by Daniel Breakforth
*Faith Academy and Word of Faith Bible Institute to be pulled down with new Faith Academy under construction.
*Shiloh 2020 declared as ‘Turnaround Encounters’
*9000 Churches planted in 2020 with 1000 more to be in place before Shiloh.
*50,000 Capacity former World’s largest auditorium ‘Faith Tabernacle’ set to become overflow facility for The ARK.
*New ‘The Ark’ Facility, Faith Tabernacle overflow and grounds could take up to 300,000.
“We are in the last days.
We are in the days of multitudes in the Church, the Body of Christ…and I pray…that this (Glory Dome) is not the last of this we will see in Nigeria.
Many more will keep rising.
Greater multitudes will keep gathering and the name of the Lord will continue to be glorified.
-Bishop David Oyedepo
Glory Dome dedication.
Abuja, Nigeria
24th November 2018
On Sunday, 25th October 2020, Bishop Oyedepo made a reference to the construction of the new mega auditorium to be built at Canaanland, Ota, Africa.
Bishop Oyedepo stated
“God’s greatest interest on the earth is not big cathedral, it’s not the huge Ark project that we are embarking upon. It is the preservation and salvation of the souls of men”
While the statement went almost unnoticed, Church Gist did not fail to scoop it based on earlier investigations.
Church Gist can thus reveal authoritatively that in this Shiloh 2020 which has been prophetically tagged ‘TURNAROUND ENCOUNTERS’ , the Mega Auditorium Project which has been rechristened ‘THE ARK’ instead of the formerly named ‘FAITH THEATRE’ would be announced.
In 2015 plans had been on to build a 100,000 Capacity Faith Theatre as Faith Tabernacle was already running 4 services despite an overflow capacity slightly larger than the Tabernacle capacity.. At that time, monies running into tens of billions were already in place for building of the auditorium from scratch to completion as well as all infrastructural needs required to service the structure and its adjoining 12 storey mission tower (reduced from a previously planned 24 storey tower). However, there was a snag as Bishop Oyedepo stated that while he expressly heard God say ‘This is the Place’ at the exact Shiloh Grounds before the commencement of ‘Faith Tabernacle’, he had heard nothing at the time construction was to begin at the grounds of the Faith Theatre. In the Bishop’s own words, “When God is quiet concerning a request , it simply means ‘Stay Put’.
Bishop Oyedepo consequently put the plans for the construction on hold with several critics alleging that the construction couldn’t take place due to lack of funds especially under the new government in the Country.
Eventually with no response on the planned building, the Bishop returned to the Shiloh Grounds as marked since July/August 1998 for the construction.
Since the 66 acre Shiloh Grounds is not big enough for the Mega project estimated by Church Gist to be about N50 Billion (naira) as at 2015, the adjoining Moriah Grounds or Faith Academy in Canaanland as well as the Word of Faith Bible Institute and the Camphouses are to be pulled down. This will give enough room for the gigantic project about to be built.
The ARK is reported to have an estimated capacity of 120,000 with the Faith Tabernacle overflow facility of 50,000. This is apart from the grounds from Moriah to Shiloh which will take another possible 130,000 people thus taking some 300,000 people at full use.
It is about 21 years since dedication of the Faith Tabernacle, 5 years since the announcement of Faith Theatre. Church Gist will give more details in a subsequent Breaking News.
Also, 9000 Churches were announced established so far in 2020 at the Church’s Covenant Hour of Prayer by Bishop Oyedepo on Tuesday 26th October 2020. The balance of 1000 churches is expected to be planted over the next 3 weeks and in time before Shiloh 2020 which has been prophetically named TURNAROUND ENCOUNTERS.
An earlier report by Church Gist in 2016 on the putting on hold of the Faith Theatre project as relayed below is still relevant.
The Faith theatre 100,000 Stadium-like Auditorium which was designed by Students/Graduates of Covenant University has now been temporarily put on hold as the Church waits for clear Divine Instructions on the matter. According to Bishop Oyedepo, God hasn’t given a “go ahead” for the Construction to begin.
About 1,000 Hectares of Land had been initially reserved for the project at Canaancity and the Project reportedly ought to have run for Three years maximum and commissioned in 2019.
Right now, according to Church Gist, the Church would now focus on expanding Faith Tabernacle(50,000) to accommodate hundreds of thousands of Worshippers. According to 2015 statistics Canaanland currently hosts about 400,000 people per Sunday over several Services-hence it is imperative to either build a new structure or expand the Faith Tabernacle.
Winners Chapel was the first 50,000-seat capacity auditorium worldwide, known as the “Faith Tabernacle”,
50,000-seater auditorium, Faith Tabernacle, currently the largest auditorium in the world
The Presiding Bishop said up to 160 nations hooked up to Shiloh 2017, with nationals from 58 nations present at the Canaan Land, Ota Ogun State. Once Faith Theatre is completed, all the Countries at Shiloh will have their own tents and buildings while the 36 states of Nigeria including Abuja will have their camping area in the Shiloh Camp. 500 acres (present size of Faith Tabernacle, Faith Academy, Covenant University, Church Secretariat etc) will be used for the camping area.
It could be recalled that Winners Chapel was the first 50,000-seat capacity auditorium worldwide, known as the “Faith Tabernacle”, which is reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world, the feat made the Guinness Book of Records. Faith Tabernacle’s overflow facilities can take up to 300,000 people. However, 50,000 plastic chairs were added a day before Shiloh but that did not stop thousands from having to stand on Saturday due to the non-availability of chairs.
The ultra-modern100,000-seat capacity auditorium which was designed by staff and students of Covenant University will also be first of its kind in the whole world. Bishop Oyedepo called the new project which will be built in form of an Ark “A Generational Monument to the glory of Jesus”. As reported earlier by Amazing stories, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is presently building a 500,000 Capacity Deliverance Auditorium which is the largest church project in the world. The project which commenced in 2011 was billed to last 5 years. Church Gist however observed that the N20 Billion ($100m) project may take a while longer as the church is presently trying to complete facilities under construction at her Mountain Top University, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
FEATURES OF THE THEATRE
– Designed by Covenant University
– To occupy 1,000 acres of land
– Prayer Booths
– The Nations accommodation
– Baptism Pool
– Twin Tower (12 storey building)
– Worship Centre (100,000 seater)
– Dominion Bookshop
– WOFBI (3,000 capacity Bible School Facility)
– An Audio/Visual theatre
– Shopping Mall
– Food Court
– Rotating Altar
– 100% fully air-conditioned
