Bishop David Oyedepo
In the wake of renewed violence targeting places of worship, Bishop David Oyedepo is urging Christians across Nigeria to gather in unity for midnight prayers—an appeal that reflects both the rising anxieties in faith communities and a deepening search for reassurance amid insecurity.
Addressing worshippers during the 4th Pre-Shiloh Encounter Service on Sunday, the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide said the recent attacks on churches, where worshippers were killed and others abducted, have reopened wounds and stirred urgent questions about safety and justice. He described the past two weeks as “worrisome,” noting that moments like these demand not only vigilance, but spiritual solidarity.
For Oyedepo, the call to prayer is not merely a ritual response. It is, he says, a way of reclaiming hope in a climate where violence increasingly touches ordinary lives. “You can’t trade people’s lives for comfort,” he said, expressing grief and indignation at the unchecked attacks. He added that the suffering of victims continues to “speak,” insisting that justice—divine or otherwise—must eventually come.
Reflecting on warnings he said he had sounded over the past 15 years, Oyedepo emphasised his emotional ties to the country. “We all have our ancestral grounds,” he said, reiterating that Nigeria’s challenges should be met with both faith and collective responsibility.
He directed members of the church to hold a one-hour prayer session between midnight and 1 a.m., describing it as a spiritual mobilization meant to confront the forces behind the violence. “Before violence descends into anarchy… every member should be awake,” he said, lamenting that a church could be attacked during worship “and nothing happened.”
Beyond the prayers, Oyedepo urged families to anoint their homes—a symbolic act he believes offers protection and unity. He cautioned against politicising the loss of life, saying this moment requires empathy and shared purpose rather than blame.
Citing Psalm 85:8, the bishop said his renewed call stems from a deep spiritual burden: “Nigeria will not descend into chaos,” he declared. For many listening, his message served as both a lament for a nation in distress and an invitation to reclaim agency—through prayer, solidarity, and a refusal to normalise violence.