Bishop Abioye Attacks Oyedepo Over Church Building Project

A resurfaced message by Bishop David Abioye, a former senior pastor of Winners Chapel, criticising excessive spending on church buildings at the expense of developing people, is currently trending across social media platforms.

The message gained traction just days after Bishop Abioye formally began his independent ministry, sparking conversations and controversies within the religious community.

In the viral video, Abioye questioned, “Did God send you to be building churches? Did He send you? Did He send you?” He further emphasized that the primary mission of the church should be about building people, not structures. “Building won’t take us to heaven; it is people that will go to heaven,” he asserted.

The cleric went on to admonish fellow pastors, urging them to return to their core calling. “Let’s get back to our track. I am pleading and challenging pastors and leaders. People need more from us than we are giving them,” he said, warning that failure to do so could allow “evil to overwhelm and erode us.”

The message, according to findings was delivered while Abioye was still serving in Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel.

However, its circulation has reignited speculation about his relationship with the church’s founder, Bishop David Oyedepo.

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Abioye’s absence from Winners Chapel’s annual Shiloh programme further fueled the debate, with many interpreting it as a sign of dissatisfaction with the terms of his retirement.

Some insiders believe that Abioye, who was widely regarded as Oyedepo’s second-in-command, may not have been pleased with his exit from the church despite his years of loyalty and service.

Adding to the controversy, former senator Dino Melaye took to Facebook to express disapproval of Abioye’s retirement, questioning why Bishop Oyedepo, who is older, continues to lead while Abioye steps aside.