“Church Money is Not Your Money” — Bishop Oyedepo Warns Nigerian Pastors

Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, has advised Nigerian preachers to use God’s money with reverence.

Oyedepo noted this during a session of the ongoing Church Growth Conference, which brings together notable religious leaders from throughout the country.

He said:

“One of the worst diseases in ministry is money disease.

I used to know an individual that had the cheque book of his church in his hand and pays for clothes from it.

A member of our church was the person doing the fashion for the man, was concerned because he knows what we teach.

‘Excuse me, sir, this is how he is paying for these things, from the church’s cheque and there were no these kinds of things then. It was cheque we used, there was no way to transfer anything then.’

I said, My God, this is an error. It is an error. He is indebted beyond the throat today. Don’t abuse God’s money. It is a risk.

Church money is not your money. I know you are a founder. I was also a founder, if they call me so because I will never call myself founder. Stop doing ‘Omo Jaiye Jaiye’ with God’s money. Why? It is not safe.

I am not a signatory to any account in this church today, by the grace of God. The financial report for last year, I don’t know where I put it and I have not read it. They gave me the one for Lagos. I don’t know where I put it.

You know why? That is not where my heart is.”