The Journey Of Bishop David Oyedepo

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From An Encounter With Christ To A Global Mandate: The Journey Of Bishop David Oyedepo.

Before Canaanland.
Before Faith Tabernacle.
Before The Ark.

There was a 15-year-old boy who encountered Christ and received a mandate. Church Gist. Who could have imagined that the encounter that began in 1969 would, decades later, grow into a global ministry with thousands of churches, missionary operations, universities, Faith Tabernacle and The Ark?

The story of Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo is a journey of encounters, faith, vision, obedience to God’s instructions and unwavering commitment to a divine mandate. As documented in the Church Gist archive, here are some of the defining milestones along that journey.

On 19 February 1969, 15-year-old David Olaniyi Oyedepo was led to Christ by Betty Lasher, an American missionary who remained in Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War. Church Gist. At this point, there was no Canaanland, no Faith Tabernacle and no global ministry. There was simply a teenager whose Christian journey had begun.

On 1 May 1981, while in Ilesa, David Oyedepo experienced an 18-hour open vision concerning people suffering under oppression. According to his account, he received the mandate to liberate humanity from the oppression of the devil through the preaching of the Word of faith. Church Gist. This became known as the Liberation Mandate. The Faith Liberation Hour was established, while the Power House prayer group was also formed. The encounter had now become a mandate.

In April 1982, during a Power House meeting, David Oyedepo spoke about things he believed God had shown him concerning the future of the ministry. Among them was a vision of a 50,000-capacity auditorium. Church Gist. At the time, there was no structure anywhere near that scale. It was simply a vision. Seventeen years later, that vision would become one of the most recognisable landmarks of the Ministry.

On 17 September 1983, the Ministry was officially commissioned in Ilorin, Kwara State, with Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye commissioning the Church. Brother David Oyedepo was subsequently instructed by God to move to Kaduna. Church Gist. On 11 December 1983, Living Faith World Outreach Ministry held her first Sunday service at E.E. Rahmat Close, Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

On 23 July 1986, during a convention in Tulsa, Brother David Oyedepo had an encounter connected to the Ministry of Kenneth E. Hagin. Church Gist. On 17 September 1988, Reverend David Oyedepo was consecrated the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith World Outreach by Archbishop Benson Idahosa, a few days before his 34th birthday.

On 19 July 1989, Bishop Oyedepo received what became known as the Lagos Invasion Mandate, with the instruction: “Arise, get down to Lagos and raise Me a people.” On 24 September 1989, the Lagos Invasion Project of Living Faith Church Worldwide kicked off. Church Gist. In 1994, Bishop Oyedepo received a mandate concerning Africa. This led to the African Gospel Invasion Program (AGIP). On 15 January 1995, the first missionaries were sent out from Nigeria to Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo.

After years of ministry activity, another defining chapter began. In 1998, the first 530 acres of land, Canaanland, were acquired. On 29 August 1998, the foundation of Faith Tabernacle was laid and construction began in September 1998. The target? One year as declared by God. Church Gist. Could a 50,000-seat auditorium really be completed within that timeframe? One year later, on 18 September 1999, Faith Tabernacle was dedicated at Canaanland. The Auditorium became the International Headquarters of Living Faith Church Worldwide.

On 21 October 2002, Covenant University was established by the World Mission arm of David Oyedepo Ministries International. Church Gist. The Ministry’s institutional vision was expanding beyond the pulpit into education. In March 2011, Landmark University was licensed.

The year 2020 brought an unprecedented global disruption through the COVID-19 pandemic. Church Gist. Yet, Church-planting activity continued during the period, with more than 10,000 churches planted.

On 25 March 2021, the foundation for the Ark was laid. The proposed auditorium, with a capacity of 109,000 worshippers, was presented as a major legacy project of the Ministry. Church Gist. The Ark is a global architectural marvel, featuring twin towers, 20 chillers, 126 escalators, 29 elevators, 22 transformers, among other features.