David Ibiyeomie; Founder of Salvation Ministries, Televengelist
David Ibiyeomie; Founder of Salvation Ministries, Televengelist
David Ibiyeomie is a pastor, author, and televangelist from Nigeria. He also started and is the head pastor of Salvation Ministries, which has its base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Early years
David Ibiyeomie was born in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria, on October 21, 1962. He was born in Bolo Town, which is in the Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state of Rivers.
Educational Background
David Ibiyeomie went to Banham basic School and Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borikiri, both in Rivers State, for his basic and secondary education. In 1980, he went to Port Harcourt to study at the University of Science and Technology.
Ministerial Journey
In 1995, Ibiyeomie went to the Word of Faith Bible Institute, which is part of David Oyedepo’s Ministry, to go to Bible school full time. On Sunday, April 13, 1997, Ibiyeomie started Salvation Ministries with 34 people in attendance.
Career
After finishing Bible school at Bishop David Oyedepo’s Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI), Ibiyeomie started a house fellowship with his family in Victoria Island, Lagos. He later moved to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he started Salvation Ministries (Glorious Chapel) on April 13, 1997, with a little over twenty people in attendance.
The church moved to a bigger piece of land in July 1997. As of 2017, about 50,000 people go to the offices of Salvation Ministries every Sunday. In February 2011, Salvation Ministries started 14 satellite churches all in one day. Each one had five services.
The Ministry
David Ibiyeomie meets a lot of worshipers through his TV ministry Hour of Salvation[5] and his live services. The Hour of Salvation TV show began in 2001 on NTA channel 10 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. It is now shown on more than 40 TV stations around the world. He writes books and runs a web radio show.
In 2010, he began building a temple with room for 120,000 people.
Controversy
Ibiyeomie has caused trouble on more than one occasion. In January 2017, it was said that Ibiyeomie had said hurtful things about the Ogoni people, so the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People asked him to apologize.
In March 2017, journalist Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo said that Ibiyeomie was having an affair with Nollywood star Iyabo Ojo. After that, Olunloyo was arrested for slander and bail was denied. But she has been set free. Ibiyeomie rejected the claims very strongly.
