David Ibiyeomie

David Ibiyeomie (born 21 October 1962) is a Nigerian pastor, author, televangelist and the founder/presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries with its headquarters located in GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Early life On October 21, 1962, David Ibiyeomie was born in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Niger Delta region of Nigeria. He is a native of Bolo Town in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers state. Ibiyeomie started Salvation Ministries on Sunday April 13, 1997, with 34 persons in attendance.

Career After completing his Bible School training 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 members in attendance. In February 2011, Salvation Ministries started 14 satellite churches in one day, with all running five services each.

Ministry Through his television ministry Hour of Salvation and live services, David Ibiyeomie reaches millions of worshippers. The Hour of Salvation TV programme started on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) channel 10 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria in 2001 and currently runs on over 40 television stations both locally and internationally. He is an author and hosts an internet radio show.

In 2010, he began construction of a 120,000 seat temple. The temple, known as the Hand of God Cathedral (also referred to as the “Hand of God” or the Salvation Ministries Cathedral), is intended to serve as the church's headquarters. Upon completion, the building's 120,000 worshipper capacity, will potentially make it the largest single-auditorium church globally.

Controversies Ibiyeomie has been controversial on multiple occasions. In January 2017, Ibiyeomie was alleged to have made prejudiced comments against the Ogoni people, leading the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People to demand that he apologise.

In March 2017, journalist Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo alleged that Ibiyeomie was having an affair with Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo. Olunloyo was subsequently arrested and refused bail for defamation. However she has been released. Ibiyeomie strongly denied the allegations.