Last week, the internet was abuzz with the Forbes revelation that 5 out of the world’s top 10 richest pastors are Nigerian – click here if you missed it.
Sitting at the top of the list with $150 million is David Oyedepo, Bishop of Living Faith Church, better known as “Winners Chapel”.
Reuters examined this phenomenon in a recent article, stating,
“…”megachurches”… form a huge, untaxed sector of Africa’s top economy. Hundreds of millions of
dollars change hands each year in these popular Pentecostal houses of worship.”
For the article, they spoke with the
Bishop, who had the following to say about his estimated net worth and
if churches should be taxed, (a recent topic at the National
Conference),
About Forbes Estimation of his Net Worth“For me, to have fortune means someone who has what he needs at any point in time. I don’t see myself as having $150 million stacked up somewhere. Whatever way they found their figures, I am only able to say I am blessed by the Lord.”Should Nigerian Churches be Taxed?“There is no single government input on this premises,” (BN Editor’s Note: referring to Canaanland, the church’s headquarters & Covenant University campus)Oyedepo told Reuters ,“We supply our water, we make our roads, then you … say: ‘Let’s tax them’. For what?”
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