Bishop David Oyedepo Vows to Build 1,000 Churches Before Leaving Earth

Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has disclosed a personal vow he made to build 1,000 churches as part of his lifetime commitment to God’s work.

During a recent sermon, the revered cleric revealed that he made the vow even before opening his first bank account.

“Before I had the first bank account, I said, ‘Jesus, if you ever bless me, I want to be part of building new churches,’” Oyedepo told his congregation, adding light-heartedly, “How many have heard that before? You have always heard everything.”

Explaining the motivation behind this lifelong commitment, Oyedepo said he desires to leave a lasting legacy of service.

“I told Jesus, I don’t want to come to heaven without a thousand churches built in your name,” he stated.

He used the opportunity to challenge members to examine their own dedication to God’s work, pointing out that many people have resources at their disposal for Kingdom service but choose not to utilize them.

“Some may even have buses that are doing nothing on Sunday, but they won’t bring them out. Because, ah, N2,000 per half litre. If it’s in your heart, go put it in your heart,” he remarked.

Concluding the sermon, Oyedepo urged church members to awaken spiritually and live out their faith actively:
“Over to you, you better wake up. Can I tell you something? Everybody’s a reflection of where he belongs. It’s time you start reflecting what happens in here.”

Living Faith Church Worldwide, founded by Bishop Oyedepo in 1981, has grown into one of the largest Christian ministries globally, boasting over 20,000 branches in Nigeria alone and a strong international presence in more than 100 countries.

The church’s headquarters, Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State, remains one of the world’s largest church auditoriums with a 50,000-seat capacity. In 2021, the church commenced the construction of a new 100,000-capacity auditorium known as The Ark, a project described by Oyedepo as part of the next chapter in the ministry’s global expansion.