Pastors are ordained leaders of Christian congregation. They play vital role in the society from time immemorial and are regard as ‘shepherds’, helper and givers.
Their prayers make tremendous powers available, and the world is surviving up till date as a result of their payers.
Pastors are highly respected individuals in the society. Some of them are so influential, and have become spiritual consultants to top political leaders.
However, Pastors also make money, and their are so many ways they do that. Some of them even boast of having fleet of cars, houses and private jets.
How pastors make money from churches
Below are the various ways through which pastors generate income from their churches:
1. Offerings: During church gatherings, church members willingly contribute monetary offerings.
2. Tithes: Church members dedicate 10% of their income to their pastors as a form of tithe.
3. Seeds: Church members often sow financial seeds to their pastors as an act of faith and support.
4. Thanksgiving: Congregants express gratitude to God by presenting monetary donations and material goods during thanksgiving services.
5. First Fruits: When individuals receive their first salary or income, they may offer it to the church. Additionally, at the beginning of each year, church members often donate their January earnings.
6. Partnerships: Pastors may request financial partnerships from church members to support various causes or projects.
7. Birthdays: Church members often contribute generous amounts of money to celebrate their pastors’ birthdays.
8. Spiritual Items: Some pastors sell spiritual items, such as blessed water, oil, stickers, aprons, mantle, etc. to their church members.
9. Information Marketing: Pastors may sell their teachings/messages, such as videos, audios, books, and other resources, to their church members and the general public.
10. Donations: Church members occasionally donate money to support their pastors and the ministry’s activities.
It’s important to note that while these methods can contribute to a pastor’s income, the practices and approaches may vary between different churches and religious organizations. You may like to check top 10 richest churches in Nigeria.
Top 10 Richest Pastors in the world and their net worth
Below is the list of the ten (10) richest pastors in the world, along with their respective net worth:
1. Bishop David Oyedepo (Net worth: $250 million)
Bishop David Oyedepo, a Nigerian born in September 1954, is the founder and general overseer of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel. Revered as the father of faith, Oyedepo is renowned for his practical teachings on faith and prosperity.
With his vast wealth, Oyedepo owns one private jet, two private universities, one polytechnic, a secondary school, and various other investments. In 1981, he established Living Faith Church in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Since then, the church has experienced remarkable growth, boasting over 400 branches within Nigeria and numerous others in foreign countries such as the UK and the US.
The church’s impressive auditorium, located at Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun State, can accommodate approximately 50,000 worshipers, making it the largest church auditorium worldwide. Bishop David Oyedepo’s ministry and entrepreneurial endeavors have contributed significantly to his notable net worth.
2. Bishop T. D Jake (Net worth $200 million)
Thomas Dexter Jake is a pastor in the United States of America. He is a black American, born in the year 1957, West Virginia in US. His true origin is not very clear as he has traced to be a Nigerian from Igbo ethnicity.
T.D Jake is the founder and general overseer of the Potters House, located in Dallas Texas United State with over 20,000 worshipers. He is good preacher, and has won a ‘Grammy’ award from one of his many beautiful songs. Most of his wealth comes from selling of his books, songs and movies.
3. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Net Worth $150 million)
Another rich pastor in the world is Chris Oyakhilome, the founder and President of Believers’ Love World Inc., popularly known as Christ Embassy. He is a Nigerian, and was born in Edo state in December, 1963. Pastor Chris started his ministry while in the university at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State in Nigeria. His Church, Christ Embassy has grown so tremendously from little campus gathering to one of the biggest church in Africa.
Pastor Chris church is also known to be the mega house of Gospel musicians in Nigeria as he has most popular gospel singers like Sinach, Frank Edwards, Bu-chi and many others.
Pastor Chris also has investment in Real Estate and Music Productions. He is the author and publisher of the best selling “Rhapsody of Realities”, a daily devotion.
4. Pastor Benny Hinn (Net worth $77 million)
Pastor Benny Hinn is an Israeli televangelist born in December 1952. He is among the richest pastors. Benny Hinn is a preacher, author, speaker and Televangelist. He is also a faith healer.
Pastor Benny specialize in teaching about the Holy Spirit. He has written several books about the Holy spirit including Good morning Holy Spirit, The Anointing, He Touched Me and several others.
5. Pastor E. A Adeboye (Net worth $59 million)
Enoch Adejare Adeboye is the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is a Nigerian from Osun State, born in March 1942.
He has the highest number of church branch in Nigeria. Adeboye’s target is to have at least one branch of the RCCG in every home in Nigeria.
So far, he has over 15,000 branches in Nigeria, and the number keep increasing geometrically. He’s the most respected Pastor in Nigeria for his rare humble life.
Pastor Adeboye studied Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos, and he had been a professor of Mathematics at University of Lagos.
6. Pastor Creflo Dollar (Net worth $47 million)
Creflo Augustus Dollar is an American Gospel preacher and televangelist, born in January 1962.
He is the founder and senior Pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia. He has over 30,000 worshipers in his church.
Pastor Dollar owns two Rolls Royce, a private jet and homes worth millions of dollars in America.
7. Pastor Kenneth Copeland (Net worth $45 million)
Kenneth Copeland is an American author, televangelist, musician and public speaker. He is known for his prosperity preaching.
He’s the founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries located in Texas United State. He was born in Lubbock, Texas in December 1936. Copeland was a musician before he got born again.
8. Late Billy Graham (Net worth $34 million)
Billy is an American televangelist and about the longest serving evangelist in contemporary times before his death. He was born in 1918. Billy became one of the influential evangelist in United State.
He had been actively involved in the American politics, offering prayers and counselling to a host of American Presidents. His television broadcast has a lifespan of 60 years before his retirement in 2005.
Billy preached large number of people more than any other person in the world. His spiritual impact has affected the lives of over 2.2 billion people before his death in February 21, 2018 at age 99.
9. Late T.B Joshua (Net worth $25 million)
Late Temitope Balogun Joshua among the richest pastors in the world while he was alive. He is a Nigerian televangelist, pastor and philanthropist. He is a Nigerian, born in June 12, 1963. He is the leader and founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations, Lagos, Nigeria.
TB Joshua is known for the purported deliverance of persons possessed by evil spirit. His healing power and prophetic grace converted his church to a tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
10. Joseph Prince (Net Worth $10 Million)
Prince is a pastor and televangelist. He is from Malaysia but was born into the family of a sikh priest in Singapore. He pastors the largest church in the Asian continent. Joseph Prince was once an IT consultant which had led him to become one of the most tech-savvy Gospel preachers in the list.