jUST SAW THIS ONLINE ND DECIDED TO SHARE These days, millions of souls, desperate for
financial breakthroughs, miracles and
healing, all rush to the church for
redemption.
God is good, especially if you’re a Nigerian
pastor with some business savvy.
And while the bible expressly states that
salvation is free, at times it comes with a
cost: offerings, tithes, gifts to spiritual
leaders, and a directive to buy literature and
other products created by men of God.
Pastors are no longer solely interested in
getting people to Heaven; they’ve devised
intelligent ways to make good money while
reaching out to souls.
Take Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for example.
He is the founder and lead pastor of the
Christ Embassy, a thriving congregation with
branches in Nigeria, South Africa, London,
Canada and the United States.
His publishing company, Loveworld
Publications, publishes ‘Rhapsody of
Realities,’ a monthly devotional he co-authors
with his wife.
It sells over 2 million copies every month at $1 apiece. He also owns television stations,
newspapers, magazines, a hotel, a fast-food
chain, and more.
Many other Nigerian pastors are similarly
building multi-million dollar empires from
their churches.
Today, pastors fly around in private jets, drive
fancy cars like Daimlers, Porsches and BMWs,
don Rolexes and Patek Phillipes, and own
breathtaking mansions all over the world.
After the blog post I wrote in May about
Nigerian pastors owning private jets, I was
bombarded with emails from readers
requesting to know the richest pastors in
Nigeria.
So I set out to investigate the assets of some
of Nigeria’s most prominent pastors, and I
came up with conservative estimates of their
fortunes.
I contacted representatives for all of the
pastors and all except Matthew Ashimolowo’s
representative confirmed ownership of the
assets I list. Representatives for Pastor
Ashimolowo did not respond to my emails.
Bishop David Oyedepo
Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach
Ministry, aka Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $190 million
David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest
preacher. Ever since he founded the Living
Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has
grown to become one of Africa’s largest
congregations.
The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three
services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest
worship center, with a seating capacity of
50,000.
Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in
London and the United States.
He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a
thriving publishing company that publishes
all his books (which are often centered on
prosperity).
He founded and owns Covenant University,
one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions,
and Faith Academy, an elite high school.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a
Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $100 million – $120
million
Last year, the charismatic preacher was at
the center of a $35 million money laundering
case in which he was accused of siphoning
funds from his church to foreign banks.
Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the
case was eventually dismissed.
His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more
than 40,000 members, several of whom are
successful business executives and
politicians.
Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include
newspapers, magazines, a local television
station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and
extensive real estate.
His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian
network to broadcast from Africa to the rest
of the world on a 24 hour basis.
Prophet Temitope Joshua
Estimated net worth: $60 million – $80
million
Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also
one of its richest and most philanthropic.
T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of
all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he
founded in 1987, which accommodates over
15,000 worshippers on Sundays.
The Pastor has remained controversial for
several years for his inexplicable powers to
heal all sorts of difficult to cure diseases,
including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis.
For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the
perfect seduction.
The church currently has
branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom,
South Africa, and Greece.
In the past three years, he has given over $
20 million to causes in education, healthcare
and rehabilitation programs for former Niger
Delta militants.
He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television
network, and was close friends with late
Ghanaian President Atta Mills.
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo
Kingsway International Christian Centre
(KICC)
Estimated net worth: $25 million – $50
million
In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a
Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a
satellite branch in London. But Pastor
Matthew had other ideas and decided to set
up his own church instead.
Today, his Kingsway International Christian
Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal
church in the United Kingdom.
In 2009, the church posted profits of close to
$10 million and assets worth $40 million.
Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $
200,000, but his real wealth comes from
varied business interests including his media
company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which
churns out Christian literature and
documentaries.
Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond
to a request confirming his net worth and
ownership of all these assets.
Chris Okotie
Church: Household of God Church
Net worth: $15 million -$25 million
Pastor Okotie made his first success as a
popular pop musician in the 80s. He found
the light, embraced the bible and set up the
Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s
most flamboyant congregations.
His 5,000 member church consists
predominantly of Nollywood celebrities,
musicians, and society people.
He contested and lost Nigerian presidential
elections for the third time this year under
the Fresh Party, a political party he founded
and funds.
An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes
S600, Hummer and Porsche among several
others. http://updatesnaija.com/nigerias-top-5-richest-pastorsand-how-much-they-are-worth/ |
