Ministry News

Nigeria's Richest Pastors

Details: Monday, 20 June 2011 21:08

Nigerian pastor David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith World Outreach Ministry (also known as Winners Chapel), is reportedly the wealthiest pastor in Nigeria and may be the wealthiest pastor in the world. Oyedepo, who has launched a publishing company, university and an elite private school—and who reportedly owns four jets and homes in London and the United States—is worth 23 billion Nigerian Nairas (approximately 150 million US dollars).

Mfonobong Nsehe, who blogs for Forbes magazine, researched pastors in Nigeria and compiled a list of the wealthiest, noting that his estimates of the pastors' wealth were "conservative" and that all but one of the five on the list confirmed ownership of all the assets discovered in his research.

"Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting people to Heaven," Nsehe noted. "They’ve devised intelligent ways to make good money while reaching out to souls."

Nsehe cited Nigerian pastors who own jets, restaurant chains, hotels, television networks and publishing houses—in addition to leading some of the largest congregations in Africa. (Oyedepo's Winners Chapel is the largest church building in Africa, seating 50,000.)

"We have Nigerians who are desperate, looking for solutions to their problems," Nsehe said in an interview with the BBC. "They go to church for salvation, redemption and healing and pastors sometimes take advantage of them."

— BBC, Forbes

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Comments

0 #17 JOHN AHRE 2011-07-12 20:55

PLEASE LEAVE WEALTHY PASTORS ALONE. IF GOD HAS BLESSED THEM, PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW JEALOUSY TO DESTROY YOU. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE BILLONAIRES IN THE CIRCULAR WORLD. WHY DO YOU GET THIS FOOLISH BELIEF THAT PASTORS MUST BE POOR. POVERTY IS A CURSE. EVERYBODY NEEDS MONEY BUT GET IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. IAM NOT A MILLIONAIRE BUT BLESSED BY GOD AND HAVE NO APOLOGY FOR THAT.BUT VERY GRATEFUL TO GOD.

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0 #16 mejens 2011-07-06 01:46

In all glory to God.

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0 #15 mejens 2011-06-28 20:20

i think some people need to understand the scripture before they say what they say. Some who comments over this issue never understand the bible and what Jesus said, some turn bible upside down to suit what they feel, becareful before you incure God's wrath.

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0 #14 Stephanie Howell 2011-06-28 12:50

Quoting DR. Marietta Brown:

People have to realize because we Pastor does not mean we dont love The Lord & are Genuine in our Love for God & The People because we own Businesses.. Why cant Pastors own Businesses & prosper as others.

It' s not ok when the business you are getting rich in is the church and you have several jets, and homes. Where is the humility, and why did Jesus wipe the money changers out of the house of prayer and call them a den of theives. why are we no shunning the very appearance of evil?.

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0 #13 Stephanie Howell 2011-06-28 12:28

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matt 21:12-13 Name one prophet of the bible who got rich off of his flock of followers, even 2 Cor 11:7-9 states that the diciple Paul would not be burdensome to no man. You can trust and beleive God will deal with the spoilers of His people, who treat the church like a cash cow "business". Who care more about making the dollars than the rewards in Heaven that go to those that saves souls with integrity and a pure heart. That actucally cry out to God for the lost souls more than "where's my next paycheck coming".

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0 #12 Paul Friday 2011-06-23 00:11

The comments had neither condemned Bishop Oyedepo but it was a highlight of his perceiced wealth and this is normal. Most business people all over the world often appear under this kind of public scrutiny simply because they are wealthy and there is nothing wrong with that. A pastor can have have business empires and be of help to humanity so long as the whole thing is done with integrity from the bottom of the heart. Pastors are human and can enjoy human good living, so long as the members of their churches are not exploited to achieve that status; God certainly will frown at that. The Church in Nigeria is however facing a difficult challenge at this period of our development because they are using the volume of material wealth and physiacl signs and wonders to ascertain the presence or hand of God in a place. this is wrong. It is eqaully wrong for us to think that because somebody is a pastor, no one should pass comments on over his or her life. They are not God yet .

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0 #11 abara precious 2011-06-22 22:36

be sure of wat u say before u put the rot of GOD on ue genaration,dont say what u dnt know, as for me i know that GOD send him,i belive in his ministry which has blessed ma life.RIGHTNOW AM IN LANDMARK UNIVERSITY STUDING BUSS ADMIN ON SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH HIM,NOT ONLY ME WE ARE UP TO 900 STUDENTS DAT ARE ON SCHOLAHIP THEN TEL ME IS HE NOT SENT FROM GOD....

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+1 #10 Jemima James 2011-06-22 10:14

The Bible talks about earthly reward for those who serve Christ, there is absolutely nothing with Pastors being rich. However they remember that it is from the Lord and not become King Uzziah who after God made strong turned from the Lord. A Pastor must be accountable and I heard that Bishop Oyedepo is very accountable and lives by example. All the things he has done have been by faith and you will always see the element of the miraculous in them

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0 #9 mark anthony 2011-06-21 20:22

I have seen many people get scholarship to study in the institutions he established.even help for the needy,etc. and more importantly the word of faith,which empowers people to become who they are designed to be. What else do you want to see?
What i think is that some people have strong inclination to be negative,because their minds are corrupted.When you see a good thing appreciate or keep your mouth shut,if you don,t know what to say.

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0 #8 mejens 2011-06-21 18:33

The present location of the church was completely deserted because of witches and evil forces as such that people fear to live there but as the church relocated to OTA in SANGO of OGUN STATE, the degree of development in the area is high, investigate this comment and get back to me

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