Isaac Oyedepo, founder of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries, says his ministry will begin Sunday services in Abuja and will not collect offerings, citing what he described as a specific instruction from God.
Church Times reported on Tuesday that Oyedepo disclosed this in an online message posted on Sunday, January 11, and monitored by the publication.
In the video, Oyedepo said the decision reflects the core mandate of his ministry, which he described as focused on discipleship and spiritual formation, rather than financial structures commonly associated with church services.
He said that while offering-taking is not wrong in itself, it is not part of the assignment given to him.
“God gave me clear instructions not to collect offerings,” he said, adding that the emphasis of the ministry must remain on helping people grow in their walk with Christ.
‘This assignment is about discipleship’
Oyedepo explained that his model draws inspiration from the early ministry of Jesus Christ, which prioritised teaching and discipleship.
“All Jesus did in his early ministry was to make disciples,” he said. “The fire fell, and they were filled and refilled. Before He left, He commanded us to do the same.”
He argued that genuine spiritual health in churches depends on believers being deeply grounded in Scripture, rather than occasional exposure to sermons.
“How healthy would our churches be if people were truly deep in the Scriptures?” he asked.
New phase of ministry
Oyedepo officially launched his independent ministry in November 2023, after years of service at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), founded by his father, Bishop David Oyedepo.
The transition followed his public commissioning and blessing by his father, as previously reported by The Punch.
The Abuja Sunday services mark the first regular public gatherings of the ministry, which Oyedepo said would serve as a platform for teaching, discipleship and equipping believers.
