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (2012).
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity – Bethel Graduate School of Theology Riverside California.
- Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Financial Research (FNSFR).
- Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education (FNAE).
- Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Strategic Management (FNISM).
- A road was named after him by the Nigerian government in Abuja in 2008.
- Listed among the 100 Most Reputable People on Earth in 2017 and 2019.
- Listed among the 100 Most Reputable Africans on Earth in 2023.
