₦airaland Forum

A Nigerian nurse has recounted an emotional experience from 2016 involving renowned cleric David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, revealing how the encounter nearly shook his faith and commitment to church attendance.

The man, identified on social media platform X as @Nrs_Danie, narrated that he had struggled for years to secure admission into the Lagos State School of Nursing, succeeding only after his fourth attempt. However, his joy was short-lived as he lacked the ₦230,000 required to pay tuition, with school authorities giving him just one month before forfeiting the admission. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

According to his account, he and his mother, who lived in Abule Egba area of Lagos, left home as early as 5 a.m. to travel to Sango Ota, Ogun State, where the church headquarters is located, hoping to seek financial assistance from the cleric.

He explained that they had been active members of the church for about three years, participating in services, prayers, and fasting programmes, which strengthened their belief that they might receive support.

They reportedly positioned themselves along the route where the bishop would pass before his morning service, waiting for an opportunity to speak with him.

When the cleric eventually arrived, the man said he and his mother rushed forward to plead for help but were stopped by security personnel.

He claimed that the bishop responded by advising them to apply for a bursary from the Lagos State Government instead.

The response, he said, left him devastated, considering the emotional and physical effort it took to gain admission after several attempts.

The nurse admitted that the incident affected him deeply and almost caused him to question his faith in God. However, he later came to the realization that religious leaders are human and that faith should be centered on God rather than individuals.

He emphasized that leaving church because of a pastor’s action would mean one’s faith was misplaced.

Despite the disappointment, he eventually completed his nursing education without financial assistance from the cleric and now works abroad as a nurse.

Reflecting on his journey, he said the experience strengthened his belief that personal faith and determination are more important than reliance on any religious figure.

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/02/21/we-went-to-beg-oyedepo-for-school-fees-nurse-shares-why-he-almost-quit-church/

Let me tell you a story I’ve not told anyone but today I am ready:

In 2016, I got admission into Lagos State School of Nursing and I had no way of paying school fees (N230,000), I had one month to forfeit my admission so one morning my mother and i woke up 5am, decided to dress up and go meet Bishop David Oyedepo (GO of winners chapel) and beg him for even half of my school fees. We had been in the church believing, praying, fasting and attending service for three years atleast let me try ask for help.

We got to the church at 6:30am because we live in abuleegba, we had to take long transport to sango Ota (that’s how much I had faith and believe this would work).

Getting to the church my mum and I positioned ourselves close to where Oyedepo will pass when going for his first morning service. I was full of hope and i could see my mum mumbling prayers. We waited for an hour for him to come out and immediately he stepped out, my mum and I were the first to rush to him before others could, he had about 8 men on dark suit guarding him, my mum started screaming “Papa you are our hope, my son papa he just got admission papa help”

I can’t tell you how bad I feel right now thinking and writing about this, I joined my mum to plead too, the men blocked my mum and won’t even let us get an inch close… Oyedepo replied “go ask for bursary from Lagos state government”

I immediately felt weak, my eyes red and tiredness overwhelmed me, I wrote nursing school exam four times and this was the first time i got admission and might be the last!

We left the church that day in silence, my mum couldn’t look at me until we got home, I told her I was going to sleep because we woke up too early but while inside the house I cried so bad that day I almost stopped believing God exist. But do you know what? I told myself Oyedepo is a human and servant of God. God is the master of the universe and Oyedepo doesn’t even come close.

Today I want to tell you that I finished nursing school and I am now abroad working as a nurse, without Oyedepo paying my school fees, trust me it didn’t stop me from going to church 😂 nope I’m sorry the disappoint you, but it made me believe that all pastors are mere mortal and human just like me and you and they have no power like God or Jesus His son. If you leave church because of a pastor it means you were in the wrong church, we have only few church in Nigeria that the presence of God is residing in, all of them are full of politics and agendas but the day you will find a church that lets you serve God and doesn’t force you to pay tithes, threaten you to fast, have classism mentality or judge you based on your presentation…

That day you know that serving God is a personal thing and not a “church” thing, the church is there to preach and guide but your personal relationship with God is the most important!

Thanks for reading 🙏

This story isn’t to make Oyedepo look bad 😂 but those who really gets the story will key into it

But his hard core followers that do not reason with logic will feel attacked 🙏

Source

Hehehe.

Chebi I once I created a similar thread on this sometime ago but it never made it to the front page and I was even insulted by some irresponsible dimwits .

Make una dey believe in these so-called men of God wey dey feast on una gullibility

Your pastor can't help you in the times of need,but would rather refer you to pray to God who's busy minding his business in heaven to send help to you on earth. But when the same thief disguising as pastor needs help,he falls back to you who are his members, billing you to stupor

He even tried by continuing to go to church. Cuz in my own case,that was my instant full stop and why I will never go to church.

I knew someone who had same encounter with him at raji oba church.

The most painfully was, the man actually made it part of the sermon that evening.

Insisting no elders should render help to anyone.

Religion is the opium of the poor.

Church is their business enterprise.

You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that have been there for more than 20 years and could not get financial helps for their children.
Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are a nurse and earning money how many people have you helped financially, how many school fees have you paid for the less privileges. If you have no enough records of helping many people or all people coming to you for helps, you are not better than the Pastor. If you and your Mom have been saving the money you paid for tithe and offering you might not be in the financial problem that will bring you to pastor for help. So, Because you paid tithe and offering in your church, the pastor must help you. Entitled mentality is your problem

ERockson:
You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that's has been there for more than 20 years. Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are nurse and earning money how many people have you have helped financially, how many school fees you paid for the less privileges.

listen to yourself . Na people like una dey make Dem dey see all of us finish.

So he should have attended the church for a thousand years first before he could ask for financial assistance from the scammer abi? But it didn't take the same thief time to start billing him in form of tithes and offerings.

Sometimes I begin to wonder if the brain of an average Nigerian Christian has been tampered with,and you guys keep proving me right on a daily basis

ERockson:
You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that's have been there for more than 20 years. Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are nurse and earning money how many people have you have helped financially, how many school fees have you paid for the less privileges.

3years is small?
Why didn’t the same church tell the new comers to wait for more than 3years before they start giving tithe and offerings?

ERockson:
You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that's have been there for more than 20 years. Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are nurse and earning money how many people have you have helped financially, how many school fees have you paid for the less privileges.

Pastors don't help their members but loves receiving their tithe and offering.

Reason why most people exit the worship centres.

People are wise now.

If you want to serve God, Serve God because you love him not because of any church or pastor

Now the nurse have graduated, I didn't see where he attributed his success to God, rather he is more interested in announcing the perceived disservice done to him.

Moreover, how will the pastor know in split seconds, the sincerity in the request and if you are his member? Do you know how many such requests come in on daily basis. Moreover most of those churches have systems put in place to address welfare issues. He was supposed to start with the cell system, then chapter pastor and co. That it's the church doesn't mean money should be dished out anyhow

Zionmdde:
If you want to serve God, Serve God because you love him not because of any church or pastor

Now the nurse have graduated, I didn't see where he attributed his success to God, rather she is more interested in announcing the perceived disservice done to her

Serving God and attending church are different things. Going to church is just a social activity like going to school, club, amusement park etc. Serving God is making sure that your neighbours live in peace and harmony and giving to the needy

Zionmdde:
If you want to serve God, Serve God because you love him not because of any church or pastor

Now the nurse have graduated, I didn't see where he attributed his success to God, rather he is more interested in announcing the perceived disservice done to him.

Moreover, how will the pastor know in split seconds, the sincerity in the request and if you are his member? Do you know how many such requests come in on daily basis. Moreover most of those churches have systems put in place to address welfare issues. He was supposed to start with the cell system, then chapter pastor and co. That it's the church doesn't mean money should be dished out anyhow

You're speaking too many grammar that doesn't hold water. Imagine going through those lengthy processes when he needed the help urgently. Honestly,if the church can't help it's members in their Time of need,I don't think there's any reason for such members to continue worshipping in that church at all.

ERockson:
You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that's have been there for more than 20 years. Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are nurse and earning money how many people have you have helped financially, how many school fees have you paid for the less privileges.

I agree with you to an extent...

Infact, it's what I wanted to comment initially. But on deeper thought I had to hold back my initial comment.


The truth is that pastors like everyone else can't help everyone that approach them for assistance. They will go bankrupt in 2 seconds.


But the deeper truth is that most of the pastors and by extension churches don't do anything or at best do very little to help those in need.


I think pastors or let me say churches (especially established ones like living faith) ought to have charity arms were they provide things like scholarships, help widows, and generally provide help to those who genuinely need it. Oyedepo for example could have referred him to the charity outreach arm of his church for assistance and if he qualifies be granted the assistance he needed.


True they can't provide help to everyone but they also haven't done enough in that regard.

If you consider the amount of money at the disposal of some of the churches and what they use waste it on- private jets and other worldly things you would understand that the pastors/churches aren't trying at all.


One of the reasons I liked the late TB Joshua. He was the only pastor that had this structure I talk about and did things differently.


Unfortunately he didn't last long!

Amotolongbo:
3years is small?
Why didn’t the same church tell the new comers to wait for more than 3years before they start giving tithe and offerings?

If the guy and his Mum had been keeping their tithe and offering for the school fees they won't be in the position of begging for the school fees, Lots of children pastors can't even attend their university talkless of less than 3 years attendees. These Pastors are human being, some of them can't give you what you think they can give you

brain54:
I agree with you to an extent...

Infact, it's what I wanted to comment initially. But on deeper thought I had to hold back my initial comment.


The truth is that pastors like everyone else can't help everyone that approach them for assistance. They will go bankrupt in 2 seconds.


But the deeper truth is that most of the pastors and by extension churches don't do anything or at best do very little to help those in need.


I think pastors or let me say churches (especially established ones like living faith) ought to have charity arms were they provide things like scholarships, help widows, and generally provide help to those who genuinely need it.


True they can't provide help to everyone but they also haven't done enough in that regard!

do you know how much pastors give in aid and scholarships Yearly,
If they start showing the help they render daily, people would still accuse them of showing everything to gain more.

Stop believing these persons that accuse pastors up and down.
They were the ones that told people not to pay tithe, they are still those who would accuse pastors of not helping members.

Member's giving to pastor's are seed, but pastors giving to members are not seed, chai God help poor men.

He later came to the realization that religious leaders are human and that faith should be centered on God rather than individuals.


I don't give tithes and offerings, Men share and eat your money 📌💯🙌🤷🏿👌

ERockson:
If the guy and his Mum had been keeping their tithe and offering for the school fees they won't be in the position of begging for the school fees, Lots of children pastors can't even attend their university talkless of less than 3 years attendees. How many people have you helped

They have been keeping their tithes and offering for the 3years, just that they were scammed keeping them in the church after being promised bountiful of blessings in return. Spiritual MMM and prophetic CBEX

On the bolded part, could you write it properly so we can understand what you are trying to say?

Bloodofthelambo:
do you know how much pastors give in aid and scholarships Yearly,
If they start showing the help they render daily, people would still accuse them of showing everything to gain more.

Stop believing these persons that accuse pastors up and down.
They were the ones that told people not to pay tithe, they are still those who would accuse pastors of not helping members.

Those funds are the tithe donated by their members. From their personal purse.


Hardly can u find a pastor rendering assistance with their money.

The reason Africans are not progressing is because we are too sentimental,

Why should the pastor help the boy,
You went directly to meet him, why and how.
Thousands of persons benefits from Oyedepos scholarship world wide.
So if you like stop attending church.
Nobody is begged you to give your life to christ, no body will beg you to attend church or take your life serious.

garykoeman:
Those funds are the tithe donated by their members. From their personal purse.


Hardly can u find a pastor rendering assistance with their money.

and how do you know this

Bloodofthelambo:
do you know how much pastors give in aid and scholarships Yearly,
If they start showing the help they render daily, people would still accuse them of showing everything to gain more.

Stop believing these persons that accuse pastors up and down.
They were the ones that told people not to pay tithe, they are still those who would accuse pastors of not helping members.

I think churches should have more formal structures for charity outreaches...

I don't think being criticized for showing the help they render is an excuse not to do it at all. People would always talk No matter what you do. It shouldn't halt anyone for doing the right thing.

Some of these churches have more money than they can even spend or that they need.

I still believe they don't do enough!

Bloodofthelambo:
and how do you know this

I was once part of a church committee.

Sonnobax15:
You're speaking too many grammar that doesn't hold water. Imagine going through those lengthy processes when he needed the help urgently. Honestly,if the church can't help it's members in their Time of need,I don't think there's any reason for such members to continue worshipping in that church at all.

A church like LFC will advice you to seek help from where you are well known, example the cell. If the cell can't help you, it can be escalated to the chapter, then state HQ
It's called structure. The church should be a place of orderliness

The GO wouldn't know all his members, but can listen to your own pastor when he pleads on your behalf

Churches should not be a place things are done anyhow. Imagine working for UBA and you have a problem, you skip your branch managers straight to elumelu, would he talk to you?

Disclaimer: I owe my loyalty to God and God alone. I may attend a church but I don't do all that "it's my church" stuff

Some people up there were just talking rubbish... Is it every church member that pays tithe and offering?, and mind u tithe is just 10 percent, so what happens to the 90 percent..

How can someone be looking for admission for good 4 years without planning on how to pay for school fees?.

Every church has a department, if he's a commitment member as he claimed, the best place he would have gone to was his department in the church to get help, then if the department doesn't have, they'll approach the man of God on his behalf...

If u are close to church settings u will understand better, someone will attend a church for the first time and immediately after the service he's coming to meet the man of God for house rent or school fees.

Sighs


Papa is only a human, and humans are liable to er.


Please forgive him because if you know how many people that probably ask for help from him on daily basis, then you will understand why he responded the way he did.



And that's why the man has been vocal about Nigerians voting in the right candidates to lead Nigeria to light where citizens wouldn't need to resort to begging to have access to basic things of life that the government ought to provide for them.


It is well

I’m not a Winner member, but I believe there’s usually a proper protocol for requesting financial help in churches. In a structured church like Living Faith Church, I’m sure assistance should start from the home cell or unit you belong to before escalating upward.
Walking up directly to David Oyedepo may not be the standard process.

emoney2012:
I’m not a Winner member, but I believe there’s usually a proper protocol for requesting financial help in churches. In a structured church like Living Faith Church, I’m sure assistance should start from the home cell or unit you belong to before escalating upward.
Walking up directly to David Oyedepo may not be the standard process.

So, why don't they say you must belong to a home cell or unit before you give tithes and offerings?

Zionmdde:
If you want to serve God, Serve God because you love him not because of any church or pastor

Now the nurse have graduated, I didn't see where he attributed his success to God, rather he is more interested in announcing the perceived disservice done to him.

Moreover, how will the pastor know in split seconds, the sincerity in the request and if you are his member? Do you know how many such requests come in on daily basis. Moreover most of those churches have systems put in place to address welfare issues. He was supposed to start with the cell system, then chapter pastor and co. That it's the church doesn't mean money should be dished out anyhow

The pastor cannot know in split seconds because he is a man
But a genuine church with plenty of resources should have a programme which members can apply for especially in the area of education. It is an investment . In that regard the Catholic Church is better

On the other hand is he not a man of God? Didn't Jesus say he followers would perform greater miracles?
When a woman touched his cloth he knew instantly


The truth is Christianity and Islam are scams to black people

MarketDispatch:
So, why don't they say you must belong to a home cell or unit before you give tithes and offerings?

Nigerians are ignorantly funding the lavish lifestyle of their religious leaders.


Remove tithe and offering and see what happens to them.

Oyedepo get agbero blood in him, TB Joshua would have handled it better..

ERockson:
You attended the church for just almost 3 years and demanding financial help based on period you've been with the church, what about pastors's children that's have been there for more than 20 years. Pastos can not help everybody approaching them for helps. Now that you are nurse and earning money how many people have you have helped financially, how many school fees have you paid for the less privileges.

even if he is not a member of that church, is that what the pastor Bible teaches him, to be arrogant to the people.

Gajagojo:
The pastor cannot know in split seconds because he is a man
But a genuine church with plenty of resources should have a programme which members can apply for especially in the area of education. It is an investment . In that regard the Catholic Church is better

On the other hand is he not a man of God? Didn't Jesus say he followers would perform greater miracles?
When a woman touched his cloth he knew instantly


The truth is Christianity and Islam are scams to black people

As I said before, the church has a structure for welfare. Jumping your cell leader, your local pastor and running to GO isn't an orderly thing to do

I do all that church comparison of a thing. The body of christ is one