David Oyedepo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bishop
David Oyedepo
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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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| Occupation | Pastor, author, televangelist |
| Spouse(s) |
Faith Abiola Oyedepo née Akano
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 4 |
David Olaniyi Oyedepo (born 27 September 1954) is a Nigerian preacher. He is the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners' Chapel International. He is also the main leader, called the Presiding Bishop, of the Faith Tabernacle church in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Winners' Chapel International has churches in many cities across Nigeria and in over forty-five countries in Africa. They also have churches in places like Dubai, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, the United States, and Canada. Bishop Oyedepo is seen as one of the important leaders of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa. He is also the chancellor of two universities: Covenant University and Landmark University. In 2011, Forbes magazine named him one of the most successful pastors in Nigeria.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born on 27 September 1954, in Osogbo, Nigeria. His family came from Omu-Aran in Kwara State. He grew up in a family with different religious backgrounds. His father was a Muslim healer, and his mother was a Christian. His grandmother, who raised him, taught him about Christian life and the importance of prayer and giving.
Oyedepo studied architecture at the Kwara State Polytechnic in Kwara State, Nigeria. He also earned a PhD in Human Development from Honolulu University in the US. Before becoming a full-time minister, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin.
His Ministry
David Oyedepo became a committed Christian at age 15 in 1969. This happened because of his teacher, Betty Lasher, who helped him during his high school years. He says that in May 1981, he received a special message from God. This message told him to help people around the world through preaching about faith. This vision led him to start the Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW) in 1981. It was first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries.
Two years later, on 17 September 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye officially made David and his wife, Faith Abiola Oyedepo, pastors. Five years after that, Bishop Oyedepo was made a Bishop by his mentor, Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
The Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel International, began in Kaduna. In July 1989, the church moved its main operations to Lagos, Nigeria's former capital. This move happened after Bishop Oyedepo felt God was guiding him to reach more people in Lagos.
Bishop Oyedepo is also a successful author and publisher. He has written over 70 books. His church has a publishing company called Dominion Publishing House (DPH). This company has printed millions of books. Through his ministry, schools like Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools have been built. These schools help young people prepare for the future. A third university, Crown University, is also being built in Calabar, Nigeria.
In 1998, Bishop Oyedepo said he was told by God to build a new main center for the church. This was to hold the growing number of people attending services. This led to the church buying a large area of land called Canaanland. This land is the church's headquarters. It is home to the 'Faith Tabernacle', a huge auditorium that can seat 50,000 people. This achievement was even recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
The construction of the Faith Tabernacle was finished in just 12 months. Reports also say that this building was built without any debt. The 50,000-seat building was officially opened on 18 September 1999.
Canaanland is located in Ota, Ogun State. It is a very large campus that includes the 50,000-seat auditorium and the church offices. It also has a primary school, a boarding secondary school called Faith Academy, and Covenant University. Covenant University has modern student housing and many buildings for teaching. Canaanland also has businesses run by the church. These include a bakery, a water bottling plant, a petrol station, restaurants, and shops. There are also homes for the church's many employees and guesthouses. Several banks are also on the estate. The entire Canaanland area, which includes a planned housing estate, has grown very large over the years.
The church's biggest yearly event is called Shiloh. It is held every December in the Faith Tabernacle. Thousands of church members from all over the world attend this meeting. The ministry is currently building an even larger auditorium called "The Ark." This new building will be able to seat 100,000 people.
Christian Teachings
Bishop Oyedepo's teachings are part of what is known as the Word of Faith Movement. He has learned from many well-known preachers. These include Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, and Benson Idahosa. His teachings often focus on the power of faith and God's blessings.
Winners' Chapel International also has a Bible training program. It is called the Word of Faith Bible Institute. This program helps both church members and others learn more about Christian principles. It also helps train new leaders and pastors. The institute operates in many of the church's main branches.
Bishop Oyedepo is the president of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). This is the main organization that includes the Living Faith Church World Wide. It also includes the World Mission Agency, which handles the church's global missionary work. Dominion Publishing House, Covenant University, and various social development projects like hospitals and schools are also part of DOMI.
Book Publishing
Bishop Oyedepo's church runs its own publishing company, Dominion Publishing House (DPH). It started on 5 December 1992. This company has published over 70 Christian books. These books are about inspiration and motivation. They also publish mini-books, magazines, and other helpful resources.
Family Life
In August 1982, Bishop Oyedepo married Florence Abiola Akano, who is now known as Faith Oyedepo. They have four children: David Jr, Isaac, Love, and Joyce. Their sons, David Oyedepo Jr and Isaac Oyedepo, became pastors in May 2007. David Oyedepo Jr is now the main pastor of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota. Isaac Oyedepo used to pastor a Winners' Chapel International church in the United States. 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 got married in 2020.
David Oyedepo Day of Service (DODOS)
The David Oyedepo Day of Service (DODOS) is a special event. It was started by the Covenant University Alumni Association. Its goal is to celebrate Bishop Oyedepo's contributions and way of life. Starting on his birthday, 27 September 2012, people who support this idea are encouraged to do something helpful. This could be for individuals, organizations, or society in general.
Awards and Recognition
- Listed among 100 most reputable Africans
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity – Bethel Graduate School of Theology Riverside California
- Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Financial Research (FNSFR)
