On May 2, 1981, at the end of a visionary encounter that lasted about eighteen hours, I saw a roll of afflicted, battered, beaten, tattered, deformed and all that one could ever imagine, groaning and agonizing, as a result of pains and pangs, crying as it were for rescue. I was so moved with compassion that I began sobbing profusely asking, “Why Lord?” I heard the Lord say to me, “But from the beginning it was not so”. I questioned further, “But why Lord?” and then came the mandate,

“The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppressions of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith, and I am sending you to undertake this task.”

This mandate was further confirmed from the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians where God Said, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph 6:16). This was the genesis of this global ministry today and according to this mandate, the Word of Faith is the key to triumphant living.

Shortly, thereafter, a weekly teaching programme took-off popularly known as the Faith Liberation Hour. Alongside, a caucus was put in place, tagged The Power House which was involved in prayers and fasting among others towards the actualization of this heavenly vision.

Today, testimonies of liberation through our messages, books, tapes, magazines and other periodicals are most humbling. The word of faith is working like fire for the liberation of mankind across the nations.

Dr. David O. Oyedepo, affectionately called “Papa” by members of his church congregation (born September 27, 1954) is a Nigerian Christian author, Preacher and the founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide also known as Winners Chapel and its affiliated International churches known as Winners Chapel International, with headquarters in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The birth of this church was divinely orchestrated through various encounters experienced by the Presiding Bishop, Dr. David Oyedepo