This is an extract from the Book "Who Succeeds The Fathers". Written By A Church Researcher and Historian, Leke Beecroft. In this chapter Leke unveils many unspoken things about the Nigerian church and enlightens readers about the inner workings of the Nigerian church. WHO SUCCEEDS THE FATHERS? Part 5 By Leke Beecroft LIVING FAITH CHURCH WORLDWIDE (aka WINNERS' CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL)"When Jesus returns, He will meet this Church a Vibrant Altar of Fire!! Even if it is 2000 years from now, it doesn't matter.
Those after us will be hotter than us!
Those taking over from those after us will be hotter than they are!" - Bishop David Oyedepo The GLOBAL COMMISSION
With about 8,000 church auditoriums in over 60 countries-many of which are easily the largest in their various towns, cities and nations, online presence in over 170 nations, the 2nd largest church estate in Nigeria and in the world (over 170 times the size of the Vatican City in acreage) , the largest printing and publishing house in West Africa, the second largest builder of infrastructure in Nigeria after the Roman Catholic Church, 2 established universities-Covenant and Landmark (best 2 Nigerian Christian universities)- with 5 more undergoing various processes of establishment all over Africa, 22 secondary schools with 120 more projected and 158 nursery, primary schools across Africa and UK with over 4,800 more in the works, all over the next 15 years, this Church has shown with Vision 2031 that she isn't just the church of the now, she is the church of the future. If there is any pentecostal ministry which has unashamedly learnt or imbibed from the wisdom, longevity, continuity and succession of the Catholic Church, it is the Living Faith Church which has 'Wisdom' as one of her 12 Cardinal Plllars or Pillars of the Commission.
Like the Catholic Church, Living Faith is a very wealthy Church; like the Catholic Church, the Living Faith invests heavily in building academic institutions (the Roman Catholic Church has sa total of over 200,000 schools covering all levels), like the Catholic Church, Living Faith Church builds 'Cathedrals' everywhere, like the Catholic Church's Vatican City, Living Faith is developing the ultramodern 'City of Refuge' Canaanland/Canaan City, like the Catholic Church, Living Faith does keep to time and does not stay long hours in her worship services endearing large volumes of worshippers, like the Catholic Church''s 'morning Mass', Living Faith holds services 'everyday' known as 'Covenant Hour of Prayer' (CHOP) derived from Acts 3:1. Most importantly, like the Catholic Church, though untested, the Living Faith Church has a Succession Plan. It is detailed in a Red Book known as "The Mandate".
LANDMARKS
David Olaniyi Oyedepo received the 'mandate' for this commission on May 1st and 2nd , 1981 in an 18 hour vision. He called his associates and they set up a 70 man 'Power House' going through a 28 month prayer and fasting period. According to Oyedepo, during that period, he got several instructions. On 4th October 1991, the Lord gave him the name 'Winners' Chapel' and Living Faith thus -"The LIVING FAITH is the acting faith and the acting faith is the WINNING FAITH.........." March 1982, he established a covenant with God for a life of prosperity and wealth. The following month, during a powerhouse prayer meeting in a secondary school at Erinle In April 1982, some prophetic pillars that defined the ministry came forth:
1. At the Base of the ministry, a 'tent' was to be built to sit 50,000 (Faith Tabernacle, Faith Theatre-100,000).
2. A printing press by the ministry will operate at industrial scale (Dominion Publishing House).
3. God showed wings in the air and said "These wings represent an airplane with you inside carrying the everlasting gospel to the heathen lands (the church owns airplanes today).
4. The business of this church is not to debate doctrines but to prove the power of the Holy Ghost (a power based church with divers miracles and testimonies)
5. A technology will be used to put the Gospel on screen across the nations of the earth (Internet technology and live services online).
6. The work of this Church is not limited to this country but to other nations of the world (Africa Gospel Invasion Program-AGIP:Africa, Mission to the World -MTW:Europe, Asia, Americas.)
7. Very soon we shall see millions gathering (Annual Shiloh Event, headquarters Church alone now gathers about 400,000 on sundays) .
THE THREE DAVIDS
One fact is clear in the Living Faith Church, whoever succeeds Bishop David Oyedepo is presently known as 'David'. It could be David Alpha (David A) or David Omega (David O).
How will this be?
By 31st August 1982, David Oyedepo married Florence (later Faith) Oyedepo (nee Akano). Exactly 9 months from the day, on 1st June, 1983, he had his first child and son. The young boy was named "David Oluwamakinde Oyedepo (David Junior). According to Bishop David Oyedepo, on the birth of the child, God told him "Another Warrior has come" thus the name 'Oluwamakinde' (God has brought victory). In essence, before the church had started full fledged, God had brought a Joshua.
The church resumed on Sept 17, 1983 with her commissioning service conducted by Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the RCCG. By December 11 of that year, the Church kicked off services in Kaduna with 4 members. A few incidents occurred. Emmanuel Osset, a lecturer in Ilorin was deputy to Oyedepo. He was however not ready for the move to Kaduna. Oyedepo however insisted on running a full time pastorate ministry. Osset backed out of the young ministry. Today, he pastors the Champions Chapel, Ilorin. Kwara State in fulltime capacity. Secondly, according to Oyedepo's instruction, pastors were to be trained in 'Arabia' like Paul. Hence, they were to be sent to Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Bible School in USA. Eventually Oyedepo cancelled this trip based as he said on God's instruction to the chagrin of the disappointed pastors who left the ministry in their little droves. A former head of the Fellowship of Christian Students and also Youth Corper in the church, David Abioye, remained. He became second in the ranking. Eventually the pastors made a comeback but Oyedepo was unwilling to lower Abioye's status. David Abioye was eventually ordained Bishop in June 1993 and officially became the Vice President of the Living Faith Church. With the promulgation of the Church's constitution on September 7, 2012, he became the First/Executive Vice President (VP Missions), with headquarters at the 740 acre Goshen, Abuja. According to the Mandate, the Executive Vice President steps in immediately, if for ANY reason, the President/Presiding Bishop is unable to complete his 'lifetime' tenure.
On 11th December 2013, exactly 30 years after Living Faith Church began, David Oyedepo Jnr mounted the pulpit to preach at Shiloh 2013 for the first time. He was well received. David has continued growing in wisdom and power, from his position as Pastor of the UK Church, one of the largest in Europe, to his role as Regional Pastor of Europe and his recent appointment as Resident Pastor, Faith Tabernacle, a move which appears coincidentally ahead of time but now in very good order. David Oyedepo Jnr has become a regular face at Canaanland and Faith Tabernacle and is now the face of the future of the ever growing Living Faith Church, a Church his Father prophesies will secure a 'nation' status in the near future.....like the Vatican.
PRIESTHOOD/LEVITICAL TENURE
According to the Mandate, like the Pope, the Head of the Living Faith operates for a lifetime. He will be head until he dies, becomes incapacitated or resigns by his choice. Other priests or pastors serve the purpose of propping him up. Their tenures are periodical. There are 5 Vice-Presidents in the Living Faith Church. Bishop David Abioye (Missions/Executive/1st VP), Pastor Faith Oyedepo (VP Education), Pastor Kunle Ajibade (VP Foreign Missions), Pastor David Oyedepo Jnr. A VP must have served 20 years before being appointed after due screening. However after ordination in 2007 and with less than 10 years in the pastorate, David Jnr got a waiver with a membership of over 30 years and other considerations. Vice Presidents serve a period of 7 years renewable tenure. Bishop Abioye and Faith Oyedepo are on the 4th year of the 1st tenure effective 2012. 10 years will expire in 2026.
SUCCESSION CLAUSE
At 61 years of age, Bishop Oyedepo has talked about seeing himself on the altar at the 'good old age' of 85 years. However, at 75, he MUST choose a successor to be ratified by the Board of Trustees. The BOT members must not be members of the Supreme Executive Council. The Founder alone will ever retain membership of the 2 separate bodies and that must end on his 'departure'.
There is a final defining clause in the succession according to the 'Mandate'. The successor to the Presidency of the Living Faith Church must not be more than 60 years of age at his ordination. Presently, all the Vice Presidents are 50 and above with the exception of 33 year old David Oyedepo Junior. With some mathematics, once Bishop Oyedepo attains 75, all other VPS will be above 60 except David Jnr who will be 47. This makes 55 year old Bishop David Abioye the next in line for the next few years and David Oyedepo Jnr most likely the successor-time permitting -of the Global Commission that the Living Faith Church has become. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=868056606671545&id=444807728996437Lalasticlala 1 Like 1 Share 
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