THE FOUNDER
Bishop David O. Oyedepo
Founder & President, Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners' Chapel International) — an Apostle of Faith to the nations whose ministry has spread across six continents.
PAPA
Dr. David O. Oyedepo
Founder & President · LFCWW
A LIFE OF COMMISSION
Called by a heavenly vision to liberate the world
Bishop David Oyedepo received his call into ministry through a heavenly vision in which he saw a long line of battered, beaten and groaning humanity crying for escape. Moved to tears, he asked the Lord, "But why?"
Today he stands as an Apostle of Faith to the nations, with a ministry impact that has spread across many countries of the world. An accomplished author of more than 100 titles — circulating in print and online stores across the globe and translated into French, Chinese, Spanish and other major languages — he is also a celebrated educator, leader and revivalist.
He is the Founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners' Chapel International) and presently oversees over 21,000 churches across Nigeria and several thousand more across six major continents. He is the founding Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland Ota — reputed to be the largest single congregation in the world — and a leader of renown who has redefined leadership as an evolution of values.
He began his academic career in Architecture and later obtained a PhD in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA. Today he is spearheading a revolution in education across Nigeria — through a network of primary and secondary schools and the establishment of two thriving universities, Covenant University, Ota and Landmark University, Omu-Aran.
21,000+
Churches in Nigeria
6
Continents reached
100+
Books authored
MISSION STATEMENT
An 18-hour vision that birthed a movement
Our mandate for ministry was received from the Lord Himself in an 18-hour vision — a commission to liberate mankind in every facet of human existence, to restore broken destinies, and to bring healing to the sick and the brokenhearted.
“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.”
RECEIVED · MAY 2, 1981
A JOURNEY OF FAITH
Milestones of a commissioned life
1954
Born
Born on September 27th in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
1969
Born again
Gave his life to Christ on February 19th at the age of 15.
1981
The Commission
Received the call into full-time ministry on May 2nd at the age of 26 — through an 18-hour vision in which the divine mandate to liberate the whole world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the Word of Faith was received.
1981
Faith Liberation Hour
Began his teaching ministry on May 29th through a weekly fellowship called Faith Liberation Hour and a monthly Friday-evening seminar.
1983
First church planted
Planted the first Living Faith World Outreach church in Kaduna on December 11th.
1985
First books published
Published and released his first two titles, The Miracle Seed and The Law of Faith, on April 25th.
1986
Word of Faith Bible Institute
Founded WOFBI on September 1st — today operating across many nations of the world.
1987
Northern Nigeria expansion
Began an intensive church-planting work across the northern part of Nigeria from May.
1989
Garden of Faith
The mission acquired a 13-acre property in a prime area of Kaduna city, named Garden of Faith.
1989
Move to Lagos
On September 24th — following the divine mandate, "Arise, get down to Lagos and raise me a people" — relocated headquarters.
1992
Dominion Publishing House
Founded the publishing arm that has grown to industrial scale, including Bibles.
1994–1999
Lagos church revival
Led a great revival that grew the Lagos church from about 3,500 to 50,000 within five years.
1994
Mission to Africa
Following the mandate, "The harvest of Africa is overripe, rush in and preserve it from decadence," began continental expansion. The mission now has strong presence in over 41 African nations.
1996
First mission aircraft
The mission took delivery of its first mission aircraft on September 18th.
1998
Canaanland acquired
Acquired 530 acres of property on the outskirts of Ota, Lagos — today known as Canaanland.
1998–1999
Faith Tabernacle dedicated
Built and dedicated the 50,000-seat Faith Tabernacle in Canaanland within one year — to the glory of God.
1999
Shiloh begins
Started the annual global convocation of Winners — Shiloh — now transmitted to about 177 nations in real time, with millions gathering at viewing centres worldwide.
2000
Mission to the World
Embarked on Mission to the World — covering Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East from August.
2002
Covenant University
Founded Covenant University, today ranked among Africa's elite institutions.
2011
Landmark University
Founded Landmark University, blazing the trail in Nigerian higher education.
2015
Lagos doubled twice in 6 months
Led a great church-growth revival that doubled attendance of the Lagos church twice within six months — running four Sunday services and ~38,000 home cells.
2019
5,000 churches planted
By divine instruction, led the planting of over 5,000 churches across Nigeria within one year.
2020
10,000 churches planted
By divine signal, led the planting of over 10,000 churches in one year across Nigeria — and over 1,200 across 35 other nations — despite the global lockdown.
2021
21,000 new home cells
By divine instruction, led the replication of over 21,000 new home cells within one year at Faith Tabernacle — about 100% of the existing home cells.
2022
80 new nations reached
Led the planting of churches in 80 additional nations across four continents of the world.
Today
100,000-seat sanctuary
Construction of the historic 100,000-seat sanctuary (foundation laid March 25, 2021) is ongoing — to the glory of God.
FOUNDATIONS
The 12 Pillars of the Commission
The Holy Ghost inspired our founder to classify the Word of Faith committed into his hands into twelve specific areas of emphasis — in direct response to Isaiah 40:6, "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?" These are the foundation stones, after the order of Joshua 4, upon which this commission stands.
Faith
1 John 5:4 · Ephesians 6:16
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
The Word
John 1:1–12 · Hebrews 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…"
The Supernatural
Psalm 82:5–7 · John 3:8
"The wind bloweth where it listeth… so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
Praise
2 Chr. 20:20–22 · Psalm 67 · 149
"And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir…"
The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:1–8 · Isaiah 10:27
"The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
Prosperity
3 John 2 · Psalm 35:27 · Zech. 1:17
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Vision
Proverbs 29:18 · Jer. 29:11
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
Prayer
1 John 5:14
"This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us."
Healing
Isaiah 53:3–4 · Jer. 8:22 · Matt. 8:17
"Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
Wisdom
Proverbs 24:3–4 · Isaiah 33:6
"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times… the fear of the Lord is his treasure."
Consecration
Hebrews 12:14 · 2 Tim. 2:19
"The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his."
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… for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
LEADERSHIP
Positions currently held
Founder & President, Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners' Chapel International)
1983 – present
President, Word of Faith Bible Institute
1986 – present
President, Dominion Publishing House
1992 – present
Chancellor & Chairman, Board of Regents — Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
2002 – present
Chancellor & Chairman, Board of Regents — Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
2011 – present
HONOURS
Awards & recognitions
- Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education (FNAE)
- Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Financial Research (FNSFR)
- Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Strategic Management (FNISM)
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity — Bethel Graduate School of Theology, Riverside, California
- Distinguished Award for Excellence in Education, Administration and Leadership — Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (2012)
- Award in recognition of Leadership in Enhancing Academic and Research Excellence — Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge (2011)
- National Honour — a road named after him by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the FCT, Abuja (2008)
- Listed among the 100 most reputable people on earth — two consecutive years
TESTIMONIES
The Word of Faith is working like fire
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 — and the same anointing that hovers over Canaanland rests on this house in Sydney.
The mandate continues — in Sydney
From Canaanland to NSW, the same prophetic commission burns bright. Join us in Sydney as we walk out this great mandate together.