A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, the world paused to thank God on behalf of a man whose life has been synonymous with faith, leadership, and divine purpose.
I can scarcely remember how young I was when I first walked through the doors of the Faith Tabernacle,
the 50,000-seater auditorium of the Winners Chapel.
I also can’t remember what my first impression was — I believe I was either too young, or too involved in myself to care for those.
Instead, I had what I believe can now be perfectly surmised as a slow imprint.
Every Sunday, fingers wound firmly onto my mother’s, I was led through the sea of worshippers;
and at first, all you could see were the bright lights,
high ceilings with dangling things I still do not know the name of, red seats, and gorgeously dressed people.
But more than that, weaved into the very soul of the building was the unmistakable lure of warmth that oozed from every corner.
This wasn’t just the grandeur of one of the world’s largest church buildings.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
This was faith. Hope. Love. This was God.
And this was one man’s obedience to God.
Right at the centre of all of this was this man, the Apostle over the commission, Bishop David Oyedepo, his commanding voice leading people to Christ with passion and great conviction.
Born on September 27th, 1954 and called to ministry 26 years later in an 18-hour long vision,
Bishop David Oyedepo has grown to become one of the most influential figures in the global Christian community.
He is the Founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide,
aka Winners’ Chapel International and presently oversees over 21,000 churches across Nigeria.
This is in addition to establishing a network of Christian primary and secondary schools across the nation,
and two thriving universities —- Covenant University, Ogun state and Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State, both of which are in Nigeria.
When this one man turned 70 on the 27th of September this year, it was only expected that the world would gather to thank God for it.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
There is something about the number 70 that tickles Christians differently.
It could be because Moses went up the Mountain of the Lord with the seventy elders of Israel (Exodus 24:9-12).
and maybe it is because Christ himself appointed seventy disciples and sent them ahead of him to the places he would visit (Luke 10).
Or that Christ also says we must forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).
And then there is the famous scripture by the psalmist which says explicitly that,
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,…” (Psalm 90:10).
Whatever it is, 70 is a landmark year and so,
when the Bishop, a man who has stood as a towering figure of faith for decades, turned 70, it wasn’t just another birthday.
It carried with it layers of spiritual significance, therefore necessitating some good, good Christian jamboree.
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Psalm 7:17
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
The Countdown
The countdown to the Bishop’s birthday began 70 days to the date, specifically on 19 July 2024.
In all mission stations around the world, announcements were made urging worshippers who had been impacted by the ministry of the Apostle to send their testimonies to his email.
Every week after that, the excitement grew, as worshippers eagerly anticipated this grand milestone.
Across social media, Winners (as members of the church are called) shared their personal stories, testimonies of transformation, and heartfelt tributes.
I remember feeling an indescribable happiness travel down my spine whenever I came across such testimonies and goodwill messages.
God had shown us kindness with this gift and I was glad I was one of many to experience it.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
The Legacy Projects
As the countdown continued, the Bishop announced to worshippers on one such service that they should not bother to give him any material gifts.
“Don’t give me gifts, I don’t need them. Don’t bother to give me cake, I don’t eat it.”
Instead, he asked that members go out on the field to win souls in honour of Jesus and the great mandate.
The target was 1 million people saved during the proclaimed ‘Week of Sacrifice for Souls,’ a week before his birthday.
True to this instruction, Winners around the world went out garbed in ‘One Million Souls March’ merch to draw in the multitudes.
As ‘God is no respecter of persons. What he says to one, he says to all,’
the Bishop himself went out to the field, drawing a total of 177 souls, according to his testimony on the pulpit.
The church also embarked on a number of legacy projects in commemoration of the celebration.
There is the construction of a Library/ICT centre in Nupe community in Kwara state,
where he had “…as a teacher on relief duty, planted the first church in 1973 at the young age of 19 and was given a parting gift of a prophetic lantern,
with the prayer that the light he brought to the community would shine to the world.”
At various locations in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, care packages, boreholes, and even solar-powered street lights were also distributed.
What better way to say ‘I am the light of the world’ than lighting your corner of the world, literally and metaphorically.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
The Lecture
On 24 September, Covenant University hosted a special public lecture to celebrate the leadership of the University’s Chancellor, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
The theme of the lecture was, “The Black Race and the Leadership Question,”
where the guest speaker, Professor Peter Okebukola, the current Chairman of Council (Board of Regents) of Crawford University,
and Director of the UNESCO Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, spoke about the crisis of leadership in Africa.
The Bishop also gave a lecture during this event, tasking African institutions to rethink the education systems of the continent.
It is not news that the Bishop founded two of the best universities to come out of Nigeria —-
Covenant University (CU) which is top on the list of best universities in Nigeria, according to the Times Higher Education’s 2024 World Universities Rankings
and Landmark University, listed by the Times among the best Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He called for a revamp of the educational system,
from dependence on Western education models to building structures that were indigenous and tailor-made to the continent’s peculiar needs.
He described applying foreign methods to local problems as, “specialising in winter clothes in Nigeria —- you’ll go bankrupt from the start!”
He also emphasised that Africa moves from certificate-driven education to contribution-driven education.
Before you go for that third degree, this may be a great time to ask yourself,
“What is my mission?”
“What is my contribution?”
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
The Praise Nights
What is a celebration in the Faith Tabernacle without some spine-bending, fatigue-defying praise to the Creator?
| Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Psalms 149:3-9 (NKJV) |
The evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to praising God.
From 5 pm to 8 pm, the atmosphere of the Youth Chapel, Canaanland was charged up, electric with excitement and gratitude.
I wasn’t quite sure how much dancing would be required when the evening of the first day began, but when the drums started.
When the drums started!
Each night, guest ministers took turns to lead the congregation in praise.
Tope Alabi brought her powerful, soul-stirring style, and then there was Dunsin Oyekan and Nathaniel Bassey to take us deeper with their spirit-filled ministration.
Yinka Alaseyori, Lilian Nnjei, and Mercy Chinwo lit up the atmosphere with their energetic worship,
while the Faith Tabernacle Choir, the Levites (Youth Alive Fellowship Choir) and City Choir added rich harmonies that filled the hall with a heavenly sound.
Oh, I imagined the heavens and her angels joining our outpouring of praise and dancing to the King like it was the last time they would ever do it.
There was nothing quite like it.
The Bishop never missed an opportunity to share God’s word.
So, after all the dancing and praising, while the sweat of our praise dried on our skins, the Bishop would step up to give a short exhortation.
His words, though brief, were filled with power and inspiration,
reminding everyone of God’s faithfulness and the importance of a life dedicated to worship.
Those moments tied the night together, leaving the congregation uplifted and full of joy as they left the Chapel each night, hearts full and spirits renewed.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
On the 27th
I wonder what Madam Dorcas Morenike Oyedepo felt in the hours leading up to the birth of her son;
when she realised that this child would be born inside the four walls of the church.
And I wonder if she had a knowing in her spirit that this was symbolic.
That the child born in the house of God would come to not just dwell, but lead many others to God himself.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, the world paused to thank God on behalf of a man whose life has been synonymous with faith, leadership, and divine purpose.
The celebration, held at the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, was nothing short of grand,
attracting men and women of God, public officials, and notable figures from across Nigeria and beyond.
It felt like a moment of culmination, where the paths he had walked, and the countless lives he had touched, came full circle.
The guest list included revered spiritual leaders like Pastor E. A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God,
Archbishop Margaret Idahosa of Church of God Mission International, and Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, among many others.
These were men and women who had themselves carried the gospel far and wide, coming together to honour a son, a mentor, and a friend.
Among the political dignitaries were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State,
and Delta State’s Sheriff Oborevwori, each a testament to the Bishop’s wide-reaching influence that extends far beyond the pulpit.
President Bola Tinubu himself sent warm commendations,
acknowledging the Bishop’s contributions to education, health, entrepreneurship, and leadership development through his church.
Following the service, there was a grand reception.
It was a fitting end to a day of praise and thanksgiving well spent.
If we could ever thank God enough, I believe the Christian community in Nigeria came close during this celebration.
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
Glory to God in the Highest
A man can receive nothing, except it is given him from heaven (John 3:27). Not grace, not love, not talent, not honour.
We can of our own selves do nothing (John 5:30).
Therefore, we are reminded that all the glory belongs to God, who created all things by His will.
It is by His grace that this ministry has flourished and touched so many lives around the world.
And so, as the celebrations draw to a close, we echo the words of Revelation 4:11:
| Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. |
Also Read: The 12 Traits of the Great – Diademng (thediademng.org)
A Man Like a Nation: Bishop David Oyedepo at 70
- Written by Theola Monday
