Servanthood key to emerging giants, says Oyedepo
At a time when many aspire to leadership positions in ministry and society, the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has reminded believers that true leadership in God’s
At a time when many aspire to leadership positions in ministry and society, the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has reminded believers that true leadership in God’s kingdom is rooted in servanthood.
Oyedepo said this at “The SHIFT: An Apostolic and Leadership Convergence,” organised by Akin Akinpelu of Eden Centre, Lagos. The event had church leaders, students and marketplace apostles gathered at the event to embrace the covenant platform of servanthood as the pathway to greatness in the kingdom of God.
Delivering a message titled ‘Emergence of Giants from the Covenant Platform of Servanthood,’ the renowned cleric emphasised that spiritual leadership differs fundamentally from secular leadership.
“Spiritual leadership is built on the covenant platform of servanthood,” he said. “It is real servants—not bosses—that become great leaders in the kingdom.”
Drawing from biblical teachings, Oyedepo reminded participants that God rewards labourers rather than titles or positions.
“God does not reward leaders; He rewards labourers. God does not reward founders; He rewards labourers,” he said. “Our worth is not in what we possess but in what we add to the lives of others.”
He urged ministers and Christian leaders to focus on meeting people’s needs rather than seeking recognition or authority.
“If you are not meeting needs, you are not in ministry. Ministry is about meeting needs,” he stated.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Oyedepo revealed that he had spent decades serving in ministry, beginning with a passion for souls long before he formally became a pastor.
He narrated how his ministry journey began unexpectedly while serving as a relief teacher in a village where there was no church.
“I told Jesus I would not leave that village without planting His name there. Passion drove me, not ambition,” he said.
The bishop stressed that God keeps records of service and uses those records to determine the next level of believers.
“God keeps our service records in defining our next level. Don’t wait for change—work at the change you desire by serving Jesus in truth,” he said.
Oyedepo explained that the concept of “shift” in the kingdom refers to moving from one level of glory to another.
“We live in a kingdom of shifts,” he said. “The path of the just is like a shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day.”
According to him, God never leads backwards, urging believers to maintain a forward-moving mindset in life, ministry and business.
“You will never know a backward trend again,” he declared.
The cleric also reminded participants that redemption places believers in a position of potential greatness.
“When you are born again, you are born of the Almighty God,” he said. “That means you carry the genes of exploits.”
Little-by-Little Growth
While encouraging participants to pursue greatness, Oyedepo cautioned against impatience and the pursuit of instant success.
“Beware of the plague of hurry. Hurry is the highway to horror,” he warned.
According to him, growth in God’s kingdom comes gradually.
“Little by little, God drives obstacles away and builds capacity for greatness,” he explained.
He illustrated this principle with the humble beginnings of his ministry, which he said started with just four members.
“Great things begin small,” he noted.
Call to Purposeful Living
Addressing young ministers and marketplace leaders at the convergence, Oyedepo urged them to embrace discipline, obedience to God’s word and faithful service.
He warned against pride, material obsession and premature ambition, stressing that sustainable success comes through covenant obedience.
“Your tomorrow is defined by what you do with God’s word today,” he said.
Oyedepo further emphasised that the ultimate goal of every Christian should be eternal life.
“I have seen a few people raised from the dead, but I have not seen someone four days dead raised to life, except by Jesus,” he said, referencing the miraculous power of Christ.
According to him, the ministry should not be viewed as a platform for fame, wealth or recognition.
“There is no graduation in this kingdom,” he said. “If you are waiting for the day you will wear a graduation gown, you are wasting your time. We only graduate into heaven.”
The renowned preacher warned against what he described as “freelance gospel,” where believers assume they can live without accountability to God’s standards.
“Be careful of freelance gospel—the idea that you can do anything and God will still accept it. There are conditions to meet if you want to make heaven,” he said.
Citing the writings of Paul the Apostle, Oyedepo referenced the warning that even preachers must discipline themselves so that after preaching to others they would not become “castaways.”
He, therefore, urged ministers to remain spiritually disciplined and focused on their calling.
“Don’t let the glamour of ministry take your eyes away from eternity,” he said. “Make heaven your target.”
Oyedepo also called for decency and order within the Christian faith, stressing that modesty remains an important part of Christian living.
He further encouraged younger ministers to learn from older spiritual leaders rather than dismissing previous generations.
“There is nothing you will do tomorrow that someone has not done before,” he said. “Take time to learn from those ahead of you and grow from there.”
In his opening remarks, Akinpelu set the tone for what he described as far more than a conventional leadership conference.
Speaking before an audience of church leaders, professionals and emerging influencers, he explained that the gathering was deliberately designed as a platform where leaders could receive both spiritual direction and strategic clarity for their assignments in society.
“Today, we hosted something powerful,” he said. “Leaders came from Kenya, Ghana, the United Kingdom, the United States, Rwanda and across Nigeria, not for a conference, but for a single, focused morning of apostolic depth and strategic clarity.”
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According to him, the vision for the gathering grew out of years of intentional preparation aimed at equipping a new generation of leaders capable of combining spiritual insight with practical leadership.
“I have spent years building towards a moment like this,” he said. “The next generation of leaders needs more than motivation. They need direction, depth and a sense of belonging.”
Akinpelu noted that the conference sought to release fresh direction for the Church while also aligning leaders across different sectors to their divine mandates.
He reiterated that the mission of The SHIFT remains clear: to raise leaders who can transform institutions, shape communities and influence society while remaining deeply rooted in spiritual purpose.
“What happened in that room cannot be undone,” he said. “Those who were present carry it now—and that is exactly what The SHIFT was meant to do.”
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of Akinpelu’s new book titled ‘The Agenda.’
According to him, the book serves as a practical guide for leaders seeking to build organisations and institutions guided by what he described as “divine intelligence.”
