Word of Life Bible Church

==History==
[[File:WordofLifeBibleChurch.jpg|thumb|right|International Gospel Centre (IGC) Building in Warri, Nigeria]]
[[File:Ayo Oritsejafor at WLBC.jpg|thumb|upright 0.8|Ayo Oritsejafor at Word of Life Bible Church, February 14, 2016]]
Word of Life Bible Church started on November 15, 1987, by [[Ayo Oritsejafor]] and his first wife, Stella, inside a warehouse in Plot 12, Enerhen, Uvwie, central district of Delta.<ref name="Contact Information">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110628161201/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/contact.php Contact Information]." ''Word of Life Bible Church''. June 28, 2011. Retrieved on February 13, 2019.</ref> Ayo was a Church of God Mission International pastor, under the leadership of Archbishop B.A. Idahosa, but after receiving a mandate from God, he founded Word of Life Bible Church as a Bible believing church for all who seek God.<ref name="Oritsejafor’s Journey">{{cite news| title = Why I left Church of God Mission | work = Vanguard News | url = https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/why-i-left-church-of-god-mission-pastor-oritsejafor/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170727153725/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/why-i-left-church-of-god-mission-pastor-oritsejafor/ |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |accessdate=February 13, 2019 |first=Sam | last=Eyoboka |date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> In 1982, Ayo and Stella created and hosted a television program, called the ''Hour of Deliverance'',<ref name="WLBC TV Ministry">{{cite web|url=http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/tv.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424012819/http://www.ayo-oritsejafor.org/tv.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-24|title= Hour Of Deliverance |website= www.ayo-oritsejafor.org}}</ref> which later became the church's television broadcast which could be seen in many parts of the world.

By 1994, the church attendance was estimated over three thousand, prompting the acquisition of a large piece of property in Ajamimogha, Warri. Thereafter, construction of its new auditorium called the International Gospel Centre commenced at the church permanent headquarters. Upon Stella Oritsejafor's death in March 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/why-i-left-church-of-god-mission-pastor-oritsejafor/|publisher=Vanguard News|title= Stella Oritsejafor's Death}}</ref><ref name="Pastor Ayo Remarries">{{cite news|title=Nigeria Top Founders Remarried|work=The Nation|url= http://thenationonlineng.net/nigerias-top-church-founders-remarried/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180408085317/http://thenationonlineng.net/nigerias-top-church-founders-remarried/|archive-date=April 8, 2018|accessdate=February 14, 2019 |date=April 8, 2018}}</ref> Ayo remarried in April 1997 to Helen, who became the co-pastor.<ref name="Helen Becomes Co-Pastor"/>

Under Ayo and Helen Oritsejafor, Word of Life Bible Church's congregation increased almost fivefold. Attendance increased to 8,000 weekly, prompting the completion of its new auditorium. In 2000, the church relocated to the International Gospel Center,<ref name="Inside International Gospel Centre (IGC) ">{{cite news| title = Inside Ayo Oritsejafor's Ministry|work=Encomium Magazine|url=http://encomium.ng/inside-bishop-ayo-oritsejafors-n120-billion-ministry/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405122738/http://encomium.ng/inside-bishop-ayo-oritsejafors-n120-billion-ministry/|archive-date=April 5, 2018 |accessdate=February 13, 2019 | date=September 2, 2014}}</ref> which was officially opened on November 19, 2000, by Dr. [[Morris Cerullo]]. It is a 35,000-seat facility in southwest Delta State along 118/120 Ajamimogha,<ref name="Contact Information"/> that has over five times the capacity of its former tabernacle.

In 2001, the weekly worship attendance of the church in Warri averaged 30,000.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://leadnet.org/world/ |title= World Megachurches |website= leadnet.org|date= October 10, 2023 }}</ref>