Winners Chapel Acquires New Economical Jet- HS25 900XP

By Daniel Breakforth

A few days ago, while ushering in the New Year with the prophetic theme ‘FORTUNE 2024’, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church announced at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaaanland that ‘We are in the era of fortune in the body of Christ.

The Bishop added ‘The Church will flow at a frequency that the world cannot understand’.

Church Gist has reported that Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners Chapel International has acquired a new, comfortable and economical business jet-The Hawker Siddeley 25 900 XP with registration marking 5N-CCY.

The Hawker 900XP is a well-known business jet that is ideal for mid-range destinations and provides a luxury flight experience in a spacious cabin that fits up to 8 passengers. With a maximum cruise speed of 448 knots and a range of 2,572 nm, one will reach destination in a comfortable and economical way.

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Private jets are not new to Living Faith Church once termed by the media as ‘the Church of the Rich’. Below is a chronicle of how the Church entered the aviation industry in its missionary quest.

CHRONICLE OF THE GOSPEL ON WINGS.
1982-2024.

During a meeting on 10th April 1982 in a secondary school at Erinle, a small agrarian community in today’s Kwara State, Nigeria, a group of youth not exceeding 70 and known by themselves as the ‘Power House,’ and led by 27 year old David Oyedepo gathered for one of their campmeeting sessions. During the session, David Oyedepo began to prophesy with Joseph Ebhomien as secretary documenting the crazy words

One of the most unrealistic prophesies uttered that day was the prophecy of ‘wings’ signifying that the group would soon be flying around the world with the gospel of Christ.

As at today, the group now a mega church has been flying for almost 3 decades…about 28 years now.
What is more, Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel has grown from 70 Powerhouse members in one location to over 22,000 churches located in about 146 nations of the world.

In furtherance of carrying the gospel on Wings, the Lord has enabled the Church to purchase different aircraft at different times as follows:

17th March 1996
While preparing to minister at an Anointing Service, God said to Bishop David Oyedepo “It’s time to get the aircraft”. He immediately made the announcement during the Service. One offering was made without any coercion. No other offering was raised for the Aircraft again.

18th September 1996
Six months later, the Church dedicated her first Aircraft, an 8 Seater Hawker Sydney 400B executive jet 25 with registration 5N-WMA (World Mission Agency) for the propagation of the Gospel across the Globe. This was the confirmation of the April 1982 Prophecy. The first trip of the Aircraft in Nigeria was to Kaduna where Bishop David Oyedepo ministered at the Garden of Faith the same month.

16th June 2004
Arrival of a new Aircraft HS 800A with registration 5N-PTL (Praise The Lord) to replace the former one 5N-WMA (World Mission Agency).

August 2008
A new Aircraft – Challenger 604 with registration N664D (Dominion) was acquired by the Church during the global recession. At this point, the HS 800A was sold.

27 March 2011
Bishop Oyedepo announced during a Sunday service the purchase of a new aircraft.
The plans to buy it were later discouraged by Pastor Kenneth Copeland according to Bishop Oyedepo such that the deal was cancelled. Earlier in 2010, the Church hangar project (Dominion Aviation Center) at the Lagos Airport commenced by Dutum in May 2010 and with the speed of construction, it became operational in 201 after construction ended in December 2010.

.It was said that in 2011, Bishop Oyedepo flew to 6 African countries within 7 days and preached 11 times. Bishop Oyedepo often stated humourously how Air Traffic Controllers at the Control Tower used to send regards to ‘Papa’ whenever he was on his way in or out. On many occasions, as at 6pm, 4 hours before an all night service, the Church aircraft could be spotted on radar in a nearby African country making its way back to Nigeria and Ota where the Bishop would later preach 3 or 4 times as well as another 4 times on Sunday morning after a very hectic schedule.

Eventually the N664D aircraft was sold and it’s location as at 2020 was Fortworth, Texas, USA.

2013
A new aircraft, a Helicopter 5N-BQY was purchased for local missionary trips (trips to Landmark University Omu Aran in Kwara from Lagos or from Ota to the Lagos Airport and on a few occasions to Abuja etc.) The helicopter was later disposed of.

April 2015
In 2015, the Church acquired a new Aircraft, a Challenger 605 with registration N633WM-Matthew 6:33 (World Mission) in replacement of the N664D Challenger 604.

20th May 2018
Bishop David Oyedepo announced the arrival of a brand new Aircraft, a helicopter. According to him, this was from his pocket and not the Church money. At this point, there were 2 aircraft, a fixed wing jet and a helicopter. However, false rumours went round including on Forbes Magazine that the Church had 4 jets. When Bishop Oyedepo was asked by journalists in 2011, he jokingly stated that there were 10. The Bishop who is acclaimed as an Apostle of Faith will never use his mouth to reduce the number of real or perceived aircraft as he will rather members of the Church called Winners all own private jets. He also announced back in 2012 that the new facility to be built would have ‘parking’ for aircraft of members within the Church facility at Canaaanland

Winners’ Chapel has now used at least 5 different fixed wing aircraft but has never owned more than 2 at once contrary to media reports.

Basically, while each of them is always sold for an updated model as they begin to age. Interestingly,, the N633WM is less than 800 miles and thus still relatively new. It is also reported that plans to sell the helicopter is also in the works. If that happens, it is most likely that there will soon be a replacement.

The new jet which was purchased last year has since commenced operations and has recently been sighted in Ibadan, Benin City and Port Harcourt.

Bishop Oyedepo has affirmed that according to scriptures, as things get harder, only those under the covenant will have all round covering.

CHURCH GIST