By Toyin Adeniyi
Isaac Oyedepo, founder of The Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries, has underscored the importance of prioritising spiritual depth over numerical growth in church ministry.
Speaking during a recent sermon shared on Facebook and monitored by Church Times, the young Oyedepo reflected on a moment in his ministry that reshaped his understanding of church growth
He said he had come to understand that not everything that grows is healthy while recalling how God asked him if he wanted a healthy church or a large church.
Oyedepo who started his ministry on November 28 2023 said “that something is growing does not mean it is healthy.. Cancer grows and it is not healthy”
Recounting an outreach programme in South Africa, Pastor Oyedepo explained that large numbers attended after transportation and other support were provided.
However, during a follow-up exercise, an unexpected response from one of the attendees revealed a deeper concern.
He said the attendee who had reportedly responded to an altar call, later denied ever making such a decision. The experience, he noted, marked a turning point in his approach to ministry.
“That day my mentality shifted,” he said, explaining that physical responses to altar call do not always translate to genuine spiritual encounters.
While acknowledging that providing support for church programmes is not wrong, Pastor Oyedepo emphasised the need for intentional discipleship and sincere conviction.
He warned that attracting people through incentives alone may not lead to lasting transformation.
Drawing comparisons with everyday life, he observed that many people willingly make personal sacrifices to attend social or sporting events, yet may require persuasion to attend spiritual gatherings. This, he suggested, calls for a reassessment of priorities among believers.
He further noted that some of the most impactful moves of God in his ministry occurred in smaller gatherings, reinforcing his conviction that true growth is measured by spiritual maturity rather than crowd size.
“Not everything that grows is healthy,” he insisted urging ministers to focus on raising believers who have a genuine understanding of their faith.
Pastor Oyedepo also encouraged church leaders to ensure that Christ remains the centre of their message, noting that a true encounter with Him leaves a lasting and undeniable impact.
