{{Short description|WINNER'S CHAPEL}} {{About|the Christian denomination|the 50,000 capacity headquarters auditorium|Faith Tabernacle|the church community|Canaanland}} {{Infobox Christian denomination | name = Living Faith Church Worldwide | image = winnerschapellogo.gif | imagewidth = 220px | caption = | main_classification = Evangelicalism | theology = Charismatic | founder = Bishop David Oyedepo | founded_date = {{start date and age|May 2, 1981|paren=yes}} Ilesha, Nigeria | headquarters = Canaanland, Km. 10, Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | website = {{URL|faithtabernacle.org.ng}} }} '''Living Faith Church Worldwide''' (also known as '''Winners' Chapel''') is an international Evangelical charismatic Christian denomination. The headquarters is located in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The organization has since become a global network of churches with over 6 million members in 147 countries.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-12-27|title=Winners Chapel has six million members spread across 147 countries -- Oyedepo|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/winners-chapel-has-six-million-members-spread-across-147-countries-oyedepo/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-02-16|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref>

== History == The beginning of the church manifested on May 2, 1981, when David Oyedepo (aged 26) had a spiritual encounter while lodging in one of the rooms within the ''International Hotel'' located in the Omi-Asoro Quarters of Ilesa City, in the present-day Osun State of Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN9rWU-DvnI|title = This is the Building Where God Called Bishop David Oyedepo|website = YouTube}}</ref> He claimed to have had an eighteen-hour supernatural encounter which was a vision from God. God spoke to him saying, "Now the hour has come to liberate the world from all oppressions of the devil, through the preaching of the Word of faith; and I am sending you to undertake this task".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domi.org.ng/about |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602142147/http://domi.org.ng/about |archive-date=June 2, 2012 |title=About Us &#124; David Oyedepo Ministries International }}</ref> In 1983, the church began operating with four members on December 11.<ref name="Martin Lindhardt 2014, page 115">Martin Lindhardt, ''Pentecostalism in Africa: Presence and Impact of Pneumatic Christianity in Postcolonial Societies'', BRILL, Leiden, 2014, page 115</ref>

=== Faith Tabernacle ===

Canaanland was procured in 1998 and was initially {{convert|560|acre|km2}}. It is in Ota, Ogun, Nigeria. The church's international headquarters, Faith Tabernacle, was built in Cannanland between 1998 and 1999, taking twelve months to complete.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanpastors.net/Pastors%20Webpages/David%20Oyedepo.html |access-date=June 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428040226/http://www.africanpastors.net/Pastors%20Webpages/David%20Oyedepo.html |archive-date=April 28, 2012 |title=Bishop David Oyedepo Profile }}</ref> The foundation laying took place on August 29, 1998.

In 1999, the Faith Tabernacle was inaugurated with 50,400 seats.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/542154.stm|title=Church of the 50,000 faithful |publisher=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref>

On Dec 11 2013, Oyedepo's first son, David Oyedepo Jnr, ministered for the first time at the church's annual Shiloh gathering.

In December 2015, Oyedepo Jnr became the resident pastor of the Faith Tabernacle.

=== The Ark === In 2019, Bishop Oyedepo announced the commencement of the construction of a 100,000-capacity sanctuary called "The Ark" (It was formerly called Faith Theatre).<ref>Emmanuel Leke, [https://theeagleonline.com.ng/living-faith-begins-construction-of-100000-seat-capacity-auditorium/ Living Faith begins construction of 100,000-seat capacity auditorium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331040319/https://theeagleonline.com.ng/living-faith-begins-construction-of-100000-seat-capacity-auditorium/ |date=2019-03-31 }}, theeagleonline.com.ng, Nigeria, December 12, 2015</ref> The Ark will specifically include a 20 Floor Mission Tower (International Headquarters Facility). In 2021, it began construction of a temple called The Ark with 109,345 seats, next to Faith Tabernacle.<ref> PM, [https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/03/13/adeboye-visits-oyedepos-200m-ark-legacy-project/ Adeboye visits Oyedepo's $200m Ark Legacy Project], pmnewsnigeria.com, Nigeria, 13th March, 2022</ref>

== Organization == thumb|Living Faith Church entrance in Canaanland As of 2014, the Church was in 65 countries.<ref name="Martin Lindhardt 2014, page 115"/>

=== Dominion Publishing House === The publishing house that grew out of Winner's Chapel was founded on 5 December 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domionlinestore.org/12-pillar-messages-of-the-commission|title=12 Pillar Messages|publisher=Domionlinestore.org|access-date=5 November 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102232504/http://domionlinestore.org/12-pillar-messages-of-the-commission|archivedate=2 November 2014}}</ref> Dominion Publishing House has published over 120 books, most of which have been written by Oyedepo.

== Beliefs == The Church is founded upon twelve core emphases called the '''12-Pillars'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living Faith Church Worldwide - Official Website |url=https://faithtabernacle.org.ng/about |access-date=2022-02-16 |website=faithtabernacle.org.ng}}</ref> The theological position of the church is Pentecostal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners Chapel Faith Tabernacle HQ |url=http://www.lgtnigeria.com/viewListing_page.php?id=2941 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106094824/http://www.lgtnigeria.com/viewListing_page.php?id=2941 |archive-date=6 November 2014 |access-date=5 November 2014 |work=LGTNigeria}}</ref>

The association has a charismatic confession of faith.<ref>Living Faith Church Worldwide, [http://faithtabernacle.org.ng/about.html 12 PILLARS], faithtabernacle.org.ng, Nigeria, retrieved February 18, 2020</ref><ref>Cecil M. Robeck, Jr, Amos Yong, ''The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism'', Cambridge University Press, UK, 2014, p. 40</ref>

=== Education === Several educational institutions are linked to the chapel, including Covenant University,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domi.org.ng/education/c-u |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502042201/http://domi.org.ng/education/c-u |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |title=C.U &#124; David Oyedepo Ministries International }}</ref> Landmark University,<ref>{{cite web|last=University|first=Landmark|title=Landmark University|url=http://lmu.edu.ng/|publisher=Lmu.edu.ng|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025173345/http://www.lmu.edu.ng/|archive-date=25 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Faith Academy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domi.org.ng/education/faith-academy |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429235203/http://domi.org.ng/education/faith-academy |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |title=Faith Academy &#124; David Oyedepo Ministries International }}</ref> and over 150 Kingdom Heritage Model Schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Education Commission, LFCWW|url=http://www.eclfcww.org/khmsclusters.php|access-date=2022-02-15|website=www.eclfcww.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://domi.org.ng/education/khms |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501183932/http://domi.org.ng/education/khms |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |title=KHMS &#124; David Oyedepo Ministries International }}</ref> In addition, there is a ministry training college called The Word of Faith Bible Institute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domi.org.ng/domi-network/wofbi |access-date=June 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502053701/http://domi.org.ng/domi-network/wofbi |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |title=WOFBI &#124; David Oyedepo Ministries International }}</ref>

====United Kingdom==== In 2014, the church applied to open a Kingdom Heritage Model School in Kent. Concerns were raised by the National Secular Society about the church linking disobedience to witchcraft. The application was later withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29937091| title='Witchcraft' church in school bid| work=BBC News| date=2014-11-06| access-date=2019-02-01| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202054745/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-29937091| archive-date=2019-02-02| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2015/08/church-of-witch-slapping-pastor-withdraws-application-to-open-uk-school| title=Church of 'witch-slapping' pastor withdraws application to open UK school| date=2015-08-25| access-date=2019-02-01| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202095200/https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2015/08/church-of-witch-slapping-pastor-withdraws-application-to-open-uk-school| archive-date=2019-02-02| url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Shiloh === Every year in December, the church hosts a global event called Shiloh. The church says the mandate for this event is drawn from the Bible books of Joshua 18:1 and 1Samuel 1:3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shiloh 2020: More Prophetic Declarations Released ... |url=https://allnews.ng/news/shiloh-2020-more-prophetic-declarations-releases-by-bishop-oyedepo |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=allnews.ng |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BP-Pub-3 |date=2019-12-01 |title=History Of "Shiloh" - Winers Chapel, Living Faith Church |url=https://believersportal.com/history-of-shiloh-winers-chapel-living-faith-church/ |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Believers Portal |language=en-US}}</ref> The event is held mostly in the first week of December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/winners-shiloh-2019-begins-tuesday/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Winners' Shiloh 2019 begins Tuesday|date=2019-11-30|newspaper=The Nation|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ng/shiloh-2019-oyedepo-charges-nigerians-to-embrace-righteousness/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Shiloh 2019: Oyedepo Charges Nigerians To Embrace Righteousness|last=|first=|date=November 13, 2019|newspaper=Independent|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>

The church sees the purpose of the event as being to usher the visitation of God to his people. It also marks the end of the Church's calendar year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BP-Pub-3 |date=2019-12-01 |title=History Of "Shiloh" - Winers Chapel, Living Faith Church |url=https://believersportal.com/history-of-shiloh-winers-chapel-living-faith-church/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=Believers Portal |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of 2012, there were millions in attendance. The Presiding Bishop also said up to 160 nations hooked up to Shiloh 2015, with nationals from 55 nations present at the Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nigerianeye.com/2015/12/pictures-bishop-oyedepo-begins.html?m=1|title=PICTURES: Bishop Oyedepo begins construction of 100,000-seat capacity auditorium|publisher=Nigeria News Today|accessdate=21 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002429/http://www.nigerianeye.com/2015/12/pictures-bishop-oyedepo-begins.html?m=1|archive-date=22 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Christianity|Nigeria|Evangelical Christianity}} * Bible * Born again * Jesus Christ * Believers' Church

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{URL|faithtabernacle.org.ng}}, official website of the Faith Tabernacle * [http://www.winners-chapel.org.uk/ Winners Chapel London] * [http://www.winnerschapelny.org/ Winners Chapel New York] * [http://www.covenantuniversity.com/ Covenant University] * [http://www.domionlinestore.org/ Dominion Publishing House] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120224075835/http://landmarkuniversity.edu.ng/ Landmark University]

{{coord missing|Nigeria}} Category:1981 establishments in Nigeria Category:Charismatic denominations Category:Christian organizations based in Nigeria Category:Christianity in Lagos Category:Evangelical megachurches in Nigeria Category:Organizations based in Ogun State Category:Pentecostal denominations established in the 20th century Category:Religious organizations based in Lagos Category:Christian organizations established in 1981 Category:Word of Faith churches