The son of one of Nigeria’s most prominent “mega-church” leaders has announced he will not collect financial offerings at his new Sunday services, citing a “specific instruction from God.”
Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, who founded the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries after leaving his father’s global empire, told followers that his new Abuja-based services would focus entirely on “discipleship” rather than traditional fundraising.
The move is a striking departure from the norm in Nigeria, where the “prosperity gospel”—the belief that financial donations to the church lead to personal wealth—is a cornerstone of many Pentecostal ministries.
A focus on ‘spiritual depth’
In a video message posted on Sunday, the younger Oyedepo explained that while he saw nothing wrong with other churches collecting tithes and offerings, his current mission required a different approach.
“God gave me specific instructions not to collect offerings,” he stated. “For this specific assignment, focus must remain solely on the spiritual development of the people.”
He argued that modern churches often lack depth in scripture, comparing his model to the early ministry of Jesus:
- The Mission: To “equip” people to follow religious teachings rather than focus on finance.
- The Model: Weekly Sunday services in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, focused on intensive Bible study.
- The Goal: To create “healthy” churches where followers are “deep in the Scriptures.”
Stepping out of the shadow
The 40-year-old pastor is the son of Bishop David Oyedepo, the billionaire founder of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), which famously holds services in one of the world’s largest church auditoriums.
Isaac Oyedepo spent years serving in his father’s ministry before officially launching his independent evangelistic ministry in late 2023. His decision to drop the collection plate is being closely watched in a country where the financial practices of high-profile pastors are frequently a subject of intense public debate.
The announcement coincides with the formal launch of his ministry’s weekly Sunday services in Abuja, marking a significant new chapter for one of the most high-profile names in Nigerian Christendom.
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