The Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel International, is in high spirits as it celebrates the 70th birthday of its founder, Bishop David Oyedepo.
Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State and Chancellor of Covenant University and Landmark University, was born on September 27, 1954.
On Friday, congregants and church leaders gathered to honor the charismatic leader whose influence has spread across Nigeria and beyond.
Under his leadership, Winners Chapel has established a network of churches in all 36 states of Nigeria and in over 85 countries worldwide.
A church service on Friday, which held to mark the birthday, was held at Faith Tabernacle Ota.
Oyedepo, his wife, Faith, deputy, Bishop David Abioye and the celebrators’ children, their spouses and grandchildren attended the event.
The dignitaries that attended include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and other government officials.
The event was also graced by popular clerics like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Bishop Mike Okonkwo of TREM and many others.
In the week leading up to his birthday, the church engaged in various outreach activities titled “One Week Sacrifice for Souls,” spreading the Gospel across Lagos and Ota.
Bishop Oyedepo emphasized the importance of thanksgiving during the celebrations.
He encouraged attendees to make praise and gratitude a daily practice, citing examples from the lives of Jesus and Apostle Paul.
“Praise is a vital weapon in sustaining our redemptive status in the supernatural,” he said.
He urged everyone to embrace a lifestyle of praise, stating, “When praise becomes your addiction, oppression will stop.”
His teachings resonate deeply with his followers, many of whom credit him with transformative impacts on their lives.
Throughout the celebrations, notable personalities from the church and music ministers joined in the festivities.
Among them were Dunsin Oyekan, Tope Alabi, and Mercy Chinwo, who filled the atmosphere with worship and gratitude.
As tributes poured in, many described Bishop Oyedepo as a father, prophet, and living legend.
Oyedepo was born in Osogbo, Nigeria, but hails from Omu-Aran in Kwara State.
His upbringing in a mixed-religion family—his father a Muslim healer and his mother a Christian—shaped his spiritual journey.
Raised by his grandmother, he learned the importance of prayer and Christian values at an early age.
In 1969, Oyedepo encountered Christ through a foreign missionary and teacher, Mrs. Betty Lasher.
After studying architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic, he briefly worked with the Federal Ministry of Housing.
However, his calling led him to resign and focus on missionary work.
In 1981, he received a divine mandate through an 18-hour vision to liberate the world from oppression through the preaching of faith.
He was ordained as a pastor in 1983 by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Five years later, he was elevated to the status of bishop.
Bishop Oyedepo’s ministry is marked by a commitment to education and empowerment.
The church runs various educational institutions, including Covenant University and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools.
The Ark Legacy Project, currently under construction, aims to be the largest Christian worship auditorium in the world, with a seating capacity of 100,000.
The foundation for this ambitious project was laid on March 25, 2021, and is scheduled for completion in November 2025.
Bishop Oyedepo’s vision extends beyond mere church growth; he seeks to make a significant impact on society and global faith.
In his appreciation speech during the birthday celebration, he highlighted that accomplishments in the Kingdom are attributed to divine grace.
“By the grace of God, I am what I am,” he said, urging attendees to acknowledge God’s hand in their lives.
