The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has drawn widespread attention after advising members of his congregation to give his phone number to kidnappers if they are ever abducted.
He made the remarks during a sermon at the church’s Canaanland headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, where he told worshippers that he possesses the spiritual authority to intervene in such situations.
A video clip from the service, later shared on social media with the hashtag #SupersonicSunday, began circulating widely on Thursday, sparking reactions online.
“If anybody picks you, give them my number, give them my number,” he said.
To reinforce his message, Oyedepo shared two accounts of what he described as divine intervention in previous kidnapping incidents involving members of the church.
In the first instance, he recounted how a pastor affiliated with the church was abducted and the kidnapper reportedly contacted him directly.
“One time one of our pastors was carried by, what do you call them, kidnappers.
“I said, give them the phone. I said, in 24 hours, if you don’t take him out, you are dead.
“The place was vibrating. On the spot.”
He also narrated a separate case involving a female church member who, according to him, declared by faith that she would be released by a set time.
“She said, my father said, I’m getting out of here latest by 7 a.m. They didn’t call. They started cutting themselves,” he said.
Oyedepo told congregants that they share the same spiritual authority and should learn to apply it in difficult situations.
“You have been raised far above the devil. If the church does not conquer these devils, God has left heaven,” he said.
