Focus on Souls, Not Seats: Pastor Isaac Oyedepo Launches No-Offering Services

In a bold departure from contemporary Pentecostal norms, Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, founder of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries (IOEM), has officially commenced weekly Sunday services in the heart of Abuja with a startling mandate: a total ban on the collection of financial offerings. The announcement, made during a video broadcast on Sunday, January 11, 2026, marks a pivotal shift for the second son of Bishop David Oyedepo, as he carves out a distinct identity for his independent ministry, which he launched in late 2023.

For a generation accustomed to the “seed-sowing” and financial prosperity rhetoric often associated with Nigeria’s mega-churches, Pastor Isaac’s “no-offering” policy has sent ripples through the religious landscape. During the broadcast, the clergyman clarified that his decision was not a critique of other ministries but a direct response to a “specific instruction” from God for this particular assignment. According to the young Oyedepo, the primary objective of the Abuja gatherings is the rigorous spiritual development of individuals rather than the maintenance of a traditional church financial structure.

“I’ve been given specific instructions not to collect offerings,” he stated, emphasizing that the focus must remain “solely on making disciples and equipping people to follow Jesus.” This approach, he argued, is modeled after the early ministry of Jesus Christ, who prioritized building a core group of followers over amassing resources. He noted that in the biblical narrative, the “fire” of the Holy Spirit fell only after the groundwork of discipleship had been laid, suggesting that modern churches may be suffering from a lack of scriptural depth due to an over-emphasis on optics and revenue.

The launch of the Sunday services coincides with the “Awaken 2026” movement, an initiative under the Anazao Generation Connect umbrella that targets a spiritual revival among the youth. Pastor Isaac, born in 1985, spent years serving as a high-ranking pastor within his father’s Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) before receiving a public blessing to transition into his own evangelistic work. This new phase in Abuja appears to be the fulfillment of that transition, focusing on what he calls “reclaiming a generation” through intensive Word-based teaching.

Addressing the health of the modern church, Pastor Isaac posed a challenging question to his viewers: “How healthy would our churches be if people were truly deep in the Scriptures?” He maintained that the spiritual growth of the believer requires a consistent, unhurried journey through the Word of God—a journey he believes can be hampered by the distractions of administrative and financial pressures. By removing the offering basket, he aims to create a “pure” environment where the only transaction is the transfer of spiritual knowledge.

The reaction among the Christian community has been a mix of intrigue and admiration, with many observers noting the courage it takes to launch a ministry in Nigeria’s capital without a built-in revenue stream. While the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries continues to operate as an independent entity, its founder’s refusal to collect offerings stands as a defiant statement against the perceived commercialization of the gospel. As the Sunday services in Abuja gather momentum, the eyes of the faithful remain on the young Oyedepo to see how this “disciple-first” model will shape the future of his ministry.