At Last, Bishop David Oyedepo?

It has always seemed like a gap in a circle, a break in a cycle, an incomplete whole with two of the quartet of the nation?s notable men of God yet to debut in the epochal Akwa Ibom 9999 Christmas Carol Night which has become an annual ritual in the globally acknowledged new Uyo every December to commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor William Kumiyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church and Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God had variously served as guest preachers at the annual event. Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church otherwise known as Winners Chapel and Pastor Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, two other notable men of God are still yet to cast their presence on the portal of this major Christian festival. But Bishop Oyedepo is about to narrow the gap of the circle with his recent consent to be part of this year?s Carol Night scheduled for?December 21.

Bishop David Oyedepo is a big fish, a big catch for the 9,999 event. The 59 year old Kwara born man of God and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide is reputed to be the richest pastor in Nigeria. As the current Chancellor of Covenant University, he sits atop one of the foremost private Universities in Nigeria. Noted for intellectual rigour and famed moral health, Bishop Oyedepo is a shinning exemplar of a model Christian devotee willing to do God?s will even at the risk of public reproach. For instance, when he started preaching prosperity and the conviction of well-being for those serving the Lord, many criticized him for paying little attention to salvation. But the Bishop premised his response on the fact that one can not even access God?s prosperity unless one is served through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. That postulation reinvented validity for winner?s creed which anchorage are in positive claims.

The General Overseer of Winners Chapel became a ?born-again? in 1969 through the influence of his teacher, Ms. Betty Lasher who took interest in the then David Oyedepo during his High School days. The Kwara State Polytechnic graduate of Architecture worked briefly with Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before throwing in the towel to concentrate on missionary work which had become his life?s dream. To say that he has made enormous success of this enterprise is for want of appropriate expression to adequately cater for the accomplishments he has recorded in God?s vineyard. Bishop David Oyedepo has become synonymous with fervent Christianity and positive values. One of the frames of reference is the confession of only pro-positive things by members of his ever growing fellowship who are found everywhere within the nation and outside with the proud alias of ?Winners?.

When the renowned Bishop of Living Faith Church therefore vouchsafed his consent to be part of the 6^th?Edition of Akwa Ibom State Christmas Carol Night, otherwise called 9,999 Carol Night, it was like the chicken coming home to roost. The programme was again to be superintended as guest preacher by a caliber of person deserving of the honour. The consent elicited joy which suffused the faces of those who were there and even those who were within earshot to comprehend the exchanges between Governor Akpabio and the General Overseer. The founder of Living Faith Church was in Akwa Ibom State for an event of one of the branches of his church. In consonant with the normative protocol of such visit, the diligent servant of God decided to pay a courtesy call on the executive governor of the State. The governor maximized the opportunity by ceasing the initiative to invite him for the epochal Carol Night programme. He said: ?we are privileged to have the number one Winner in the Winners? community in our State?. He thanked him for demonstrating his faith in Nigeria through massive investments especially in the area of education. He then seized the moment to invite the Bishop to the 9,999 Carol Night to which the elated man of God vouchsafed acceptance.

Bishop Oyedepo?s effusive embellishments of Governor Akpabio laced the tapestry of his speech. Hear him: ?Your Excellency, our creative governor, impactful governor and very successful governor. I must congratulate you for a job well done. I was privileged to move around last night to see some of the features of development in the State ? the flyovers. I was seeing a brand new city, I was seeing very humbling infrastructures?. The Bishop stated that the governor?s partnership with God is obvious and that God has also helped to find people of same mind and heart around him.

It is this partnership with God that the State Government explores ways to celebrate one of which is the Christmas Carol Night involving the gathering of a record-breaking number of 9,999 choristers to sing praises to the Most High in the same location at the same time or what modern ICT refers to as real time. While this assemblage of singers called 9,999 may command primacy in the hierarchy of this partnership, other items denoting the State?s relationship with God are no less important. The weekly solemn assembly executed at unit levels, the monthly solemn assembly usually held at the chapel of Governor?s Lodge and the inter-denominational service which prefaces the beginning of activities every year are some of the efforts which the Akpabio administration has brought forth to give the State a character of Godliness that marches its name.

Bishop Oyedepo?s recent visit to the State after the last one which he said was done in 2004 is a journey to the home of the faithful, a people superintended by a man whose boastfulness for the Lord can be construed as a brand of evangelism. And God has not failed him given the deluge of eulogies his administration has often elicited. Hear Bishop Oyedepo: ?I was here last in 2004. My visit here has shown me a completely new setting. I am impressed, I am excited, I am overwhelmed?. This is the view of the revered Bishop who has only always been accused of speaking frankly and not frivolous enough to play politics with his comments.

The General Overseer?s visit as a guest preacher promises to be a memorable event. Known for motivational preaching and famous with rich diction, participants of the 6^th?Edition of the Christmas Carol Night would go home richer with knowledge of the word of God and views on other endeavours including business. Reputed as the author of several motivational texts, Bishop Oyedepo is a teacher of both the word and life itself. He is always forthcoming with his wealth of ideas. For instance, he told journalists in the State that journalism should engage in things that matter to development noting that it is not what you have that determines your worth but what you add. At a breakfast held in his honour by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Bishop Oyedepo shared this sublime knowledge: ?At the root every accomplishment is true commitment and you can not be committed without being creative. You can not be creative and not be productive. You can not be productive and not be successful. And you can not be successful and not be impactful?. Examine the wisdom in this short treatise and you would have an inkling of what one stands to gain as a participant of this years Carol Night on?December 26, 2013.

It is also providential that Pastor Enoch Adeboye whom Bishop David Oyedepo is said to always refer to as his spiritual father was the guest preacher in the 5^th?Edition of 2012. It is therefore a case of a father handing over the baton to the son. With Oyedepo, Lionel Peterson, Israel Houghton, Frank Edwards, Sinach; an ensemble featuring Aity Dennis Inyang, Fadabasi, Pastor Goody Goody, Folake Umosen, Freke Umoh and Nathaniel Bassey; the National choir from St. Kitts and Nerves, the 9,999 Carol singers plus other side attractions, Uyo Township Stadium would certainly come alive to again record another irrefutable history of Akwa Ibom in an ineluctable partnership with its creator