2COURAGE“Justoneobstacleisenoughtotruncateaglobalvisionbutcourageiswhatyouneedtodealadeadlyblowonit.”-DavidO.Oyedepo.
IRESOLVE…Tostripthesoulofallpretense,Toholdeachdayinreverence,Tokeeptheheadandheartapace,Tomakethisworldaworthwhileplace,Tosharemybreadwiththoseinneed,Totolerateaneighbour'screed,Tokeepastridewithoutastrut,Tomakeahomeinmanseorhut,Tohavethegrittogrinatloss,Tomasterlifeandbeitsboss!
Anonymous
C
ouragehasbeendefinedastheabilitytodo
ouragehasbeendefinedastheabilitytodo
somethingdangerous,ortofacepainor
oppositionwithoutshowingfear.The
dictionaryhasseveralsynonymstoqualifycourage,suchas:bravery,valour,fearlessnessaudacity,chivalry,
heroism,confidence,nerveandafewnicknamessuchas
guts,grit,gristle,backbone,pluck,andspunk.Bill
Newmaninhiswealthofexperiencedeclared:
“...butwhateverthename;itnevermetits
match.TheheightsoftheHimalayasonly
encourageit.ThedepthsoftheCaribbean
merelyexciteit.Thesoundsofwar
stimulateit.Thedifficultyofajob
motivatesit.Thedemandsofcompetition
LeadershipSecrets:#4
inspireit.Criticismchallengesit,
adventurearousesit,dangerincitesit;
threatquickensit.”
Notthatalone,Newmangoesaheadanddefinedcourageasanotherwordforinnerstrength,presenceof
mindagainstodds,determinationtohanginthere,to
venture,persevere,andwithstandhardship.
“It'swhatmakestheamputeesrejectpity
“It'swhatmakestheamputeesrejectpity
andcontinuetotakelifebythethroat.Itis
whatforceseverymarriedcouplehaving
trouble,nevertosay,“Let'sterminate”.
It'swhatencouragesthedivorceetoface
tomorrow.It'swhatkeepsanationfreein
spiteofattacks.Areyoureadytorun
whentheheatrises?[Areyou]aboutto
quit?[Well],everyday,insomeway,your
couragewillbetested.Realcourageis
saying,yestolife,notbackingdownwhen
wefaceadversity.Courageisdoingwhat
you'reafraidtodo-therecanbeno
couragewhenyou'rescared”.
Thereisnobetterwaytodescribethedimensionof
DavidOyedepo'scourage.TheclosestsynonymtohisLeadershipSecretsof
kindofcourageissimplyfearlessness.Thegenesisofhisfearlessnessistraceabletowhenasavibrantyoung
Christianat25hereadaneye-openingencounterof
SmithWigglesworth,arenownedApostleofFaith.He
readanaccountonthelifeofSmithWigglesworthvia
hisbiographyauthoredbyStanleyFrodshamonhow
hisbiographyauthoredbyStanleyFrodshamonhow
Smithbelittledademon.Anuglycreaturewasrocking
inachairinSmithWigglesworth'slivingroom.The
noiseoftherockingchairwassodisturbingthatSmith
Wigglesworthcameoutoftheroomholdingalanternto
knowwhatitwas.Onseeingtheuglycreaturewithtwo
hornsonthehead(adevil),SmithWigglesworthhissed
atitandsaid,“Ididn'tknowitwasyou,devil.”Hewent
backtohisroomandsleptrestfully.
Afterreadingthebook,DavidOyedeposaid,“Isawthelittlenessofthedevil.”Fromthatday,hisperspectiveof
thedevilschangedandhebegantodisplayasuperiority
attitudeoveralldevils.Accordingtohim,afterhis
encounterviathebookonthelifeofSmith
Wigglesworth,hearoseandwaslookingforthedevilor
anyofhisagentstokill!Couragearousesboldness,
confidenceanditisdaring.ThomasPaineonceboldly
confessedthus:
“Ilovethemanwhocansmileintrouble;
thatcangatherstrengthfromdistress,andLeadershipSecrets:#4
growbravebyreflection.‘Tisthebusiness
oflittlemindstoshrink,buthewhose
heartisfirm,andwhoseconscience
approveshisconduct,willpursuehis
principlestodeath.”
JustafterhisencounterwithSmithWigglesworth,hewasministeringtosecondaryschoolstudentsina
villagenotoriouslyknownforwitchcraft.Inthemiddle
ofhispreaching,hepaused,andannouncedtothe
audience:“howmanypeopleherearewitches?Ifyou
are,standup,”heordered.Virtuallyeveryonestoodup.
Thenhetoldthemtositandannouncedagainincase
someonestoodbymistakethefirsttime:“Imeanhow
manypeoplearepracticingwitcheshere?”Thenalotof
peoplestoodupagain.Hecalledoneofthemandasked
withoutanyapology:“whatdoyoudowiththedevil?”
Theindividualanswered,“Anytimewewanttodrink
blood,wewouldgotothehighwayandcausesome
accident…”ThenDavidcutinwithallsenseofspiritual
superiority:“whatifpeoplelikeusarecoming?”The
self-acclaimedwitchanswered:“wheneverwesensea
higherpower,weclearoffthehighway.”
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,Christianitywithout
empowermentisagreatriskandthatriskcanbedeadly.LeadershipSecretsof
Thementalillnessofhisnephewin1983comestomindonceagain.Theillnesshaddefiedallhumaneffortsto
calmhimdown.Theboywasalmostbecomingviolent
beforeDavidOyedepo'sarrival.Butthemomenttheboy
inhismentalimbalancesawhim,herecognizedhim
andprostratedbeforehim.Thepeopleweresurprised
andoutofcuriositytheyaskedhim,“Doyouknow
him?”theboysaid,“Yes,myuncle”(Andhementioned
hisnamewithoutmissingit).ThenDavidinstructed,
“Releasehimandputhiminmyvehicleandletmesee
thedevilthatwillentermycarwithhim.”Thatwasthe
endofthatinsanity.Theboylaterwenttoschool,got
marriedandisdoingwelltilldate.Fromthefringesof
lunacy,thevictimrosetobecomeavictorandasuccess
story,updatedeveryday,allthankstotheministerof
God,whobytherightunctionpassedontohimby
Christtheauthorandfinisherofourfaith,whohas
cometosetthecaptivesfree!
Hisdivineencounterof1976,whereheexperiencedaterrifictransferenceoftheSpiritofboldnesswhen
listeningtoanaudiotapeofamessagepreachedby
A.A.Allen,isstillgeneratingseriesofbravefeatstill
date.Hewassosurebeyondreasonabledoubtwhenit
happenedtohim.Hewasonly22yearsoldthenandhe
hasneverlookedbackindaringtoconquerwherethe
LeadershipSecrets:#4
verygiantsdreadtotread.“Whateveryoucando,ordreamyoucan,beginit.Boldnesshasgenius,powerand
magicinit,”reassuresGoethe.DavidOyedeposaid:
“Everykingdomprinceisakingdomprincipalityset
overaterritorytoputtocheckeveryprincipalityfrom
hell.”Hiswarcampaignisnotonlylaunchedagainst
invisibleenemiesalone,buthisaudacityalsoledhimto
confronteveryhumanagentcrossinghiswayunto
exploitsinthekingdom.In1991,DavidOyedepowas
surroundedbyfiercelookingarmedgang.Thenhe
stoodwithhisarmsakimboandroaredlikearavening
lion,“InthenameofJesus!”Theyalltooktotheirheels
shoutingrepeatedly,“Hehasagun!”
Amanofcourageisnotscaredbythethreateningsoundoftheopposition'sroar;ratheritgearshimuptodare.In
1984atKaduna,duringa5-daycrusadewhichhadbeen
plannedandgivenapprovalbytheappropriateauthority
forthefacilitytobeused,whiletheprogrammewason,
informationwassuddenlypassedtoDavidOyedepo
thatthecrusadeshouldstopbecausetheapprovalhad
beenwithdrawn.Withfuryinhisheart,andfierceness
ofangerinhiscountenance,Davidwentstraighttothe
officeoftheofficerthathadsentthemessageandflung
hisdooropenwithoutknocking.Helookedhiminthe
eyesandgraspedhistwohands.Thenheutteredsome
LeadershipSecretsof
highlevellanguage(tongues)athisfaceandthrewtheofficer'shandontheofficer'schest,saying,“Tenofyou
cannotaskustovacatethisfacilitytillwearethrough”.
Hewentoutandslammedthedoorbehindhim.The
crusadewasheldwithoutfurtherinterruption.
Courage!
Anotherday,ayoungmanwassenttohimwithan
officialletterthatthechurchshouldvacatetheplaceof
theirregularworshipinKadunawithintendays.The
lioninhimstirredupagaininanger.Heroaredatthe
messenger:“Tellthosewhosentyou,intendaysyouare
alldeadmen!”Themansuddenlybecamejitteryandhe
begantobeg,“Pleasesir,Iwassent”.Heroaredathim
again,“Yes,allofyouwillbedeadinyourattemptto
ejectus.”Thatwasthelasttimetheycamewithsucha
notice.DavidOyedepopositsthatagooddegreeof
spiritualviolenceisnotnegotiabletoengageina
spiritualfightandattainvictory.Forinstance,ittakesa
highlevelofspiritualityandgooddegreeofcourageto
“abandon”aflourishingchurchinadenselypopulated
LagossuburbforawildernessatOta,severalkilometers
awayfromwheremembersareevidentlyhighly
concentrated.Itisonlyastrangedimensionofcourage
thatwouldmakealeaderleavecertaintyforuncertainty
aslongaschurchgrowththeoryisconcerned.Heknows
LeadershipSecrets:#4
nothisstrengthwhohasnotmetadversity.Heavenalwayspreparesagoodmanwithcrosses.Hewhowants
aplaceinthesunshouldexpectblisters.Truthwelltold,
everythingaboutthemovefromLagostotheotherside
ofmidnightinOtawasatotalviolationofeveryknown
principleofchurchgrowth.Butthemovementwasin
obediencetoadivinemarchingorderthatbrooksno
retreat,nosurrender.Justtrustandobey,forthereisno
otherwaytoperformmind-bendingandnerve-jangling
exploitsforthegloryandadvertisementofGod'spower
thatwillleadmoresoulstotheKingdom.
Theonlyknowncureforfearisfaith.Yet,faithandworkarelikesoulandbody,handandheart.Letusall
surrendertofaithandgoodworksthatworkinunisonto
fulfillGod'sdivinedesignsforourlives.Godhadtold
Davidthefirsttimehearrivedatthefarawayforest;
“thisistheplace.”Everyotherthingthereforebecame
secondaryasfarashewasconcerned.Thenhestood
behindthepodiumon17,September1998andboldly
declaredthatFaithTabernaclewouldbededicatedby
September18,1999.AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,
suchaproject,ordinarily,was“…technically
impossible,logisticallyunthinkableand[practically
illogical,]”becausethedesignwasnotyetready,andit
wouldhavetogothroughalotofbureaucraticprocesses
LeadershipSecretsof
forapproval.Allthetechnical,structuraland
mechanicallogisticshadtobeperfectedbefore
commencement.Allthesecouldn'thavetakenlessthan
sevenmonthstobeinplace.Thequestionwas;would
suchamagnificentmonumentbecompletedinfive
months?Yetin1998,ahistoricground-breakingwas
doneandby18thSeptember,1999,acitybeganto
emergeinthecentreoftheformerlydreadedforestof
witchesandhorrificspirits.Theimposinglargestchurch
auditoriumintheworldasrecordedinGuinnessBook
ofRecords,nowstrategicallysitsinitsmagnificence
andsplendourinthecityknownasCanaanLandtoday.
Faithisthesubtlechainwhichbindsustotheinfiniteandresonateswiththatreassuring,unchangingworld
thathaschangedsomanydestiniesinthepastfrom
storytoglorythatallshallbewellnomatterwhatthe
devilmaysay;theLordwillhaveHisultimatewayto
prevail.WithGod,allthingsarepossible!Neveraspire
inyourlifetobea“might-have-been.”Goforitwith
boldnessofimaginationandnever-falteringstepsinthe
rightdirectiononceyoucangetthecuefromthesure,
unfailingsource:theLordAlmighty.Tohittheright
strideandgetyourbearingright,allyouneediscourage
afterthevisionorrevelation.Allgoesifcouragegoes!
Moreoftenthannothowever,itisinplainlyand
LeadershipSecrets:#4
thoughtlesslyrefusingdivinedirectivethatmakesmenvictimsoftheirpersonalprojections.Today,there
projections.Today,there
cannotbeanytechnicalorprofessionalexplanationfor
theeconomicpositionandthedimensionofchurch
growthinDavidOyedepo'sMinistriesWorldwide,
particularlyasexperiencedattheheadquartersin
Canaanland.ThefacilityisalmostbecomingoverstressedbyreasonoftheinfluxofmultitudeintoeveryserviceincludingSundaysandnightvigils,allbecause
someonewasdaringenoughtofollowthevoiceofthe
invisibleOne,whosedwellingisinthelight.Theannual
Shiloheventhassincebeendecentralizedthrough
viewingcentresacrossLagosStateandvariousmission
stationsacrossNigeria,Africantownsandcitiesand
otherpartsoftheworld.Yet,thecrowdrecordedyearly
stillremainsunexplainable.Allbecausesomebodywas
andstilliscourageousenoughtoturnhisbacktohuman
theoriesandfactsinpursuitofaGodgivenvision.
Buildingacityinthewildernesswitheverfunctionalinfrastructureandamenitiestoservetheresidentsofthe
entirecommunityissimplyamazing:theUniversity
community,thesecondaryschoolcommunity,the
churchandsecretariatworkers,theartisansandthe
businessenvironment.Itbecomesmoreamazingina
businessenvironment.Itbecomesmoreamazingina
countrywheretheverybasicamenities(including
LeadershipSecretsof
electricity,watersupply,androadnetwork)are
languishingindecadenceduetopoormanagementand
maintenance.Thisisacitywhere,amongotherthings,is
installeda500KVAbattery-runelectricpower
generatingset;ofcoursewithoutfuel.Amazingthings
happendailyinthis'cityinthedesert'thatcallsfor
publicattention.InNovember,2011,farawayinSouth
Korea,CovenantUniversitywonagoldmedalatthe
YoungInventorsInternationalcontest,oncemore
showcasingthegloryofNigeria.Withoutdoubt,
CanaanLandisacityofasort,affordingallmannersof
goodness.
OnSundayMarch1,2009,thesecondSundayservicekickedoffatFaithTabernacle.Itsimplymeantthe
congregationhadexceededthe50,000seatcapacity
churchauditorium.Themultiplicationexperiencedin
2009wasnotunconnectedwiththemaiden21days
fastingandprayerplatformthatGodcommanded
DavidOyedepotodeclaretotheentireWinners'family
worldwidetoushertheMinistryandtheWinners'
familyintothefullnessofGod'sagendafortheyear.
Oneofthemajoreffectsgeneratedbythisspiritual
engagementisunhinderedchurchgrowth.Multitudes
areattractedtotheWinners'familybyreasonofthe
strangetestimoniessharedbythosewhomGodhas
LeadershipSecrets:#4
touchedinadefinitewaythatyoucannotjustkeepclosetoyourchest.Theyear2009wasmoreorlessayearof
spiritualadventurededicatedsolelytofastingand
prayer,coupledwithregularspecializedoutreaches.It
wasnowonder,therefore,thaton17January2010,the
servantofGoddeclaredthecommencementofthethird
serviceonaSundaymorningatFaithTabernacle.The
trafficofpeopleandvehiclesexperiencedinCanaan
Landateverymeetinghasnomentalorhuman
explanation.
DavidOyedepowillalwayshelphisskepticswithstatementssuchas“GodspeaksaccordingtoHissize,
divineinsightiswhatenhancesthedeliveryofdivine
agenda.DavidOyedepoindeedisanapostleoffaith.He
isanindefatigableleaderwhokeepsscalingheightsof
exploitsinleapsandbounds,theopposition
exploitsinleapsandbounds,theopposition
notwithstanding.Hepositsthateverytruevisionplaces
thevisionaryatanadvantageonthestrengthoffaith.
Heoncechargedhisteamingpastors:“Aslongasthere
isstillroomintheinn,wemustkeepgoingouttobring
inmoresouls.”Hehasahighpoweredspiritually
inspiredapproachtogettingeveryoutreachmandate
delivered.OnSunday,February13,2011acoupleof
weeksaftertheannual21-dayprayerandfasting,the
servantofGodpronouncedthecommencementofthe
LeadershipSecretsof
4thserviceonSundaymorningbecauseheheardGodspeaktohimfromIsaiah54:2-3saying,“Enlargethe
placeofthytent….”Whilemanywereexcitedaboutit,
theskepticssimplyheldtheirpeacewatchingand
wondering:“What…Why…andHow?”Whentheday
came,20,000newworshipperswereaddedtoFaith
Tabernacle!Currently,4anointedservicesarerunning
insuccessioneachSundaymorning,atFaith
Tabernacle,allirresistiblyimpactfulwithbundlesof
unprecedentedtestimoniestrailingeach.
NochallengeeverintimidatesDavidOyedepo.BeforethededicationofFaithTabernacleinSeptember1999,it
TabernacleinSeptember1999,it
didnotappear,humanlyspeaking,thatSeptember18,
1999wouldbecomeareality.Somenay-sayerswho
werealientothemindofGodontheprojecttookmerry
turnstowaveitoffaspurehallucinationandmindless
fantasy.Buthewasnotperturbed,neitheryieldedtothe
professionalsuggestionsgivenbyeconomistsand
financialanalysts.Hewasquiet,waitingtoreceivea
signalfromabove.ThenGodtoldhim:“Ittookmesixdaystocreateheavenandtheearth;Iwillnotneedtwomonths
tofinishanordinarybuilding,twomonthstoomuch!”
Theworkwascompletedinalogic-defying,sanitymocking,butGod-edifyingmanner,andtheentireLeadershipSecrets:#4
financialrequirementwasmetwithoutpressure.
AndrewJacksononcesaid,“Onemanwithcourageisa
majority”.DavidOyedepo'scouragehasbeenasource
ofencouragementtomanyofhisfollowersandhaswon
manyfollowerstohimglobally.ThomasPainewasvery
correctwhenheassertedthat“Therearetoomany
peopleprayingformountainsofdifficultytobe
removed,whenwhattheyreallyneedisthecourageto
climb”.Ithasbeenprovedbygreatachieversthat,there
isnowisdomorcounselthatcanresistorcircumventthe
firmresolveofadeterminedsoul.AccordingtoOmar
Bradley,“Courageisthecapacitytoperformproperly
evenwhenscaredhalftodeath.”
Amanofcourageisfulloffaith.HerearethewordsofReinholdNiebuhr,“Lord,grantmetheserenityto
acceptthingsIcannotchange,thecouragetochange
thingsIcan,andthewisdomtoknowthedifference”.
AccordingtoEdgarA.Guest,“courageisn'tabrilliant
dash,adaringdeedinamoment'sflash.Itisn'tan
instantaneousthing,butit'ssomethingdeepinthesoul
ofmanthatisalwaysworkingtoservesomeplan”.
Petit-Sennputsitthisway,“Truecourageislikeakite;a
contrarywindraisesithigher.”TheWordoftheLord
capsitupinthebookofDeuteronomy,“Bestrongand
courageous!Donotbeafraidofthem!TheLordyour
LeadershipSecretsof
Godwillgoaheadofyou.Hewillneitherfailyounorforsakeyou.”[31:1].Courageisaboosterofdreams;it
isanenhancementofexploits.Itisacatalystfor
accomplishment.Couragewillalwayscomplement
somethinginyourlifeagainsteveryformofchallenge.
Couragecombatsandconquersfearonyourpathto
Couragecombatsandconquersfearonyourpathto
fulfillmentofpurpose.Courageisahighspeedinner
forcethatdrivesyouinthedirectionofyourvision,the
barriersnotwithstanding.
TOTHEQUITTERTheworldwon'tcareifyouquitTheworldwon'twhineifyoufail;
Thebusyworldwon'tnoticeit,Nomatterhowloudlyyouwail.NobodywillworryThatyouhaverelinquishedthefight
Andgonedown,Butit'sonlythethingsthatyoudo
Thatisworthwhileandgetsyourenowned
Thequittersarequicklyforgotten;
Ofthemtheworldspendslittletime;
Andafewe'ercareThatyou'venotthecourageOrpatiencetoclimb
LeadershipSecrets:#4
Sogiveupandquitindespair,Andtakeyourplacebackontheshelf;
Butdon'tthinktheworld'sgoingtocare;
Youareinjuringonlyyourself
-AnonymousLeadershipSecretsof
“Ifitgoeswrong,Iamresponsible,ifitgoeswell,youmadeithappen.”-DavidOyedepo105DIPLOMACY“Don'tleadyourteamwithawhip,givethemadreamandhelpthemreachit.”BillNewmanLeadershipSecretsof
O
nemajorpriorityofanyleadershouldbeearningtheloyaltyoftheteam.Thereasonis
notfarfetched,if,asithasbeensaid,that,
withoutvisionpeopleperish,thentheconverseistrue:withoutpeople,visionperishes.Earningtheloyaltyof
theteamhowever,cannotbeachievedbyforceor
coercion.Itcanbeeffectivelyachievedbyconstant
enthusiasmandcurioussensitivitytotheplightsofeach
memberoftheteam.Eachoneisgivenroomforgrowth
andguaranteedasenseofbelonginginthesystem.This
iswherediplomacyplaysamajorroleinleadershipfor
maximumimpactanddelivery.Whoisadiplomatic
leader?Adiplomaticleaderisaleaderwhocandeal
withsituationsinamannerthatdoesnotoffendorhurt
thoseinvolved.JustlikeapostlePaulsaidinthebookof
ActswhenaddressingtheassemblyofEldersbefore
AnaniastheHighPriest,hesaid,amongotherthings,
that:“andhereindoIexercisemyself,tohavealwaysa
consciencevoidofoffencetowardsGodandtowards
men”[23:17].
Adiplomaticpersonisanindividualwhomakesconsciouseffortsinordertomakebeneficialormutual
relationshipwithothers.Inmostinstances,adiplomatic
persondoesnotonlyavoidoffendingpeople,heisalso
LeadershipSecrets:#5
skillfulindiligentlypraisingothersfortheir
achievements.Contrarytotheopinionofmany,
diplomacyisnotequaltohypocrisy,lying,gossip,
favouritismorcompromise.Diplomacyisnotabout
pleasingeveryone,whichobviouslyisaneffortin
futility.Thegreatestleaderofalltimes,Jesus,liberally
employeddiplomacyindealingwiththecomplexityof
thepeopleatsuchadifficultdispensation.The
accusationofthe“adulterouswoman”quicklycomesto
mind.ShewasbroughtbeforeJesusfortwopurposes;
firsttochallengeHisintelligence,andtwo,tomakeHim
offendagainstthelawoftheland.TheLawofMoses
clearlyspecifiedthatsuchanaccused,aftertwoorthree
witnesses,shouldbestonedtodeath.Theonlyescape
routeinsuchachallengingsituationisthecorridorof
diplomacy.“Castthefirststone,”Jesusintoned,
“anyoneofyouwhohasneversinnedbefore.”Jesus
shiftedhiseyesfromthemtoallowtheaccusersreason
diligentlyandjudge.Thetruthwas,therewasnoneof
themwhosehandhadnotbeendippedinsin.Thecase
decideditselfintheend,astheaccusersdroppedtheir
stonesandreturnedtotheirtentsonebyone.Onelife
wassaved,Jesuswasjustified.Caseclosed.Indeed,
diplomacyenhancesaleader'scapabilityindealingwith
criticalissuesamongpeopleofvariedtemperaments
andbeliefs.
LeadershipSecretsof
Diplomacyistheskilltoconsiderinattendingtootherpeople'sfeelings.BillNewmangenerouslycounseled;
“Don'tleadyourteamwithawhip,givethemadream
andhelpthemreachit.”Leadershipiswhatisinyou
thatyougivetoothers.Itisageneralnotionthatifyou
don'thaveanythinginyou,thenyou'vegotnothingto
offerothers.Leadershipqualityistobeconsciously
cultivatedandnotassumed.Itisessentiallyinyour
abilitytocarryothersalongwithyou,showinggood
exampleandmaintainingasenseofhonestyby
practisingwhatyouarepromoting.
ApostlePaulwasoneofthemostskillfuldiplomaticleaderstheworldhaseverwitnessed(secondonlyto
JesusChrist;even,histrainerandmentor,Gamaliel
queuedbehindhim).Paulemployedtheskillof
diplomacytounifypeoplesofdiversebeliefs,racesand
languages.HewroteinhisfirstlettertotheCorinthians:
“Givenooffense,eithertotheJewsorto
theGreeksortothechurchofGod,even
asIalsopleaseallmeninallthings,not
seekingmyownprofit,buttheprofitof
many,thattheymaybesaved”[10:32-33].
Thestatement,“evenasIalsopleaseallmeninall
things,”doesnotmeanthatPaulmadeanefforttoLeadershipSecrets:#5
pleaseeverybody,ratherhemadeanefforttomeet
everyone'semotionalandspiritualneeds.
ThecounselofPaul'stutorandmentor,aDoctoroflaw,Gamaliel,intheCounciloftheHighPriestandTemple
CounciloftheHighPriestandTemple
Captainswasalsoadisplayofdiplomacy.Atthattime,
itwasadifficulttasktobreakthroughtheholdofthe
firmresolveoftheCouncilwithacontraryopinion,
particularlywhenitwascomingfromjustoneperson
amongmany.Yet,Gamalielstoodastheoddmanout
andsaidamongotherthings:
“AndnowIsaytoyou,keepawayfrom
thesemenandletthemalone;forifthis
planorthisworkisofmen,itwillcometo
nothing,butifitisofGodyoucannot
overthrowit—lestyoubefoundtofight
againstGod.”
Gamaliel'scounseltechnicallycancelledtheunanimouscounseloftheothersintheCouncil,ofslayingtheearly
Apostles,includingPeterandJohn.Obviously,the
CouncilwasarrestedbyGamaliel'sdiplomaticopinion,
andbecamehandicappedinexecutingtheirplantokill
theapostles.Yet,theyneverlabeledhimasan
opposition.Generally,theactofdiplomacyseeksto
maintainpeace,decorumandsocialstability,andthat
LeadershipSecretsof
withouthurtinganyparty.PaulinhisfirstlettertotheCorinthiansexpressedhisdiplomaticleadershipskillin
coordinatingpeopleofdifferentcharactersand
perspectives:
“ForthoughIamfreefromallmen,I
havemademyselfaservanttoall,thatI
mightwinthemore;andtotheJewsI
becameasaJew,thatImightwinthose
whoareunderthelaw.Tothosethatare
withoutlaw,aswithoutlaw(notbeing
withoutlawtowardGod,butunderthe
lawtowardChrist)thatImightwinthose
whoarewithoutlaw;totheweak,I
becameasweak,thatImightwinthe
weak.Ihavebecomeallthingstoallmen
thatImightbyallmeanssavesome”
[9:19-22].
Anyleaderwhoisskillfultodoalltheseandmore,withouthypocrisyorcompromise,liketheexamplesof
Jesus,GamalielandApostlePaulabove,isregardedasa
diplomaticleader.DavidOyedepoisoneofsuch
leaders.Beingdiplomaticissynonymouswithtact.Itis
theskillinmanagingcommunicationandrelationships
betweenpeoplewithinanorganization.David
Oyedepoasadynamicleaderhasearnedtheloyaltyof
LeadershipSecrets:#5
hislargeteamwithhiscompellingvisionandhisabilitytopropelhisteamtohighperformancethrough
constantsessionsofmentalempowerment,
maximizingallavailableresourcesincludinghuman,
materialsandfinance,culminatingincompetence,
efficiency,effectivenessandexpertiseofhisteam.
Withoutdoubt,thenumericalgrowthofworshippersexperiencedinWinners’ChapelInternational
headquartersinNigeriaistriggeredbyDavid
Oyedepo'sdiplomaticability.Armedwiththetoolof
vision(oramandate),hehasmasteredhowto,
withoutgimmicksorcoercion,motivatehisentire
congregationtogetengagedinthedrivetoevangelize
andbringnewpeopletofilla50,000seatcapacity
auditoriumtooverflow.Hiscongregationneversaw
anyinstructionfromhimasaburdenoran
inconvenienttask,butasanopportunityanda
platformfortheirblessing.Forexample,betweenthe
monthofJuneandJuly2013,DavidOyedepo
monthofJuneandJuly2013,DavidOyedepo
declared“SevenWeeksofIngathering(evangelism).”
Likeaswarmofbees,membersofhiscongregations
allovertheworldinvadingtheirvariouscommunities,
winningsoulsfortheLord.Withmuchenthusiasm
theycontinuedconsistentlyforsevenweeksthrough
variousstrategicoutreachapproaches.Bytheendof
LeadershipSecretsof
July,morethan54,000newpeoplewereaddedtotheWinners'ChapelInternationalheadquarters,Ota,
alone.
However,tobringsuchtobear,diplomacymustgohand-in-handwithintuitivethinkingonthepartofa
leader.ThesecretbehindDavidOyedepo'sintuitive
thinkingistheinnervoiceoftheSpirit.Itishisexposure
todivinedirection.OlajumokeFamilonireflectedinher
book,LeadershipStylesofGreatMen,theworksofBojeandDennehy(2000)onthesubjectofintuitivethinking.
Inittheauthorsassertedthat,
“intuitivethinkingwillbreakthetraditions
oforganizations;itfocusesonteamwork
andrecognizesonlyinputsandtalentsthat
contributetoinnovationandout-of-theordinarythinking.Organizationsthatallowthecultureofintuitivethinkingwill
allowthecultureofintuitivethinkingwill
definitelyexcelinthecompetitiveglobal
landscape.Theywillrelyonprojectteams
andtalents,aswellasrecognizeand
rewardthoseout-of-ordinarythinkers[in
theorganization].”
DavidOyedepohasemployedthispostmodern
organizationalpracticeanditisworkingforhim.LeadershipSecrets:#5
PromotioninhisMinistryisbasedonmeritandnotonfamiliarityorotherwise.Everyoneisgivenrecognition
andadequatelyrewardedwithrespecttohisorher
performanceanddelivery.Diplomacy,whenwell
harnessed,engendersloyaltyfromthepeople.“The
loyaltyofyourteamispriceless.Itcannotbeboughtor
securedbyfavours.Itisnotwonovernight.Loyaltyis
onlygivenbyyourteamastheythinktheirleaderis
worthyofit”[BILLNEWMAN].
DavidOyedepoprovidedanenablingenvironmentforallwhoworkinhisorganization.Heencourageshis
teamtomakemaximumuseofallfacilitiesand
materialsprovidedwithintheorganizationfortheir
personalimprovement.Hepersonallyconductsregular
empowermenttrainingforhisteammembersto
enhanceperformanceandexpertise.Helooksforways
topersonallyhelpthemfixtheirindividualchallengesto
provehecaresforthem.Heoncetookhisclosestteamof
officialsinhisMinistrytotheRedemptionCampto
meetthemanofGod,hisfather,PastorE.A.Adeboye,
theGeneralOverseeroftheRedeemedChristian
ChurchofGod.Ongettingthere,hetoldthemanof
God,“Sir,Ibroughtthemtoyousoyoumaypersonally
givethemyourphonenumber.Perhapstheymightlike
toconfideinyouoncertainthingstheyprobablyare
LeadershipSecretsof
hesitanttotellmebecauseofthe[bureaucratic]natureofour[hierarchical]relationshipandoperations.Thatis
leveltact!WhitleyDavidsaid,“Agoodsupervisorisa
catalyst,notadrillsergeant.Hecreatesanatmosphere
whereintelligentpeoplearewillingtofollowhim.He
doesn'tcommand;heconvinces.”
AnotherareawhereDavidOyedepotypifies
indisputablesenseofdiplomacyishiswillingnessto
acceptblameforeveryobservablewronginthe
organization.Thisheoftensayswheneverhespeakson
theaccomplishmentoftheorganization:“Ifitisgood,
youdidit(referringtohiscongregation);andifitis
otherwise,Iamresponsible.”Hehassimplyemployed
theWindow/Mirrorprincipleofleadership.Agreat
leadergivescredittothepeoplewhenthingsaregoing
well.Butwhenthingsaregoingtheotherway,hebears
theblameandtakesresponsibility.Thisishowthe
principleworks:whentheorganizationisdoingwell,
youlookthroughthewindowandsay,“thesearethe
peoplethatmadeithappen.”Whentheorganizationis
doingbadly,youlookinyourmirrorandsay,“Yes,Itake
responsibility”.
LeadershipSecrets:#5
Inhisbook,
It'sYourShip,formerUS.NavyCaptain
MichaelAbrashoffwrites,“WheneverIcouldnotgettheresultsI
wanted,Iswallowedmytemperandturned
inwardtoseeifIwaspartoftheproblem.I
askedmyselfthreequestions:DidIclearly
articulatethegoal?DidIgivepeople
enoughtimeandresourcestoaccomplish
thetask?DidIgivethemenoughtraining?I
discoveredthat90percentofthetime,Iwas
atleastasmuchapartoftheproblemasmy
peoplewere”.
ManytimesDavidOyedepohadneededtoretracehisstepsforarepositioning.Throughhisbooksand
electronicmessageshehasusedsuchexperiencesas
analogytohelpotherstotaketherightstepintheright
direction.Heisnotshyorashamedofsharingwiththe
worldtheinstanceswhenhemademistakesindecision
making.ItisgeneralknowledgethatThomasEdison
madefranticeffortstoachievetheevolutionoftheelectric
bulbfordomesticuseandhe“failed”9,999times.Oneof
hisfriendsaskedhiminsheermockery,“Won'tyou
attempttofailagainthis10,000thtime?”ThomasEdison
sympathizedwithhisnarrow-mindedfriendwithan
answerseasonedwithburningoptimism,“No,Ididnot
LeadershipSecretsof
fail9,999times;I'vesucceededindetecting9,999waysinwhichanelectricbulbwillnotevolve.”Accordingtothe
intelligentdiagnosisofIghoOtejiriOrienruinhisbook,
TheMiracleofPurpose,“[Edison's]answerwasastunninglessoninreadjustmentandflexibility”.ThomasEdison
laterbecamethefirstscientistintheworldtodevelopa
systemthatfacilitatedthedistributionofelectricpower
fordomesticuse(homes,offices,andetcetera).His
companybeganproducingelectricityforhomesinNew
YorkCityin1882andeventually,homesallovertheworld
begantouseelectricity.Amongmanyindustrial
companiesestablishedbyThomasEdisonisGeneral
ElectricCompany,whichisstillthrivingtilltoday.
Obviously,thereisnoarrogantindividualthatcanaccomplishthedimensionoffeatasreflectedinthelife
andministryofDavidOyedepo.Ittakesdiplomacy
andministryofDavidOyedepo.Ittakesdiplomacy
seasonedwithhumility.Whendiplomacymingleswith
humility,theproductisonespiritualmagneticfieldthat
naturallyattractsfollowership.Thishasreflectedinthe
wayhehonourshislieutenantsinpublic.Mosttimeshe,
likeaforerunner,wouldbetheonetopreparetheheartof
thecongregationinreadinessforaministrationtobe
takenbyhislieutenant,DavidAbioye,andhedoesitwith
allsenseofdutyandhonour.DuringShiloh2011,while
introducingDavidAbioye,hebeganbysaying,“Youwill
LeadershipSecrets:#5
liketojoinmetowelcomethispreciousmanofGodthat
hasstayed-throughinthisministryfrominception.One
ofmymostsuccessfulprotégés(Yelling,clappinginthecongregation)inministrywhoisswimminginthesame
dimensionofgracetoday[asIdo],I'mblessedtohave
him,andI'mproudofhim.Wouldyoujoinmein
welcomingthismorning,BishopDavidAbioye(Yelling,clapping)…”Then,therecameclimbingtheplatform,
DavidAbioye.ThemanofGodcontinued,“Can'tyou
seeheisaddingalotofweight…(Yelling,clapping)ifyouhavespiritualeyesyoucanseethat.Wearegainingweight
atthesamelevel…(Yelling,clapping)”
DavidOyedepoisnotthetypethatteasesorcajolespeople.Thatwillbetantamounttohypocrisyanditwill
beinimicaltothehealthofhisorganization.He
naturallycreatesafriendlyplatformformutual
interactionwithhissubordinates,therebypromotinga
senseofbelongingwithintheteam.Itisallabout
puttingthepeoplefirst.Thoughyouwillstillcomefirst
butyoumusthavethehumilityandabilitytoputthe
peoplefirstasatrueleader.Bysodoing,yourfollower
willdoanythingtoachieveboththeorganizational
goalsandyourpersonalcravings.Justlikethethree
goalsandyourpersonalcravings.Justlikethethree
lieutenantsofKingDavidintheBiblewhoriskedtheir
livestomeetthepersonallongingoftheirmaster.
LeadershipSecretsof
KingDavidhadlongedforwaterfromnowhereelsebutthewellofBethlehem.Itwaspracticallyadifficulttask
becausethebarricadeoftheirarchenemy,thePhilistine
atthethresholdofBethlehemwasalreadyanobvious
bloodyhuddletoovercome.Yethisthreeboysstillput
theirlivesonthelineanddefiedthebarrier.They
successfullycamebackwiththeirmaster'sdesire.
That'samazing.Notallleadersmayenjoysucha
degreeofloyaltybutitisonlyleaderslikeDavidwho
putthepeoplefirstthatcan.Thequestionhereis,Was
Davidreallythirstyorhejustwantedtotesttheloyalty
ofhisboys?TheactionDavidtookinresponsetotheir
heroicfeatmadeoneaskthequestion.Davidrefusedto
drinkthewaterbutpoureditontheground,saying,
“Beitfarfromme,OLORD,thatIshould
dothis:isnotthisthebloodofthemen
thatwentinjeopardyoftheirlives?
Thereforehewouldnotdrinkit...”
Evenifheweretrulythirsty,Daviddemonstratedheputthepeoplefirst,andheshowedheappreciatedtheir
effortsforendangeringtheirlivesforhissake.
DavidOyedepowillnotstoptoalwaysshow
appreciationtoallinhisteam,individualperformance
notwithstanding.Hegiveskudostoallintheteam,to
LeadershipSecrets:#5
boththeexemplaryperformersandtheplodderswhodragtheeffortsbydoingthingstheirownwayandpace.
Heisalwaysproudoftheaccomplishmentoftheteam
workandalwaysencouragestheteamforbetter
performance.Heorganizesfeastsandalwaysgiveshis
teamcreditfortheirsuccesses.Hedoesnotshyaway
fromtakingthepersonalresponsibilityofdealingwith
histeammembersasindividuals,contactingthem
throughthephoneandencouragingthemtosharetheir
heart.Hehasalsopassedthisattributedownthe
hierarchy,therebykeepingtouchwitheverymemberin
hisorganization.Thishasresultedinpeoplereturning
withasenseofappreciation,smilesandincreased
performance.
DavidOyedepoindeedisahighperformerandencourager.Heisnothastytocrucifyanyerring
member,knowingthatasgrowthoccurs,mistakeswill
bemade.Heacceptshonestmistakesasthepricefor
innovation.Hegiveseveryonealargeroomfor
personaladjustmentandcharacterrepositioningin
conformitywithorganizationalethics.DavidOyedepo
hasalwaysenjoyedabsoluteloyaltyfromhis
subordinatesandheisstillenjoyingitbecausehewill
alwaysputthemfirst.Thatisthepowerofwisdomin
thelifeofadynamicleader.
LeadershipSecretsofBillNewman121HUMILITY“Howtrulyteachableyouareis
measuredbyhowmuchyoucanlearn,notfromyoursuperiors,butfromyoursubordinates.”E.AAdeboye,GO,RCCGLeadershipSecretsof
H
umilityisavitalspiritualvirtuerequiredbyanyleadertotrulysucceed.Theclosest
synonymsofhumilityare:self-effacement,
unpretentiousness,humbleness,modesty,meekness.
Prideandarrogancearetheclosestantonymsof
humility.Ahumbleleaderdoesnotsubscribetoselfaggrandizement.IsaacNewtononcesaid,“ifIcouldseefurtherthanothers,itwasbecauseIstoodon
Newtononcesaid,“ifIcouldseefurtherthanothers,itwasbecauseIstoodonthe
shouldersofgiants.”DavidOyedepoisahumbleman.
Humilityhaslittleornothingtodowithapiouslookor
quietcountenance.Humilityispurelyanattitudeandit
isaspiritualattributeorvirtue.
DavidOyedepoisamanwithahumblespirit,whoiswillingtositandlistentothevoiceofthe“least”person
inhisteam.Byhishumility,helearnttoconfidein
peoplehecouldtrust.Hegiveseveryonearoundhima
senseofimportancebyhiswillingnesstosharerelevant
informationwiththem.DavidOyedepohasneverbeen
knowntoeverclaimhewasself-made;no.Ratherhe
willnotstoptellingtheworldthevariouspersonalities
fromwhomhehadcontactedthegraceandwisdom
behindhisexemplaryfeats.Hedeclared,“Thereisno
howIwillstopmentioning[thenameofthelatesage]
KennethE.Hagin[theapostleandfatherofthefaith
LeadershipSecrets:#5
movement]intheyearlyShilohgatheringtillforever…”
becausethatwasthemanofGodthroughwhomhe
receivedthetransferenceoftheunusualgracethathas
generatedthemonumentalripplesofresultshis
generatedthemonumentalripplesofresultshis
Ministryhasrecorded.Heisanexampleofgivingcredit
towhomcreditisdue.Heissuchamanthatwillnot
acceptthepraisesascribedtohim,buthewillalwaysrechannelthemtoGodthegiverofthestrengthandgracethathadenabledhimtoachievewhateverpeopleare
eulogizinghimfor.Thegreatscientistandinventor,
AlbertEinsteinoncedeclared,“ManytimesadayI
realizehowmuchmyownouterandinnerlifeisbuilt
uponthelaborsofmyfellowmen,bothlivinganddead,
andhowearnestlyImustexertmyselfinordertogivein
returnasmuchasIhavereceived.”
HereisamanwhoshedstearsonhearingsomethoughtprovokingtestimoniesshareduponthealtarofFaith
Tabernacle.Sometimeshewouldriseandliftuphis
handsinappreciationtotheLordwhohasmadeit
possiblethroughhisMinistry.Aftersuchtestimonies,he
wouldmountthepulpittocommentandexonerate
himselffromtheglorythereof.Heoncesaid,“Ihave
neverlostanyvirtuesinceIstartedMinistry,virtue
belongstoJesus,andHeistheonewhosevirtuegoesout
toheal.IfIwillhavetolosevirtueforthosehealing,I
LeadershipSecretsof
wouldhaveexhaustedall.”HerearethewordsofBillNewman,amanIsuddenlyfellinlovewiththroughthe
insightfromhisbook,10LawsofLeadership,hesaid,
“oneofthesurestevidenceofgreatnessisahumble
spirit.Thefirsttestofatrulygreatpersonishishumility.
Ahumblepersoncanneitherbeputdownnorexalted;
theycanneitherbehumiliatednorhonored;they
remainthesamepersonunderallcircumstances.”
ThosedescriptionsbestmatchDavidOyedepo.He
neverpaidhisdetractorsoropponentsbackintheirown
coins.Inmybook:TriumphinginLeadershipdespite
Oppositions,Iwrote:“Thereisnoresistancethatcan
conquerorquelltheburningpassionofareal
revolutionary”.
DavidOyedepohasneverembracedanypraiseofmenunderanycircumstances.Livingforselfislivingfor
doom.Self-centrednessisanothernamefortheletter
“I”.“I”isinthecentreofsin,“I”isinthecentreof
pride,and“I”isinthecentreofanxiety!DavidOyedepo
isneveran“I”person,ratherheisa“we”person.The
storywastoldofToscanini,ofhowhehumbly
respondedtohisorchestrawhenhisorchestraburstinto
applauseatarehearsalbecausetheyrealizedtheheight
towhichhehadliftedthem,theyweresoproudofhim,
butherewaswhathesaidinresponse,“Itisnotme,itis
LeadershipSecrets:#5
Beethoven”.Thatistheattitudeofahumbleleader,andDavidOyedepotypifiesit.Asmentionedearlieronhow
heoncetookhisclosestteamofofficialsintheMinistry
totheRedemptionCamptomeetthemanofGod,his
father,PastorE.A.Adeboye,andtoldthemanofGod,
“Sir,Ibroughtthemtoyousoyoumaypersonallygive
themyourphonenumber,perhapstheymightliketo
confideinyouoncertainthingstheyprobablyare
hesitanttotellme…”,itcertainlywilltakeanother
realmofthoughtfulnessandhighlevelhumilitytodare
such!”
PastorE.A.Adeboyeoncesaid,“Howtrulyteachableyouareismeasuredbyhowmuchyoucanlearn,not
fromyoursuperiors,butfromyoursubordinates”.Tobe
teachableistofirstcultivatetherightattitude,andthat
attitudeishumility.DavidOyedepoisa360degree
learner,helearnsandtakescounselfromhis
subordinates.AccordingtoBillNewman,“Leaders,
becauseoftheirnatures,tendtohaveblindspots.You
becauseoftheirnatures,tendtohaveblindspots.You
mayneedatrustedfriendtotellyouhowyouarecoming
acrosstopeople.Weareinaconstantstateofchange.
Theleaderneedsconstantappraisal.Noonehas
arrived.Noonehasgotitcompletelytogether.”
LeadershipSecretsof
JohnC.Maxwell,theLeadershipexpertandauthor,inhisbook,WinningwithPeople,said:“Eachpersonwe
meethasthepotentialtoteachussomething”.Ittakes
humilityforthefounderofaninstitutiontoremain
obedientlyanswerabletotheChurchCouncil(whichhe
institutedinthefirstplace).This,hehasbeendoingfrom
theinceptionofhisMinistry,overthirtyyearsagotill
date.Asvitalashumilityis,itisdifficulttopractise
exceptoneisspirituallyinclined.Withoutthehelpof
theHolySpirit,thepracticeofhumilitywillremaina
difficulttask.JohnSeiden,a16thcenturyEnglish
historianandJuristonceasserted:“Humilityisavirtue
allpreach,nonepractice,andyeteverybodyiscontentto
hear.Themasterthinksitgooddoctrineforhisservant,
thelaityfortheclergy,andtheclergyforthelaity.”
ThestorywastoldofGreatBritain'sgreatestAdmiralandNavalhero,ViscountHoratioNelson.Afterthe
HoratioNelson.Afterthe
battleofCopenhagen,herefusedanhonourgivenhim
bytheCityofLondon,becausehealonewastobe
honoured.Nelsonreplied,“NevertilltheCityof
Londonthinksjustlyofthemeritsofmybrave
companionson2AprilcanI,theircommander,receive
anyattentionfromtheCityofLondon.”Thatis
humilityparexcellence!OneofNelson'sgreat
LeadershipSecrets:#5
characteristicsasacommanderwashiswillingnesstogivefullcredittohisofficersandmen.DavidOyedepo
willalwaysintone:“Nomortalmanhasthecapacityto
buildaninstitutionofthismagnitude!Ifanyoneboasts
thathedid,Godwillkillhim.Godisthedoer!”Hewill
onceinawhileremindhiscongregation:“Thisisthe
Universityyoubuilt;youneedtogothereandtakea
lookround.Icouldnotaccomplishthis;ifmy
generation'sassetswereallputtogether,wecouldnot
accomplishthisfeat.ThisisyourUniversity!Thisis
yourCanaanLand!WewantCovenantUniversitytobe
theHarvardofNigeria.”
IsaacNewtonalsowasahumblemanwhoneverwantedhispraisesungbeyondmeasure.Hishumility
measure.Hishumility
wasdeeplyrootedinhisspirituality,whichalsowasthe
rootoftheinspirationbehindallhisdiscoveries.Itisno
wonder,asBernardBaruchremarked,“Millionssaw
theapplefall,butNewtonwastheonewhoaskedwhy”.
Oneofhiscontemporaries,Voltaireoncepouncedon
IsaacNewtonharshlyincriticismforstatingthatDaniel
12:4mightmeanthathumanbeingswouldeventually
developasystemoftransportationthatwouldenablea
persontotravelataspeedoffiftymilesperhour.Isaac
Newton'shumilityreflectedinhisreluctancetopublish
theresultsofhisprovendiscoveriesuntillongafter
LeadershipSecretsof
development.IsaacNewtononcesaid,“Icantakemytelescopeandlookmillionsofmilesintothespace,butI
canlayitasideandgointomyroom,shutthedoor,get
downonmykneesinearnestprayer,andseemoreof
heavenandgetclosertoGodthanIcanbeassistedbyall
thetelescopesandmaterialagenciesontheearth.”Isaac
Newtonneverclaimedtobeaself-acclaimedoriginator
despiteallhismonumentalinventions.
DavidOyedepo'slevelofhumilityisnotable,
consideringtheheighttowhichGodhasexaltedhim.
ThismanofGodisnotatitle-crazyleader;hetakesafter
hisfather,“PastorKennethE.Hagin,whomosttimes
preferredtobeaddressedas“BrotherKennethHagin”.
DavidOyedepounequivocallyintonesoften,“Thereis
noentitlementintitle;onlylabourersareentitledto
wages”.Duringthe25thanniversaryofDavid
Oyedepo'sMinistryin2006,awell-respectedmanof
GodinNigeriawasappreciatingandeulogizinghimon
thealtarofFaithTabernacle,Ota.Thenitgottoapoint
themanofGodlookedinDavidOyedepo'sdirection
andpronounced,“YouaretheArchbishopofour
time…”IchuckledwhereIwasseated,andthenI
shiftedmyfocusinDavidOyedepo’sdirectionto
capturehisfacialreactionorresponse.He,inhis
characteristicsstylemerelysmiledandgiggled,knowing
LeadershipSecrets:#5
wellthatsuchatitlewasnotintheglossaryofhisheart.
Hewouldnotacceptit,exceptitisvalidatedintheWord
ofGod.Doubtless,somecontemporaryChristian
leadersperhapswouldhavetakenadvantageofsucha
publicproclamationfromthemouthofsucharevered
publicproclamationfromthemouthofsucharevered
figure,andhurriedlyarrangeforakangarooceremonial
ordinationtobeartheportfolioofanArchbishop,
whichdefinitelyaddsnothingtotheirspirituality!
Ultimately,theofficeofanArchbishopissuitablefor
administrativeconvenienceinalargechurch
organization.Thereisnothingwrongwithit.Yet,titles
reallydonotmakeanymanmorespiritualthananother
(brotherorsister)whoknowshisorherredemptive
obligationsandrights.
Indeed,ifanychurchorganizationreallyrequiresanarchbishopric,LivingFaithChurchWorldwide
(Winners'ChapelInternational)requiresitmuchmore.
ButDavidOyedepowillratherremainatparwithhis
lieutenants;title-wise.This,inasense,placesvalidityon
hisactofpracticalhumility.
LeadershipSecretsof
“Fromnow,myswordisyoursword…”KennethCopelandMENTORING“Therearesomanyorphansinthe
bodyofChristtoday…everyshadowatonetimehasbeenThosewhoareashamedtobecallednurturedbyanothershadow.thesonsofsomeonearenever
permittedtobefatherstoany.”DavidO.Oyedepo.W
hoyoufollowlargelydetermineswhat
followsyou,sogoesthesaying.Itwas
MikeMurdockwhosaid,'Showmeyour
friendsandIwilltellyouyourfuture.'DavidOyedepogotexposedtotherealityoftheseprinciplesfromhis
earlydays.Heconsciouslywentinsearchofthosehe
wouldlovetobeidentifiedwith.Hisfirstencounterwith
mostgreatmenaroundhimbeganfromthepagesofthe
bookstheyauthored,particularlyallofhisforeign
mentorsandassociates.Fromsomeofthesebooks,he
haddefiniteandlifechangingencountershewould
alwaystalkabout,referringtodate,andinstances.For
example,heonlyencounteredthemanofGod,Oswald
J.Smiththroughhisbook,TheManGodUses.Heneversethiseyesonhimatall.
Whoisamentor,orwhatdoesitmeantobeamentorortobementored?TheEncartadictionarydefinesa
mentorassomeonewhoservesasanadviserand
supporter.Mentorsareoftenolderandmore
experiencedpersonalitieswhoadviseandguidea
youngerandlessexperiencedperson.Indeed,one
cannotexplainwhatthewordmentorsignifieswithout
referringtothegreatworkofHomerinhispoetictale,
titledOdyssey.Mentor,acharacterintheepicpoetic
tale,isatrustedfriendtoOdyssey,kingofIthaca.
Odysseyhadentrustedhiskingdomandhisson,
TelemachustoMentor'scareandguidancewhenhe
LeadershipSecrets:#7
(Odyssey)hadtofightintheTrojanWar.OdysseydidthatpurposelyforMentortoteach,monitorandguide
thedecisionsofthelittleboy.Inhisexpositorybook:
PastoringforMaximumResults,JohnOyebanjiputsitthisway;“Amentoristheonewhoprovidesmodeling,
closesupervision…andhelpinmanyareassuchas
discipline,encouragement,correction,confrontation
andacallingtoaccountability”.
ItisraretofindamanwhocelebratesanencounterwithafellowmanthewayDavidOyedepodoes.Hewould
alwaysrecall,quotingdateswithprecision,his
encounterswithmenofhigherspiritualorderandthe
impartationthatresulted.Interestingly,hedidnothave
physicalcontactwithanumberofthemenofGodhe
oftenmentions.Forinstancein1979,helistenedtoan
audiomessageofA.A.Allentitled'Godisakiller.'Ashelistenedtotheaudiotapewithraptattention,according
tohim,heheardthemanofGodquotefrom1Samuel
2:6,'TheLordkillethandmakethalive:hebringeth
downtothegrave,andbringethup”.Forthefirsttime
therealitydawnedonDavidthatGodalsokills.Hewas
stirredupbythatexpositionandaccordingtohim,his
chickenheartchangedtoalion'sheart.Fromthatday,
hebecameoverwhelmedwithunusualboldnessand
confidenceintheLord,knowinghissafetywasheavily
guaranteed.Butonemaysay,Didhenotonlylistento
anaudiotapejustthewayanybodywould?Yes,buthe
LeadershipSecretsof
diditwithhisheartnotjustwithhishead.Hedidthatinearnestexpectationforanencounternotjusttogather
knowledgeandfeelexcited.Davidhascontinuedtotell
theworldaboutthatencounter.
JustlikethecaseofOswaldJ.SmithandA.A.Allen,DavidnevermetSmithWigglesworthinperson.They
hadalldiedbeforeheknewofthem.Yet,heneverstops
celebratingSmithWigglesworth,themanreferredtoas
theApostleoffaith.HiscontactwithT.L.Osbornwas
throughhisbooktitledThePurposeofPentecostin1976.
ThatwaswheretheHolySpiritgotrevealedtohimasa
Personalityandnotjustasmereexperience.According
toDavid,hereadthebookinonesitting,covertocover
ashebegantoexperienceachangeoforientationabout
thePersonalityoftheHolySpirit.Thatwaslongbefore
heeventuallyhadphysicalcontactwithhimanda
mentee/mentorrelationshipwasestablishedbetween
them.DavidOyedepoalsogotconnectedtoOral
Robertsviahisbooks.Onemajorinspirationhedrew
fromOralRobertswasthewisdombehindOralRoberts
University(ORU).Oneday,Davidtravelledtothe
UnitedStatesandwalkedthelengthandbreadthofthe
campus,appreciatingitsbeautyandthewisdombehind
itsestablishment.Hesawanexampleofadecentand
sereneChristianuniversity.Davidsimplyconcluded
withallsenseofmodestyanddetermination:“Thiscan
LeadershipSecrets:#7
happenanywhere!”WhatDavidmeantwasthatsuchamodeluniversitycanbeduplicatedanywhereincluding
hiscountry,Nigeria.Thatwasthedaytheseedof
CovenantUniversitywassowninhisheart,consciously
orunconsciously.Davideventuallybecameafamily
friend,andindeed,familymemberoftheRoberts.
RichardRobertsonceflewtoNigeriatoworshipat
FaithTabernacleaswellastobeholdthemagnificent
workofGodinCanaanLand.Roberts'facial
expressionwhenhemountedthealtarofFaith
Tabernacleshowedhowgreatlyheappreciatedthe
splendourandambienceofthegreatauditorium.That
wasthesamewayDavidfeltwhenhelandedinOral
RobertsUniversity(ORU)manyyearsearlier.
OnemanofgreatreputethattouchedDavid
Oyedepo'slifebeyondanyreasonabledoubtwasthe
greatAmericanFaithproponent,KennethE.Hagin.It
allbeganwhenhegotexposedtoKennethHagin's
booksasfarbackas1976asayoungcuriousChristian.
Truly,KennethHagin'sbooksaresimplyirresistibleto
anyChristianwhohopestoseeafutureinhisorher
Christianjourney.Hisworksarepackagedinsucha
descriptiveandnarrativemannerthatasensitive
readerwillexperienceatangiblementalpictureofthe
content.DavidbecameendearedtoKennethHagin
andgotengrossedinhistitlestotheextentthathe
LeadershipSecretsof
becameaself-appointedvendoroftheman'sworks.
In1986,DavidattendedKennethHagin'scamp
meetinginTulsa,Oklahoma.Accordingtohim,ashis
eyesgottransfixedonthemanofGod,heprayed:
'Lord,whatevermade[Kenneth]HaginHagin,(the
calmness,thenoiselessness,thesupernatural
command...)Ineedit”.Itwasasimpleandshort
prayer.ThenfromtheeyesoffaithhesawHagin'sface
shineandtransformedtothatofababy,andsuddenly
heexperiencedatransferenceoftheanointing(the
spiritoffaithshotinhisdirection)fromthemanof
God.Whilesobbinguncontrollablyfromthat
experience,Davidheardanaudiblevoiceof
confirmationfromtheLordsaying:“MysonDavid,
thebatonispassedontoyou”.Fromthatday,Kenneth
Haginbecamehisforemostspiritualfather,andhe
treatedhimassuchtillKennethHaginwenttobewith
theLord.HebecameapracticalpromoterofKenneth
E.HagininNigeriaandindeed,theAfricansub-region.
HepointedmanypeopletoKennethHagin'sbooks.
HepointedmanypeopletoKennethHagin'sbooks.
WhenHaginwasabouttodie,theLordspoketoDavid,“someoneasclosetoyouasyourclothisabouttogo”.
ThenDavidenquired,“Lordcoulditbemybiological
father?'TheLordsaid“No”.Davidbecamemore
curious,asheenquiredagain,“Hagin?”TheLordsaid
“Yes”.ImmediatelyDavidandhiswifetookaflightto
Tulsa,Oklahomatovisithim.Twoweekslater,
LeadershipSecrets:#7
KennethHaginpassedon.Eveninhisdeath,DavidstillcelebratesHaginashisfather,whosespiritualDNAhe
isgladtoshare.In2010,KennethWayneHagin,
KennethHagin'sson,wasatFaithTabernacleand
preached.Thatshowshowthefamilytiehasbecome
moreofatrans-generationalone.
AnothermanofGodthathasimpactedDavidOyedepoisKennethCopeland,themanfromwhomDavidwas
impartedwiththeprosperityanointing.Longbefore
Davidhadphysicalcontactwithhim,hehadcelebrated
himinseveralforums.Oneday,hetraveledtothe
UnitedStatesofAmericaforaprogrammeandhewas
assignedtotheveryhotelroomwhereKenneth
Copelandwassaidtohavebeenlodgedtheprevious
timehehadvisitedthehotel.Davidtookthe
informationmorespiritualthancasual.Accordingto
him,herolledonthebedpraying:“Lord,whenadead
bodywasdumpedinthesepulchreofElisha,thebody
jerkedbacktolife,Copelandisnotdead,heisalive,
Lord,whatevergraceKennethCopelandcarries,I
desirethesame[viathiscontact]”.Theninanight
visionhesawamanwithanamputatedarmwhich
defiedhealing.Outofdeepcompassion,David
commandedthemantobehealedinJesus'name.
Immediately,abrandnewarmcameforthandtheman
gotrestored.Fromthisexperience,accordingtoDavid,
LeadershipSecretsof
heheardthevoiceoftheLordsaying:Fromtoday,IhavetakenyouintothecreativerealmofyourMinistry.
Presently,especiallynowthatKennethHaginhasgone
tobewiththeLord,KennethCopelandisanother
internationalpreacherhereferstoasafatherinthefaith.
In2007,Kennethandhiswife,GloriaCopelandwereat
FaithTabernacleandordainedthetwosonsofDavid
Oyedepo,DavidJr.andIsaacintoMinistryaspastors.
Beforehisdeparture,KennethCopelandlookedDavid
Oyedepointheeyesandgavehisdepartingverdict,
whichsignifiedtransferenceofunction;“fromnow,”he
declared,David'seyeswerecuriouslyfixedonhiminhis
usualwayofpreparednessforfreshfire.“Myswordis
yourswordandmybreastplateisyourbreastplate!”
Thatwaspurelyanotherspiritualelevationforafaithfulmenteetoamentor.Sincethatday,theconnection
betweentheOyedeposandtheCopelandshas
continuedtowaxstronger.ThelatestencounterDavid
hadwithKennethCopelandwillforeverremaina
memorableone.Itwillremainindeliblenotonlyinthe
slateofDavid'sheart,butgenerationstocomewill
knowofit,becausehistoryhasdecidedtomakeitso.In
November2012,hehadhonouredaninvitationtovisit
theCopelandsintheUnitedStates.Theshortvisit
suddenlyturnedouttobethatofanothermomentof
dramaticimpartationforDavidOyedepo.Kenneth
LeadershipSecrets:#7
Copeland,inaHolyGhost-initiatedsolemnmeeting,literallycastthemantleofthegraceatworkinhislifeon
him.Helookedhimintheeyesandreleasedsomeheavy
utterances:“EverygiftoftheSpirit,”hebegan,“every
anointingatworkinme,everyendowmentgivenmeis
anointingatworkinme,everyendowmentgivenmeis
transferredtoyou!”ThenthemanofGod,Copeland
burstintoatypicalHolyGhost-motivatedlaughterto
sealtheimpartation.ItwasadayDavidwillforever
rememberandcherish.
Asithasalwaysbeensaid,“Charitybeginsathome”.
Doubtless,DavidOyedepo'sflighttostardomisnot
untraceabletosomehome-basedcoachesandmentors.
ThemostprominentofthemisPastorE.A.Adeboye,
theGeneralOverseeroftheRedeemedChristian
ChurchofGod.PastorE.A.Adeboyeistheonly
NigerianpreacherthatDavidOyedepoproudlyand
fondlyreferredtoashis[spiritual]father,andindeed
“DaddyGO”,asheisfondlycalledbyhisfollowersand
admirers,hasbecometheinstitutionalizedspiritual
grandfatherofeveryWinnersChapelworshipper.
DavidOyedepo'sstepsweredivinelyorderedtowards
PastorAdeboyewhenhewasabouttogointofulltime
MinistryinSeptember1983.Beforethenbothofthem
hadneithermetnorspokentoeachother.TheLordhad
toldhiminJuly1983,saying:Iwillnothaveyougoas
others,Iwouldhavehandslaidonyouaftertheorderof
LeadershipSecretsof
JoshuainDeuteronomy34:10…sendformyservant
AdeboyeandyoushallbeimpartedwiththeSpiritof
wisdom”.
Thenthedaycame,on17thSeptember1983,David
OyedepoandhiswifeFaithOyedepowereanointedand
ordainedintoMinistrybyPastorE.A.Adeboye.From
thatmomenttilldate,David'sallegiancetoPastorE.A.
AdeboyeandhisMinistryhasbeenseamless.Heloves
themanofGodwithpassion.Whatevertouches
Adeboyetoucheshim.Nobodythatevermakes
derogatorystatementsaboutAdeboyecaneverbehis
friend.BothSatanandallthelivingsaintsknowthat
AdeboyeisthespiritualfatherofDavidOyedepo.The
covenantrelationshipofDavidOyedepoandE.A
Adeboyehasgeneratedconstantcommentsamong
Oyedepo'scontemporarieswhoarealsoAdeboye's
sons.
ItisgoodtoclosethischapterwiththeintroductionoftheLion,asDavidOyedepofondlycallshim,aspiritualgiantinNigerianpentecostalhistory.Hisnameis
BensonIdahosa,thelionthatroarsinthejungleand
BensonIdahosa,thelionthatroarsinthejungleand
putsallthebeastsintotaldisarray.BensonIdahosawas
thefatherofcontemporarypentecostalisminNigeria.
DavidOyedepo,actingondivineinstruction,lefthis
baseandtookofftoBeninCity,Nigeriatoestablish
LeadershipSecrets:#7
spiritualconnectivitywithBensonIdahosa.The
momentIdahosametDavidOyedepo,heknewthe
spiritualheir,andthepropereligiblecandidateforhis
mantlehadcome.DavidOyedepoalsoknewthatthe
carrieroftherawfaithherequiredtofaceeverygangof
oppositionintheregionofpersecutionhadbeenfound.
BensonIdahosahadzerotoleranceforwitchesand
wizards.Heruthlesslymolestedthemwhereverhe
foundthem.Fromhim,DavidOyedepowasimparted
withspiritualfearlessness.Thebondoftheir
relationshipbecamesostrongandobviousthatthe
charismaticmovementinNigeriawasforcedtocometo
termswiththefather-sontieofBensonIdahosaand
DavidOyedepo.
Oneday,DavidjustarrivedfromatriptotheUnitedStatesandtheLordtoldhim:Allyoucamewith(cashgift),gonowandsowitintothelifeofmyservant
[BensonIdahosa]
inBenin.Withouthesitation,DavidtravelledtoBenin
Cityandhandedallovertohim.ThemanofGod
lookedathimpassionatelyandrespondedwithaterrific
utterance:“Iputitbackinyourhand,butfromtoday,yourhandswillnotknowdryness.”Davidwentbacktohisbase
withbundlesofpropheticblessingsfromthemanof
God.BensonIdahosawasneverfoundtobefondof
anyotherpreacherinNigeriathewayhewasfondof
DavidOyedepo.Matteroffact,BensonIdahosa
LeadershipSecretsof
consciouslynurturedhimastheonefittooperateintheapostolicofficethewayhedid.Indeedheprophesied
thatDavidwouldbegreater.
InMarch1990,the
lion,BensonIdahosacalledhimon
phoneandasked:“Whatareyoudoingtomorrow;can
youmeetmeinMakurdi(intheNorthernregionof
Nigeria)tomorrow?”Davidknewthatwhateverplanhe
hadforthenextdaywasalreadycancelledbythat
invitationfromhisfather.Hedidnotseeitasaquestionto
beconsidered,butaninstruction.Thenextday,hetook
offonasix-hourjourneytoMakurdi.Onhisarrivalhe
offonasix-hourjourneytoMakurdi.Onhisarrivalhe
visitedBensonIdahosainhishotelroom.Theman
lookedathimandtoldhimtogetinhisbathroomfora
shower.Davidwasalittlereluctant,becauseheknewhe
coulddothatathisconvenienceinhisownhotelroom.
ThentheLionroaredagain,“getinthereboy!”Asheemergedfromthebathroom,themanofGodlookedat
himwithdeepsenseofappreciationforhisloyalty.Then
heaskedarhetoricalquestion:“Youmeanyoucame...so
youcame?”Hecommandedhim:“Goonyourknees!”
Daviddidsohastily.Thenhepronouncedashortbut
potentandindelibleblessingonDavidthus:“Fromtoday,
Iimpartonyougiftsupontime!Beforetheneedarises,the
supplyshallbemadeavailable.”
Davidhasnotstoppedreferringtothatencounterever
sincetoshowhowmuchhetreasuredtheimpartation,LeadershipSecrets:#7
particularlywhenherealizedthattherewasnoparticulartaskgivenhimbythemanofGodafterover
sixhoursofdrivingunderthescorchingsunthat
characterizesthataxisofNigeria.BensonIdahosaonly
calledhimtoblesshim.Tilldate,David'sabsolute
loyaltytoBensonIdahosahasnotdeclinedonebit
thoughthelionhasbeentranslatedtothegreatbeyond.
Heisstillloyaltohisfamilyandremainsconnectedto
hisMinistry.
DavidOyedepomakesitclearthat“Thereisnoinfluencethathasnotbeeninfluenced.Onlythesonsof
menbecomefathersofmen.”Thisisindeedatruism.
Thereisnoself-mademanintheuniverse;itis
arrogancethatmakesonethinkso.AccordingtoDavid
Oyedepo,“Thosewhoareashamedtobecalledthesons
ofsomeoneareneverpermittedtobefatherstoany”.
Doubtless,acknowledgingeveryhumanconveyorof
virtuesandvaluesinone'slifeisone'sultimateticketto
unendingexploitsinhumanendeavour.Accordingto
him,“Ourcravingfororiginalityistheundoingofmany
destinies.[Thetruthis]everyshadowwasonce
shadowed”Thereisnothereforeanyoriginalleader.
Leadershipvirtueistransmittedfromonepersonto
another.
LeadershipSecretsof
FACESOFHISMENTORS145KENNETHE.HAGINK
ennethErwinHaginwasbornonAugust20,1917
inMcKinney,Texas.
Hewasaninfluential
Americanpreacher.Heisoftenreferredtoasthe
'father'(or'granddaddy')ofthe“WordofFaith”movement.
Manyofhisfollowersoftenrefertohimaffectionatelyas
'PapaHagin'andmorecommonly'BrotherHagin'.Hewasa
partoftheVoiceofHealingRevivalintheU.S.inthe1940s
and50stogetherwithOralRoberts,GordonLindsayT.
L.Osborn.
Inhisbooks,IWenttoHellandWhatFaithIs,KennethHagingaveanaccountofhischildhood
experience.Hewroteonhowhewassicklyasachild,
sufferingfromadeformedheart,
andwhatwasbelievedto
beanincurableblooddisease.
Hebecamebedfastattheage
of15,expectingdeath.InApril1933,hereporteddying
threetimesin10minutes,andeachtimeseeingthehorrors
ofandthenreturningtolife.Butthereafter,heovercame
byfaithandhisMinistrybeganasayoungpreacher.
Davidwouldalwaysenthuse,“IcarrythespiritualDNAofKennethHagin…”meaningheisan
authenticspiritualsonofKenneth
Hagin.Davidhaseverbeen
passionateabouthisfather,Kenneth
E.Hagin,somuchthathardlywould
amessageconcludewithoutHagin's
namebeingmentioned.Haginhasa
specialplaceinhisheartthatno
othermentorcompeteswith.
LeadershipSecretsof
KENNETH&GLORIACOPELANDK
ennethCopelandwasbornonDecember6,1936
inLubbock,Texas.HeisanAmericanauthor,
publicspeaker,andtelevangelist.Priortohis
conversiontoChristianityinNovember1962,CopelandwasarecordingartistontheImperialRecordslabelInthe
1960s;hebecameapilotandchauffeurforOralRoberts.In
thefallof1967,heenrolledinOralRobertsUniversityin
Tulsa,Oklahoma.
HeisthefounderofKennethCopelandMinistries,andaproponentofprosperityteachings.Hewasamemberof
theOralRobertsUniversityBoardofRegentsuntil2008.
KennethCopelandMinistriesestablishedaprivateairport
namedKennethCopelandAirporttoservetheareaof
FortWorth,Texas.TheministryofKennethandGloria
CopelandhasimpactedDavidOyedepoinsuchan
immeasurabledimension.
Hisfirstcontactwiththemwasin1977throughGloria'sbook,titled'ProsperityistheWillofGod,'wherehehadhis
muchcelebratedencounterwiththesecretofdivineunendingsupply.KennethCopelandhasanunexplainableaffectionforDavidOyedepo'sMinistryandfamily.In2007,thetwosonsofDavidOyedepo(DavidJr.andIsaac)wereordainedaspastorsbyKennethandGloriaCopelandatFaithTabernacle,CanaanLand,Nigeria.
Tabernacle,CanaanLand,Nigeria.
T.L.OSBORNT
homasLeeOsbornwasbornDecember23,
1923.HewasanAmericanPentecostal
evangelist
andauthorbasedinTulsa,
Oklahoma.HisMinistryhasimpactedandinfluencedmanyofhisfollowersacrosstheworld,particularly
Africansub-regionsandpeculiarly,Nigeria.Osborn's
crusadeinUgandain1957issaidtohavelaidthe
foundationforsubstantialgrowthofPentecostalism
in
thatcountry.
T.L.OsbornhadastrongandtrustedrelationshiptiewiththelateArchbishopBensonIdahosaofNigeria.
DavidOyedepohadbeeninfluencedbyT.L.Osborn's
book,PurposeofPentecostatanearlyageof22.
Thereexistsafather-sontiebetweenthetwo.In1999,justbeforetheofficialdedicationofFaithTabernacle(a
GuinnessBookofWorldRecords
acclaimedtheworld'slargest
churchauditoriuminCanaan
Land,Ota,Nigeria),T.L.Osborn
hadkneltrightonthenearcompletedaltar,prayedand
prophesied.Hewenttobewith
theLordonFebruary14,2012.
LeadershipSecretsof
PASTORE.A.ADEBOYEE
nochAdejareAdeboyewasborninIfewara,Osun
State,Nigeria.Hischildhoodwascharacterizedby
abjectpoverty.Hedidnothavetheopportunityof
wearingapairofshoestillhewas14.HelaterbecameaPhD
holderinappliedmathematicsfromtheUniversityof
Lagos.Heworkedasalecturerinmathematicsatthe
Lagos.Heworkedasalecturerinmathematicsatthe
UniversitiesofLagosandIlorin.Afterjoiningthe
RedeemedChristianChurchofGod,RCCG,hebeganto
translatethesermonsofhisthenPastorandfounder,Rev.
JosiahOlufemiAkindayomi,fromYorubaintoEnglish.
HewasappointedtheGeneralOverseer,RCCGin1981,afterthedeathofPaAkindayomi,whohaddiedthe
previousyear.Forthreeyearshecombinedhislecturing
careeratUniversityofIlorinwithhispastoralcalluntilhis
resignationfromtheUniversitysysteminfavourofhis
divineassignment.RCCGwasnotwellknownbefore
Adeboyetookcharge,butnowthebranchesoftheChurch
havespreadtoover100countries,includingmorethan
14,000inNigeria.Adeboye's
visionhasbeentoputachurch
withinfiveminutesofeveryperson
trekkingdistancetoevery
householdonearth.Heisthemost
influentialpastorinNigeria.In
2008,Newsweekmagazinenamed
Adeboyeoneofthe50most
powerfulpeopleintheworld.Thoughtheyareinthesamecountry,AdeboyeandDavidOyedeponevermetor
communicatedwitheachotherbeforethecommissioning
andordinationofDavidOyedepointoMinistry.By
divineinstruction,E.A.Adeboyewastheonewhopoured
theoilofpriesthooduponDavidOyedepo.Fromthatday,
tilldate,therehasbeenanunusual,passionateand
tilldate,therehasbeenanunusual,passionateand
enviablefather/sonbondbetweenthem.
LeadershipSecretsof
ARCHBISHOPB.A.IDAHOSAB
ensonAndrewIdahosawasamysteriousman.He
foughthiswaytolivelife!Hewasfrailandsickly
asababy,withmomentaryfainting.Itwassobad
thatoneday,hismotherpresumedhimtohavediedandabandonedhiminapileofgarbage.Buthelivedtobecome
arenownedfigure.Papa,ashewasfondlycalledbyhis
followers,becameacharismaticpentecostalpreacher,andfounderoftheChurchofGodMissionInternationalwithheadquartersinBeninCityNigeria.
Thetentacleofhis
ChurchspreadacrossAfrica,EuropeandAmerica.He
wasthefirstpentecostalArchbishopinNigeria,andfor
someyearsafterhedied,therewasnopentecostal
preacherinNigeriawithanArchbishopTitle.Hewas
renownedforhisfearlessness.Hewasthefounding
PresidentofthePentecostalFellowshipofNigeria,PFN.
BensonIdahosatouredmorecountriesoftheworldinhis
lifetimethananypresidentofNigeriaeverdid.T.L.
Osborn,arenownedAmericanhealingevangelist,once
describedBensonIdahosaasthe
greatestAfricanambassadorofthe
ApostolicChristianfaithtothe
world.
HewasbornonSeptember11,
1938anddiedonMarch12,1998at
theageof59.Heisfondly
rememberedforhisphysical
confrontationwithwitchesand
wizardsinAfrica,and,forstoppingameetingoftheworldwitchesfromtakingplaceinBeninCity,Nigeria.Atthe
timeofhisdeathin1998,hewasreputedashaving
preachedtomorewhitesthananyblackman,andtomore
blacksthananywhiteman.TheLion,asDavidOyedepofondlycallshim,remainsaspiritualherotohimin
Ministryforlife.
LeadershipSecretsof
Getoutofmyoffice,devil!DoyouthinkIamfakingithere!DavidO.Oyedepo153INTEGRITY“AnyChurchororganizationthatis
notfinanciallyaccountablewillsoondisappearintooblivion...Nothingcorrupts
impropriety.”ministrieslikefinancialDavidO.Oyedepo.LeadershipSecretsof
L
eadershipisconceivedasemphasizingprobity
andaccountability.Peopleliketobeledonthe
premisesofcertaintermsandconditions.On
thesubjectofintegrity,DwightD.Eisenhower,anastuteillustratorhasthistosay:“Inordertobealeader,aman
musthavefollowers.Andtohavefollowers,amanmust
havetheirconfidence.Hencethesupremequalityforthe
leaderis,unquestionably,integrity.Withoutitnoreal
successispossible…whetheritisonafootballfield,in
thearmy,orinanoffice.Ifaman'sassociatesfindhim
guiltyofbeingphony,iftheyfindhelacksforthright
integrity,hewillfail.Histeachingsandactionmust
squarewitheachother.Thefirstgreatneed,therefore,is
integrityandhighpurpose”.
“Theintegrityofmenistobemeasuredbytheirconduct,
notbytheirprofession”[Junius].Asthesayinggoes,
“characterisnevererectedonaneglectedconscience”.
“characterisnevererectedonaneglectedconscience”.
D.L.Moodyadvised“takecareofyourcharacter,and
yourreputationwilltakecareofitself”.Whenyou
breakyourword,youbreaksomethingthatcannotbe
mended.Onethingyoucangiveandstillkeepisyour
word.DavidOyedepoisamanwhoupholdsthelaw
ofintegrity.Hiswordsarehisbond.Heappreciatesthe
pricelessworthinthecounselthatapromiseshouldbe
givenwithcautionandkeptwithcare.Hewillneverveer
intothecomedyoferrorofindulginginanythingno
LeadershipSecrets:#8
matterhowtemptingthatwilltainthisgoodnamewiththetarofscandal.Hefrownsatanyappearanceof
misconductormisappropriation.Longbeforehe
enteredintotheministry,hehaddevelopedcertainnonnegotiablemoralcodesbelowwhichhemustnotfall.
Themomenthediscoveredhispurposeforlivingasa
youngman,hebegantobuildasolidfoundationupon
whichtheenviableedificeofhiscolorfulfuturewould
stand.Oneofthepillarsofthisedificeisintegrity.Asa
youthcorpsmember,hewasentrustedwiththeposition
ofaseniorofficer.
Hetoldthestoryofacertainscenariothattookplaceintheorganizationwhere
Hetoldthestoryofacertainscenariothattookplaceintheorganizationwherehewasservingasayouthcorps
member.Acertainofficerwasfondofmaking
requisitionformoneythatcoveredatriphenever
actuallymadeonbehalfoftheorganizationandhad
alwayshadhisway.Butoneday,DavidOyedepowas
stirredupwithmuchdistasteandvowedtostoptheman
fromcontinuingsuchanignobleactoffraud.Daviddid
justthat.Truthwelltold,accordingtohim,suchactof
stealingwasneverrepeatedbyanyoneaslongashe
remainedinthatorganization.Hehasbeenacovenant
practitionerfromhisteendays,whilestayingwithhis
grandmother.Fromchildhood,heknewthereisa
portionofeveryincomethatmustneverbespentbut
mustbesetasideforGod.Outofcuriosityonedayhe
LeadershipSecretsof
askedhisgrandmother,whomheobservedalwayspartedwithsomecoinsintoasmallroundsafemadeof
clay:“Whatisthismeantfor,mama?”Theoldwoman
toldhim,“ThisisGod'sportionthatmakesthe
remainingmeaningful”.Sincethatday,thecovenantof
tithingwasetchedonthetabletofhisheart.Thereisno
pressurethatwouldevermakehimwithholdorspend
histithe.
Aman'sintegrityisafunctionofhischaracter.WinstonChurchillsaid,“...youcantellthecharacterofamanby
thechoiceshemadeunderpressure”.Integrityisnota
gift,itisachoice.Itisaproductofpersonalresolution.It
isnotavirtuetotoywithbecausecredibilityisveryhard
toregainifandwhenlost.Goddelightsinmenand
womenofintegrity.GodwassoboastfulofJobthathe
toldSatan,“Haveyouconsideredmyservant,Job,for
thereisnoonelikehimontheearth;ablamelessandan
uprightman,onewhofearsGodandturnsawayfrom
evil…”Despitehisperplexity,Jobstillmaintainedhis
integrity[2:9;27:5].Integritysimplymeansuprightness.
Whenaman'sintegrityislost,hehaslosthis
significancewithoutknowing.Integrityisapriceless
assetthatismorepreciousthanalltherichesinthe
world,anditwillalwaysholdyoutoaccount,ifyou
promisemorethanyoucanperformorturnintoan
artfuldodgeronthedayofreckoningthatdemandsthat
youhonoryourwords.It'snotaninety-ninepercent
LeadershipSecrets:#8
thing.It'sabsoluteonehundredpercentcommitmenttodowhatisrightalways,
thing.It'sabsoluteonehundredpercentcommitmenttodowhatisrightalways,andspeakthetruthevenifthis
willhurtyourpositionorupstageyoufromyour
comfortzone.It'saneverymomentthing,forit'llbean
error-pronejudgmenttomeasuremenandwomenby
whattheydoonSundayorservicedays,without
regardingwhattheydoalltheweekafterandevery
tickingmomentoftheday!
IntegrityiswhatwillarouseinyoutheunstoppableimpulsetoprotectyournameandtheintegrityofGod
thatbacksitup,withallyourmightandeveryounceof
yourbeing.Comewhatmay,rainorshine,you'll
rememberwhentempted,tobecarefulofyourname;a
goodnameandacleannameyou'llbebequeathingto
thecominggenerationwhichwillspeakvolumes
throughtheageswhenyou'relonggone.Agoodnameis
betterandmorepreciousthanallthegold,diamondand
silverintheworld.Itisnotjustfornow.Itisforever
standingastheeternalsentryasonegenerationpasses
thebatontoanotherinanever-endingflowofhuman
renewal.DavidOyedepohasaclaimthathasnotbeen
faultedbyanyone.Hewillalwaysunequivocallyechoit
loudandcleartowhomitmayconcern,saying:“Since
theinceptionofthisMinistry,Ihaveneverunderany
condition,knockedonanyman'sdoortoaskorbegfor
anyformofassistanceorhelptogetanythingdone”.
LeadershipSecretsof
Integrityisthequalityofpossessingandsteadfastlyadheringtohighermoralprinciplesorprofessional
standards.Thereisnothingthatwinspublicconfidence
likeintegrity.ItiswritteninthebookofPsalms
concerningDavid,'sohefedthemaccordingtothe
integrityofhisheartandguidedthembytheskillfulness
ofhishands'[78:72].Integritythrivesandissustained
ontheplatformofgoodconscienceaspoweredbythe
WordofGod.Ourconscienceismosttimesvulnerable
todefilementifnotmaintainedwithintheframeworkof
God'sWord.It'stherightroadmapandcompassthat
ensureswedrivestraighteveninthistwistinglaneofthis
wickedworldwhereanothervariantofAIDS,
otherwiseaddressedinfullasAcquiredIntegrity
DeficiencySyndrome,hasdefiledmanysoulsinits
rampagingepidemic.Vowsthesedaysaredesperately
madeinstormsbutconvenientlyforgottenincalm
moments,nothankstotheacutedeficiencyinthearea
ofkeepingpromisesmade.
BasedonhisdiscoveryintheWordofGodandthroughanointedbooks,hevowednevertoborrowunderany
circumstances.Hediscoveredthatborrowingkeepsa
maninenslavementandatthemercyofthelender.He
discoveredthatborrowingisnotcoveredbythetermsof
thecovenant.ThatwasOctober4th1981andtilldate,
hehasnevergivenborrowingasecondthought.Thatis
LeadershipSecrets:#8
integrity!NowinhisMinistry,itisalegacyandbeyondthat,itisasignedandsealedcovenantnevertoborrow.
DavidOyedepomadeacategoricalstatementtofurther
establishthevalidityofhisintegrity.Hesaid,'Wecan
addressanysetofpeopleinthelandbecausewearenot
beneficiariesofwhatevertheycarrytooffer.'On
September6,1983,Godtoldhimnevertolookunto
manwhilemeditatingonaportionofthescripture
saying,“Anytimeyoulookuntoman,neverclaimtobe
lookinguntome…buttheylookeduntomeandthey
werelightenedandtheirfaceswereneverashamed”.
FinancialintegrityhasbeenpartandparcelofDavidOyedeposincetheinceptionoftheMinistry.Integrity,
justlikefaithfulnessisavirtueoftheheart.Hardworkis
notasubstituteforintegrity.Hardworkdoesnotattract
rewardasintegritywould.DavidOyedepooncesaid:
“Openaccountabilityopensupdestiny.Youdon'tlose
anythingwithopenness.”Thissubjectbringstofore
againthecovenantnamingofhissecondson.Allhehad
toorganizeitwasonlytenNaira.However,oneofhis
associatesremindedhimthatasthefounderofthe
Ministry,hecouldtakeasmuchashewantedfromthe
account.Nobodywouldprobehim.Hisresponseto
suchtemptationwasaproofofthevalidityofhis
integrity.Hesaid,“Itisthenamingofmybabynotthe
Ministry'sbaby.”Period!Hedidnotextendhis
expenditurebeyondwhathehad,N10(TenNaira).
LeadershipSecretsof
Bybeingamanofintegrity,youhavenothingtoloseand
youhaveeverythinggogain.Intheearlydaysofhis
Ministry,afriendoftheMinistrysentaseedchequeof
N1millionpersonallyissuedinfavourofDavidOyedepo.
Heaskedtheofficerthatbroughtthecheque:“bytheway,
isthereanyletterattachedtoit?”Theofficeraffirmed;
“Yessir,ashortnote”.Hewentandsoonreturnedwith
thenotetothemanofGod.Thenhereadfromtheshort
noteattachedtothechequethefollowingstatement:“for
theworkoftheMinistry”.DavidOyedepotoldtheyoung
manthatbroughtthecheque,thechequebelongstothe
Ministryanditisnotmine.Thentheofficerreminded
him:“butsir,yournameisonthecheque.”Davidmade
himrealizethatthechequewaswritteninhisfavour
probablybecausethemanthatdrewitdidnotknowthe
correctnameoftheMinistry.Prontothemoneywasrechanneledtotheappropriateaccount.That'sfinancialintegrity!Thatwasself-discipline!
DavidOyedepowarns,'Becarefulaboutpryingintowhateveranybodyhas.Thesanctityofyourcallingisin
youraccountabilityandprobity.'Adheringtothevirtue
ofintegrityrequiresagoodunderstandingofthesecret
behindit.Oneday,in1997,hewasinacargoingfrom
KadunatoOwerritoministerataFullGospel
BusinessmenFellowshipmeeting.ThenheheardGod
speaktohimsaying:“Youarenotsentbythepeople,youaresenttothepeople.Thepeoplearenotresponsibleforyourgoing,
LeadershipSecrets:#8
yoursenderisresponsible.Therefore,donotraisemoney,raisemen,andyou'llhavemoremoneyyou'lleverrequirefor
ministry.Andnow,tellthemwhenyougettothatmeeting:far
beitthattheAlmightyGodwilldependonyourwretched
purses,butyourwretchedpursesdependonhimfor
replenishing.”Hegottothemeetingandtoldthem
exactlythewayGodtoldhim.
OnceduringtheannualShilohevent,aninvitedspecialguestministerfromanothercountry,arenowned,
seasonedandwellrespectedmanofGod,haddelivered
acaptivatingandimpactfulmessage,thenthe
unexpectedhappened.ThemanofGod,afterabrief
introductionofthenextthinghewasaboutdoing,
raisedhisvoicetoraisespecialsacrificialofferingof
differentcategories.IthadneverhappenedinDavid
Oyedepo'sMinistry.Then,righttherewherehewas
seatedhebecameuncomfortableandheneededtodo
somethingimmediately.Withoutdelay,inhisseated
position,Davidmadeasigntotheguestministertostop
thefundraisingattempt.Itwasabruptlyaborted.
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,understandingissimplytoknowathingtothepointofpractisingit.Itisgoing
beyondknowingtothepointofseeing.Nobodydoubts
whathesees.Hepositsthatfinancialstewardshipisa
requirementinourquestforfinancialintegrityand
freedom.Thismanhasbeenaccountableand
LeadershipSecretsof
answerabletotheexecutivecommittee,whichheinstitutedandcommissioned,frominception.Hemust
retireallreceiptsaftereverytrip.Recently,hebrought
outfromthearchivesthefinancialrecordbookofthe
earlydaysoftheMinistry.OnApril9,1984,thetotal
offeringwastenNaira(N10)only.Accountabilityisa
mustforanyonetopictureasignificantfuture.
JustbeforeCovenantUniversitykickedoff,anofficerfromavisitingverificationteamrantoDavidOyedepo
privatelytoremindhimoftheNigerianfactor.Hetold
himhowexpedientitwastosetapartagoodamountof
moneyasgraftfortheteam(inordertohavegood
recommendationfromthem).Themanwasprobably
sincere,buthewassincerelywrong,especiallyforgoingto
suchaleader!Davidviewedthecounsellikeacomputer
engineerwouldviewamaliciousviruscomingtodestroy
hismostvalueddata.Hestoodandfacedhimwithfury,
themansawwarinhiseyeballsandhebecamejitteryashe
staredathim,thenDavidroaredlikealionathim:“Get
outofmyoffice,Devil!DoyouthinkIamfakingithere?”
Themanranoutthroughthenearestexit.Thatshowshis
highdistasteforbriberyandcorruptionaswellasthe
practitionersofthesame.Ithasneverbeenrecordedinthe
historyoftheMinistrythatabribewasgivenortaken,
eithertoachieveanythingortogetanythingdone.
LeadershipSecrets:#8
DavidOyedepooftenmakesstatementssuchas:'Ifitcomesfromman,thenitcanbeblocked;Nomanhasmy
blessinginhispocket.'Indeedhisstatementsvalidate
theintegrityofthescriptures.Godcannotbethreatened
byfiguresbecauseHeistheauthoroffiguresandthe
soleownerofallthemoniesintheworld.Godspokeby
themouthofHaggaiinthescripturesthus:“Andmycity
throughprosperityshallyetbespreadabroad”[1:17].
ThisalsowasvalidatedbyZechariah,when,bydivine
illumination,hesaid:…Thesilverismineandthegold
isminesaiththeLordofhost”[2:8].
InthewordsofDavidOyedepo,financialprobityisoneofthekeysintheschoolofleadership.Integrityisan
unavoidabletoolforanyleaderthatisworthhisorher
salt.Financialprobityisoneofthekeysforahealthy,
sustainableandevergrowingorganization.AnyChurch
ororganizationthatisnotfinanciallyaccountablewill
soondisappearintooblivion.Nothingcorrupts
Ministrieslikefinancialimpropriety.Anyleaderthat
refusestheplatformofchecksandbalanceswillsoon
endhisadventureinfiasco.Nothingisasubstitutefor
financialprobity.Impeccableintegrityisintherefusalto
followthenormandthevogue,buttherightand
dignifyingwayofbusinessoperation.Integrityisthe
missinglinkinAfricanleadershiptoday.
LeadershipSecretsof
energy…DavidO.OyedepoDILIGENCE
“Desirewithoutdiligenceis
disaster.Thereisnofutureforan
idleman,onlyworkersprosper.
Oneofthegermsofpovertyis
idleness…spiritualitysubstituteforhardwork.”isneveraDavidO.Oyedepo.30milestoyour
Destination!I
thasbeenassertedthatthefirststepintotheterrainofleadershipisself-assessment;apersonal
evaluationtoknowwhetheroneispreparedtogive
itallittakes.Leadershipissummarizedinoneword;selflessness.Itisself-giving.Itissacrifice.Itistosuffersoastooffer.Itisself-denial.Itisone'swillingnesstogive
upthingsjustforthebenefitofothers.Intellectual
fitnessisamustforanyonewhoisonthesearchforany
leadershipstool.Beingaheadofothersinathingiswhat
leadershipisabout.Theseareimpossiblewithouta
gooddegreeofdiligence.
DavidOyedepoembodieshardwork,amanwhowill
neverindulgeinpleasureorleisureattheexpenseofhis
work.Ifnothingworksquiteashard-workandsmartthinking,it'sbecausenothingsucceedsquitelikesuccess.Thereisatimewhenwemustfirmlychoosethe
coursewemustfollow,andhavingchosen,stickour
neckalloutwithpainstakingdiligencetoreachthe
destination,orbepreparedfortheendlessdriftofevents
tomakethedecision.Realwinnersareordinarymen
andwomenwithextraordinaryinspiration,perspiration
anddrivetoachievedauntinggoalsthatwilldazeeven
thegiantsamongstmenandwomen.Amanorwoman
ofvalueandsuccessmustbeever-readytoembrace
LeadershipSecrets:#9
challengeswithadoughtyspiritandunswervingdiligencesoheorshemaylivetofeeltheexhilarationof
victorywhichonlyyieldsitselftothebraveandthe
farsighted.Successinthebusinessoflifeisthechildof
audacity,thewilltowin,andpassiontoperform.Every
individualaspiringtogreatnesswillbeinspiredbythe
epicstoryofpersistenceofoneofthegreatestleaders
ofAmerica,AbrahamLincoln:
Failedinbusinessin1831DefeatedforLegislaturein1832
Secondfailureinbusinessin1833
Sufferednervousbreakdownin1836
DefeatedforSpeakerin1838DefeatedforElectionin1840DefeatedforCongressin1843
DefeatedforSenatein1855DefeatedforVice-presidencyin1856
DefeatedforSenatein1858ElectedPresidentin1860
Rememberthatittakesscoresofyearstobeanovernightsuccess.Hewhowakesupandfindshimself
successful,asithasbeensaid,hasnotbeenasleep.
successful,asithasbeensaid,hasnotbeenasleep.
AccordingtoBookerT.Washington,successistobe
LeadershipSecretsof
measurednotasmuchasthepositionthatonehas
reachedinlifeasbytheobstacleswhichhehas
overcomewhiletryingtosucceed.
DavidOyedepoisanadvocateofdiligence.Hebelievesinthedignityoflabour.Hewillalwaysposit,thereisno
futureforanidleman.Hehasnoregardforalazyand
slothfulindividual.Suchpeoplecanneversurvive
aroundhim.Hepositsthat'alazymancannotwalkin
theshoesofagiantbecauseeverystepisalongjumpto
him.'IntheearlydaysofhisMinistry,hewaslivingina
blockofflats,whereoneofhisfriends,alawyeralso
rentedaflat.Oneday,somefellowscamelookingforthe
lawyer,andtheysupposedDavidOyedepowasthe
lawyer,becauseeverymorninghewasinhissuit,ready
forwork.DavidOyedepotreatsbusinesshouras
businesshourandnotasanythingelse.
AccordingtoDavid,theundoingofmanypeopleis
convertingbusinesshourtoentertainmentorleisure
hours.Theyareengagedinmattersthathavenorelation
withtheorganizationalorpersonalgrowthorprofit.
Exceptforveryfewunavoidableinstances,David
Oyedepohasneverbeenknownnottobeongroundto
conductSundaymorningserviceatFaithTabernacle.
Heisalwaysfoundathisplaceofassignment.Heisa
LeadershipSecrets:#9
manthatdemonstratespracticalcommitmentanddiligencetobusiness.Everybodywhoisfamiliarwith
DavidOyedepoknowswhenandwheretovisithimand
whenandwherenottomakesuchanattempt.Heis
focused;heisbusywithhisbusiness:Kingdom
business.“Seeththouamandiligentinhisbusiness?”
Accordingtohisschoolofthought,desirewithout
diligenceisadisaster.Onlyworkersprosper.Oneofthe
germsofpovertyisidleness.Hepositsthatspiritualityis
neverasubstituteforhardwork.
Whilechallengesmakeothersbreakdown,itonlyignitesDavidtobreakrecordsineverythinghedoes;and
instyleandsubstancetotheconsternationofnaySayers,totherespectoffellowlabourersinthevineyardoftheLord,andtotheadmirationofmillionsofhis
admirers,whocannotbutseethefingersoftheLordin
hisnever-stopping-to-amazeexploitsfortheLordand
humankind,whichkeepspoppingupeveryticking
second.WithDavidOyedepo,youcanneverhaveany
dullmoment;he'samanwhobelievesthatthelargest
roomintheworldistheroomforimprovementandthat
whenyou'rethroughchanging;you'rethrough.Forover
30yearsDavidOyedepohasinvestedanaverageof16
hoursdailyinhisassignmentandisstillwaxingstronger
eachday.Heoperateswithoutsweatonthestrengthof
LeadershipSecretsof
thedivinity.Hewouldalwayssay,“IhavenotlostanounceofenergysinceIbegan”.Yearsback,amedical
doctortestedhimandtoldhimhehadhighblood
pressure.Hevehementlyandviolentlyresponded,'Not
me,Icannothavehighbloodpressure!'Theinnocent
andcaringdoctorwasappalledandrequestedthathe
shouldlookatthereadings.Againberesponded
vehemently'Notnecessary,Ididn'tsayIdon'thaveit,I
sayIcannothavehighbloodpressure!'Thatwastheend
ofanyappearanceofsuch.Ithereforeagreeindeedthe
assertioniscorrect,thathardworkneverkills,idleness
does!Hiscapacitytodeliverispremisedonthe
supernatural.Nohumanbeingcanworkthewayhe
doesandnotbreakdown.DavidOyedepo'swife,Faith,
doesandnotbreakdown.DavidOyedepo'swife,Faith,
oncetestifiedofhimwithrespecttothesupernatural
strengthwithwhichheoperates.Shesaid,“Ilivewith
thismanofGod[andIknowthat]henevertakesany
drugtoenhancehisstrength.Heissimplyoperatingin
thestrengthofthesupernatural”.
Thismanwillneverindulgeanyindolence.Hepositsthateverymanisinaformofbusinessrangingbetween
Ministryandindustry.Spiritualitydoesnoterodeany
man'ssenseofdiligence.AbrahamwasaGodly
businessmogul.Hewasthegreatestemployeroflabour
inhisdayswithover300staffstrength.Hewasahard
LeadershipSecrets:#9
workerandaprosperoussaint.ThestaffstrengthofDavidOyedepo'sconglomerateofinstitutionsrunsinto
thousandsundereffectiveadministrativeand
managementplatforms.Heoncetoldthestoryofhis
encounterin1982,whenhewasstudyingthebiography
ofJohnWesleyandhereadthatJohnWesleywasover
80yearswhenhewasstillgallopingandcascadingon
horseback,bearingthegoodnewsacrossEurope.From
thatexpositionheknewthatdivinestrengthisareality
andhekeyedintothecovenantofdivinestrength.
DavidOyedeponevercompromiseshisworkhourswithanyotheractivitiesorengagement.Wheneverheisvery
busy,hisphoneneitherringsnorvibrates.Itisinperfect
silence.APresidentofanationoncedroveintoCanaan
Landonapersonalvisittobeholdandappreciatewhat
GodwasdoingandprobablytoseekGod.Whenitwas
broughttohisnoticethatthepresidentofaNationwas
around,DavidOyedepocametomeethimandasked:
'YourExcellency,howcouldyouhavebeenaround
withoutlettingmeknow?'Hereplied,'Iknowyouarea
verybusymanandIdon'twanttointerruptyour
programbecauseIamnotonappointment.'Another
Presidentofanationoncewastryingtoreachhimon
thephoneandcouldnot.Hecontactedaformer
PresidentofNigeriatoseeifhecouldhelpgetthrough
LeadershipSecretsof
tohim.Thelattersucceededinassistinghiscolleague,buthealsoconfessedthatitrequiresalotofeffortto
reachDavidOyedepobecauseofhisheavytime
schedules.
DavidOyedepowasoneofthefirstamongChurch
leadersinNigeriawhobroughtproperbusinessand
corporatecultureintoMinistryandhestillremainsin
theforefrontinthesustenanceofsame.Daily
operationsintheMinistryrequireahighlevelofdue
diligenceandsmartworkers.Accordingtohim,
budgetarypreparationinhisMinistryislikethat
undertakenbyawholenationconsideringthedegreeof
duediligenceinvolved.DavidOyedepoisanastutetime
manager;timeishismosttreasuredtoolinthe
administrationofthemulti-facetedMinistry.His
preparationfortheannualShiloheventbeginsfrom
Aprileachyear.Yet,theeventisfixedforDecember.
Oyedepohasbecomeaphenomenonintheareaofhis
calling,yethestillburnsthemidnightcandletoaccess
freshinspirationandrevelationthroughbooksforbetter
performance.Hispriorityisqualityimprovement.His
magnificentobsessionishighqualityachievement.
DavidOyedepoisatrueleaderwhosetstheexamplein
everythinghedoes.ItissimplynaturalinhisMinistryLeadershipSecrets:#9
foreveryoneunderhimtorespondtothedemandforbetterresultsbecauseeveryonecanseethepassionand
thedriveinhim.ItwasAristotlewhosaid,“Wearewhat
werepeatedlydo”.Excellence,then,isnotanact,buta
habit.LeeTacocasaid;
“ThekindofpeopleIlookfortofill
managementspotsaretheeagerbeavers,the
mavericks.Thesearetheguyswhotrytodo
morethanthey'reexpectedtodo.Theyalways
reach”.
DavidOyedepohasalwaystunedtoheaven'sfrequencyforrevelation.Assoonasamarchingorderisreceived,
themanofGodisreadytogo,givingitallittakes:time,
energy,financeandmanpowertodeliver,
notwithstandingtheopposingforces.Herefusesto
conformtothegeneralviewsonanysubject.Heindeed
isanextraordinaryleadershipicon.Hemadea
categoricalstatementrecently,saying:'Iknewin1981
thatmyplacetomorrowisnotdeterminedbyanybody
else.IknewwhenIwasonthefloorthatmyaccesstothe
topmosttopisdeterminedbymyinvestmentoftoday.'
HelenKelleralsosaid:'Oneneverconsentstocreep
whenonefeelsanimpulsetosoar.'Diligenceisit!
LeadershipSecretsof
“Keepsowingtheseed…keepthegrassgreen...FOCUS
“Youcantellwhereamanis
headingbywhathedoeswithhis
timeandmoney.Beingbusyhere
andthereisoneoftheundoingof
manydestinies.Itmakesaman
losehisplaceindestiny.”DavidO.Oyedepo.F
ocusisaconsciousattempttoconcentrateeffortorattentiononaparticularthing.Focushasa
numberofsynonymssuchasattention,effort,
concentration,motivation,application,andsinglemindedness.ItwillbeapttopicksinglemindednessastherightsynonymthatfitswellintoDavidOyedepo's
leadershipstyle.Sincethedayhediscoveredhisplacein
destinyhehasneverturnedsidewaysorallowedthe
seductionanddistractionsofthisworldtoswayhisgaze
awayfromthegoal.Hehasneverconsideredasecond
thoughtnorsurrenderedtotheexcusesofan
afterthoughtwhichhasbeentheundoingofmanya
brilliantsoul.Heputssomuchinthewisdomof
preparationtomeetingopportunity,evenwhilehe
waits;heistimeconscious,neverallowinganymoment
togouncultivatedinpreparationfortheplantingand
harvesttocome.Andthishasalwayscomeinbountiful,
overflowing,barn-burstingmeasures.
Healwayscelebrateseverydiscoverymadeonhispathtodestinyandhekeepsatituntilthetangibilityofitis
deliveredinreality.Heoncesaid,'Youcantellwherea
manisheadingbywhathedoeswithhistimeand
money.'DavidOyedepohaschanneledallhisresources
tothepursuitofhisdiscoveriesinthefaceof
LeadershipSecrets:#10
distractionsandopposition.Indeedthemoreviolenttheoppositionfrommediocremindsandgenuinewellwishers,themerrierit'sbeenforhimtoriseontheairwaysofglobalprominence,thathaslefthimatthe
topoftheclassinspiteofhisprofferedself-effacement
inannouncinghimselftotheworld.Asassertedbya
renownedpoet:atigerdoesn'tneedtoadvertiseits
tigritude,heactsit.DavidOyedepo'sgreatworksare
eloquentenoughtoproclaimhisgreatnesswithouthim
comingtoitsaid.Itisclearthathisdedicationtohis
visionisnotunconnectedwiththeexpositionhegot
afterreadingthebookauthoredbyOswaldJ.Smith
titled“TheManGodUses.”Hismindwasliberallyopenedtothesweetusesoffocusin1981whentheLord
spoketohimfromthescripture:'seeththouaman
whoseeyeissingle.'DavidOyedepoistenaciously
focused.Truly,beingbusyhereandthereistheundoing
ofmanydestinies.Itmakesamanlosehisplacein
destiny.Itisthelackoffocusthatmakesamanmisshis
enviabledestinationinlife'sadventure.
Justanyfoolcanmisguideamanwithoutamission.
Lackoffocuscaneasilymakealifemiserable.Earl
Nightingalesaid,'Ifapersonwillspendonehouraday
onthesamesubjectfor5years,thatpersonwillbean
expertonthatsubject.'DavidOyedepohasconsistently
LeadershipSecretsof
put16hoursdailyintohispursuitsincehisMinistrybeganover30yearsago.Hewassooptimisticrightatthe
inceptionthatthetangiblerealityofhisdiscoverywas
guaranteed.Addressingthepowerhousemeetingon
April10,1982,hedeclared:'thedestinyofthisagehas
beencommittedtoourhands.'Evenwhenhischurch
Ministrywasnotyetinaugurated,hewassosureofthe
realityofwhathewasdeclaring.In1984,whenhis
Ministrywasjustgainingsomefootingandthe
congregationwaslessthan50,screamingintoanold
AHUJAmegaphone,hesaidemphatically:'Iwill
consideritademotionifIwereinvitedtobePresidentof
Nigeria!'Thesewerenotjustmerefancywordsborne
outofsheerfantasy.InthewordsofWilliamScolavino:
“Theheightofyouraccomplishmentswillequalthe
depthofyourconvictions.Seekhappinessforitsown
sake,andyouwillnotfindit,seekforpurpose,and
happinesswillfollowasashadowcomeswiththe
sunshine.”DavidOyedepofocusedonhisGodordainedpurposeandgottheworldathisfeet.
DavidOyedepoisamanoffocus.InMarch1984,barelylessthan5monthsafterhisChurchtookoffinKaduna,
Nigeria,hebeganhiscurioussearchwithconcentrated
sensitivitythroughprayerandfastingonwhattodofor
sustainableandconsistentChurchgrowth.Hewasall
LeadershipSecrets:#10
out,tryingnottobecomeamanofsuccessforallitsworthbutstrivingtobecomeamanofvalue.Thenthe
expositionthatcameviathevoiceoftheLordsayingto
him:keepsowingtheseedandthesheepwillcome.Andkeepthegrassgreenandthesheepwillliedown,forhemakesmeto
liedowningreenpasture.Immediatelyafterthat
exposition,hebegana16-weekseminar.Thenhe
continuedtofortifyhimselfwiththespiritualseedof
prayerandfastingalongsidethewordexplorationwith
allsenseoffocus.Accordingtohim,almosttheentire
1985wasdedicatedtosowingtheseedofprayerwith
fasting.
HesharedhisexperienceofJanuary1986howhejustfeltlikecoughing,andashedid,itwasbloodthatcame
outfromhismouthasaresultoflongperiodoffasting.
HenryDavidThoreauclearlymakessenseinthelightof
thetruthaboutdedication:'Ihavelearnedthisatleastby
myexperiments,thatifoneadvancesconfidentlyinthe
directionofhisdreams,andendeavorstolivethelife
whichhehasimagined,hewillmeetwithasuccess
unexpectedincommonhours.'Thencame1987,likea
volcaniceruptionthatcannotbehindered,theexplosive
ChurchgrowthbeganinDavidOyedepo'sMinistry.The
greatestachievementofthehumanspiritistoliveupto
one'sopportunitiesandmakethemostofone's
LeadershipSecretsof
resources.DavidOyedepoonceenthused,“yougetnothingdoingnothing.”Agoodsenseoffocushas
producedtheirresistiblegrowthexplosionDavid
Oyedepo'sMinistryexperiences.Hehasovertheyears
heldtenaciouslytotheplatformofthewordoffaithin
hisentireMinistry'soperation.Wordoffaithisthe
rallyingpointofallofhismessageswhichincludes
Prosperity,TheSupernaturalandTheWordofFaith
itself.Hehasnevershiftedhisfocus.The50,000seat
capacityChurchAuditoriumisaproductoffocus.The
growingeducationalarmoftheMinistryisaproductof
focus.
Hisunrepentantfocusonhisvisionhascreatedthecuriositytotapfromeveryanointedhumanvesselthat
carriesthekindofspiritoffaiththathedesired.Itwas
thiscuriositythattookhimin1986toacampmeetingin
Tulsa,OklahomaintheUnitedStates.Atthecamp
meeting,heprayedferventlyandpassionatelydesiring
everyspiritatworkinKennethE.Hagin.Thenatthe
overflowwherehewasseated,heheardGodspeak,
“MysonDavid,thebatonisnowpassedontoyou.”He
onceenthused,'AuthenticFaithmustmoveyouinthe
directionofwhatyoubelieve.'OnarrivalfromTulsa,
Oklahomaaftertheimpartationheconfessedhowan
obviouschangehadtakenplaceinhislife.Hesaid,“'the
LeadershipSecrets:#10
stresswasgone,thestruggledisappeared,Iwasimpactedwithanunusualcapacitytodaretheun-dareable,believetheunbelievableanddelivertheimpossible”.Itwasanimpartationofthespiritoffaith.
WhenDavidOyedepowaspreparingtoenterinto
Ministry,heconsultedsomeestablishedministersofthe
gospelforcounseling.Ofcourseheknewthatit'swiseto
takegoodheedtogoodcounsel,forhasterarelyconnotes
speed.He,however,knewthatthetimeisalwaysrightto
dowhatisright.Hewassincerelycounselednevertobeso
muchinahurrytogointofulltimeministry.Butheshould
startonapart-timelevel,sohecouldworkandearnsome
moneybeforegoingintofulltime.Indeed,itwaslogical
counsel,butinallthecounselinghechosenottosuccumb
tothateternalthiefoftimeanddestiny,otherwisecalled
tothateternalthiefoftimeanddestiny,otherwisecalled
procrastination.Often,thepreciouspresentiswastedin
thevisionsofthefuture.
Truthwelltold,thephrase“oneofthesedays,”isnotinexistence.Itissafertodowhatonehastodoassoonas
onecould.WilliamCongreveonceadvised:“Defernot
tilltomorrowtobewise.Tomorrow'ssuntotheemay
neverrise.”Daviddeclinedalllogicalcounselsandtold
God,'Lord,ifIpretendnottohaveheardyou,let
anythingelseIdoendinfrustration'andthatwasit.
LeadershipSecretsof
DavidOyedepoenteredfullblastintotheMinistry,andhehaslivedhappilyeverafter.Theblessingsofworkand
laser-sharpfocusarepaintedinpicturesquewordsin
thismasterpiececounsel:
IfyouwakeupinthemorningWithyourhardestjobtodo,Don'tstartthedaywithgrumblingThatwon'thelpseeitthrough.Begladforworkthat'sdifficult,Fortasksthatchallengeyou!WorkersfindathousandblessingsTheidleneverknew-
Anonymous
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,therewasnothingtoattractanyonetotheworkofMinistryduringthetime
heenteredintoMinistry.Onecouldquicklyseethe
pointhiscounselorsweremaking.Inthosedaysitdidn't
makesenseforagraduatetogointofulltimeMinistry.
Thefirstquestionwashowwouldhefeedorgetsupport
withoutasecularjob?Heoncesaidduringoneofhis
sermonsatFaithTabernaclethatinsuchperiod,the
concernedpeopleinthecommunitywouldvisitany
manwhosesondecidedtoenterintoMinistry,
consoling:'Welearntyoursonsaidhe'sbecominga
LeadershipSecrets:#10
preacher,'thenwithmournfulcountenance,theywouldsympathizewithsuchamanbysaying,'Sorry,wepray
Godwilllethimreversethedecision.'
IndeedtheworkofMinistrywassynonymouswith
povertyinthosedays.That'swherethemaxim,“aspoor
asachurchrat”evolvedfrom,toshowhowunattractive
itwas.DavidOyedeposaid,'IdecidedtogofulltimesoI
cangofulllengthinthethingsGodhasformeinthe
assignmentHehasgivenme.'Then,accordingtohim,
hevowedavow,saying'Lord,Iwillseetoitthatnoone
doingitonapart-timebasiswillbeatmetoit!'Thatvow
isthesecretbehindhisaggressiveapproachinhis
pursuanceofhiscalling.Tobuttresshislifestyleof
focus,DavidsaiditfromtheinceptionofhisMinistry
thathewillconsideritaninsultifinvitedtoleavewhat
heisdoingandbethePresidentoftheNation.He
considersitassheerdemotion,incomparisontothe
highcallingoftheMinistry.Thatisanotherexpression
ofabsolutefocus!HereisthecandidcounselofThomas
Edison:
“Alwaysbeinterestedinwhateveryouaredoing
atthetimeandthinkonlyofthatthinginallits
bearingandmastery.Theworldpaysbigprices
forthosewhoknowthevaluesandsatisfactions
ofpersistenthardwork”.
LeadershipSecretsof
WhenIfoundyouafaithfulvendor...SERVICE“Thereisnoentitlementintitles,onlyinservice.Beservicemotivated;thatiswhereyourentitlementlies…mastersarenotpaidbuttheservants…only
laborersareentitledtowages.”DavidO.Oyedepo.S
ervicetohumanityinthelightofGod'spreceptsisserviceuntoGod.WilliamCowper,a
renownedsongwriteroncesaid:'Theonlytrue
happinesscomesfromsquanderingourselvesforapurpose.'Whilegoalsarechosen,purposeissomething
wehavebeendoingallalong,andwillcontinuetodo,
regardlessofcircumstances,untilthedaywedie'[Peter
McWilliams].
DavidOyedepohasbeenaserviceaddictfromboyhood.Hissenseofserviceisrootedinhisexposition
intoMatt.6:33wherethevoiceofGodechoedinhis
hearing,likeamanhearingfromafriendsidebyside:
SeekyefirstmyKingdomandallthosethingsothersare
dyingtogetshallbeaddeduntoyou.Thatscriptural
illuminationsetthesolidplatformforhisservicetoGod
andhumanity.Hepossessesaburningzealtoservethe
Lord.Healwayssaid,'Thereisnoentitlementintitles,
onlyinservice.'Hesaidthistousinoneofthepastors
meetingatFaithTabernacle.Healsocharged,'Be
servicemotivated;thatiswhereyourentitlementlies.'
Justlikehewouldalwayssay,mastersarenotpaidbut
Justlikehewouldalwayssay,mastersarenotpaidbut
theservants.Onlylaborersareentitledtowages.In
2008,accordingtohim,amancametohimandsaid
Godhadinstructedhim(theman)tostarttogiveDavid
LeadershipSecrets:#11
OyedepoOneMillionNairaeverymonthasfeeding
allowance.Hishumbleresponsewasthatofamazement
atGod'skindofrewardsystemforstewardship.God
neverforgets.Themansoughthisconsenttopayfortwo
monthsinadvance.Thereisalwaysthepaydayandonly
Goddecidesit.Godistheonewhorewardsthosewho
diligentlyservehim.Hisrewardsystemisamazingly
accurate.
Indeedtheworldsystemisbasedonbuyingandselling,butthekingdomsystemisbasedonsowingandreaping.
DavidOyedepooncesaid:'Ihadnotenteredinto
ministrywhenGodhadstartedpayingme.'Askingdom
princes,wearenotonthisearthtoearnaliving,butour
livinghasalreadybeenprovidedforbyGod.Itiswritten
inthebookofJob:'Iftheyobeyandservehim,they
shallspendtheirdaysinprosperity,andtheiryearsin
pleasures,butiftheyobeynot,theyshallperishbythe
sword,andtheyshalldiewithoutknowing'[36:11,12].
Conscientiousserviceistheescaperoutefromperishing
inpenury.Greatsenseofserviceattractsgreatlaurels.
DavidOyedepopositsthat:'Ordinationinitselfguaranteesnothing;itisdedicationthatgivesvalueto
ordination.Whereyoufindyourselfinfutureisrooted
inyourfaithfulnessinstewardshiptoday.Itisfaithful
LeadershipSecretsof
stewardshipthatdefinesleadership.'DavidOyedepoheldhisfirstofficeasaChristianin1970asPrayer
SecretaryofhisFellowship.In1971,hebecamethe
BibleSecretary.Heoncesaid,'Therearemajortitle
holdersthatGoddidnotcall,'whilecelebratingwhat
Godhasdoneinhislifeandministry.Hehaseverbeen
zealousinhisdealingswithGod,justlikeJehuin
2Kings:'…andhesaid,comewithme,andseemyzeal
fortheLord…'[10:16].Once,Davidasayoungsterwas
runningtocatchupwithafellowshipprogram,andhe
ranpasthisfather'shouse.Hisyoungerfolkssawhim
andtheyreportedtohisfather::'Wesawourbrotherrun
pastthehouse.'Hisfather'sresponsewas:“seoyawere
ni?(Ishemad?)”.Davidrecalledtheeventrecentlyand
humorouslycommented,'IthankGodforthat
humorouslycommented,'IthankGodforthat
madness.’IttrulypaysonetobeMaD(MakingaDifference)forJesus.
IntheearlydaysofhisChristianadventure,asaChristianleader,therewasnoavailableservice
opportunityhewouldnotjoyfullyaccept.Attimeshe
wouldbethebusdrivertodrivehisgroupfromone
locationtoanother.Ongettingthere,hewouldbethe
drummerboyduringpraiseandworshipsessionand
afterwardsthepreacherwhenitwastimetopreach.One
dayathomeasayoungzealousChristian,Davidarrived
LeadershipSecrets:#11
andhisfather,thenadevotedMuslim(buthegotconvertedtoChristianitymuchlater)askedhim,'Where
areyoucomingfrom?'Davidanswered,'From
fellowshipsir.'Hisfatherthreatened,'Well,that'swhat
youwilleat.'David'sinaudibleanswerwas'Amen.'
Indeedheiseatingitandmanyarefeedingfromittoday.
DavidOyedepoenthused,'Stewardshipisyourgreatestopportunitytofulfilldestiny…andyoucannotserve
Godtoomuch.'Yourmakingisinyourfaithfulnessin
kingdomservicenotinyourreligiousactivism.Years
back,inBaltimore,MarylandintheUnitedStates,he
hadjustendedhisteachingandwasrelaxingwhenhe
suddenlysawthewaytheaudiencewasrushingtopick
copiesofhisbooks.Hewasnearlymovedtotearsatthe
sightofthescene.ThenGodtoldhim,WhenIfoundyouafaithfulvendor,Imadeyouanauthor.Themanhasever
beenexcitedaboutanythingthatwillpromotethe
kingdomofGod.Inthosedaysheusedtomarket
anointedbooks,especiallythosethathadinfluencedhis
life;forexample,booksofKennethHagin.Notreally
forfinancialgainbutprimarilytospreadthetruthhe
hadfoundinthosematerials.Heoncewarnedinoneof
themeetingshehadwithhispastors,'Thereisnothing
youdoforgaininthekingdomthataddsvaluetoyou.
LeadershipSecretsof
DoitasaninvestmentuntoGodandwatchGoddoall(youdesire)foryou.'Godneverblessesactivities,He
blessesproductivity.Serviceinthekingdomisthe
greatestopportunitythatguaranteesunstoppable
posterity.In1973,inavillagecalledDumagi,Shonga
LocalGovernmentinKwaraState,Nigeria.Davidat
19,hadrelievedawomanwhowentonhermaternity
leaveasayoungschoolteacher.ThenonSunday
morningafterhisarrival,heaskedhisfriendand
colleaguehowandwheretolocatethenearestChurchin
thevillage.Tohissurprise,hisfriendtoldhimtherewas
none.Thenoutofcuriosityheaskedagain,'Notevena
CatholicChurch?’Theyoungmananswered,'None.'
Immediatelyanunusualpassiongrewwithinhimand
hetoldGod,'Lord,mayIneverleavethisvillagethe
samewayImetit.’
DavidswungintoactioninavillagedominatedbyMuslims.Heformulatedastrategyforevangelism,
usingthepupilsashisinterface;'Tellyourparents,'he
instructedthepupils,'theteacheriscomingtomorrow
morningforavisit.'Theparentswouldwaitforthe
teacherwithmucheagernessandsenseofhonourand
privilegetohavetheteacherintheirhomes.ThenDavid
wouldspeaktothemaboutGodandthenpraywith
LeadershipSecrets:#11
them.Thenhewouldadd,'OnSunday,joinmeatsoandsoplace,therewewillcontinueourprayer.'Daviddid
thisinmanyhomesuntilhegatheredpeopletogetherfor
aprayermeeting.Thenoneday,hecalledhiscolleague
andsomepupilstojoinhimcuttreesandpalmleavesto
buildthefirstChurchtentinthatvillage.Thechurch
wasbuiltwithin41days.Attheendofhis71days
wasbuiltwithin41days.Attheendofhis71days
membercongregation.
DavidOyedepoadvises,'Seeeverykingdomtaskas
opportunityandneverasaburden.'Healsowarned:
'Don'twaitforopportunityinthekingdom,create
opportunity.'DavidOyedepoleftthatvillagewithno
dime.Hegaveallhehadtopromotethekingdomof
God.Hisdeparturefromthevillagewasnotwithouta
ceremonyofappreciation.Thevillagechiefpresented
himwithalantern,saying:“Thesamewayyouhave
broughtlightintoourvillage,letyourlightshineallover
theworld”.WhereDavidOyedepoistodayisnotby
suddenflight,itistraceabletohisconscioussenseof
serviceinthekingdom.Asaschoolboywhowasalso
preparingforhisexaminationlikeanyotherstudent,he
wentonakingdomassignmentabout10kilometres
awaytooverseethefellowshipsaround.Thisboy,
LeadershipSecretsof
David,begantotrekbackhomeonthedustypathwithexcitement.Thenasoldierridinginhistrucksawhim
andhalted.'Smallboy,'hecalledDavid,'whereareyou
goingto?'Davidlookedathimwithmuchaudacity,
'AnywhereIlike,'heansweredashetrekkedon,'come
on,hopinandlet'sgoboy,'thesoldierinvitedhimwith
anexpressionofhumouronhisfaceastheydroveoff.
Butforthatintervention,Davidwaswillingandreadyto
trekthedustypathbackhomewithjoyinhisheart;allin
genuineserviceuntoGod.Littlewonderheiscruising
inhighaltitudetoday.Indeed,itisbettertobemadethan
tobepaid.
In1979,at25,Davidwaspartoftheteamthatbrought
Bro.Kumuyi(nowtheGeneralOverseerofDeeper
LifeMinistries)tohisvillageforacrusade.Hewas
alwaysavailabletoserveGodwhereverhefound
himself.Heoncesaid,'Bybeingfaithful,youdon'tlose
anything.Yougaineverything,whenitisagenuine
investmentwithagodlymotive,thereisnothingto
lose.'Hissenseofserviceisborneoutofhis
unmatchableloveforGod.Heoncesaid:'Youcannot
knowmysecretuntilyouknowmyheart-beatformy
God.'On28thMay2010,DavidOyedepo
championedtheNationalPrayerProgramme
LeadershipSecrets:#11
organizedtofightforthesoulofNigeriaatTafawaBalewaSquareinLagos.DavidOyedepoknewfrom
theonsetthathewouldbeahighflier,atrailblazerin
life.Heoncesaid'foolishmenbelieveinluck,butthe
wisebelievesincauseandeffect.'Healsopositsthat:
'Kingdomstewardshipisthegreatestopportunityaman
canhave.Itmakesyouworkinthehighestoffice.'
Accordingtohisschoolofthought,youdon'tserveGod
becauseyouhavethetime;youserveGodbecauseyou
havetheheart.Genuinesenseofserviceisaguaranteed
platformforeveryonethatdesirestosoarinhigh
attitude.
AtameetingoftheMinistry'sexecutiveleadersonOctober4th,1984,asumofN3000wasurgently
neededforrentrenewal.Nooneinthemeetingcould
raisethefund.ThenDavidOyedeposaid
emphaticallywitheverysenseofassurance,“God
knowsthatIdon'tneedtobeencouragedtorelease
thisfundifIhaveit.Butlisten,nowthatweareallat
thesamelevel,understandthis;atimewillcome
whensomeofuswillbeflyingintheairandsome
willbesaying:'wedon'tknowwhattheyareusing.’LetmetellyouwhatIamusing,IamsoldouttoGod!”
Davidhad,beforethen,cultivatedtheartofservice
LeadershipSecretsof
untoGodandhumanitythroughtheschoolofhis
grandmotherandhaddemonstrateditwithpractical
proofs.In1974,whentheNairawasworthmuch
morethantheAmericanDollar,DavidOyedepo’s
firstofficialsalaryoftwentyfournaira(N24)asa
youngmanwassowedintothelifeofhis
grandmother.Davidpurchasedasetofchairsanda
centretablewithitandpresentedthemasagiftto
her.ThewomanlookedatDavidfromonesideofher
eyesandsaid,“Laniyi,youboughttheseforme?”
Davidansweredwithanoticeablesmileof
satisfactionandhonour,“Yes,grandma.”Thenthe
oldwomanblessedhim,saying,“Youshallbe
great!”Thatprayerworked!Itisindeedtruethatthe
pathtothepalaceisthroughtheservants'quarters.
Davidandhiswifeoncebuiltachurchauditorium
worthN70Millionandhandeditovertothe
beneficiaries.The100acresoflandwhereLandmark
UniversitysitsonisagiftfromtheOyedepofamily.To
theOyedepos,servicethroughgivingisalifestyle.He
oncechallengedthosewhofinditdifficulttogive,
saying::'Eveninpoverty,youcanbeastupendous
giver!”Givingcanonlybeadifficulttaskifonelacksa
givingheart.Kingdomstewardshipisaninvestment
LeadershipSecrets:#11
intoaman'stomorrow.Hewillalwayssay:‘IamnotwastingmytimeservingtheLord.Iamonlyinvesting
intomyfuture.'Youtoocansaythisrepeatedlyto
yourselfuntilitentersintoyoursub-conscious:
“IamnotwastingmytimeservingtheLord;Iamonlyinvestingintomyfuture.”LeadershipSecretsof
Gentlemen,wearereturningtoLagosSWIFTACTION!“TimelyandrelevantactioniswhattranslatesanyvisionintoisasunpardonableactionDavidO.Oyedepo.asinaction!”DavidO.Oyedepo.P
romptobediencetodivinedirectivesputsamanonthelineforhonouranddignity.David
Oyedepoisamanwhodoesnottakeanydivine
signalwithlevity.HeneverdelaysactiononanymarchingorderhereceivesfromGod.Ithasbeenhis
fromGod.Ithasbeenhis
practicesincetheinceptionoftheMinistry.For
example,hereceivedthemandateofhisMinistryinan
18hourvisionon2ndMay1981,andaweekafter,on
8thMay1981,hesharedhisvisionwiththefew
Christianfriendsaroundhim.Thatsameday,theprayer
platformcalledPowerHousekickedoff.Onthe24thof
May1981,implementationbeganalongsidewiththe
weeklyFaithCliniccalledFaithLiberationHour,andit
continueduntilDavid'sOfficialCommissioningand
OrdinationintoMinistryonthe17thofSeptember,
1983;therewasnodowntime.AccordingtoDavid
Oyedepo,thereisnovalueinavisionthatisnot
pursued.Thefutureofeveryvisionbeginswithits
implementation.Avisionnotprogrammedisavision
shattered,aprogrammenotpursuedisapurposelost.
Thisbringsustothemysterycalledtime.Timeisalivingphenomenonwhichpassessignalstoeveryliving
creaturetotakeadvantageofeveryopportunityasit
presentsitself.Everysensitiveandtimeconscious
personstandstocommandhisorherenvironment.
LeadershipSecrets:#12
Timespeaksdirectlyintothehumanmindwithpeculiarnotesotherwiseknownassignalsandthosewhogive
regardtotimesignalsarecrownedkingsofevery
situationandcircumstance.Thetimeconsciousness
attitudeofthechildrenofIssacharwasdescribedinthe
bookoffirstChronicles:“…menthathad
understandingoftimes,toknowwhatIsraeloughtto
do;andalltheirbrethrenwereattheircommandment”
[12:32].
Timedoesnotjustshowbywayofsimplyappearing,timealsotellseveryonewhattodowitheveryaspectof
itschangingphase:timetosleep,whentowakeup,
whentoplay,whentopray,whentorest,whentowork,
whentoappear,whentodisappear,whentoact,when
torefrain,andnoneoftheseshouldbeswappedforthe
other.Itisthewisdomofthedivinitytoenhancehuman
operations.Thepsalmistdemanded;“soteachusto
numberourdays,thatwemayapplyourheartsunto
wisdom”[90:12].
InJuly1983,GodhadtoldDavidOyedepo:“Iwillnothaveyougoasothers;Iwillhavehandslaidonyouafter
theorderofJoshuainDeuteronomy34:10.Sendnow
formyservantEnochAdeboyeandyoushallbe
formyservantEnochAdeboyeandyoushallbe
impactedwiththespiritofwisdom.”Thoughhehad
neithermetnorspokentothemanofGodbefore,yet
LeadershipSecretsof
withoutdelay,hesentalettertoPastorE.A.Adeboye.
EvenwhenitdidnotlookfeasiblethatthemanofGod
wascomingbecauseofhisschedules,Davidnever
consideredasecondoptionbecauseGodreassuredhim
themanofGodwascomingandallheneededtodowas
tokeephisfingerscrossed.IndeedthemanofGodcame
andperformedthecommissioningandordination.
Theymetforthefirsttimeattheordinationvenue.
Therewasnopriorverbaldiscussion,especiallyas
telephoneswerefarfetchedasatthetime.All
correspondencewasdeliveredbyhumanmessengers.
Everyactioninlifeistimebound.Timeisthemosttransparentandmostconsistentphenomenonthathas
everhappenedtomankind.Thesunhasneverchanged
itsdailyscheduling;neitherhastherainrefusedtodrop
accordingtoitsperiodicscheduling.Inthebookof
Genesisitiswritten:“Whiletheearthremainsseedtime
andharvest;andcoldandheat;andsummerandwinter
anddayandnightshallnotcease”[8:22].Timeshows,
timetells,timetests,timepasses,timecomes,timegoes.
Advancementinanyman'slifeisatthemercyofthe
levelofregardhehasforthephenomenoncalledtime.
Man'sfailureorsuccess,therefore,istraceabletothe
understandinghehaswithrespecttotime.
LeadershipSecrets:#12
DavidOyedepohasalwaysbeenamanofpromptactioninresponsetoeverydivinedirective.“Strikethe
ironwhenitishottest”hasbeenhisguidingprinciple.
HenryFordoncedeclared,“Iamlookingforalotof
menwhohaveaninfinitecapacitytonotknowwhat
can'tbedone.”ThemanDavidOyedepoisoneofsuch.
Heoncechargedhiscongregationregardingthepursuit
ofanyvisionwhenhesaid,“Ifyoucannotkick-startit,
jump-startit,ifyoucannotjump-startit,push-startit.”
Itisexpectedthatbyallmeansandatalltimes,youkeep
grantingyourvisionmotion,becauseonlytheviolentis
permittedtohitahomerun!
GodtoldDavidOyedepoon19thJuly,1989inclearterms:Arise,getdowntoLagosandraisemeapeople.
Pronto,the'LagosInvasionProject'kickedoff,andall
arrangementstomovetoLagosbeganwithallsenseof
arrangementstomovetoLagosbeganwithallsenseof
urgency.BySeptember241989,theLagosChurchhad
started,andtheresultsofpromptactionbeganto
generatestrangedimensionofchurchgrowthinhis
Ministry.AsfarasDavidisconcerned,anycontrary
opinion,nomatterhowsincere,isconsideredamere
distraction.Heisanardentfollowerofdivinesignals.K.
Chesterton,onthesecretbehindhisaccomplishment,
hasthistosay:“Iowemysuccesstohavinglistened
respectfullytotheverybestadvice,andthengoingaway
anddoingtheexactopposite.”Truthwelltold,most
LeadershipSecretsof
logicalandfantasticcounselsfromotherpeoplemaycancelone'srelevanceinlifeifstupidlyfollowed.Yetthe
seeminglyillogicalpersonalconvictioncouldturnone
intoaglobalphenomenon.Onthe4thofMay1994,the
Lordtoldhim:“TheharvestofAfricaisnowwellover
ripe;rushintopreventitfromdecadence.”ByMay8th
1994,sprinklingofbloodwasperformeduponalarge
mapofAfricaduringabreakthroughnight.Itwasthe
spiritualopeningofthegatesoftheAfricancontinent
forgospelinvasion.
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,everydivineagendaisdeliveredbydivinestrategy.ItisGod'sownwayof
deliveringHisplans.ByJune141994,AfricanGospelInvasionProject(AGIP)officewasopenedinLagos.By
15thofJanuary1995,thefirstsetofmissionarieswas
deployedtoselectedAfricancountries.DavidOyedepo
willalwayssaythatbelatedactionisasunpardonableas
inaction.SirCecilBeatononcecounseled:“Bedaring,
bedifferent,beimpractical,beanythingthatwillassert
integrityofpurposeandimaginativevisionagainstthe
play-it-safers,thecreaturesofthecommonplace,the
slavesoftheordinary”.DavidOyedepoisnotamong
the'play-it-safecommoners',hedabblesinto
extraordinarythings.HughWalpolehasthistosayfor
thoseinplay-it-safeschoolofthought:“Don'tplayfor
safety-it'sthemostdangerousthingintheworld”.
LeadershipSecrets:#12
Davidhasneverbeenknownforrationalizinganydivinemarchingorderwithananalyticalmind.On
Saturday,the22ndofMarch1996,duringa
breakthroughseminar,ashewaspreparingtominister,
heheardtheLord:“itistimetogetouraircraft”.
Withoutasecondthoughtorcommitteeendorsement,
hedeclareditasrawasheheardit:“NowtheLordjust
toldmeitistimetogetouraircraft.”Thatsameday,
withoutpriorpreparationforit,anofferingwasraisedin
thatmeetingtowardsthefulfillmentofthedeclaration.
Andthatwasit.Theaircraftwasdeliveredthatsame
year.Swiftactionitwas!
JohnF.Kennedy,the35thpresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica(1961-1963)oncetaughtoutofhiswealthof
experience:“Therearerisksandcoststoaprogramof
actionbuttheyarefarlessthanthelongrangerisksand
costsofcomfortableinaction.”Thatexplainswhyin
August1987,ataConferenceinTulsa,Oklahoma,the
LordtoldDavidinthecourseoftheconference:“Arise,
getdownhomeandmakemypeoplerich”.David
Oyedepocouldnotwaittillthelastdayofthat
conference.Hecamedownhomeimmediately.That
sameyear,hestartedaregularprogrammeinMaiduguri
(Nigeria),tagged:“BreakthroughinBusinessSeminar”.
Atimelyandrelevantactioniswhattranslatesany
visionintotangiblefruition.
LeadershipSecretsof
WhilestillinthecelebrationmoodforthededicationofFaithtabernacle,agreat
WhilestillinthecelebrationmoodforthededicationofFaithtabernacle,agreatmonumentthatattractedglobal
attention,DavidOyedepowasmovedagainbythe
propellingforceofFaithtosettheballrollingforthe
take-offofCovenantUniversity.ThatwasinOctoberof
1999,onemonthafterthededicationofFaith
Tabernacle.ByNovember27,1999,anin-house
Consortiumonthetake-offoftheUniversitywas
inauguratedandbyDecember1999theapplication
formforaprivateuniversityoperatinglicensewasissued
bytheNationalUniversitiesCommission(NUC).
AstheactivitiesoftheConsortiumwoundupearlyin2001,anAdvisoryCouncilwasinauguratedonFebruary17,
2001todevelopappropriatestructuresforthetake-offofthe
University.ByJuly15,2001,theverificationteamofthe
NUCcameforfinalinspectionoffacilitiesand
programmes.DrivenbyFaith,DavidOyedepolaidthe
foundationstoneofthepermanentsiteonSunday,
January27,2002andwhatfollowedwastheapprovalby
theFederalGovernmentofNigeriawiththe
presentationoftheoperatinglicenseonFebruary12,
2002,bywhichCovenantUniversity,Ota,OgunState,
wasauthorizedtooperateasaprivateuniversityin
Nigeria.Thefirstphaseofdevelopmentwascompletedin
eightmonths;whilethefirstbatchofabout1500students
LeadershipSecrets:#12
wasusheredintoanultra-modernuniversitycampusafteranearlymorninginaugurationonOctober2002.It
isallaresultofconsciouscommitmenttoplanning,
programming,pursuitandmanagementskill
development,toborrowwordsfromDavidOyedepo.
Asat2010,therunningcostofCovenantUniversitywas
putatN200Millionpermonth.
Accordingtohim,divineinsightiswhatenhancesthedeliveryofdivineagenda.Indeed,itisyourwillingnessto
takeactionthatnaturallygeneratestheabilityforyoutoact.
Thosewholackthecouragetotakepragmaticaction[calledrisk]diealittlemoreeachpassingday.Benjamin
Franklinputsitthisway:“somepeopledieattwentyfiveandaren'tburieduntiltheyareseventy-five.”Anoldsayinggoes:“Mymindismadeup,don'ttryandconfuse
mewiththefacts.”JamesThurbercautioned,“Allmen
shouldtrytolearnbeforetheydiewhattheyarerunning
from,andto,andwhy.”
OnFebruary141983,whilereadingamagazinecalledTheNewWine,DavidOyedepoheardGodsay:“the
wordsIputintoyourmouth,commititintowriting,and
thesameunctionuponthespokenwordIwillalsoput
onthewrittenword.”Thatsameyear,thepublishing
armoftheMinistrycommencedoperation.Thefirst
LeadershipSecretsof
bookwaspublishedin1985.HewillalwayschallengeanyonethatclaimsheheardGodbysaying“Ifyou
believeit,proveitbydoingitandifyoudon'tdoit,then
youdon'tbelieveit.”
Thereisawaytimespeaksandyoubecomesouncomfortableuntilyouhavetakenthestepthat
matchesthechallengesoropportunitiesthatare
presentedtoyou.Thatiswhyyouhearthepopular
sayingsas:“Thisisyourtime;”“Yourtimeisgone;”
Yourtimeiscoming;”“takeyourtime;”Maximizeyour
time;”etcetera.Toeveryopportunitythereisatimeslot,
andoncelost,checkitout;itmayaffectthestorylineof
yourlife.Bewatchfulandequallybereadywithanopen
mindtotacklelife'schallengesandopportunities.
PromptactionborneoutofspiritualsensitivitywaswhatrescuedDavidOyedepoandotherkeyleadersof
theMinistryfromaplanecrash.Theywerealready30
minutesairbornefromLagostoKanoinNigeria.Itwas
the4thofMay,1998.Thepilotconfidedinhim,
informinghimaboutthechallengeencounteredmid-air.
Oneofthetwoenginesoftheaircrafthadjuststopped
functioning.Withoutanysignofconcernorpanic,
sippinghisdrink,heaskedthepilot:“canyounavigate
backtoLagos?”Thepilotansweredinaffirmative.Then
pronto,andwithoutcreatinganyformofsuspense,
LeadershipSecrets:#12
Davidannounced:“gentlemen,wearereturningtoLagos.”Nobodycouldaskhimwhy,thoughthecurious
expressiononeachone'sfacewascarryingquestion
marks.“Delay,”accordingtoNorthcoteParkinson,“is
thedeadliestformofdenial.”Thankgoodness,because,
justastheplanetouchedtherunwaysafelyinLagosand
halted,thesecondenginepackedup.Itwasadayof
divinerescueinthebookofrecordsofDavidOyedepo's
Ministry.ThankstopromptactioninspiredbytheHoly
Ghost.Heoncesaid,'itisnotgreatmightthatmakemen
andwomeninthekingdom,itisgreatresponsetogreat
insightthatmakesgreatmen.’
InMay1987,whenthechurchbydivinepromptingwassettospreadout,andthefirstfivesetofchurcheswere
alreadymappedstrategicallyacrossNigeria,Davidwas
thankingGodforwhatGodhaddoneandwasaboutto
do;thenGodspoketohim:“MysonDavid,whatdid
youbringforme?”Inresponse,hesaid,“Lord,
everythingIhaveisyours.”ThentheLordaskedhim
again,“Givemeyourcar(aMercedesBenz).”And
straightawayDavidsubmittedthekeyanddocumentto
theappropriateofficerasasignofsubmissiontoGodin
totalobedience.Obviouslyitwasn'twhatheplannedto
do,butwhatGodhadjustsaid.Thenthebaritonevoice
oftheLordre-echoedinhishearing:“MysonDavid,
evenifyoudon'twanttoberich,itistoolate.”
LeadershipSecretsof
PeterMcwilliamsinhisthought-provokingbook,titled“DOIT!Let’sGetOffOurButs”,revealedinashort
phrase,whathediscoveredasthebiggestlieinaction:
“I'lldoitlater”.Themysticaldepotcalled“Later-landis
thelasthomewherethehopeofmanydreamsare
shatteredanddumped.”They'llneverseethelightofthe
day.Pushnothingtoalaterday;thereisnosuchday.
Alwaysdaretobespecific.Itisexpedientyoudowhat
youcandonow.Ifyoucan'tgetitdonenowdueto
obviousconstraints,thendecideifitisworthdoingat
all.Ifyes,thenfixwhenyouwillgetitdoneandpursueit
toaconclusiveend.
InDecember1987,theLordtoldDavidOyedepoto
give-uphissalaryandthatwasthelastdayhisname
appearedonthepay-rolloftheMinistry.Whenhiswife
askedhimfortheupkeepallowanceforthehome,he
toldher,“Ihavelaiditatthealtar.”Hiswiferesponded,
“PraiseGod.”AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,
discoveringthereasonfordoingathingisthesecretof
gettingmaximumresultsdoingit.DavidOyedepo
indeedhadgottenthesecretofpromptactionin
obediencetodivinedirectivelongtimeago.Heonce
declaredemphatically,“Obediencemaysound
ridiculousmosttimesbuttheendisalwaysmiraculous.
Itmaybecostlybuttheendofitispriceless.”William
LeadershipSecrets:#12
Blake(1791)advisedinapoeticpiecethus:
Ifyoutrapthemomentbeforeit'sripe
ThetearsofrepentanceYou'llcertainlywipeButifyoulettheripemomentgo
Youcanneverwipeoffthetears
Ofwoe
LeadershipSecretsof
It’stheministry’scheque...notmineSELF-DISCIPLINE“Subjectingthefleshtothedemandofthespiritinfastingandprayercanhardlybediscipline.”accomplishedwithoutselfDavidO.OyedepoA
ccordingtotheEncartaDictionary2009
edition,disciplineissimplyconsciouscontrol
overone'slifestyle.Itismentalself-control
usedindirectingorchangingbehaviour,learningsomething,ortrainingforsomething.Inshort,
accordingtoBillNewman,'nothingworthwhileor
significantispossiblewithoutdiscipline.'Self-discipline
hasitsspiritualrootinthescripture,asfoundinthebook
ofSecondTimothy:'ForGodhasnotgivenusthespirit
oftimiditybuthehasgivenusthespiritofloveandof
powerandofself-discipline'[1:7NIV].
Self-disciplineistheabilitytomotivateself.Itistheabilitytodowhatisnecessaryorsensiblewithout
needingtobeurgedbysomebodyelse.DavidOyedepo
hasconsciouslycultivatedthecultureofself-discipline
fromtheearlydaysofhislife.Heoncesaid,'Igavemy
lifetoJesusattheageof15andIneverhadthereason
tobackslideorrededicatemylife.'Self-disciplineisthe
bedrockofsustainablelifetimedecisions.Itisallabout
discipline.Disciplineisthemotherofallmoral
attributesinanyone'slife.DavidOyedepohasbeen
celebratinghisoathofdedicationafterreadingthe
bookTheManGodUsesbyOswaldJ.SmithonSeptember12,1976.HewassoldouttoGod,andstill
LeadershipSecrets:#13
remainssoldout.Subjectingthefleshtothedemandofthespiritinfastingandprayercanhardlybe
accomplishedwithoutself-discipline.“Disciplineis
thebasicsetoftoolswerequiretosolvelife'sproblems.
Withoutdisciplineyoucansolvenothing.Withonly
somedisciplinewecansolveonlysomeproblems.
Withtotaldisciplinewecansolveallproblems.”
[EscottPeck-TheRoadLessTravelled].Everythinginaman'slifeanswerstothesubjectofself-discipline;
includingobediencetodirectivesfromhigher
authority.
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,hisgrandmotherhadnurturedhimwiththecultureofdisciplinefrom
childhoodthroughtohisteenageyears.Teenagers
generallyareknowntobepronetohavingfalsefeelings
ofindependencefromparents,asortofI-can-fix-it
syndrome.Inthosedays,mostgrandmotherswere
knowntopampertheirgrandchildren,unknowingly
indulgingthemintodoingthingsthatwereinimicalto
theirgloriousfuture.Forexample,ononeofthosedays,
Davidhadputonhisbestwearsandasayoungstar
readytojoinhispeersforanouting,buthis
grandmotherstoppedhimbecauseDavidcouldnot
convinceherbeyondreasonabledoubttheimportance
LeadershipSecretsof
ofsuchanouting.Thenshewentphilosophical,andtoldDavidinherlocaldialect:'enitiojoko,kolej'oga'
('whosoeverrefusestosittightandgetseriousisnota
candidateformastery').Davidobeyedhisgrannyand
satback.Heisthebetterforittoday.Toplaydownthe
placeofdisciplineasleadersistotreadthepathof
failure.“Influencedbyasuperficialpsychology,wehave
abhorredrestraint,indulgedournaturalimpulsesand
crucifiedinhibitions.Weforgettooeasilythatno
worthwhileorsignificantlifeorworkispossiblewithout
discipline”[BillNewman].
Ittakesahighstandardofdisciplinetoplacealineofdemarcationbetweenpersonalpossessionand
organizationalassets,despitethefactthatoneisthe
FounderandGeneralOverseerofanestablishment.
DavidOyedepoisreputedforthat.Thestoryofthe
1MillionNairachequecomestomindagain.Ittakes
self-disciplinetoupholdthecontentofasmallnote
ratherthanthedetailsonacheque.Thoughit'swritten
inhisfavour,yethedeclinedacceptingthechequeashis;
ratherheordereditmustberechanneledtothe
appropriateMinistry'saccount.VinceLombaardisaid:
“'I'veneverknownamanworthhissaltwho,inthelong
run,deepdowninhisheart,didnotappreciatethegrind
LeadershipSecrets:#13
andthediscipline.Thereissomethingingoodmenthat
trulyyearnsforandneedsdiscipline.”
AsIstatedearlier,in1985,DavidOyedepowastonamehissecondsonandallhecouldaffordforthe
namingwasN10.00only.Nevertheless,oneofhis
subordinatesremindedhimthattheMinistry
differsnotfromthefounderandforthefactthat
nobodywouldqueryorcrucifyhimfortaking
moneyfromthetreasuryofaMinistryhefounded.
Hisreplywasthoughtprovoking.Hetoldtheyoung
man,itisthenamingofmysonnotMinistry'sson.
Thatdoesnotsoundlikejustbeingprincipled,itis
muchmoreofbeingdisciplined.Indeed,onecanbe
principledandyetnotbetotallydisciplined.His
grandmothertaughthimthedynamicsoftithing.
Shetoldhimthatthetenthpartofeveryincomeis
God'sportionthatrenderstheremainder
meaningful.Sincethen,Davidhaskeyedintothe
spiritualobligationoftithing.
Theurgeortendencytoborroworbegforfundsdiedinhimlongbeforehisordinationintotheministry.In
1981,throughtheilluminationhecaughtfromthe
pagesofthescriptures,heresolvednevertoborrow
buttodependabsolutelyonGodforsupply.Ever
LeadershipSecretsof
since,hehasneverfallenintothetemptationof
borrowing.Itisdisciplinethatwillrestrainaman
fromtakingadvantageofhiscloserelationshipwith
presidentsofnations,toaskforfinancialormaterial
favour.Sincehisministrybegan,'hesaid,'Ihave
favour.Sincehisministrybegan,'hesaid,'Ihave
neverknockedatanyman'sdoor,deadoralivefor
anysortofsupportfortheministry.'Hehassaidit
repeatedlythat:'Wecanaddressanysetofpeoplein
thelandbecausewearenotbeneficiariesofwhatever
theycarrytooffer.'Heoncetoldasittingpresidentof
Nigeria,'AnytimeIseekanyfavourfromyou,stop
takingmycounsel.'Thatiscontentmentborneoutof
self-discipline!DuringtheconstructionofCovenant
University,afirstgenerationbankcametohimto
offerhimaloanofN1Billionaspartofhergoodwill
towardstheconstruction.Heturneditdownandtold
them,'ifIbegintotakeloanatthislevelofthe
project,whatwouldIbedoingwhenitgetsbigger?'
Thatishightensioncontentment,that'shighlevel
discipline.
Duringhiscourtshipdaysthedeviltoldhim:nowthatyouhaveagreedtomarryeachother,youcangoahead
andsleepwithher.DavidOyedeporespondedand
toldGod,LordifIdosuchthing,strikemewith
LeadershipSecrets:#13
leprosy.ThatstatementisborneoutofthegraceofGodinoperationinhislifeandconsciouslycultivated
andconsciouslycultivated
self-discipline.Withoutself-discipline,abilityor
courageorgoodfeasibilitystudywillnaturallyenda
man'svisioninafiasco.
‘Foreverydisciplinedeffort,thereisamultiplereward.'-JimRohn
LeadershipSecretsof
“Anyorganizationthathasnorespectfororderhasnofuture.”DavidOyedepoORDER“Thischurchisnota
denomination,itisa
commission.Adenominationisahumansetupthroughreligionbureaucracy[but]acommissionisbackedupbyamandate.”DavidO.Oyedepo.
O
rderisviewedasthebedrockofthestability
andsustainabilityofanyorganizationbothin
pursuitandaccomplishment.David
Oyedepopositsthatthereasonforfailureinlife,moreoftenthannot,isnotbecauseoflackofabilityor
capacity.Itislargelyduetolackoforder.Whatis
order?Itisthearrangementordispositionofpeopleor
thingsinrelationtoeachotheraccordingtoaparticular
sequence,patternormethod.DavidOyedepoonce
madethefollowingproclamationconcerninghischurch
organization:“Thischurchisnotadenomination,itisa
commission.Adenominationisahumansetupthrough
religionbureaucracy[but]commissionisbackedupbya
mandate.”Indeedacommissionisviewedasaspeciallyorganized
groupofpeoplewhoareempoweredbythelaw[human
ordivine]toperformagiventask.Thetermsof
referenceofacommissionarerelativelyspecific,though
itmaybeverybroadandlongterm,orconcise
dependingonthenatureofthegiventask.Daviddefines
“Thecommission”as“adivinelycommanded
mission.”Mandateinthiscontextthereforecanbesaid
tobeadivineordertogetaspecifictaskperformed.Ina
generalscope,mandateisawrittencommandbya
personororganization[the“mandator”]toanother
LeadershipSecrets:#14
[“themandatary”]totakeacertaincourseofaction.Amandateisautomaticallyterminatedonthebankruptcy,
incapacitationorremovalfromofficeordeathofthe
mandator.InDavidOyedepo'scasethemandatoris
God,whocanneverbebankruptandisalwayscapable
tobackupwhathehascommissioned.Hecanneverbe
removedfromHisofficeneithercanHedie.The
mandataryisDavidO.Oyedepo,andthemandatestates
that:
“Nowthehourhascometoliberatethe
worldfromalloppressionsofthedevil,
throughthepreachingofthewordof
faith,andIamsendingyoutoundertake
thistask.”
Inhismomentsofconcentratedponderingandcriticalanalysisonthedetailsofthemandate(order),he
discoveredthatfourcardinalfactorsweredistinctly
definedinthemandate:
definedinthemandate:1.TheTask:Toliberatetheworldfromall
oppressionofthedevil.2.TheTarget:Theworld.3.TheTool:ThepreachingoftheworldofFaith.4.TheTime:Now
Thefoundationofhismonumentalimpactonhuman
race,fromthebeginninghasbeenorderlylaid.ThereLeadershipSecretsof
wasnoguesswork,ambiguityorgreyareafromtheoriginofhisministry.Davidhadsubscribedtothe
subjectofordersincehisyouthfuldays.Heonce
recalledwhenasayoungman,afterhehaddressedup
foranoutingwouldask,“wouldJesusappearlikethis?”
Davidembodiesdecencyandorderliness.Creationwas
broughttobearbasedonthephenomenoncalledorder.
Fisheswerenevercreatedbeforethewaters,neitherwas
mancreateduntilhishabitatwaswellputinplace.
Whatfoundationistoabuildingiswhatorderistoany
humanororganizationalsystem.Thecorporate
anthemoftheAmericanbusinessworldisthe
wonderfulphrasethatgoesthus:“Buildtolast”.Lack
ofrespectforthephenomenonoforderisthebaneof
mosthumanentities.Indeed,itisstructurethat
determinesthefutureofanysystem.Butthefutureof
anystructureisatthemercyofthefundamentalfactor
calledorder.
Ifthemutualandhitch-freeworkingrelationshipandinter-dependencybetweenthehorseandthecartmust
besustained,order(orsequenceofinstructionsguiding
theirmutualoperation)mustbeconsciously
maintained.Itwouldbeanexpensiveorrisky
experimenttoputthecartbeforethehorse.Theresult
couldleadtothefatalfailureofthestructureandthe
LeadershipSecrets:#14
system.Thatisthepoweroforder.IsaiahthesonofAmosgaveapictorialexplanationofthevalueoforder.
Heputsitthisway:
“Dothosewhoplowforsowingplow
continuously?Dotheycontinuallyopen
andharrowtheground.Whentheyhave
leveleditssurface,dotheynotscatterdill,
sowcuminandplantwheatinrowsand
barleyinitsproperplaceandspeltasthe
barrier?Fortheyarewellinstructed,their
Godteachesthem.Dillisnotthreshed
withathreshingsledge,norisacartwheel
withathreshingsledge,norisacartwheel
rolledovercumin,butdillisbeatenwitha
stickandcuminwitharod.Grainis
crushedforbread,butonedoesnotthresh
itforever,onedrivesthecartwheeland
horsesoverit,butdoesnotpulverizeit.
ThisalsocomesfromtheLordofhosts:
heiswonderfulincounselandexcellence
inwisdom”[28:23-29NRSV].
Indeed,orderisoneofthemajorsubsetofwisdom.Itiswhatkeepsasystemrunning.Onemajorfactorinthe
schooloforderisregularreviewofeveryorganization's
developmentalprocedure.AccordingtoDavid
LeadershipSecretsof
Oyedepo,“ifyouareafraidtoreviewyourapproach,youcannotimproveonyourresults.”Hehasalways
believedintheneedforafunctionalstructureinhis
organization.Hisreasonisnotfarfetched,everyhuman
organization,spiritualorsecular,requiresaviable
structuretorun,growandbesustained.Heknewthe
relevanceoforderinanysetupfromtheonsetlikea
manknowshisname.Fewyearsintohisministry,he
penneddowncertainsignificantandrevealingtruththat
penneddowncertainsignificantandrevealingtruththat
cannotbeignoredinanyorganization.Amongsuchare
thefollowing:
Anyorganizationthathasnorespectfor
orderhasnofuture.Anysystemwithoutanefficientstructure
isboundtorupture.Withoutaviablestructure,therecanbeno
futureforanyorganization.
TheorganizationalstructureofDavidOyedepo'sMinistryisaproductoforder.Amulti-faceted
organizationhousingvariousfacilitiesandinstitutions
includingthe50,000capacitychurchauditorium,
educationalarm(networkofPrimaryschools,High
SchoolsandUniversities),WordofFaithBibleInstitute
(WOFBI),theAviationarm,theWorldMission
Agency,RealEstate,FinancialInstitution,Tableand
LeadershipSecrets:#14
SachetwaterProductionFactory,CovenantBreadProductionsector,RestaurantOperations,Guest
Housesetcetera.Yeteveryarmoftheorganizationis
maximallyfunctional,properlymanagedand
adequatelymonitored.DavidOyedepoinoneofthe
meetingshehadwithhispastorsonceintoned,“Any
meetingshehadwithhispastorsonceintoned,“Any
policythatisnotwellpolicedwillsoonbecome
ineffective[andeventuallyabandoned].Olajumoke
Familoniinherbook,LeadershipStylesofGreatMen,
writes,
“Weareinanerawherespiritualityis
becominganintegralpartofbusiness
organizations…Oyedepodiagnosesthe
needforchangestagebystageandcarries
hisassociatesalonginthechange
process.”
OlajumokeFamilonicontinuedinhermeticulousanalysisbysaying.“Theorganizationthatwillsurvive
thetestoftimetodaywillbethosewillingtorespondto
thetenetsofcorporategovernanceandthusallow
integritytopreservethem.”DavidOyedepohassaidfor
umpteentimes,that“whateverisvoidofstrategywill
soonbecameavictimoftragedy.”Thechurcharmof
hisorganizationfocusesona3-foldmessageincluding:
LeadershipSecretsof
WordofFaith,ProsperityandtheSupernatural(thatismanifestationofgiftsoftheSpirit).Thetraditionofhis
Ministryhasbeenpassedfromtheleadershipdownthe
Ministryhasbeenpassedfromtheleadershipdownthe
hierarchytothemembership.Everygenuine“Winner,”
aseachchurchmemberisfondlycalledmustreflectthe
traditionofthecommission,including:
WORDADDICTION:
Theleadershiphasoverthe
yearsnurturedeveryWinnerinthecultureoftheWord
ofFaith.Comingtochurchservice(whetherSunday
service,mid-weekserviceoranyotherspecialized
services)withoutwritingmaterialsalongsidewitha
completeBibleisincompleteforanaveragewinner.A
typicalSundayserviceatFaithTabernacleislike
receivingaprofessoriallectureatCambridgeUniversity.
EveryWinnerhasovertheyearsbeennurturedinthe
cultureofreadingatleastonebookinamonth.Every
Winnerisusheredintoanewmonthwitharunning
themeforthemonth,aswellastherecommendedbooks
forthemonth.AnaveragememberofWinners'Chapel
Internationalisawordaddict.
DECENCYINDRESSING:
Everylivingfaithleader
ateverylevelinthehierarchyrepresentsdecency,and
thesamereflectsineverygenuinefollower.David
Oyedepohasbeenintoitsincetheinceptionofthe
LeadershipSecrets:#14
Ministryevenwhentheonlyfacilityoftheministrywasaroomandaparlorapartment,occupyingsixstaff,
whichalsodoubledastheresidentialapartmentforhis
family.Hewouldwakeupearly,dressedupinsuit,
arrangehisdeskandchair,readytowork.Decencyin
dressingculturehasbecometheidentityofevery
genuineWinnerallovertheworldwheretheministryis
represented.Anditsuitseverymemberofthenow
multi-culturalandmultinationalstaffandtheentire
congregationoftheMinistryworldwide,whoknow
prettywellthatyouareunmistakablyaddressedbythe
wayyoudress.
PULPITETHICS/INTEGRITY:
DavidOyedepohas
alwayspreachedwhathepracticesandthathasbeen
transferredtoeveryleaderinthehierarchy.Tellinglies
onthepulpitisaforbiddenpracticeandaviolationof
thetraditionofthecommission.Therankingsystemof
thehierarchicalset-upinthechurcharmofthe
commissionissimplynoteworthy.Anycuriousobserver
caneasilybetemptedtowanttojointheteam.Talkof
thecarriageofthearrayofPastorsastheyhandle
assignmentsintheirfittedsuitswhichcharacterizeevery
PastorintheWinners'family.Theirsittingarrangement
atanyofthechurchprogrammesspeaksvolumeabout
thesuperiors,coordinatesandsubordinatesinthe
LeadershipSecretsof
hierarchy.Forexample,dependingonwhohandleswhatassignmentatthealtarinatypicalprayersession,
onecanalmosttellwhomaynotlikelycomeupatall.It
issuchaneatlyregimentedsystemthathaszero
toleranceforrankbreaking!
ThealtarmannerismofWinners'pastorsishighlynotable.Everyassignmentatthealtaristakenwithall
senseofdutyandduediligence;suchanenviable
privilegeanyonemayliketolookforwardto.Everyaltar
taskiscarriedoutaccordingtoameticulouslytimedand
outlinedassignment.InWinnerschapel,time
consciousnessisofessence.Itissaferforonetospend
4.59minutesfora5-minuteassignment,thanspend5.01
minutes,becauseanyextraminutespentistakenas
eatingintothenextassignment.ApostlePaulcautioned
inhisfirstepistletothesaintsintheCityofCorinth,
“Letallthingsbedonedecentlyandinorder”[14:40].
Therefore,goingoutoforderinWinners'Chapelis
tantamounttoedgingoneselfoutoffutureprivileges.It
isonechurchorganizationwhere,likeafootballerwho
committedmorethannecessaryfouls,apastorcouldfor
aseasonbebenchedbyreasonofhisviolationofthe
laiddownpulpitethics.
LeadershipSecrets:#14
IttakesdivineordertosustainanorganizationofthemagnitudethatisfoundundertheleadershipofDavid
Oyedepo.Leadershipisinterpretedassomeonewho
setsachievablegoals,chartsthedirectionandinfluences
peopletofollow.Itis“thebehaviorofanindividual
whenheisdirectingtheactivitiesofagrouptowardsa
sharedgoal”(HemphillandCorns,1957,p7).Itisbeing
attheforefront,showingexamplestothefollowersto
followsuit.DavidOyedepotypifiesallthese.Butittakes
ordertobringallsuchtobear.Talkingaboutchurch
managementmethodinhischurch,hehasthistosay,
“Themanagementstructureofourchurchsystemwill
continuetoserveasaresearchplatformonchurch
organizationformanyyearstocomebecausebydivine
skillwebuiltunbelievablereservesyearinyearoutfor
thelast30years.”
Whilemanyhateanychangethatdoesn'tjingleintheirpockets,Davidseeschangefromtheall-good
perspectiveoftheLord,whoistheGodofnew,fresh
andrewardingbeginningsandthatofourLordJesus,
whogoesaboutdoinggoodinavarietyofneverto-beforgottenways.IndeedvarietyintheexpressionandexecutionofGod'swillhasbecomenotonlythespiceof
lifeintheMinistriesunderhischargeandthenoble
causeshechampions,buthascontinuedtoaddflavour
LeadershipSecretsof
tothebusinessofthelifeofpeoplesofdifferentfaiths,nationalitiesandcreedwhichhehascontinuedtotouch
insomanyunforgettableways.Everyteammemberin
hisorganizationhasimbibedthephilosophyof
(unavoidable)changeandisadaptedtothesamewith
goodconscienceandfaith,believingitisforthegoodof
theorganizationandforthegrowthoftheteam.Every
robustandvibrantorganizationisbuiltonwell-defined
order.Nobusinessisallowedtooutlivethefounder
outsideofaconsciouslyconstructedandorderly
establishedstructure.Onemajormilestoneinthe
historyofDavidOyedepoMinistriesInternationalwas
recordedon7thSeptember2012.Itwasthereleaseof
theoperationalmanualthatwill,liketheconstitutionof
anation,foreverserveasguideinalloperationswithin
thecommissionglobally.
Thisisoneministrywhereleadershiptusslehas
neverbeenrecordedandmuchmoremayneverbe,
withtheadventoftheoperationalmanual,The
Mandate.Thebulkyredbooktitled“TheMandate
OperationalManual”addressesmattersfromthe
minutesttothemostcomplexinrelationtothedaily
operationswithinthechurcharmoftheglobalministry.
Thismanualexplicitlyaddressestheleadership
successionplan:theeligibilityrequirementsandthe
LeadershipSecrets:#14
procedure.Itisacomprehensivedocumentationdevoidofanyformofambiguity.Thisaffordableandeasily
accessibleoperationalmanual,theMandateisso
detailedthatithasbecomethehandbookforanaverage
Winners'ChapelInternationalworshipperacrossthe
world.ThisgoestoexplainthelevelofpremiumDavid
Oyedepoplacesonthesubjectoforder.Itiswhythe
extentofexpansionofDavidOyedepo'sorganization
willremainboundlessbecauseoftheformidableand
enduringstructureonground.
LeadershipSecretsof
“Ahealthymaritalliferemainsa
fundamentalrequirementinspiritualleadership.”DavidOyedepoCHOICEOFSPOUSEAgoodwomanisworth,if
sheweresold,thefairestgoldcrownthat'smadeofpurestJohnWodroepheO
nemajorfactor,notwithstandinghowgreata
visionis,thatdeterminesthefruitionor
failureofanydreamismaritalchoice.Marital
failureofanydreamismaritalchoice.Marital
choicecaneithermakeormaranyone'svision.Lotsofgreatdestinieshaveendedtheirloftydreamsintheabyss
ofmaritalwoes.Certainly,abrokenhomeistheworld's
greatestwreck.Whilecharginghisteamingpastoral
teaminoneofthosespecialleadershipsessions,David
Oyedepowarnedthatahealthymaritalliferemainsa
fundamentalrequirementinspiritualleadership.
Weliveinaworldwheremanyareinsheerconfusioninrelationtomaritalmatters.Theunmarried,themarried,
thewidowsandwidowersareallunderperpetual
pressureandfearofuncertainties.Theyareentangledin
theconfinementofvarieddegreesofpeculiar
predicaments;withmostwonderingifmarriageis
worththeentirerigor.Tofuelthefearsandconfusion,
KatherineHepburnpulledthetriggerofhersentiment:
“ifyouwanttosacrificetheadmirationofmanymen
forthecriticismofone,goahead,getmarried.”Many
peopleareconfused,bearingtheinvisibleinscription
thatseemtoask;“isGodstillinvolvedintheprocessof
marriage?”Marriageinthecontemporaryworldis
characterizedwithgambling,permutationand
LeadershipSecrets:#15
combination.Humanmechanizedapproachcalled
“match-making”hasovertakentheoriginaldivinedue
order.SomeyoungandsingleMinistersofthegospel
(maleandfemalealike)arealsonotleftbehindinthe
darknessofignoranceandconfusionwithrespectto
maritalchoice;andthereforetheyhaveignorantly
succumbedtocanaldemandsofmentalandscientific
approachtomaritalsearchsystem.Itislittlewonder
manyhaverelapsedtothecomfortzoneofsocialmedia,
postingtheirprofiles“towhomitmayconcern,”God's
willnotwithstanding.Cher,anAmericansingerand
actoronceobserved:“Thetroublewithsomewomenis
thattheygetallexcitedaboutnothing–andthenmarry
him.”That'sridiculousenough.
DavidOyedepoposits:“Everymanandwomanmust
takeresponsibilitytomaintainasuperhealthymarital
life.”Diagnosingtherootofmaritalwoesinthe
Westernworld,Davidlamented,saying:“questfor
equalityisthereasonbehindmaritalcrisisinthewest,
whichiswhythey[samesex]nowmarryeachother.”To
confirmDavidOyedepo'ssentimentontheinstitution
confirmDavidOyedepo'ssentimentontheinstitution
ofmarriage,BarakObama,thepresidentofAmerica,
whilebiddingforhissecondtermelection,suddenly
realizedthatthegayworldwasafactorforhiswinning
ticket.Thenhebegantopressforthepassingintolawin
LeadershipSecretsof
WashingtonDC,samesexmarriage:anaberration,amanipulationofaninstitutionthatthecreatorperfectly
established:aconsciouspromotionoftheodditycalled
lesbianismandgaypractices.
Let'sgetitrightfromhere;Marriageisnotanyhumanidea.ItisabsolutelyGod'sidea.Thereforeanyformof
deviationfromitsoriginalitywillalwaysculminatein
mockery.Marriageinstitutionisnotculturalbased,itis
God-based.Therearefundamentalrulesthatgovern
maritalinstitution,andonceviolatedmayendany
maritalunioninridicule.MostChristianscannot
categoricallytellhowandwhenGodspeakswith
regardstomaritaldecisionmaking.DonMarquissaidit
all:“Oursisaworldwherepeopledon'tknowwhatthey
wantandtheyarewillingtogothroughhelltoget
it.”Davidwithoutprejudicevehementlywarnedthatno
explanationistenableenoughforfamilyfailure,saying
explanationistenableenoughforfamilyfailure,saying
themanistobeheldresponsible.Regrettably,he
concludedthatthegreatestvictiminfamilycrisisisthe
woman.Ministryorcareersuccessisafunctionof
maritalstability.Thereforecautionisofessencewhen
makingmaritaldecisionbecauseleadershipbeginsfrom
thehome-front.Readtheevergreenwordsofthecharity
legend,MotherTheresa:
LeadershipSecrets:#15
Spreadloveeverywhereyougo;Firstofallinyourownhouse.Givelovetoyourchildren,Toyourwifeorhusband,Toanextdoorneighbor…LetnooneevercometoyouWithoutleavingbetterandhappier.
BethelivingexpressionofGod'skindness;
Kindnessinyoureyes,Kindnessinyourface,Kindnessinyoursmile,Kindnessinyourwarmgreeting.
Whilestillabachelor,DavidOyedepoaskedGod:'whatisyourpurposeforinstitutingmarriage?'Heaskedout
ofcuriosityagainstthebackdropofhisobservationsof
manymaritalwoesandfailuresaroundhim.Heneeded
toknowaheadoftimewhatawaitedhimbefore
committinghimself.Heknewthatmarriageistoo
sacredaninstitutiontoventureintowithoutadequate
preparation.Then,inresponsetohiscuriosity,through
thepagesofthebible,accordingtohim,Godgavehim7
covenantplatformsforlastingmaritalbliss.Fromthat
day,heknewhewasheadingforahitch-freemarriage.
LeadershipSecretsof
AccordingtothestatisticsbasedonasurveyconductedonmarriagesintheUnitedStatesinearly90s,morethan
halfthemarriagesendedindivorcewithinfiveyears.
Yet,evennow,itisn'tgettinganybetter.Thisisdespite
alltheoathsandvowsatthealtarbeforeGodAlmighty
andwellwishersthatgracedthegrandeurandelaborate
weddingparty.Forsome,thefrictionthattriggeredtheir
maritalcrisisbeganfromabreakfasttableatthehoney
moonvenue.“Iknowalotofpeopledidn'texpectour
relationshiptolast,”BrittEkland,Swedishfilmactor
enthused,“butwejustcelebratedourtwomonths
anniversary.”Ridiculous,isn'tit?Onthissideofthe
globe,seriesofunheard-ofeventsofdomesticviolence
arewitnessedasregularoccurrence,rangingfrom
simplequarreltophysicalassault,sometimes
degeneratingtotheuseofdeadlyweapons.
AccordingtoDavidOyedepo,heneverprayedabouthismaritallifeneitherdidheplacepetitionbeforeGodfora
futurepartner.Onedayoneofhisfriendstoldhimand
said,'BrotherDavid,it'stimewebegintoprayforour
futurepartner'.HearwhatDavidanswered,'Yes,we
mayprayforyou,butsuchprayerpointisnotinmylist.'
Howaudacious.Interestingly,Davidwasfirsttobe
answeredandsettledmartiallyaheadofhisfriend.His
responsetohisfriend'srequestwasfoundedonthelight
LeadershipSecrets:#15
thatwasshedabroadinhisheartfromthescriptureaswritteninMatt6:33.'SeekyefirstthekingdomofGod
inandHisrighteousnessandallotherthingsshallbe
addeduntoyou.'Davidbelievedthatmaritalsettlement
wasoneofthosethingsthatwouldnaturallybeaddedto
himasheremainedconnectedandaddictedtohis
covenantobligations.
ThemagneticfieldofhisfaithwasstrongenoughtocommandsuchameekandsubmissiveladylikeFaith
Oyedepo.Hemadeitknowntoherfromthebeginning
whatshewasabouttosign-onto.Davidhasalwaysbeen
anunusuallyrestlessfellowfromhisyouthfuldays.The
pointatwhichhispeersweretiredinkingdom
assignmentwasthepointitwouldbelikehewasjust
starting.Heonceposited:“Youcan'tbeafoolbeinga
fulltimefollowerwithGod.”Whileinhigher
institution,histeacherwhowassouncomfortablewith
hisChristianactivitiesoncampusoncethreatenedhim:
“David,ifyouwanttobeastudent,beastudent;andif
youwanttobeaChristian,beaChristian!”David
respondedtohisteacher:“Iamaparttimestudentanda
fulltimeChristian.”Howaudacious!ThatisjustDavid.
Therefore,itwouldrequireabundantmeeknessand
patiencewithwisdomforawomantogetalongwith
suchadie-hardkingdomaddict.
LeadershipSecretsof
HiscourtshipwithFaithwasnotlessthansixyears.Asearlierstated,itwillserveasareminderherethatbefore
hismarriage,thedeviltoldhim:'Nowthatitisobvious
andeverybodyisawarethatyouwillgetmarriedtothis
lady,Iwillmakesureyoufallbyfornication!'David
respondedtothethoughtwithavow,'LordifIeverdo
such,strikemewithleprosy!'Throughdetermination
andself-discipline,DavidandFaithconqueredthe
andself-discipline,DavidandFaithconqueredthe
temptationoffornicationbeforetheirweddingnight.
Truly,itisnothowshortorhowlongacourtshiplasts
thatrestrainsimmorality,itishowdeterminedthetwo
individualsinvolved,toputfleshinsubjectiontothe
spiritbythewordofGod.Threedecadeshavecomeand
gone,hismarriagestillstandsstrongwithcataloguesof
successstoriestoshow.
Duringtheprocessofhiswedding,hismarriagecounseloraskedhim:“BrotherDavid,whatdoyou
thinkofmarriage?Whatdoyoureallyexpectfromit?”
Thenheanswered,“Hitch-freemarriage.”His
counselorquicklycorrectedhimbyremindinghimthat
fromexperience,marriageisnotallthebedofrosesand
heconcludedbysaying“youseeDavid,youcannot
avoidsteppingoneachother'stoes.”Davidquicklycut
inandheaskedhiscounselorwithduerespectbut
unapologetic:'sir,asIsitbyyounow,doIsteponyour
LeadershipSecrets:#15
toes?'Themangrinnedandsaid:'no,'butcurioustoknowwhatDavidwasreallyupto.ThenDavid
concludedbysaying:“sirIcangiveyoutworeasons.
One,IamnotblindandtwoIamnotmad.”
One,IamnotblindandtwoIamnotmad.”
AccordingtoPeterMcWilliams,marriageislikeadinnerwithdesertfirst.Thefalling-in-loveportion
showsusthebeautywithinus.Everythingelseshowsus
everythingelse-thegood,thebad,thebeautifulandthe
ugly.FaithOyedepo,aftercrossingtheRubiconof
spinsterhoodtowomanhood,demolishedthebridge
andvowednevertolookbackward,buttoputinto
practiceallthegoodlessonsshehadlearnttobuildand
keepatranquilhome,fullofsweetflavorsoflove,
garnishedwithnectarsoffunandcoatedwithendless
favor.
Sheknewherhusband'stemperamentsomuch,havingstudiedhimkeenlyduringtheiryearsofcourtship,and
shewaswillingtobendandtoblend.David,arestless
hardworkingextraordinairego-getter,isalwaysbattle
readytodealruthlesslywithanyresistanceonhiswayto
accomplishhissetgoals.FaithOyedepohadbuiltupher
faithtowithstandwhatevercomesherwayinthehome
Godhasordainedhertokeepandcarefor.
LeadershipSecretsof
ItdidnottakesolongatimebeforeFaith'sfirstmajortestcame.Herhusbandarrivedfromatriponefateful
day.Withabrokenheartshegreetedherhusbandwitha
writtenmedicalreport.Thedoctorhadtoldhershehad
amiscarriage.Toherdisappointment,Davidwas
unmoved.Hewasn't,becauseheknewthetrickster
behindthereportwasthedevil,andhewasnotwilling
toacceptitasthefinalsay.Butwithoutanyexpression
ofempathyhereactedtothereportwithastrong
spiritualcounter-verdict:“Itcannothappen,”andto
trivializethesituation,heimmediatelydemanded,
“CanIhavemyfoodplease?”Definitelyhisviolent
reactionwasagainstthesituation,notagainsthis
darlingwife.Ordinarilysuchsituationshouldengender
muchemotionaldisplayofpiety,pityandabstinence
fromfoodorpleasure.ButDavidknewbetter,hewould
notsubscribetoapityparty,asitmaymeanacceptinga
defeat.Thephrase“itcannothappen”wasthefaith—
seasonedspiritualcounter-verdicttoreversethemedical
verdict.
Truetohisword,itneverhappened.Thepregnancywassustained,andattheduetime,abouncingbabyboy
joinedtheOyedepofamily.He'sakingdomsoldier
today.IttakesFaithtomarryDavid.Truthwelltold,
today.IttakesFaithtomarryDavid.Truthwelltold,
GodfoundDavidandequallyfoundforhimFaithto
LeadershipSecrets:#15
match.FaithOyedepoisagreathome-maker
extraordinaire.Herhandsareforeverintheproduction
chaininthemakingofherownbiologicalchildrenwho
areamazingsuccessstoriesandfirebrandministersof
thegoodnews,andtheraisingofthenextgenerationof
ministersofGodthatwillhelpkeeptheflameofthe
gospelburningintheheartsofmen,transforminglives.
Soflawlesshasshebeenabletodischargeher
responsibilitiesthatherbriefintheglobalministry
keepsgettinglengthierbytheday,asmorechallenging
roleshavebeenaddedtoherbulgingportfolios.
IttakesahardworkingwomantosurvivearoundahardworkersuchasDavidOyedepo.Thereisnoroomfor
idlenessaroundhim.Hehaszerotolerancefor
laziness.Faithknewthisfromtheoutset.So,shehad
beenadiligentworkersinceshejoinedherhusband.
FaithOyedepo,asauniversitygraduatewasthefirst
typistsecretaryintheministryonasalaryofN140per
month.Shehasnotceasedtobeaworkerinher
husband'smulti-facetedorganization.Thisisin
additiontoherunflinchingresponsibilityasahome
manager,attendingtotheneedsoftheswarmof
gueststhatvisitherhomefromtimetotime.Yetshe's
neverfoundwantinginherprimaryassignment:child
upbringing.Allherchildrenareexcellingintheir
LeadershipSecretsof
variousendeavorswithgoodreportsaboutthemfromfarandnear.Allsaidanddone,asuccesswithouta
successoristermedacolossalfailure.Givingone's
childrenpropertrainingisthegreatestsuccessany
parentcanboastof,especiallywhenthechildren
exemplifysuchparentaltrainingsandinstructionsin
theirdailyliving.Inyearstocome,childrenaretheones
toperpetuatethemonumentalworksparentshavebuilt
overtheyears.TheSecretofaperson,ithasbeensaid,is
inhisstory.DavidandFaithOyedepohaveatestimony
ofexemplaryparenting.Inherthoughtprovokingbook,
titled:“RaisinggodlyChildren,”FaithOyedepoeagerly
agreedthat“achildislikeplasticine-soft,pliableand
moldable.”Therefore,justlikeanexperiencedpotter,
skillisrequiredtoeffectivelymoldachild.Itrequires
somedegreeofdiscipline,tendercare,andtact.
Earlyinhermarriage,FaithOyedepovowednevertobefoundwantinginherresponsibilitytowardsher
children.AftereverySundayservice,shewouldreturn
home,sitherchildrendownandbreakintosmaller
piecesthemessagepreachedtotheirlevelof
understanding,Faithmadeitpartofherdaily
schedulingtoteachherchildrenthevaluableprinciples
ofGod'sword.Itislittlewonderthereforetoseeall
theirbiologicalchildrenturningoutassuccessstoriesin
LeadershipSecrets:#15
theirvariouscareersandministries.Theirtwosons,DavidandIsaacwereordainedintoMinistryin2007at
theWinners’ChapelInternationalHeadquarters,Ota,
Nigeria,bytheAmericantelevangelist,Kenneth
CopelandandhiswifeGloria.Itwillsufficetosaythe
twoboysbroketheirfather'srecordbyreasonoftheir
age.David,theeldestsonwas24whileIsaacwas22
whentheywereordained.Theirfather,DavidOyedepo
ontheotherhandreceivedadivinecallintoMinistryat
27andwasordainedintopastoralMinistrybyPastorE.
A.Adeboyeattheageof29.
Thegreatestresponsibilityofaparenttrulyischildupbringing.Davidisindeed
Thegreatestresponsibilityofaparenttrulyischildupbringing.Davidisindeedasuccessfulfather.Hegave
hischildrenproperandstrongspiritualfoundationon
whichtheybuilttheirenviableedificesofunshakable
spirituality,aswellasacceptablemoralvalues.Allthe
childrenofDavidandFaithOyedepowerewelltaught
andnurturedfromchildhoodwiththewellnourishing
wordofGod.Theyweretrainedtoknow,to
acknowledgeandtosubscribetothebeautyof
fellowshipping.Daily,theygatheredtogether,praised,
prayedandsharedfromthebible.Itwasmade
mandatoryforeachoftheirfourchildrentopractically
participate.Thistheydiddiligentlyunderthe
supervisionofoneorbothoftheparents.
LeadershipSecretsof
DavidOyedepowiththepartnershipofhiswife,Faith,hasperformedanddeliveredeffectivelythepriesthood
responsibilityoffatherhood.Theydidnotonlyteach
theirchildren,buttheydiditwithpersonalexamplesfor
thechildrentoseeandemulate.Hebelievesthata
principlealoneismeaninglessuntilitisadequately
matchedwithappropriatepersonalexamples.“In
practicingtheartofparenthood,anounceofexampleis
practicingtheartofparenthood,anounceofexampleis
worthatonofpreaching,”sosaysawiseman.
FaithOyedepo,awell-traineddiligenthomemakerandchildtrainingtechnocratbelievesthatitisbettertotrain
achildthantorepairanadult.Faithrecalledinher
book,“RaisingGodlyChildren”,howshewouldlead
herchildrentotheirfather'sstudydoor,leavethemtogo
insotheycouldasktheirnumerousquestionsandget
satisfyinganswers.Faithfacilitateddailyanintimate
interactionbetweenherchildrenandtheirfather,
despitehisheavyschedules.Shepaintedthepictureof
loveandfunsharedinherfamilywhichhasultimately
establishedgreatintimacyandemotionalstability
betweenchildrenandparents.Shesaid“Thosewho
visitourhomearesoblessedwhentheyseemyhusband
playingordiscussingwithourchildreninspiteofhis
busyschedule.Sometimes,heputsouryoungest
daughteronhisbackandrunsroundthelivingroom
LeadershipSecrets:#15
withher.Ibelievehedoessobecauseheunderstandsthatdespitehisownbusyschedule,hehasagreatroleto
playintheirwelfareandupbringing.Healso
understandsthatthesuccessofthefamilywillalsoaffect
understandsthatthesuccessofthefamilywillalsoaffect
hissuccessinlifeandMinistry“[RaisingGodly
Children,Page29].
DavidOyedepo,adisciplinarianandfirmfatherconfessedthat“fatherhoodisnota[mere]title,itisa
responsibility.”Truthwelltold,theheartconnectivityof
fatherandhischildrenisanswertoasocietalsanctity,
andantidotetocommunalchaos.Indeedthereare
fathers,butnotmanyfathersaretrulyfatherlyin
dischargingtheircoredutiesinthehome.Dr.Myles
Munroe,atrainerinhumanandleadership
developmentunequivocallynoted:“theemotional,
psychological,spiritual,andmoralneedsmetbythe
loving,caringbalancedenvironmentofastrong
[healthy]marriageandfamilyunitcannotbe
substituted”Amanwhoignorantlyorcallouslyfailsto
dischargehisfatherlydutyhasgallantlyfailedhismaker
andhumanity.Itisthedutyofafathertoprovide
platformforasaneandsustainablesociety.Thishe
mustdobyfirstofallprovidingincorruptible,amiable
andresponsibleleadershipforahealthyandtranquil
homefront.DavidandFaithOyedepohavecleanlyand
LeadershipSecretsof
gallantlyemergedasexamplesofresponsibleparents.
Alloftheirchildrenhavegiventhemgreatjoyand
absolutepeace,generatingmaximumimpactsupon
humanity.DavidandFaithOyedepohadsownprecious
seedearlyintheirchildren.Now,theyaredeemeddue
tosavourandrelishtheirharvestofsweetnectars.
Inherbook,MarilynHickeynarratedthestoryofMaxJukesandJonathanEdwards.Thisstoryshouldsend
anysanepersononanexpeditionofsoberreflection:
“MaxJukeswasanatheistwhomarriedagodless
woman.Some560descendantsweretraced:.
310diedaspaupers150becamecriminals7ofthemweremurderers100wereknowntobedrunkardsMorethanhalfofthewomenwereprostitutes
ThedescendantsofMaxJukescosttheUnitedStatesGovernmentmorethan$1.25millionin19thcentury
dollars.
JonathanEdwardswasacontemporaryofMaxJukes.
HewasacommittedChristianwhogaveGodfirstplace
inhislife.Hemarriedagodlyyounglady,andsome
LeadershipSecrets:#15
1,394descendantsweretraced:
295graduatedfromcollege,ofwhom:13becamecollegepresidents65becameprofessors3wereelectedasUnitedStatesSenators3asstategovernors,andothersweresentas
ministerstoforeigncountries.30wereJudges100werelawyers(onethedeanofanoutstandinglaw
school)56practicedasphysicians(onewasthedeanofa
medicalschool)75becameofficersinthemilitary100wereMayorsoflargecitiesOnewasthecomptrolleroftheU.S.TreasuryAndonewasvicepresidentoftheUnitedStates.
NotoneofthedescendantsofEdwardsFamilywasaliabilitytothegovernment.”Thiswithoutdoubtisfood
forthoughtforeveryfatherandmother.
DavidOyedepogotitrightwhenhemadethemost
importantdecision[secondonlytosalvation]ofhislife:
marryingawellcultured,andGodfearingyounglady
overthreedecadesago.She'sFlorence(whochanged
hernametoFaith),aladynurturedinthenourishing
wordsofGodbyhergodlyparents.Littlewondershe
LeadershipSecretsof
couldpassthesameontoherchildrengracefullyanddiligently.Shebelievesthatchildtrainingisapersonal
non-transferableresponsibilityofanywiseparent.
non-transferableresponsibilityofanywiseparent.
ThemarriageofFaithandDavidOyedepoiswhatonemayrefertoasapurpose–drivenmarriage.Theydid
theirsearchandwereabletofishouttheirrolemodels
withrespecttomaritalresponsibilityandstability.They
werefascinatedandinspiredbytheMarriageofPapa
KennethHaginsandhiswife.FaithOyedepoconfessed:
“Onefamilyamongmanyothersthathasgivenmegreat
joyistheHaginsfamily.AsIseegenerationafter
generationoftheHaginsservingGod.Iapplaudthe
investmentsofPapaandMamaHaginsinthelivesof
theirchildren.Theirchildrenarenotonlyablessingto
theirparents,butalsotothebodyofChrist.”
DavidOyedepoandFaithhiswifetraineduptheirchildrenwiththeproperblendoflifeprinciplesand
personalexamples.Whentheywerechildrenunderthe
closesupervisionoftheirloving,caringand
disciplinarianparents,DavidOyedepo'schildrenwere
notpermittedtodowhattheyliked,exceptwhat'sright.
DavidandFaithhadtheunderstandingthatallowinga
childtodowhathelikesandnotrightismovinghimtoa
futurehewillnotlike.Theyjointlyinstructedtheirfour
LeadershipSecrets:#15
childrenknowingitistragedynottotrainone’schildinthewayoftheLord.DavidOyedepowarned,“Ifyou
don'ttrainyourchildrenyouwilllikelylosethemand
theymaylosetheirfuture.EvelynRoberts,thewifeof
thegreatAmericantelevangelistandfounderofOral
RobertsUniversity,OralRoberts,wroteinherbook,
RaisingChildren:
“IfIhadtodoonethingoveragain,Iwould
saturatemychildrenevenmorewiththe
wordofGod.Forachildcanonlythink
whathehasinhismind.Theworldwill
desperatelybidforyourchild'smind,and
youcan'tstopthem.Butwhiletheyarein
yourcareandunderyourcontrol,youcan
buildanarsenalofscripturesandChristian
thinkinginthem,thattheverygatesofhell
cannotprevailagainst.Welearnedearlythat
Satanwasouttogetourchildren,butwe
weredeterminedthathewouldnot.Iamso
gratefulforOral'spartininstillingthe
scriptural.Fromthetimethechildrencould
talk,Oraltookthemonhiskneesandtold
themBiblestories.Andhehadthemlearn
andrecitescriptures.”
LeadershipSecretsof
ThoseweretherolemodelsDavidandFaithOyedepostudiedandfollowed,andtheygotthesameresult–an
exemplarymarriage.Whilemanyladiesdreadthe
challengesandresponsibilitiesofmarryingaministerof
thegospelofJesusChrist,FaithOyedepofaithfully
faceditheadlong.Shehasalwaysstoodbyherhusband
inadversityandprosperity.Sheneverdoubtedthe
futuristicrealityofherhusband'svision.Beforetheygot
married,inOctober1981,Davidwrotealettertoher,
anditreadsinpart:“IspeakinmyofficeasaProphet.
Wemattertothisgenerationbydivineelection.Weare
theeraofsaviorstheworldiswaitingfor…”
Faithwasnotinthedark,neitherindoubtregardingthemanshewastomarry.Truthwelltold,outsideofDavid
Oyedepo,Faithcouldhaveperhapsgottenmarriedto
hersecondbest(ifsuchexists).Sheseemedtohavebeen
configuredforsuchanaddictedkingdompromoterlike
David.Shesawitcoming,andshewaswellequippedto
meetupwiththedemand.At22whilestillincourtship
meetupwiththedemand.At22whilestillincourtship
withFaith,Davidmadeadiscoveryfromthepagesof
theBible,andfromthatdiscoveryhewroteanoteof
committalinformofanOathuntoGod,toserveHim
forever,comerain,comeshine.Thenhetoldhisfiancée
(Faith)toco-signtheoathasasignofhercommitment
toalifesoldouttoGod-Shedid.Shediditbecauseshe
LeadershipSecrets:#15
knewthatthemanorwomanwhohascommonsense
andgoodsenseofjudgmenttoknowrightfromwrong
ishappierthanthemanwhoisimmenselyrichbutlacks
goodsenseofdirection!
FaithOyedepoisneveranoisemakerneitheraheartbreaker,butadedicatedwife,fullofwisdomand
understanding.Herstypifiesadiligentandsubmissive
woman.Sheepitomizestotalsubmission.HersisareemergenceversionofbiblicalSarah'ssenseofsubmission.Oneday,Davidarrivedfromajourneyto
theUnitedStatesofAmerica.Thewifeaskedhim:
'Whatdidyoubringforus.'Hereplied;'sure,comeand
see.'Thenheopenedhisboxanditwasfilledwith
volumesofbookshehadbought,worthover$9,000.
Thewifeaskedagain,'whatelse?'herepliedagain,
'Why?There'snothingelse.'Thenshepressedhim
'Why?There'snothingelse.'Thenshepressedhim
further:'Notevensomethingforthechildren?'David
placedasealonthedialoguebysaying:“Thecontentof
thesebooks,ifwellexploredcanturnmetoa
manufacturerofthosethings.”
Davidtrulyhadbeenbuildinghislibrary,readingandresearchingsincetheageof20.Faith,whohasalways
believedintheintegrityofwhateverherdarling
husbandsaid,quicklyviewedherhusbandasinvesting
LeadershipSecretsof
intothegreatfuturetocome.Therealityofthatfutureiswhatshe'sswimmingintoday.InthewordsofJoseph
FortNewton:
“Wecannottellwhathappenstousinthe
strangemedleyoflife.Butwecandecidewhat
happensinus,howwecantakeit,whatwedo
withit-andthat'swhatreallycountsintheend.
Howtotaketherawstuffoflifeandmakeita
thingofworthandbeauty,thatisthesupreme
treatofliving.”
FaithOyedepoisawomanofvirtueandofararebreed.
Sheisasweetmothertoherbiologicalchildrenand
hundredsofthousandsspiritualchildrenacrossthe
hundredsofthousandsspiritualchildrenacrossthe
world.Sheisatruehelpmateandloyalco-laborertoher
husband.Thegemcannotbepolishedinto24-carat
wonderwithoutfrictionnorthechildofGodcleansed
withoutadversity.DavidOyedepohasbeenabletoride
thestormsoflife,togetherwithhiswifeofcovenant,
FaithOyedepo,andbothhavebeenabletocomeoutof
itallvictoriously.Inallchallengestheawesome
twosome,DavidandFaith,neverbetrayedanyshadow
offearnorpressedthepanic-buttonsbecausetheyknew
theGodwhomtheyservedinsideout,andwere
persuadedthatHewouldarise,andscattereveryspot
wheretheenemiesweregathered.Whenyoublend
LeadershipSecrets:#15
DavidwithFaith,you'vegotawinningcombination!
IndeedFaithistheperfectmatchthatspicesthelifeand
MinistryofDavidOyedepo.
LeadershipSecretsof
“Awifeisagiftbestowedupon
mantoreconcilehimtothelossofparadise”JohannVonGoethe
REFERENCESAchebe,C.“TheLeadershipCrisisinNigerianPolitics”(TheSpectatorNewspaper,SaturdayJanuary15,
Achebe,C.“TheLeadershipCrisisinNigerianPolitics”(TheSpectatorNewspaper,SaturdayJanuary15,2010)
www.avemariapress.comwww.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
www.community.vanguardngr.comwww.quotationspage.com/quote/1925.htmlhttps://sysministriesinc.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/
www.quoteland.com/author/John-D-RockefellerQuotes/1593/Senge,P.“TheFifthDiscipline”,Currency.Publication,
1990Familoni,O.“LeadershipStylesofGreatMen”BojeandDennehy(2000)Abrashoff,D.M.“It'sYourShip”,WarnerBooks,2002
NewmanB.“10LawsofLeadership”MarvelousChristian
PublicationsChristian,1997MacWilliams,P.“Doit!”Let’sGetoffourButs”,Prelude
Press,1994Oruenri,I.O.“TheMiracleofPurpose”WordMedia
LimitedHemphillandCorns,1937,P7BojoandDennechy(2000)
“THEAUTHORM
orackAkin-Davidisabiographer,aninspirationalwriterandaspeaker.Hisdescriptiveworkshave
inspiredaudienceinconferencesandseminars.
Asapoet,hisworkshavegracedthepagesof“TheGuardian”,theflagshipoftheNigerianpress.Heistheauthorof
“TriumphinginLeadershipdespiteOppositions.”HeisthePrincipal,MobileLeadershipAcademy,aplatformforpersonaldevelopmentandyouthleadershipempowerment.HeisalsotheCEOofBookaddictPublications.HeisalecturerattheWordofFaithBibleInstitute,Lagos,andaPastorattheLivingFaithChurch(Winners'ChapelInternational),Faith
Tabernacle,CanaanLand,Ota,Nigeria.
MorackAkin-DavidliveshappilyinLagos,Nigeriawithhiswife,Folakemi,andsons,Ireyemiand
Obayemisi.
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