Charismatic Leadership and the Rise of the Living Faith Church in Kaduna Metropolis, 1983–2020

Abstract This article examines the role of charismatic leadership in the rise of Living Faith Church (LFC) in Kaduna Metropolis between 1983 and 2020. Founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, LFC grew into one of Nigeria’s leading Pentecostal churches, with Kaduna as its formative base. Drawing on Max Weber’s theory of charismatic authority and its routinization, the article analyses how Oyedepo’s leadership, expressed through preaching, media engagement, and spiritual authority, drove expansion and institutional consolidation in a religiously diverse urban setting. Using church records, sermons, media materials, and oral interviews, it traces LFC’s transformation from a small congregation into an extensive network of branches. The findings show that its rise to prominence was not only due to personal charisma but also to its routinization through institutional structures, theological adaptation, and prosperity-oriented practices. By focusing on Kaduna, the article reveals how Pentecostal churches negotiate urban complexity, contributing to debates on urban religion and the institutionalization of charisma in Africa.