Two most senior pastors of The Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a Winners Chapel Bishops David Olatunji Abioye and Thomas Aremu are set to retire from the ministry. There retirements mark a conclusion of over four and three decades of dedicated service, respectively to the church founded by Bishop David O. Oyedepo. This decision aligns with the operational guidelines of the Mandate, the Church’s constitutional framework.
Bishop David Abioye’s farewell ceremony will occur on October 18, 2024, in Lokogoma, Abuja, while Bishop Thomas Aremu’s valedictory service is to hold on October 15, 2024, at LFC Basorun in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Bishop Abioye, who has been a close associate of Bishop David Oyedepo since their first meeting in 1979, played a pivotal role in the Church’s establishment.
Bishop Abioye, was among the pioneering pastors of the ministry, taking charge of one of the first five branches established in 1987. Abioye’s consecration in 1993 at the Garden of Faith, Barnawa, Kaduna, made him the youngest bishop in the history of a full-fledged church at the age of 32. Bishop Aremu on his part, ventured into full-time ministry after a successful career as an accountant. He is notable for being the only remaining bishop among the seven consecrated in November 1999.
According to the revised Mandate, the retirement age has been adjusted from 60 to 58 years. Bishop Abioye is currently 63, while Bishop Aremu is 67.
The Founder of the Church is the only one granted the privilege of a lifetime of service, while future leaders will serve a maximum of two terms of seven years each, subject to Board of Trustees approval.