Pastor David Oyedepo, the Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International has approved the sum of N650 million naira (about $2 million) for road repairs in Ogun and Lagos states
The roads which cover the old toll gate bordering Lagos and Ogun States as well as stretches of the Idi-Iroko expressway from Oju Ore to Iyana Iyesi as well as Sango itself began to undergo repairs as executed by the Church recently.
Traveling along the road to the border as well as Agbara and other towns had become a harrowing experience for both worshippers at the Church and non-worshippers alike every day of the week. This led the Church to intervene in order to give the people a respite
This is not the first of such interventions, however it is the biggest single intervention till date and has helped in no small measure per time to relieve road users.
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Speaking on Wednesday, Bishop Oyedepo announced that the sum of N650 million was approved and released for the repairs, adding that Canaanland where the Church is situated is the birthplace of giants where many have gotten their spiritual and physical needs met for the past 20 years.
Meanwhile, the founder and presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, an organization with one of the largest networks of about 11,000 branches in 65 countries has acquired a brand new helicopter.
This is in continuation of his quest to ease movement while reaching large numbers of people in his evangelical work.
This acquisition is especially unique as it is the first time he will buy an aircraft with his personal resources. Previous aircraft including the only one presently in the Church inventory, a Challenger 605 with registration N633WM (World Mission) which was acquired at a cost of $25 million were all acquired by the Church through Dominion Aviation Center.
Speaking at a gathering of pastors recently, Bishop Oyedepo announced that the aircraft which had arrived Nigeria could fly from Lagos to Maiduguri or from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos without a need to refuel.
Church Gist investigation also reveal that the aircraft is still in a Lagos seaport undergoing clearance after which it will be brought to the Church’s hangar for assemblage. Church Gist also gathered that the helicopter could be of Italian origin and produced by the Leonardo Helicopters (formerly Agusta Westland). In particular it could be either the Trekker or GrandNew series as these have capacity for covering a long range before the need for refueling.
Dr David Oyedepo has spoken often about how he was inspired by the visit of white missionaries to his village of Omu-Aran in helicopters while he was a kid. He also mentioned as early as April 1982 that God had shown him wings in a vision and when he asked, it was revealed that his ministry was going to be flying around the world carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ. This led to the acquisition by the Church of the first aircraft in March 1996 and since then, the Church has been acquiring aircraft for missionary purposes.
Also, as each aircraft gets old, it is quickly exchanged for a new one to ease cost, maintenance and servicing. A few years ago, precisely in 2011, the Bishop travelled to 6 African countries within 7 days and preached 11 different sermons. This is an example of his usual itinerary which could certainly not be achieved flying normal commercial flights.
