Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), has urged critics to stop questioning the church’s decision to retire some of its senior pastors.
The response came after reports surfaced that Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, two of Oyedepo’s vice presidents, would be stepping down after serving for three and four decades, respectively.
The retirement, according to Oyedepo, follows the church’s operational guidelines, known as The Mandate, which functions as its constitution.
The church’s Administrative Policy, first established in 1998 and revised in 2001, saw a further update in 2024, where the retirement age was adjusted from 60 to 55 years.
While addressing the criticism during a valedictory service for Bishop Aremu at Winners Chapel, Orita Bashorun, Oyedepo emphasized that the church operates under divine instruction and that its policies are sacred.
He noted that the revised Mandate also restricts future leaders to one or two seven-year terms, a rule that does not apply to him as the founder, who has the right to serve for life.
In his sermon, Oyedepo warned detractors hoping for the ministry’s downfall, stating they were wasting their “lives,” as the church continues to thrive by divine order.
He said, “My advice to commentators is to study to be quiet and mind your business. It is wisdom to learn what is working and find out what makes it work. Everything works here.”
He urged Bishop Aremu to keep God at the centre of his life, adding that taking a spiritual break is risky.
Quoting the Bible in Genesis 49:26, Bishop Oyedepo stated that no one has an inheritance in a teacher or pastor.
He encouraged him to maintain a mindset focused on growth, saying, “There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what matters is your pursuit of God.”
Oyedepo urged Aremu to remain connected for the continued flow of grace, advising him not to be distracted by baseless criticism.
Earlier in his address, Aremu stated that he had no intention of leaving Winners Chapel to establish his own church after retirement.
“I don’t have a church, and I cannot have a church because God has not infused me with the capacity to do so. This is my church,” he said.
Aremu, a former accountant, transitioned into full-time ministry following a successful career in his field.
He is distinguished as the last surviving bishop among the seven consecrated at the Garden of Faith in Kaduna in November 1999.
Meanwhile, Bishop Abioye’s farewell ceremony is set for Friday, 18th October 2024, at Durumi, Abuja.
(Punch)
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