Word of Life Bible Church explained

Word of Life Bible Church
Location:Warri, Delta
Denomination:Non-denominational, Pentecostal
Attendance:30,000
Founded Date:November 15, 1987
Founder:Ayo Oritsejafor
Capacity:35,000
Country:Nigeria
Logosize:235

Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) is a Pentecostal Christian megachurch located in Warri, Delta, Nigeria. It is one of the largest congregations in Nigeria, averaging about 30,000 attendees per week.[1] The church now has congregations in over 70 locations worldwide.[2] [3] The senior pastor is Ayo Oritsejafor with his wife, Helen, who serves as co-pastor.[4] [5]

History

Word of Life Bible Church started on November 15, 1987, by Ayo Oritsejafor and his first wife, Stella, inside a warehouse in Plot 12, Enerhen, Uvwie, central district of Delta.[6] Ayo was a Church of God Mission International pastor, under the leadership of Archbishop B.A. Idahosa, but after receiving a mandate from God, he founded Word of Life Bible Church as a Bible believing church for all who seek God.[7] In 1982, Ayo and Stella created and hosted a television program, called the Hour of Deliverance,[8] which later became the church's television broadcast which could be seen in many parts of the world.

By 1994, the church attendance was estimated over three thousand, prompting the acquisition of a large piece of property in Ajamimogha, Warri. Thereafter, construction of its new auditorium called the International Gospel Centre commenced at the church permanent headquarters. Upon Stella Oritsejafor's death in March 1996,[9] [10] Ayo remarried in April 1997 to Helen, who became the co-pastor.[5]

Under Ayo and Helen Oritsejafor, Word of Life Bible Church's congregation increased almost fivefold. Attendance increased to 8,000 weekly, prompting the completion of its new auditorium. In 2000, the church relocated to the International Gospel Center,[11] which was officially opened on November 19, 2000, by Dr. Morris Cerullo. It is a 35,000-seat facility in southwest Delta State along 118/120 Ajamimogha,[6] that has over five times the capacity of its former tabernacle.

In 2001, the weekly worship attendance of the church in Warri averaged 30,000.[12]

Beliefs

Word of Life Bible Church believes that the Holy Bible consisting of 66 books is the inspired, authoritative and infallible word of God and center its teachings on this belief.[13] The church also holds in account the belief in the Trinity.[14] From the commands found in the Bible, the church believe:

The church is known for its Word of Life, Faith and Deliverance based teaching.[14] It is also known, before every sermon is given by the senior pastor, for a confession that the congregation repeats in unison;

Church organization

Word of Life Bible Church offers several types of services, ministries, fellowships and outreaches depending on its parishioners’ age, marital status and peculiar needs.[15] In order to reach its members with the message of Jesus, the church operates five core fellowships; Children Evangelical Ministry (CEM), Teen's Fellowship known as “Action Teens for Christ Fellowship” (ATCF), for teenagers, WLBC Youths for singles within the age bracket of twenty to thirty five,[16] [17] Women and Men's Fellowship for couples and adults from age thirty six and above.[18] [19] [20] [21]

Services

Television

The church's weekly services are broadcast on African Broadcasting Network, as well as local channels in Nigeria and through a live internet feed. Hour of Deliverance is the television ministry of Word of Life Bible Church. It airs thrice a day, seven days a week, and is available in over 95 percent of Nigeria and in most other nations across Africa, Asia and Europe. The broadcast features Ayo and Helen's sermons.[8]

Education

Several educational institutions are associated with the church, including Eagle Heights International Schools,[23] a Bible school called International School of Ministry - a private Christian college located in Warri, Nigeria.[24] This college offer diplomas in Bible and ministry-related studies. In addition, the church in May 2014,[25] started construction of its university called Eagle Heights University located in Omadino, Delta.[26] [27] [28]

Major events

Jubilee Word Festival

This is the major conference hosted by Word of Life Bible Church every year in November.[29] The conference is uniquely tag with a theme with which the church runs with throughout the following year. Jubilee Word Festival marks the end of the church year.[30]

Let God Arise

Let God Arise is a conference that runs throughout the month of August, with different guest speakers. It has been going on every year since it began.

Yadah

Yadah is a musical concert held in Delta with gospel artiste from Nigeria and around the world attending. It is a free event hosted by Word of Life Bible Church every year since its inception on December 23, 2018, at the International Gospel Centre.[31] [32]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Megachurches. leadnet.org . October 10, 2023.
  2. News: Pastor Oritsejafor's Church Set To Inaugurate 80 Branches Worldwide. Gbaramatu Voice News. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214135749/https://www.gbaramatuvoicenews.com/pastor-oritsejafors-church-set-to-inaugurate-80-branches-worldwide/. February 14, 2019 . February 12, 2019 . June 7, 2018.
  3. Web site: Pastor Oritsejafor 5 Interesting Things You May Not Know About Word of Life Bible Church. Pulse Nigeria. July 6, 2018 . February 11, 2019.
  4. Web site: The Pastors. Word of Life Bible Church .
  5. Web site: WLBC Co-Pastor . https://web.archive.org/web/20120424012531/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/aboutpastorhelen.htm . 2012-04-24 . Word of Life Bible Church . February 13, 2019.
  6. "Contact Information." Word of Life Bible Church. June 28, 2011. Retrieved on February 13, 2019.
  7. News: Why I left Church of God Mission . Vanguard News . https://web.archive.org/web/20170727153725/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/why-i-left-church-of-god-mission-pastor-oritsejafor/ . July 27, 2017 . February 13, 2019 . Sam . Eyoboka . November 11, 2012.
  8. Web site: Hour Of Deliverance . https://web.archive.org/web/20120424012819/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/tv.htm. dead. 2012-04-24. www.ayo-oritsejafor.org.
  9. Web site: Stella Oritsejafor's Death. Vanguard News.
  10. News: Nigeria Top Founders Remarried. The Nation. https://web.archive.org/web/20180408085317/http://thenationonlineng.net/nigerias-top-church-founders-remarried/. April 8, 2018. February 14, 2019 . April 8, 2018.
  11. News: Inside Ayo Oritsejafor's Ministry. Encomium Magazine. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405122738/http://encomium.ng/inside-bishop-ayo-oritsejafors-n120-billion-ministry/. April 5, 2018 . February 13, 2019 . September 2, 2014.
  12. Web site: World Megachurches . leadnet.org. October 10, 2023 .
  13. Web site: Common Seal. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  14. Web site: Who We Are. https://web.archive.org/web/20120330100458/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/ourmission.htm. dead. March 30, 2012 . February 13, 2019. ayo-oritsejafor.org.
  15. Web site: About WLBC. Word of Life Bible Church. February 13, 2019.
  16. Web site: WLBC Youth Ministry. https://web.archive.org/web/20120424012512/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/action_youths.htm. dead. April 24, 2012 .
  17. Web site: Action Youth for Christ Fellowship. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  18. Web site: WLBC Men's Ministry. https://web.archive.org/web/20120424012951/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/men_alive.htm. dead. April 24, 2012 .
  19. Web site: Men Alive. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  20. Web site: WLBC Women's Ministry. https://web.archive.org/web/20120424013052/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/webpage.php?yID=4. dead. April 24, 2012 .
  21. Web site: Daughters Of Sarah. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  22. "WLBC Campus Services." Word of Life Bible Church. April 24, 2012. Retrieved on February 13, 2019.
  23. Web site: Eagle Heights International Schools. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  24. Web site: International School Of Ministry. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  25. News: Jonathan To Perform Ground Breaking Ceremony At Oritsejafor's New University. Information Nigeria. https://web.archive.org/web/20160201134910/http://www.informationng.com/2014/05/jonathan-to-perform-ground-breaking-ceremony-at-oritsejafors-new-university.html. February 1, 2016. February 13, 2019. May 19, 2014.
  26. Web site: Eagle Heights University. WLBC. February 13, 2019.
  27. "Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Builds Private University." Encomium Nigeria. May 30, 2014. Retrieved on February 13, 2019.
  28. "Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Opens New University".Nigeria School. Retrieved on February 13, 2019.
  29. Web site: Jubilee Word Festival 2011. Vanguard Nigeria. November 27, 2011.
  30. Web site: Jubilee Word Conference Opens. Vanguard Nigeria. November 8, 2008. Sam. Eyoboka .
  31. News: Word of Life Holds Largest Gospel Music Concert In Niger-Delta. Vanguard Nigeria. https://web.archive.org/web/20190112171719/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/word-of-life-holds-largest-gospel-music-concert-in-niger-delta/. January 12, 2019. February 14, 2019 . December 26, 2018.
  32. Web site: WLBC YADAH 2018. December 20, 2018 . Fresh Angle Nigeria. February 14, 2019.

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