Bishop Dr David Olaniyi Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian minister, author, publisher and educationist, and the founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide, commonly known as Winners’ Chapel. He is also the founding and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Born in Osogbo, Osun State, on 27 September 1954, Oyedepo grew up in a religiously mixed family and was raised for part of his childhood by his grandmother. He became a Christian as a teenager in 1969 and later studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic before entering full-time ministry. He subsequently obtained a PhD in Human Development, according to institutional biographies published by Covenant University and the Living Faith Church.

His ministry began in the early 1980s following what he describes as an eighteen-hour vision in which he received a mandate to liberate humanity from oppression through the preaching of the Word of Faith. The ministry initially operated under the name Living Faith World Outreach, later becoming Living Faith Church Worldwide.

Over more than four decades, Oyedepo’s work has expanded beyond the local church into publishing, ministerial training, education, Christian media and social-development initiatives. The institutional network associated with his ministry includes Living Faith Church Worldwide, World Mission Agency, Word of Faith Bible Institute, Dominion Publishing House, Covenant University, Landmark University and the David Oyedepo Foundation.

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Bishop David Oyedepo Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	David Olaniyi Oyedepo
Date of Birth	27 September 1954
Age	72 as of October 2026
Place of Birth	Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
State of Origin	Kwara State
Ethnic Background	Commonly identified with Omu-Aran, Kwara State
Profession	Christian Minister, Author, Publisher, Educationist
Wife	Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo
Children	Four
Church Founded	Living Faith Church Worldwide
Church Also Known As	Winners’ Chapel International
Ministry Began	1981
First Church Plant	Kaduna, 1983
International Headquarters	Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State
Bible Training Institute	Word of Faith Bible Institute
Publishing Arm	Dominion Publishing House
Universities Associated With His Ministry	Covenant University and Landmark University

The Living Faith Church’s official biography gives his date of birth as 27 September 1954, while the Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation records the same date and identifies Osogbo as his birthplace and Kwara as his state of origin.

Early Life and Family Background

David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Osogbo, in present-day Osun State, although his family is associated with Omu-Aran in Kwara State. Church biographies describe him as having been born into a religiously mixed family. His father, Ibrahim Oyedepo, is described in those sources as a Muslim healer, while his mother, Dorcas Oyedepo, is described as a member of the Cherubim and Seraphim tradition.

A significant influence during his childhood was his grandmother. According to the biographical accounts published by Living Faith Church affiliates, he was raised by her in Osogbo and regularly participated in early-morning prayers with her. These accounts also identify her teaching on prayer, Christian conduct and tithing as part of his early spiritual formation.

This early environment is important in understanding later themes in Oyedepo’s ministry. Prayer, faith, consecration, biblical obedience and stewardship became recurring subjects in his teaching, and the church itself later organised these themes into its stated 12 Pillars of ministry.

How David Oyedepo Became a Christian

According to the biography published by Living Faith Church, Oyedepo became a Christian in 1969, when he was 15 years old.

The church’s account states that his conversion was significantly influenced by his teacher, Betty Lasher, who took an interest in him during his secondary-school years. The Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation also records 1969 as the year of his conversion and identifies Lasher as an important influence.

The exact details of a person’s spiritual conversion naturally come from testimony rather than independent historical verification. In Oyedepo’s own published ministry history, however, 1969 is treated as the beginning of a personal Christian commitment that preceded his later calling into full-time ministry.

Education and Early Career

Oyedepo studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin. After completing his studies, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before leaving the profession to concentrate on ministry.

His educational background later developed beyond architecture. Covenant University’s official profile states that he obtained a PhD in Human Development and also records an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Bethel Graduate School of Theology in Riverside, California.

The combination of architecture, human-development studies, ministry and later educational administration became part of Oyedepo’s public career. His work would eventually include the founding and oversight of universities, schools and leadership-development programmes.

The 1981 Vision and the Birth of a Ministry

The defining event in Oyedepo’s ministry story came in May 1981.

According to Living Faith Church’s official account, Oyedepo experienced an eighteen-hour vision in which he saw a line of people portrayed as battered, broken and oppressed. The account says that he asked why people were in such a condition and received what the church calls the Liberation Mandate.

The mandate, as published by the church, was to liberate people from oppression through the preaching of the Word of Faith.

Covenant University’s biography gives the timing of the experience as occurring between 1 and 2 May 1981, while the Living Faith Church profile records 2 May 1981.

This experience became the theological foundation of the ministry that Oyedepo would build. It also explains the language of liberation that appears repeatedly across Living Faith Church publications, training programmes and sermons.

The experience is a matter of Oyedepo’s religious testimony and should therefore be understood as such. The historical fact that can be independently traced is that a ministry began around this period and subsequently developed into Living Faith Church Worldwide.

The Faith Liberation Hour

Following the 1981 vision, Oyedepo began teaching through a weekly fellowship called the Faith Liberation Hour.

The Living Faith Church biography identifies 29 May 1981 as the beginning of this weekly teaching ministry. The fellowship became an early vehicle for the teachings that would eventually become the doctrinal and practical framework of Living Faith Church.

The ministry’s emphasis was not originally built around a huge auditorium or a large institutional structure. It began with teaching, prayer, evangelism and the formation of believers around a Word-of-Faith message.

This is an important distinction in the history of the ministry: the church structure developed after the teaching ministry had already begun.

The First Living Faith Church in Kaduna

The church’s official biography identifies 11 December 1983 as the date Oyedepo planted the first church in Kaduna under the name Living Faith World Outreach.

This is the point at which the movement moved from a primarily fellowship-based teaching ministry into a formal church structure.

Two years earlier, Oyedepo had received what he described as the ministry mandate. By 1983, the ministry had developed sufficiently for a local church to be planted and publicly commissioned.

Church-affiliated biographies also state that on 17 September 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye ordained David Oyedepo and his wife, Faith, as pastors and officially commissioned the newly established church.

Several church biographies further state that Oyedepo was ordained a bishop about five years later by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa.

David Oyedepo’s Move from Kaduna to Lagos

In 1989, the ministry expanded southward.

Living Faith Church’s historical account records Oyedepo’s move to Lagos in September 1989 following what he described as divine instruction to take the ministry to the city.

The Lagos church initially operated in a leased facility in the Iyana-Ipaja area before moving to its Raji-Oba property.

The congregation grew rapidly during the 1990s. The church’s own historical timeline records a major increase in attendance between 1994 and 1999, eventually leading to the decision to establish a much larger headquarters at Ota.

The move to Lagos became a major turning point in the history of Living Faith Church because it provided the geographical and organisational base from which the ministry expanded throughout Nigeria and internationally.

Canaanland and the Faith Tabernacle

One of the most significant developments in Oyedepo’s ministry was the establishment of Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State.

Living Faith Church records that the ministry acquired an initial 530 acres on the outskirts of Ota in 1998. The land became the site of the international headquarters and was developed into the wider Canaanland complex.

The move was prompted by the increasing size of the congregation and the need for a larger permanent headquarters.

The central auditorium on the property became known as Faith Tabernacle.

According to Living Faith Church and Covenant University materials, the 50,000-seat sanctuary was built and dedicated in September 1999, following approximately one year of construction.

The Faith Tabernacle became the international headquarters of Living Faith Church Worldwide and the location of some of the ministry’s largest annual gatherings.

Shiloh: The Annual Convention of Winners

Another significant development in Oyedepo’s ministry was the creation of Shiloh, the annual end-of-year convention of Living Faith Church Worldwide.

The church’s official history records the beginning of the annual Shiloh convention in 1999. The gathering takes place at Faith Tabernacle in Canaanland and attracts participants from within Nigeria and from the ministry’s international network.

Shiloh has developed into one of the major recurring events in the Living Faith calendar, combining preaching, prayer, worship, teaching, testimonies and large-scale ministry programmes.

The church states that its Shiloh broadcasts reach many nations around the world. Because these audience figures come primarily from the ministry itself, they are best presented as Living Faith Church’s own reported reach, rather than as independently audited figures.

Living Faith Church Worldwide

Today, Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel, is the principal church organisation founded by David Oyedepo.

The Living Faith Church’s official profile says the network has over 21,000 churches across Nigeria, together with thousands more across six major continents. Covenant University’s current biography similarly describes more than 20,000 branches in Nigeria and additional churches internationally.

Because these figures are institutional figures rather than figures from an independent global church census, they should be understood as reported organisational statistics.

The church’s international headquarters is located at Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

The 12 Pillars of David Oyedepo’s Ministry

Living Faith Church organises its teaching emphasis around what it calls the 12 Pillars.

These are:

1. Faith
2. The Word
3. The Supernatural
4. Praise
5. The Holy Spirit
6. Prosperity
7. Vision
8. Prayer
9. Healing
10. Wisdom
11. Consecration
12. Success

The church presents these pillars as the principal categories through which Oyedepo’s Word-of-Faith ministry is taught and practised.

These twelve areas provide a useful framework for understanding his sermons and books.

His teaching is therefore not limited to faith in the narrow sense. It also includes the Bible, spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit, prayer, praise, health and healing, financial stewardship, personal vision, wisdom, consecration and practical ideas about success.

David Oyedepo’s Teaching on Faith

Faith is arguably the most recognisable theme associated with Oyedepo’s preaching.

Living Faith Church identifies Faith as the first of its twelve pillars and describes its ministry as a Word-of-Faith commission.

His teaching on faith typically connects belief in God with scriptural obedience, action, prayer and confidence in God’s promises.

This emphasis can also be seen in the titles of several of his books, including:

• Winning Prayer View on Amazon →
• The Law of Faith View on Amazon →
• The Force of Freedom View on Amazon →
• Signs and Wonders Today View on Amazon →
• The Unlimited Power of Faith View on Amazon →
• Understanding the Power of Faith View on Amazon →

These titles are documented in biographical and Dominion Publishing House catalogues.

His Teaching on Prosperity and Financial Stewardship

Prosperity is another major subject in Oyedepo’s teaching.

Living Faith Church explicitly identifies Prosperity as one of its twelve pillars. The subject has appeared in books, sermons and teaching programmes dealing with work, financial stewardship, giving, productivity and economic responsibility.

Titles associated with this aspect of his teaching include:

• Covenant Wealth View on Amazon →
• Breaking Financial Hardship View on Amazon →
• Winning the War Against Poverty View on Amazon →
• Understanding Financial Prosperity View on Amazon →

Dominion Publishing House’s present catalogue also carries books dealing with financial stewardship and related subjects.

Because prosperity theology is interpreted differently across Christian traditions, descriptions of this aspect of Oyedepo’s teaching should distinguish between what Living Faith Church teaches and how outside observers interpret it.

Vision, Purpose and Leadership

Oyedepo’s teaching also places strong emphasis on vision and purpose.

Vision is one of Living Faith Church’s twelve stated pillars. His publishing catalogue includes titles such as Understanding Vision, The Breakthrough Power of Vision, In Pursuit of Vision and Success Strategies.

This emphasis extends into leadership and education.

At Covenant University, programmes associated with Oyedepo’s educational philosophy have included Leadership Development Studies, Entrepreneurial Development Studies and the Total Man Concept. Covenant University’s official biography describes these programmes as intended to develop leadership, entrepreneurial capacity and broader personal development.

Word of Faith Bible Institute

In 1986, Oyedepo founded the Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI).

The institute is the training arm of Living Faith Church Worldwide and was established on 1 September 1986. Its stated purpose is to train and raise men and women for Christian service, leadership and practical excellence.

WOFBI currently describes itself as operating across six continents and says it has recorded more than one million graduates globally. This figure is an institutional claim published by WOFBI itself.

The institute represents another major part of Oyedepo’s ministry: the goal is not only to preach to large congregations but also to train believers and ministers.

Dominion Publishing House

David Oyedepo has also built a significant publishing operation around his ministry.

His publishing work began in the 1980s, and Dominion Publishing House (DPH) was founded in 1992, according to Living Faith’s official history.

Dominion Publishing House publishes Christian books and related materials associated with the Living Faith ministry. Its present online catalogue lists more than 100 DPH book entries, although not every item in the catalogue is necessarily authored by David Oyedepo himself.

The publishing arm is important to Oyedepo’s ministry because many of his teachings have been converted from oral preaching into books and study materials.

The publishing philosophy itself reflects the importance the ministry places on the written Word.

David Oyedepo as an Author

Living Faith Church currently describes Oyedepo as an author of more than 100 titles, with some translated into languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Portuguese and Swahili. Covenant University similarly describes him as the author of more than 100 books.

Some documented titles associated with him include:

Spiritual Warfare & Deliverance

Breaking The Curses Of Life	View on Amazon →
Conquering Controlling Powers	View on Amazon →
Overcoming Forces of Wickedness	View on Amazon →
The Blood Triumph	View on Amazon →
Winning Invisible Battles	View on Amazon →

Christian Living

Creating a New Beginning	View on Amazon →
Emergence of the Glorious Church	View on Amazon →
Walking in the Newness of Life	View on Amazon →
You Too Can Be Fruitful	View on Amazon →

These titles are drawn from Living Faith and Dominion Publishing House material and from the biographical bibliography compiled by the Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Explore all 50+ books by Bishop David Oyedepo →

This is not an exhaustive bibliography. The Living Faith Church itself currently states that Oyedepo has written more than 100 titles.

Covenant University

One of the most important educational institutions associated with Oyedepo is Covenant University, located in Ota, Ogun State.

According to Covenant University’s official history, the institution began operations in 2002, after receiving its operating licence in February of that year. The university admitted its pioneer students in October 2002.

Oyedepo serves as Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Regents.

The university was established as part of the wider educational vision associated with the Living Faith ministry. Its academic programmes combine conventional higher education with leadership-development and entrepreneurship programmes.

The institution has become a major part of Oyedepo’s public work outside direct pastoral ministry.

Landmark University

A second major educational institution connected to Oyedepo is Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

Landmark University’s official history states that the university was licensed by the National Universities Commission on 7 March 2011 and officially dedicated and commenced full operation on 21 March 2011.

The university was established with a strong emphasis on agriculture, food production, research and human development. Its official history states that Oyedepo was instrumental in establishing the institution as part of an effort to address food and agricultural challenges in Nigeria and Africa.

Landmark University therefore represents a different expression of Oyedepo’s educational vision from Covenant University: its institutional focus is especially connected to agriculture, agribusiness and food security.

Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Schools

Oyedepo’s educational work also extends below university level.

Living Faith Church states that Faith Academy began in 1999, with the objective of developing young people through a combination of academic excellence and Christian formation.

The ministry also established Kingdom Heritage Model Schools, beginning in 2003. According to the church’s education programme, these schools were designed around Christian character, purpose, academic development and leadership formation.

Together, these institutions show that the educational side of Oyedepo’s ministry spans primary, secondary and tertiary education.

David Oyedepo Foundation

The David Oyedepo Foundation (DOF) is another institution associated with the ministry.

Covenant University’s official profile says the foundation focuses on education, empowerment and support for people facing disadvantage and operates scholarship and humanitarian initiatives.

The foundation’s scholarship programme has provided opportunities for African students to study at Covenant University and Landmark University. Covenant University’s admissions information states that the scholarship programme is designed to develop young leaders and provides full scholarships to qualified African applicants who meet its requirements.

The foundation therefore extends Oyedepo’s education work beyond the institutions themselves by providing scholarship opportunities to selected students.

The Ark at Canaanland

A major recent development in the history of Living Faith Church is The Ark, a new large-scale auditorium at Canaanland.

The foundation for the project was laid on 25 March 2021. Earlier institutional descriptions referred to it as a proposed 100,000-seat stadium-style sanctuary.

By August 2026, however, Oyedepo publicly stated that The Ark had 109,000 seats, together with 126 escalators, 29 elevators and 20 chillers. These details were reported by Premium Times and Punch from his remarks at the 2026 Annual Youth Alive Convention.

This means the earlier 100,000-seat description should now be treated as an older project specification. For a current biography, 109,000 seats is the latest publicly reported figure from Oyedepo himself as of August 2026.

David Oyedepo’s Family

David Oyedepo is married to Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo, formerly Faith Abiola Akano.

Church-affiliated biographies state that the couple married in 1982 and have four children: David Jr., Isaac, Love and Joy.

David and Isaac Oyedepo later entered pastoral ministry and were ordained as pastors in May 2007, according to Living Faith-affiliated biographies.

Faith Oyedepo has also maintained a public ministry of her own within the broader Living Faith structure, particularly in areas involving Christian family life, marriage, women and personal development. The official Living Faith website hosts a Christian Family column associated with her ministry.

David Oyedepo’s Ministry Beyond the Church Building

Oyedepo’s work is broader than Sunday preaching.

The institutional structure associated with his name includes:

Living Faith Church Worldwide — the church network.

David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI) — the umbrella ministry structure identified in Living Faith publications.

World Mission Agency (WMA) — the mission and evangelistic arm associated with the ministry.

Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI) — the training and Bible institute.

Dominion Publishing House (DPH) — the publishing arm.

Covenant University — private university in Ota.

Landmark University — private university in Omu-Aran.

David Oyedepo Foundation — scholarship and social-development platform.

The breadth of this structure is one of the defining features of Oyedepo’s career. His ministry has developed into a network spanning church services, education, publishing, training, missions and scholarship initiatives.

Awards and Recognitions

Living Faith Church and Covenant University list a number of honours associated with Oyedepo.

These include:

• Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education
• Fellow of the Nigerian Society for Financial Research
• Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Strategic Management
• Award for leadership in enhancing academic and research excellence in higher education from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, in 2011
• Distinguished Award for Excellence in Education, Administration and Leadership from Obafemi Awolowo University, in 2012
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Bethel Graduate School of Theology, Riverside, California
• A Nigerian Federal Government honour involving the naming of a road after him in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in 2008

Because these recognitions are listed principally in Living Faith and affiliated institutional biographies, each award should be treated as an institutional claim unless independently confirmed by the awarding organisation.

David Oyedepo and Christian Publishing

Publishing has been a particularly important part of Oyedepo’s ministry because many of his sermons have been developed into books, study resources and other written materials.

Living Faith’s official account says he began publishing in 1985, when his first two books, The Miracle Seed and The Law of Faith, were released.

Dominion Publishing House was subsequently established in 1992, providing a formal publishing structure for the ministry’s literature.

The present Dominion Publishing House catalogue demonstrates the continuing scale of this publishing work, with more than 100 items listed within its DPH books section.

For researchers, students and Christian readers, this publishing history is particularly important because it means Oyedepo’s teaching exists not only in recordings but also in written form.

David Oyedepo and the Preservation of Sermons

Oyedepo’s ministry has produced decades of recorded preaching, conference messages, conventions, teachings and Christian instructional material.

His church explicitly identifies messages, books, tapes, magazines and other periodicals as part of the means through which its liberation mandate is communicated.

This makes his ministry archive unusually significant for anyone studying the development of Word-of-Faith preaching in Nigeria and Africa.

A sermon preached in 1985, 1995, 2005 or 2015 can serve a different audience in each generation. Converting significant recorded messages into carefully edited text therefore provides another way of preserving the historical record of the teaching ministry.

David Oyedepo’s Current Public Role

As of October 2026, institutional sources continue to identify David Oyedepo as the founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide and as the Chancellor of Covenant University and Landmark University.

His official ministry platforms continue to publish Christian teaching. His official Living Faith blog was still publishing new articles in September 2026, demonstrating that his ministry’s teaching platform remains active.

The completion and development of The Ark at Canaanland also represents a current phase in the ministry’s institutional history, with Oyedepo publicly discussing the facility in August 2026.

A Brief Timeline of David Oyedepo’s Life and Ministry

1954 — Born on 27 September in Osogbo, Osun State.

1969 — Became a Christian at age 15, according to his ministry biography.

1981 — Received the ministry mandate described as the Liberation Mandate and began the Faith Liberation Hour teaching ministry.

1983 — Planted the first Living Faith church in Kaduna.

1983 — David and Faith Oyedepo were ordained as pastors by Enoch Adeboye, according to Living Faith-affiliated biographies.

1985 — Released his first two books, The Miracle Seed and The Law of Faith.

1986 — Founded the Word of Faith Bible Institute.

1989 — Moved the ministry from Kaduna/Lagos expansion into a major new phase of church growth in Lagos.

1992 — Founded Dominion Publishing House.

1994 — Expanded the mission effort significantly across Africa.

1998 — Acquired the initial 530-acre Canaanland property at Ota.

1999 — Faith Tabernacle was dedicated and Shiloh became the annual convention of the ministry.

2002 — Covenant University opened.

2011 — Landmark University commenced full operation.

2018 — Continued development of the wider Canaanland ministry and educational complex.

2021 — Foundation laid for The Ark.

2026 — Oyedepo publicly stated that The Ark contains 109,000 seats and continues to lead the Living Faith ministry while serving as Chancellor of Covenant and Landmark Universities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop David Oyedepo

Who is Bishop David Oyedepo?

David Olaniyi Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian minister, author, publisher and educationist. He is the founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel.

How old is Bishop David Oyedepo?

He was born on 27 September 1954, making him 72 years old as of October 2026.

Where was David Oyedepo born?

He was born in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. His family is associated with Omu-Aran in Kwara State.

What did David Oyedepo study?

He studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic and later obtained a PhD in Human Development, according to Covenant University’s official biography.

Did David Oyedepo work as an architect?

He studied architecture and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before leaving to concentrate on missionary work.

Who is David Oyedepo’s wife?

His wife is Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo, formerly Faith Abiola Akano. The couple married in 1982.

How many children does David Oyedepo have?

David and Faith Oyedepo have four children: David Jr., Isaac, Love and Joy.

When did David Oyedepo start his ministry?

The ministry mandate is traced to May 1981, while the first formal church was planted in Kaduna in 1983.

What church did David Oyedepo found?

He founded Living Faith Church Worldwide, commonly known as Winners’ Chapel.

Where is Winners’ Chapel headquartered?

The international headquarters is Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

What is the meaning of the Liberation Mandate?

The Living Faith Church describes the Liberation Mandate as the commission Oyedepo says he received in an eighteen-hour vision in 1981 to liberate people from oppression through the preaching of the Word of Faith.

What are David Oyedepo’s 12 Pillars?

They are Faith, The Word, The Supernatural, Praise, The Holy Spirit, Prosperity, Vision, Prayer, Healing, Wisdom, Consecration and Success.

What is Shiloh?

Shiloh is the annual convention of Living Faith Church Worldwide. The church records its beginning in 1999.

What is WOFBI?

WOFBI stands for Word of Faith Bible Institute. It is the training arm of Living Faith Church Worldwide and was established on 1 September 1986.

What books did David Oyedepo write?

He has written more than 100 titles according to Living Faith Church and Covenant University. His works include The Law of Faith, Winning Prayer, The Force of Freedom, Understanding Divine Direction, Understanding Vision, The Unlimited Power of Faith, Exploits of Faith and many others.

What is Dominion Publishing House?

Dominion Publishing House is the publishing arm associated with Oyedepo’s ministry. It was founded in 1992 and publishes Christian books and related materials.

What is Covenant University?

Covenant University is a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, associated with the Living Faith Church and David Oyedepo. It opened in 2002, and Oyedepo serves as Chancellor and Chairman of its Board of Regents.

What is Landmark University?

Landmark University is a private university in Omu-Aran, Kwara State. It received its NUC licence in March 2011 and commenced full operation that same month. Its institutional focus has a strong agricultural and food-security orientation.

What is the David Oyedepo Foundation?

The David Oyedepo Foundation is an educational and social-development organisation associated with Oyedepo. Among its programmes are scholarships for qualified African students at Covenant and Landmark Universities.

How many churches does Living Faith Church have?

Living Faith Church currently reports more than 21,000 churches across Nigeria, in addition to thousands internationally. These are ministry-reported figures rather than an independently audited global census.

How big is Faith Tabernacle?

Faith Tabernacle is a 50,000-seat auditorium at Canaanland, Ota, and serves as the international headquarters of Living Faith Church Worldwide.

How big is The Ark at Canaanland?

In August 2026, David Oyedepo stated that The Ark has 109,000 seats, 126 escalators, 29 elevators and 20 chillers.

Is David Oyedepo still active in ministry?

Yes. Current Living Faith and Covenant University materials continue to identify him in leadership roles, and his ministry’s official publishing and teaching platforms remained active in 2026.

The Legacy of Bishop David Oyedepo

David Oyedepo’s documented career extends across several connected areas rather than one institution alone.

He built Living Faith Church Worldwide from an early-1980s fellowship and church plant into a large international church network. He developed WOFBI as a training institution, established Dominion Publishing House as a publishing arm, and expanded into education through Covenant University, Landmark University, Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools. His name is also associated with scholarship and social-development initiatives through the David Oyedepo Foundation.

His written work is another major part of that record. With more than 100 titles attributed to him by institutional sources, his teachings exist in books as well as sermons and conference recordings.

For students of contemporary African Christianity, his ministry provides a substantial body of material through which the development of Word-of-Faith teaching, Christian publishing, ministerial training and faith-based education can be studied.

For LivingSermons, this recorded body of work represents an important archival opportunity.

Download Bishop David Oyedepo Messages PDF

LivingSermons is building a growing archive of Christian preaching in written form.

Explore our growing collection of sermon transcripts, teachings, conference messages and Christian resources by Bishop David Oyedepo available through LivingSermons.com→

Our editorial approach is simple: we refine the presentation without changing the message. The aim is to preserve the preacher’s words, teaching, emphasis and voice while making recorded messages easier to read, study and preserve for the future.

Sources

The following sources were consulted for this biography. Institutional claims are identified as such where relevant, particularly where statistics, ministry reach or descriptions of spiritual experiences come from the Living Faith organisation itself.

1. Living Faith Church Worldwide — Bishop David Oyedepo

The official Living Faith biography containing his birth date, ministry timeline, Liberation Mandate, church history, educational institutions, 12 Pillars, awards and current leadership positions.

Living Faith Church Worldwide — Bishop David Oyedepo biography

2. Living Faith Church Worldwide — Autobiography

Extended institutional biography containing additional ministry milestones, positions, awards and the history of his publishing and educational work.

Living Faith Church Worldwide — Autobiography

3. Covenant University — The Chancellor

Institutional biography covering Oyedepo’s education, ministry, Covenant University, Landmark University, publishing, philanthropy, honours and current institutional roles.

Covenant University — The Chancellor

4. Covenant University — Education Commission

Official Living Faith education information covering Covenant University, Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools.

Living Faith Church — Education Commission

5. Word of Faith Bible Institute

Official WOFBI information covering its 1986 establishment, purpose and reported global reach.

Word of Faith Bible Institute

6. Landmark University — Our Story

Official history of Landmark University’s establishment, NUC licensing, dedication and agricultural focus.

Landmark University — Our Story

7. Dominion Publishing House

Current Dominion Publishing House catalogue and publishing information.

Dominion Publishing House

8. Dominion Publishing House — Publishing Mandate

Information concerning the ministry’s publishing mandate and Oyedepo’s role in its development.

Dominion Publishing House — Publishing Mandate

9. Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation — David Oyedepo

Independent biographical record containing birth information, family details, education, work history and a bibliography of his books.

Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation — David Oyedepo

10. Covenant University — David Oyedepo and the Origin of Covenant University

Institutional account describing the development and opening of Covenant University in 2002.

Covenant University — Come and See the Works of God

11. Covenant University — David Oyedepo Foundation Scholarship

Official university information concerning the David Oyedepo Foundation scholarship programme.

Covenant University — David Oyedepo Foundation Scholarship

12. Premium Times — The Ark Auditorium

August 2026 report on David Oyedepo’s statement that The Ark has 109,000 seats and other major facilities.

Premium Times — How we built 109,000-seat The Ark without special offerings — Oyedepo

13. Punch — The Ark Auditorium

August 2026 report on the 109,000-seat figure and the facilities described by Oyedepo at the 2026 Annual Youth Alive Convention.

Punch — The Ark auditorium has 109,000 seats, 126 escalators, 29 elevators

14. The Guardian Nigeria — David Oyedepo and Living Faith Church

Historical reporting concerning the ministry and public activities of David Oyedepo and Winners’ Chapel.

The Guardian Nigeria — David Oyedepo and Living Faith Church reporting

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