Bishop David Oyedepo justifies the sacking of over 40 Pastors

President and Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide,  popularly known as Winners Chapel, Bishop Oyedepo has claimed it is nonsense to say the church sacked Pastors for not generating income in their branches.  

Recall that this paper had reported that a Winners Pastor, identified as Peter Godwin, alleged that he was sacked by the church for not making enough money for the church. 

The Pastor who revealed details of his sack in a viral video seen by NewsWireNGR said he was employed by the church on the 28th of August, 2020. 

But on July 1, 2022, he and about 40 other pastors were invited by the state pastor and handed their sacked letters for the poor growth of their church.

The video has generated reactions from Nigerians as some condemned Bishop David Oyedepo, while others said the action was in line with the gospel of Christ.

Reacting to the controversial situation on Wednesday, Oyedepo said the only criteria used to measure Pastors performances is the number of souls they have won for the church. 

Thus, he said the Pastors were sacked for being “unfruitful”. 

He said; “The pastors were asked to go because they were unfruitful. Many of the churches built can never pay for the church building in 30 years. We have no patience for failure here.

“We have built more than 1,000 Churches in rural areas where in the next 30 years, they can never generate such funds, with each costing more than 14 Million Naira. We are hunting after souls, not income.

“People are confused about our Ministry. I learnt some fellows said, “you know, they are not bringing income, that is why they asked them to go.”

“We asked you to go because you are unfruitful. Unfruitful! Blatant failure. Doing what there? We have no patience with failure here.

He added that despite the church having a large employee base that is more than some states in the country, it has not owed anyone salary. This is because of some tough decisions and the grace of heaven that works with the church. 

“No one is owed a dime salary and we don’t borrow, we don’t beg. Ask our bank whether we take overdraft.We are covenant bound, working in the light of God’ Word.Enjoying an open Heaven.” he continued. 

“Money: NONSENSE! We have never lacked it and yet we have never prayed for it, we are just simply obeying God and He is backing up what He is asking us to do. Awesome God.

”Now the next set is about to be flagged off, just certifying the landed property issues, nothing else. We have no lack of anything. The world is confused. Walking in the light of God’s Word. Please obey God to the full and watch out for His manifestations in your life.

“Well, you don’t need so much Mathematics to know a thousand buildings; that is not 1000 Naira each, that is not 10 Million (Naira) each, that is not 12 Million (Naira) each, that is not 14 Million (Naira) each. Some are 35 Million (Naira). At a go!

“We have never seen it ourselves. We just watched God doing it.The only criteria: How many souls have they gotten there? Then, build for them. How many souls? Not once: “how much money do they have?” he asked.

“You want to see what we see, go and do what we do. But if you are not saved, there is nothing you do that matters,” he said.