God is good, especially if you’re a business-savvy Nigerian preacher. Millions of individuals are flocking to the church these days, yearning for financial breakthroughs, miracles, and healing. While the bible explicitly claims that salvation is free, there are instances when it is not: sacrifices, tithes, gifts to spiritual leaders, and a command to purchase literature and other things provided by men of God.
Pastors have discovered clever ways to make good money while reaching out to souls; they’re no longer just focused in leading people to Heaven.
Take, for example, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. He is the founder and senior pastor of Christ Embassy, a growing church with locations in Nigeria, South Africa, London, Canada, and the United States. ‘Rhapsody of Realities,’ a monthly devotional he co-authors with his wife, is published by his publishing business, Loveworld Publications. Every month, it sells over 2 million copies for $1 each. He also owns television stations, newspapers, magazines, a hotel, a fast-food restaurant, and a variety of other businesses.
Many other Nigerian pastors are using their churches to develop multi-million dollar businesses. Pastors now travel the world in private jets, drive high-end automobiles such as Daimler, Porsche, and BMWs, wear Rolexes and Patek Phillipe watches, and live in gorgeous homes.
Bishop David Oyedepo
Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher is David Oyedepo. The Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, which he began in 1981, has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. With a seating capacity of 50,000, the Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship hall. Oyedepo is the owner of four private jets as well as houses in London and the United States. He also runs Dominion Publishing House, a booming publishing house where all of his novels are published. Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s top tertiary schools, and Faith Academy, an exceptional high school, are both owned by him.
Chris Oyakhilome
Last year, the popular preacher was accused of siphoning funds from his congregation to overseas banks, resulting in a $35 million money laundering case. Pastor Chris pleaded no contest to the charges, and the matter was later dropped. Christ Embassy, his church, has over 40,000 members, including some successful business executives and politicians. Newspapers, periodicals, a local television station, a record label, satellite television, hotels, and significant real estate are among Oyakhilome’s many interests. His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian television network to transmit 24 hours a day from Africa to the rest of the world.
Temitope Joshua
Nigeria’s most divisive preacher is also one of the country’s wealthiest and most charitable. T.B Joshua is the pastor of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), which he founded in 1987 and now serves over 15,000 people on Sundays. For years, the Pastor has been a source of controversy because to his mysterious abilities to heal many types of incurable ailments, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and paralysis. It’s the ideal seduction for miracle-seeking worshipers. Branches of the church can be found in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece. He has donated more than $20 million to causes in education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta terrorists in the last three years. He is a personal buddy of Ghanaian President Atta Mills and controls Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network.
Matthew Ashimolowo
In 1992, Ashimolowo was dispatched to London by the Nigerian church Foursquare Gospel Church to establish a satellite branch. Pastor Matthew, on the other hand, had other plans and decided to start his own church. His Kingsway International Christian Center is now the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom, according to reports. The church had a profit of about $10 million in 2009 and had assets of $40 million. Ashimolowo earns a $200,000 annual salary, but his true riches comes from his other business ventures, such as his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which produces Christian literature and documentaries. A request for confirmation of Ashimolowo’s net worth and ownership of all of these assets was not responded to by his representatives.
