By Wilson Adekumola
The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo has said the cheapest way to succeed in ministry is steadfastness.
He made the submission at the 25th anniversary of Young Disciples International on Saturday, January 30 while delivering a keynote address.
The theme of the anniversary which held at the YDI Centre, 3, YDI Street, Off Lasu-Isheri Road, Igando, Lagos was “Impartation for Next Level.”
Oyedepo who is the grand patron of the ministry said at the event that, “the cheapest way to where we are going is to find out from those who have been there, how they got there and plan in their steps. Only consistent followers become great leaders.”
YDI was established in 1996 by Pastor Joe Jesimiel Ogbe with the mandate to salvage young people from moral rot.
The cheapest way to success-Oyedepo
Talking in line with the theme of the anniversary, Bishop Oyedepo said, “Stay focused on your assignment. The word that works is faith. There is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing anybody is doing somebody has not done before.
“We cannot get anything accomplished without faith and faith is not cheap talk but faith is hard work. Faith is to believe in God so that He can make good His promise. The cheapest way to where we are going is to find out from those who are there, how they got there and plan in their steps because only consistent followers that become great leaders.”
While encouraging the participants at the event to remain diligent in their service to God and mankind, he said, “There is no ordinary task, it is our ordinary approach that makes our task ordinary. There is no ordinary job anywhere in the world. In fact, a job that has to do with the soul is an extraordinary job.
“We have to do something extraordinary to achieve our goals. It has all the potentials to extraordinarily impact the world. So young people taking up responsibility, knowing how to work with God on time with all their life is a great task. It is more than enough job to do. There is so much demand for it. There is so much need for it, and not just that, there is clear calling for those who are doing that.”
He urged young people to ask for “the grace to stay focus, grace to remain diligent and give all it takes without distraction.”
He noted that “young people taking up responsibility, knowing how to work with God on time with all their life is a great task. It is more than enough job to do. There is so much demand for it, there is so much need for it and not just that, there is clear calling for those doing it”
Recounting his 40 years’ experience in ministry, he said, “I have not done one penny outside the ministry in my life. I have not accepted any appointment and there are quite a number of them, that would even get you tempted but I was not tempted. It could not enter me. There is no space for it. I have never seen anyone staying focus on his assignment without making a difference.”
He told the enthusiastic crowd how discovering his purpose earlier in life has given his life meaning. He asserted, “I said back in 1984, if I were invited to be president of this country, I would not have taken it because I knew where God is taking me. I knew where my assignment is. That is not my assignment. It is a great office but that is not my assignment.”
On Living Faith Church Worldwide, he said, “Today, we speak to more than one hundred and seventy nations in the world. So, where is Nigeria in it? Stay focus. If you will keep serving His purpose you will keep moving from one phase to another. No association ever brought about a revolution in history. It is an individual. It is a person that does. Association will never bring revolution. Stay on your job.
“Young people are bringing capacity for greatness. The beauty of consistency and continuity in working with God is awesome. I woke up to discover that we have 35,000 people on our payroll in Nigeria alone and they have never prayed to be paid and they have never been paid one day later. There is no end to glory as you keep following His obedience.”
Jesimiel Ogbe: Why we established YDI
The President of YDI, Joe Jesimiel Ogbe noted at the event that “the concept behind YDI is to reach out to the young people. We have a mandate to raise disciples among young people; mentoring them in the way of the Lord. God gave me this vision 25 years ago and hence the 25th anniversary. Bishop Oyedepo was there in the beginning and he is here again this year to appreciate God for the journey so far. We are trusting that the next 25 years shall be awesome to the glory of God.
“In the past 25 years, we have immensely impacted so many churches and ministries. We have done lots of training in churches and have helped the youth department of so many churches. We also reach out to youths within our immediate community and this has actually had a significant bearing on their lives.
“It is discipleship that makes our ministry to be peculiar. Until young are discipled they cannot stand for the Lord. We observed that most churches are not emphasizing youth discipleship and this initiative we took has been helping them to grow both physically and spiritually over the years.”
Discussing the peculiarity of the 25th anniversary, Ogbe who spoke with Church Times at the event, said, “25 years is a milestone we have to celebrate in grand style. A 25-year-old child is an adult. In addition to that, we welcome our father in the Lord, Bishop Oyedepo who came to grace the occasion and to commission our online YDI Radio. The radio is established purposely to disseminate godly information and teach people quality music.”
At the ceremony were Pastor Godwin of Just Christian Centre, Pastor Nelson Adunsi of God Bless Nigeria Church, Pastor Laide Isreal, Pastor Edward Bamidele of Faith Terbanacle, Ota, Pastor Busayo Davies, RCCG, Beautiful Gate Parish, Ijesahtedo, Lagos, Mrs Temidayo Dahunsi and a host of others.