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Bishop David Oyedepo, Founder/President Living Faith Church aka Winners Church International.

By Chukwudi Abiandu
The highly favoured people of Omu-Aran in Kwara State, Nigeria were palpably oblivious that God came visiting them with the gift of a bundle of joy. For in far away Oshogbo town in present day Osun State, something glorious happened in a church. A child, a baby boy, was born to the family of Pa Abraham Oyedepo and his wife, Mama Dorcas Oyedepo. It was on September 27, 1954. He was christened David Olaniyi, who today is Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo, an embodiment of the light of God and faith. Telling his own story, the bishop said: “I was born in the church on September 27, 1954.”

Of course, the story of the quiet town of Omu-Aran will not be complete without the visible impact and transformation that the coming of Bishop David Oyedepo has brought to bear on the town by his sheer industry and uncompromising devotion to God. In Omu-Aran today is the Landmark University, sitting on a sprawling property with vast acres of land. It was established on March 21, 2011 and located at km 4, Ipetu, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria. There’s also the first university, Covenant University in Ota. Ogun State, Nigeria which has continued to blaze the trail among the comity of universities with resounding acknowledgements as one of the best universities in the world.

Although charity should begin from home, yet to limit the highly evidential and commendable exploits of this uncommon servant of God to Omu-Aran will be unjust, unfair and indecent. Events have since exposed and proved him as far beyond localization. Bishop David Oyedepo is a rare occurrence, a rare manifestation, a marvel, a loud episode in global impact for Jesus Christ. He is God’s gift to Nigeria for the world.

A Jesus activist, the bishop is an incredibly talented person and highly gifted in hearing and picking spiritual signals, directions and revelations from God. For him, this attribute remains the secret behind the notable achievements of his life and ministry. Anything Jesus, anything God Almighty, and the contents of the Holy Bible excite him. This devotion to God and the interest of His kingdom, which he preaches with great excitement, insight and vigour have made him to be acknowledged, renown, celebrated and respected across the world.
Entrance into Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Indication that Oyedepo has a sharp hearing spiritual antenna in picking divine signals from God was manifested when between May 1 and May 2, 1981, at Ilesha in present day Osun State, Nigeria, a place he had gone to visit a friend, but who was absent from home at the time. Like the Biblical encounter of Moses with the “burning bush” , while shepherding the flock of his in-law during which God caught his attention, the Ilesha visitor’s attention was caught as he tried to come to terms with the disappointment of missing the person he had come to visit. Sobered by this experience of trying to determine what next to do, the visitor heard God by the spirit, telling him to seek a quiet place because God wanted to talk to him.

Quickly and fortunately, he located and checked into a hotel, simply called “International” in a shadowy location, where he had a life transforming encounter with God in an 18-hour open vision. There, the ministry’s Liberation mandate was delivered to him, with God saying to him: “The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppressions of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith, and I am sending you to undertake this task.”

Today, evidence abounds across the globe that testifies that he truly heard God. Besides, many Christian faithful have benefitted from his teachings either by hearing him directly while preaching or from encounters while reading spirit filled books authored by him numbering about 182. Among the book titles are:
• All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met
• Anointing For Exploits
• Born To Win
• Breaking Financial Hardship
• Breaking The Curses Of Life
• Commanding The Supernatural
• Emergence Of The Glorious Church
• Excellency Of Wisdom
• Exploits In Ministry
• Exploits Of Faith
• Fulfilling Your Days
• Keys To Divine Health
• Manifestation Of The Spirits Of God
• Maximize Destiny
• Pillars Of Destiny
• Possessing Your Possession
• Ruling Your World
• Satan Get Lost
• Signs Wonders Today
• Success Strategies

• Success Systems
• The Force Of Freedom
• The Healing Balm
• The Miracle Meal
• The Release Of Power
• The Unlimited Power Of Faith
• Towards Excellency In Life And Ministry
• Towards Mental Exploits
• Understanding Divine Direction
• Understanding The Power Of Praise
• Walking In Dominion
• Walking In The Miraculous
• Walking In The Newness Of Life
• Winning Invisible Battles
• Winning Prayer.

• You Shall Not Be Barren

Writing on the journey so far while marking the 25th anniversary of the Liberation Mandate in 2006, Bishop Oyedepo said: “Today, testimonies of liberation through our messages, books, tapes, magazines and other periodicals are most humbling. The word of faith is working like fire for the liberation of mankind across the nations.”
God also told him that “This ministry is not out to debate over doctrines but to prove the power of the Holy Ghost.” He explained that the Living Faith Church is a power ministry connoting a flow of Signs and Wonders. He said: “Today, signs and wonders have become the trade mark of this ministry worldwide. Testimonies of the supernatural acts of God are shared in all our meetings everywhere.”
Also today, the mission stations of the ministry are in over 68 cities and towns spread across the globe, towns and villages where great churches have been built with large followership, including in Africa, Europe, America, the Caribbean. This is a fulfillment of the word of God to Bishop Oyedepo that “The work of this ministry shall not be limited to this country alone, but to other nations. And churches establishment on the mission field shall be the goal where the living Word will be thought.”
Through the ministry, God used Oyedepo to launch Nigeria into the Guinness Book of Records with the building of a 50,000 seat capacity sanctuary, the first ever in the world. It was the fulfillment of what God told him that “At the base of the ministry a tent shall be built to contain 50,000 people.” Of course, standing today in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria is the wonderful edifice, a 50000 seat capacity sanctuary as proof of God validating his word.
Similarly, God’s word to Oyedepo that “A telecast shall be used to put on screen the gospel across the nations” has long been fulfilled as the ministry’s church services are broadcast live via the internet to all nations of the world. It is important to understand that there was no internet technology when the prophecy was made. And the dominion Publishing House, which now operates on an industrial scale, is churning out book publications in millions. The publishing outfit came from a prophecy: “The printing press shall operate at an industrial scale.”
Perhaps, one issue that has been a subject of contention by persons who refuse to understand is the issue of the ministry’s aircraft. To some of this people, the ministry does not need an aircraft; that the money used to buy it should be used for charity for poor elements in the church. But it is better to allow such persons to wallow in ignorance, and continue to live in such cocoon. What they fail to realize that church work is God’s business, and that the work of the church is kingdom work and therefore God’s business. If those in secular business can decide to buy private aircraft for the smooth running of their conglomerates, cynics and mischief makers refuse to recognize that God’s business, which covers the earth would also require moving across the Atlantic Ocean to reach other people with the Gospel of Christ who mandated every Christian in the Great commission to go into the world and make disciples of men, by bringing them into the kingdom. Of course, God’s business must be done. In the simplistic arguments to attack the buying of aircraft by church missions, critics fail to understand that even Jesus had to move to far places in the quest to reach more people with His gospel, sometime “in a convoy of ships”, even at that time.
Trust Bishop Oyedepo never to be taken in by such banal criticisms and snide remarks; he remained focused on his assignment. He has not stopped telling the story of the origin of the mission’s aircraft. He said: “I saw wings passing across nations. This is interpreted to be an airplane flying to other nations, carrying the gospel of Liberation.” Indeed, the vision has since been fulfilled as part of God’s promptings. So far, the ministry has in fulfillment of the vision acquired two aircraft; one said to be in exchange for another newer and faster one.
12 Pillars of the Living Faith Church
Here are the 12 stones, after the order of Joshua 4:1-8, 20-24.
The Bishop said “God commissioned us with a Word of Faith ministry to our generation. Remember Paul said, “. . . . . if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor 14:8) And by the help of the Holy Ghost, the visioner has classified the Word of Faith God has committed into his hands into the specific areas of emphasis, in direct response to Isaiah 40:6, “The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?”
• THE WORD (John 1:1-12; Heb. 1:3)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” – Heb. 1:3
• THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 1:1-8; Isaiah 10:27)
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” – Isaiah 10:27
• THE SUPERNATURAL (Ps. 82:5-7; John 3:8)
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst does not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8m
• FAITH (1 John 5:4; Eph. 6:16)
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – 1 John 5:4
• SUCCESS (Joshua 1:8-10)
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” – Joshua 1: 8
• PRAISE (2 Chron. 20:20-22; Ps. 67:1-7; 149:1-9)
“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah: and they were smitten.” – 2 Chron. 20:22
• CONSECRATION (Hebrews12:14; 2Tim. 2:19)
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ” – 2 Tim. 2:19
• PRAYER (1 John 5:14)
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.” – 1 John 5:14
• HEALING (Isaiah 53:3-4; Jer. 8:22; Matt. 8:17)
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” – Matt. 8:17
• WISDOM (Prov. 24:3-4, Isaiah 33:6)
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” – Isaiah 33:6
• VISION (Prov. 29:18, Jer. 29:11)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Prov. 29:18
• PROSPERITY (3 John 2; Ps. 35:27; Zech. 1:17)
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” – 3 John 2
Bishop Oyedepo named these 12 areas of emphasis as the 12 Pillars of the Living Faith Church. He said: “We have stood firmly upon these twelve stones and they have resulted in breakthroughs – both for the ministry and all that are partakers of the same grace with us.
“We have crossed Jordan into power, bearing the ark of liberation and have experienced amazing testimonies ever since this commission was handed down on May 02, 1981.”

To write about the ministry and exploits of Bishop david Olaniyi Oyedepo, founder, visioner and Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church cannot be contemplated now because of the immense work that will have to be undertaken to be able to fully put together the works of this divine puzzle. Certainly, Bishop Oyedepo is a divine puzzle – his strength, ability, passion for Christ and the work of His Kingdom, making prophetic declarations with precision, possessing uncommon insight into picking gems from the Bible and releasing his faith in going ahead to do as the word dictates, the grace to hear God by the Holy Spirit, yet following God with zeal and bubbling with excitement and achieving results are testimonies that fully exemplify that the Bishop is truly a servant of God with verifiable proofs and impacts that cannot be denied.

Oyedepo and the ministry: What the people say

“When I met Bishop David Oyedepo in 1991, I thought I knew the Bible, in fact I was already being celebrated where I was. Listening to him however, brought a radical change to my perception. I felt empty and my ignorance of the Word soon dawned on me…. Each time I ponder on this ministry I end up being dazed by the evidence of God’s awesome power and the commitment of man to vision.”
– Pastor Moses O. Oyedele.
A unique feature of the ministry is the high discipline of its leadership. The ministry is endowed by God with financial resources and it has enough resources to go on an endless spending spree across Europe and America, but discipline will not allow that. No wonder heaven’s supply have never ceased. We have come to discover our destiny and our full colour in life following the footsteps of our master, Jesus Christ and His Servant Bishop David Oyedepo.
– Pastor Isaac Ndubuisi.

“Outside my secular duties as Colonel in the General Police Administration and acting as Chief Superintendent of Poto-Poto Jurisdiction, I am also a servant of God in Army of Power Church. What can I say about Bishop Oyedepo? He is a peculiar man of God; I met him for the first time in 1996. A bullet entered my leg and damaged it and while Bishop visited our country, I was brought to his conference, while he was preaching at the parliament Hall, my broken leg was restored. He is a man who is very dear to my heart because his vision and ministry are evident in my life.” – Apostle Tsono Michel, General Overseer, Army of Power Church, Brazzaville.
“ Read through the book ‘Breaking Financial Hardship and I began to meditate upon it and I preached the whole book in my church, and to God be the glory an explosion of financial prosperity took place in our church. I mix those words of God with one book written by Kenneth Copeland and now I know that we are born to reign in financial prosperity. I want to mention that I am really blessed by the ministration through the internet and books. – Pastor Patrick, Senior Pastor of Shine Church, Antananarivo-Madagascar.

On what Church members think of the 40 years of the Liberation mandate:
Patrick Nwaeli, a church worker said: “40 years of the Liberation Mandate has been 40 years of vision and revelations culminating in sustainable development and enlargement in all areas, both as a Commission and as an individual. The mandate has made tremendous impact by the testimonies recorded so far. And in specific terms, the impact has been felt in the area of transformation of lives and development.
Nweali describes Bishop Oyedepo as a prophet and God sent to, indeed, liberate the world with proofs that validate the mandate, pointing out that the mandate has tremendous positive changes to his life leading to his enlargement and promotion. He is fascinated by Oyedepo’s unique style of preaching and teaching the Bible, especially in the application of kingdom mysteries, satellite programmes, spread of the Gospel of Christ, his word based message and sermons.
One who seeks to remain anonymous, described Bishop Oyedepo as a servant of God who has so much love and passion for God and the interest of His kingdom. He is a man of high discipline who is also passionate to see his spiritual sons and daughters grow in faith and will give all that he has to see that they become relevant in life. He said the past 40 years has seen the hand of God on the Commission. “It has been 40 years of supernatural church growth, which has also seen her members grow in their respective endeavours. It has been 40 years of divine impartation which birthed many churches with growth and enlargement. The mandate has made much impact in building the faith of believers today, such that the level of faith that church possess today was not the same years back The mandate has changed the mindset of the church today about prosperity, etc. Becoming a part of this ministry has opened my eyes on how to become a successful Christian with proofs; my faith in God has been built up.”
Of Bishop Oyedepo, the anonymous said: “Bishop Oyedepo is a man of unusual character in running with the mandate which has produced many exploits. His unique way of preaching and teaching the Bible, which I believe is as a result of his consistency in the presence of God; reading and studying and meditating on the word of God, and his ability to know the mind of God and hear his voice per time … this I believe are factors that makes him unique in his preaching. Besides, Living Faith Church has been in the forefront in unraveling the mysteries of the kingdom that had been hidden from church a long time. I wouldn’t say that this church is the most perfect church, but it has indeed created a pattern that today many others are running with.”
Deacon Gordy Onokpite a Deputy General Manager (Administration), Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, Delta State has this to say about the 40 years of the Liberation Mandate of Living Faith Church: “The 40myeras of the mandate can be described as phenomenal and life changing in the history of Christianity in Nigeria I particular and the world at large. It has been a period of extra-ordinary spiritual revolution in the history of Christendom in Nigeria, nay Africa. We have never seen it like this before.
On the impact made by the mandate, Onokpite said the impact is unquestionable in terms of spiritual reawakening, massive revival, quantum leap in the number of souls won for Christ, work insight, signs, miracles, etc, etc. impact also in terms of unusual word revelation and insight; new wave of revival in the land; directing vision and focus for many worshippers, families and organizations; and manifestation of the massive power of God in the delivery of miracles, healings, signs and wonders.
Inside view of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland Ota, Ogun State.

The Deputy General Manager describes Bishop Oyedepo as “A legend, principality, prophet of virtue, teacher, and visionary. He has pursued the mandate with uncommon zeal, determination, doggedness and without rival. His physical strength, mental focus and spiritual insight are way ahead of our times.
On how the mandate has impacted on his life, Onokpite said: “Unquantifiable. The mandate has given me direction, focus and vision in life. It has made me a far a better person than I would ever imagine. It has brought around me the supernatural in every facet of my life.”
On the uniqueness brought into teaching the Bible and preaching, Onokpite said he was fascinated by Bishop Oyedepo’s indepth understanding of the Bible. “Above all, his unusual ability to quote the scriptures from cover to cover of the entire Bible, and in line with Jeremiah 15:16, he has actually eaten the scriptures.”
For Deacon Onokpite therefore, Nigeria is blessed to have a man like Bishop David Oyedepo, unfortunately, and in fulfillment of scriptures, “A messaiah is not recognized in his own home.”
Philip O. Richard, a House Fellowship minister and worshiper at LFC, Ibusa Road, Asaba, Delta state has this to say: “To a very large extent, the 40 years of the Liberation Mandate can be tagged as awesome and amazing with so many outstanding results and accomplishments. The mandate has made tremendous impact in so many ways; in the restoration of humanity to dignity and nobility. Many lives have been transformed by the word of faith. On the education sector, Covenant University, Landmark University, Faith Academy Group of Schools are making tremendous impact globally and nationally.”
He continued: “Bishop David Oyedepo is dedicated, committed and tenacious in his pursuit of everything God commits into his hand. He is not only spiritual in his approach; he also has the mental and moral skill set at his disposal. No wonder he is a living wonder to his world.”
On how the mandate has impacted on his life, Richard said: “I was saved, healed, rescued from untimely death, failure and nervous breakdown through this ministry. In addition, my family was blessed in so many ways by the grace of God at work in this ministry.”
He is fascinated by the wisdom of God that is loaded in Oyedepo through the word of God. “Again the do it yourself approach is so captivating that even teenagers and children are a challenge to the youth and adults through their humbling testimonies as a result of word application,” Richard said, adding: “In a nutshell, I say that I am a living proof of the validity of the Liberation mandate, and I am glad that God ordered my steps to Living Faith Church International.”

Deacon Ofoye Moses says of the Liberation Mandate: “It has been 40 years of liberation of mankind from all oppressions of the enemies. We are grateful to God for this awesome ministry that came to release mankind from the forces of darkness. The last 40 years has proven the validity of the Liberation Mandate . I can only describe the operation of the Liberation Mandate in the last 40 years as having the visible hand of God in the midst of His people.
“The mandate has made tremendous impact in the lives of uncountable individuals, ranging from salvation of souls across the globe, deliverances, restoration of lives and destinies. The impact has been felt in all aspects of people’s lives, spiritually, physically, emotionally, but most profound is the continuous release of the word. The word of God is released from the commission with power and authority, which culminates in record breaking, trail blazing and path finding ministries around the world.”
Of Bishop Oyedepo, Deacon Ofoye said: “Bishop David Oyedepo is a man on a mission that cannot be discouraged or persuaded otherwise; highly focused on his assignment. He gives his assignment all of his heart. He is a man that loves God above all else.” He said that the Liberation Mandate has made tremendous impact on his life and family. “It has impacted on me positively, physically and spiritually, just to mention but a few. My marriage has enjoyed peace through the teachings in this ministry; my business has gained tremendous ground, all courtesy of the declarations from this commission,” Ofoye said. Besides, he is particularly fascinated by the unique way of preaching and teaching of the Bible by Oyedepo. He said: “The focus of his teaching has been on the word of faith, which was the dictate of the commission to preach the word of faith through which God is going to liberate the world. The exploit in the ministry has been on the deep explanation and exposition on faith that has given men their place in destiny with unusual testimonies following. If it had not been the ministry and the ministrations of Bishop David Oyedepo, I would not have been where I am today.”
Another contact who spoke but wants to remain anonymous describes the 40 years of the Liberation Mandate as one of impact, touching and transforming lives. And specifically in the areas of revelation knowledge of the word of God made plain; souls saved for Christ; prosperity for kingdom practitioners and improved way of life of the people. He said Bishop Oyedepo is “totally committed to what he preaches.” For him, the mandate impacted his life and that of others by way of exposing them to better understanding of the word of God and faith in God. He stated: “Oyedepo lays the word bare with revelation knowledge. He is also very time conscious even when he ministers the word.’”
This anonymous contact has a word of admonition for the Nigerian Government. He said: “The Nigerian Government should consult him for advice on how the problems of this country can be solved.”
Aerial view of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.