Two Vice Presidents of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishops David Olatunji Abioye and Thomas Aremu, are set to retire this October 2024, following the operational guidelines of the Liberation Commission, also known as the Mandate, which serves as the church’s constitution, News About Nigeria reports.
The farewell for Bishop Thomas Aremu will be held on Tuesday, October 15, at Living Faith Church in Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, while Bishop David Abioye’s valedictory service is scheduled for Friday, October 18, in Durumi, Abuja.
A member who attends the headquarters church in Ota, Ogun State, said, “We have heard that Bishop Abioye and the other Bishop Aremu in Ibadan will leave during the Bishop Oyedepo birthday celebration. That is the new law in the church; only Bishop Oyedepo can remain in his position for life. One of the two bishops has even been considering leaving for a while, so this is not news to some of us in the church.”
Bishop Abioye, who began his journey with the church founder, Bishop David Oyedepo, in 1979, has been integral to the church’s growth, playing a leadership role from its earliest days.
Appointed in 1987 as one of the ministry’s first pastors, Abioye made history as the youngest bishop in the church’s history when he was consecrated in 1993 at age 32.
Bishop Aremu, originally an accountant, transitioned into full-time ministry and became one of seven bishops consecrated at the Garden of Faith in Kaduna in 1999.
His dedication has earned him deep respect within the church community, making him the last of the original bishops still serving.
This is a milestone moment for Living Faith Church, marking the first public celebration of pastoral retirements in its history.
The church’s revised mandate now sets the retirement age at 58, down from 60, with future leaders serving limited terms.
However, Bishop Oyedepo, the founder, holds lifelong service privileges under the Mandate.
