In the past week, attention of many Nigerians, and indeed, Africans was focused on the list of African wealthiest people, especially entrepreneurs, released by Forbes. However, among earlier lists that appeared on the website was one that contained the names of the Five Richest Pastors in Nigeria, including Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor T.B Joshua, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo and Pastor Chris Okotie, which is excerpted below:
GOD is good, especially if you’re a Nigerian pastor with some business savvy. These days, millions of souls, desperate for financial breakthroughs, miracles and healing, all rush to the church for redemption.
And while the Bible expressly states that salvation is free, at times it comes with a cost: offerings, tithes, gifts to spiritual leaders, and a directive to buy literature and other products created by men of God.
Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting people to Heaven; they’ve devised intelligent ways to make good money while reaching out to souls.
Many other Nigerian pastors are similarly building multi-million dollar empires from their churches. Today, pastors fly around in private jets, drive fancy cars like Daimlers, Porsches and BMWs, don Rolexes and Patek Phillipes, and own breathtaking mansions all over the world.
From Top Left: Pastor T.B Joshua, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Pastor Chris Okotie, & Pastor David Oyedepo. This are Nigeria’s Five Richest Pastors in Nigeria, and the whole of Africa! (Photo: © NigeriaTrends.com)
Bishop David Oyedepo
Church: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, a.k.a. Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $150 million
David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations.
The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship centre, with a seating capacity of 50,000.
Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity).
He founded and owns the Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.
Chris Oyakhilome
Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a. Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $30 million-$50 million
His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians.
Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate.
His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world on a 24-hour basis.
Temitope Joshua
Church: Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN)
Estimated net worth: $10 million-$15 million
Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic.
T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays.
The Pastor has remained controversial for several years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis. For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect seduction.
The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece.
In the past three years, he has given over $20 million to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants.
He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network, and is close friends with Ghanaian President, Atta Mills.
Matthew Ashimolowo
Church: Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Estimated net worth: $6 million-$10 million
In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead.
Today, his Kingsway International Christian Centre is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom.
In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million.
Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests, including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo Media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries.
Chris Okotie
Church: Household of God Church
Estimated net worth: $3 million-$10 million
Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced the Bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations.
His 5,000-member church consists predominantly of Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people.
He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a political party he founded and funds.
An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600, Hummer and Porsche, among several others.
Nigerians should endeavour to open, read, study and meditate on the word of God (Bible) Let no man fool you any more with any misconception. God’s word is very clear, admonishing us to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needneth not to be afraid but rightly dividing the word of truth. God help our understanding.
Thank you Pastor Steve for your contribution, you’ve said well. And we believe many Nigerians and even non-Nigerians would agree with your perception of God’s words. God is with all.
Tnx for the write up,so wld u prefare that we dnt giv un2 God wen d word of truth expresly says we shld? Wat dy do and der source of income wil b acountd 4 on d last day and dsame answers to every1. salvation is an individual race and no pastors’ prayer can save u unless u persnaly ask wit ur mouth so if u want 2 avoid ur tyt n oferin 4 fear of who is cnsumin it at d dead end,u myt hav urslf 2 blame
Thank you for your commentary Beth. To answer your question, the best way to give unto God is by giving to the poor, and we giving over and over again to rich pastors under the deception or perception of tithes is nothing but “Church Scam”. The rich get richer and the poor continues to surfer. Tithes this days have become mandatory in several Nigerian churches throughout the nation – pastors continually preach in churches about members “giving more to God”.
There are too many deception in the house of God and the wise are starting to question the evolution of religion – or so to say – Christianity, how it has evolved from a simple to a more complex and complicated belief. Many Christians refuse (fear) to question the bible or even the existence of the God we worship. Was the bible not written by a human being with the sense and ability as every one of us? Has many Christians even bother to question why and how the bible was written to define how the world we live in began? The bible contains both true and misleading information, and the idea is to control people’s mind. The people are unaware of how powerful they are, we have been brainwashed to be dependent, committing all our problems to God when we can indeed solve them our selves. The bible should only be used as a supplementary guide to “righteous living” and we should not in any way let it control us or define who we are. The bible is no different to a guide or book about living healthy or eating healthy. Matter of fact, books about living healthy are more beneficial to us as human beings than the bible which teaches us nothing about eating healthy food, exercising, or how to prevent or treat sickness, but rather about committing everything to God when we have the power and ability to do all things our selves.
This bring us to a powerful quote by Napoleon Bonaparte which is “The world soffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people.”
Take a look at the world today, too many people being oppressed and killed by the so called “world powers”. We tend to depend on God to come and save us from human-made disasters that we can in unity put an end to. Religion, especially Christianity has made us inferior beings, that is the cold truth. We all need to free ourselves (mind) from mental slavery/captivity. We need to fully admire and appreciate our natural environment and natural being, while building our spiritual strength through meditation – meditate with the understanding that no one or nothing is greater than you, and we will truly realize and understand how superior we are – that we are all indeed – God. If we truly meditate and utilize our spiritual power, we can interact with all things natural. The wind, sun, rain, sea, trees, are all living things and they speak if we endeavour to pay attention. This is why our fore fathers could tell the time when they look at the clouds or know when the weather is changing and take necessary actions.
In conclusion Beth, we need to question our beliefs. Remember that when we came into this beautiful world of ours as a baby, everything and/or most of the things we know till date – we were made to believe. Most of our knowledge was passed onto us from our parents and/or guardians, etc. But as we grow older and grow in wisdom, we gain new knowledge and understanding that is being revealed to us by our inner selves (spirit). Let’s not sell our mind or spirit to no one, not to any man of God and not to who we claim to worship. Remember: this is a very very deceptive world, so we must question and analyze things. We are superior beings!