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Rev. Dr. Sam Oye, a pastor, prophet, transformational speaker, and leadership coach,is the Founder and Global Lead Pastor of The Transforming Church International (TTC) with headquarters in Abuja, with branches in the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Philippines and a vast e-church community in over 110 nations. In this interview with TOYIN ADEBAYO, he shares his ministerial journey so far. Except:
What inspired you to start The Transforming Church and what has kept it alive so far?
It can be traced back to a divine encounter. During a 21-day fast in Lagos in 2000, on the final day, I had what I still call a life-altering instruction from the Lord: “Relocate to Abuja and start a church.” But that wasn’t my first call. At just 15, in 1989, I had a supernatural visitation from Jesus. He told me I would plant churches and raise leaders for Him. He even showed me the headquarters would be in Abuja and that it would spread across Nigeria and the nations. I obeyed in 2002 and moved to Abuja. We started in a single classroom in Wuse 2 with only a handful of people. We were called ‘Harvest House’ back then, but as the vision evolved, so did our name. Today, we’re The Transforming Church International, a family that now reaches continents. What keeps it alive? Obedience. It’s that simple. If you stick to what God said, no matter how slow it seems, He builds what man can’t.
Could you tell us about the Prophetic Prayer Hour? How did it explode into a global movement?
PPH wasn’t born from strategy, branding or hype. It was pure obedience again. I had just returned from Florida after attending Pastor William McDowell’s meeting. On my flight back, I heard the Lord say, “Return home and pray with my people.” I thought it’d be a five-day in-person morning prayer. But that same week, rain came down in torrents. I almost cancelled everything. My wife gently said, “Why not pray online instead?” I laughed? Online prayers? I had even mocked the idea before. But, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Listen to her.” So, we went online; no marketing budget, no big PR, just raw obedience. That five-day session has now run daily for more than 1,500 days. Today, millions from over 110 countries join every morning at 5.50 am. WAT. God backs it up daily with jaw-dropping testimonies, deliverances, healings, jobs, court cases turned around. It’s no longer a prayer session. It’s a womb for miracles.
What keeps you showing up every single day?
It’s compassion and grace. Every dawn, I know there’s a single mother praying for her child to walk again, a businessman at the brink of bankruptcy, someone battling depression or addiction. When ministry is built on ego, you run out of steam. But, if compassion fuels you, grace flows. God keeps filling me up because I keep pouring out. That’s the secret. Some testimonies still make me pause in awe. We’ve seen 35-year diabetes healed, 32-year chronic migraines disappear, fibroids dissolve, blind eyes open, barren wombs birth triplets. One mother testified about her child, an 11-year-old with a slip disc healed completely. Court cases turned around in hours. If I needed proof that obedience moves heaven, I find it daily at PPH.
So, how can people connect with PPH meaningfully?
PPH isn’t entertainment. It’s a spiritual bootcamp. We don’t gather for vibes, we gather for transformation. Every weekday at 5.50 am, WAT, we teach how to hear God clearly, pray strategically, break demonic cycles and live victoriously. Anyone can join on our social media handles. We’re building an army, not an audience.
Your books touch diverse topics. Where did that journey begin?
Pain birthed my first book. In 1999, I suffered a deeply personal loss. Out of that dark valley came Yesterday Can Kill raw, honest, healing. Since then, I’ve written titles like The 7 Forces of Breakthroughs, The Emerging Leader, The Prayer Switch, The Limit Breaker, The Singles Checklist, The Singles Compass, Crack It. They’ll soon be available globally on Amazon. Every book is a toolkit helping people break limits, lead with courage, love wisely and fulfill destiny.
Your teachings resonate globally. How do you keep the balance between deep theology and practical life?
I teach Applicational Theology. The Bible is not an ancient relic for religious arguments; it’s a manual for victorious living. If it doesn’t transform, it’s not the gospel. I show people how to hear God in boardrooms, lead like Christ in politics, build strong families, succeed with integrity, make wise money moves, run companies righteously. Truth must work where people live or it’s just noise.
You’re known as a relationship coach too. What’s the real struggle singles and couples face today?
It’s not about lack of partners; it’s lack of wisdom. Many singles are spiritually sound, but socially awkward. They can quote scriptures but can’t hold conversations. I teach them to mix prayers with preparation develop emotional intelligence, learn social skills, understand attraction and communication. For married couples, it’s deeper: sexual dysfunction, money fights, parenting tension, emotional wounds. We help them talk, heal, forgive, reconnect. Whether single, married, divorced, or widowed, our ministry provides prophetic covering, real teaching and practical wisdom to restore hope and dignity.
What do pastors and leaders get wrong about growth?
Growth is intentional. It doesn’t fall from the sky, It’s built by systems. In TTC, I don’t do everything. I build people who build the church. We train, delegate, empower. Leaders must multiply themselves. Micromanaging chokes vision; multiplication expands it. Structure sustains revival.
What three principles anchor your leadership style?
First: teamwork. Vision doesn’t thrive in isolation. We build in teams. Together we scale what one man can’t carry. Second: vision. You can’t lead what you can’t see. Vision clarifies, focuses, filters distractions. Third: prayer. Prayer births strategies before they show up in structures. I pray through before I roll out. Without prayer, vision becomes frustration.
What’s your advice for discovering purpose in ministry?
Purpose is revealed, not invented. God wrote your assignment before your birth. You won’t find it in a personality test alone. True purpose is discovered in the presence of God, prayer, worship, obedience. Your gifts and burdens give clues, but only God gives details. Serve where you are. Don’t wait for fancy titles, step up in faith. Movement unlocks direction. Heaven responds when you show up for duty.
What do you tell those who feel called, but feel unqualified?
Don’t wait for microphones, look for mops. Clean floors, stack chairs, serve where no one claps. Ministry begins in the shadows. God elevates those who show up in obscurity. Many want spotlights, but skip service. Stay hidden, stay faithful. God sees. Small seeds, consistent watering, big harvests.
How does The Transforming Church raise and deploy leaders?
We’re not a church of placeholders.We’re a church of transformers. We help people discover their gifts, sharpen their capacity, and align with their purpose. Our structured pipeline, the ‘Transformers Programme’ equips believers to lead in ministry, business, politics, media, and culture. We don’t just give titles; we shape character. The goal is simple: raise reformers who can salt culture, influence systems and reveal Christ beyond church walls.
What’s the greatest threat facing the Nigerian Church today?
Doctrinal distortion and disunity. The Scriptures are flawless, but humans interpret through wounds, ego, shallow studies, then spread half-truths. We have competing voices, fragmented truth, unnecessary rivalries. We must return to the basics: Christ at the centre, Scriptures as final authority, the Spirit as our bond. Unity isn’t optional if we want relevance in a hurting world.
How is The Transforming Church impacting Nigeria practically?
We train people to be salt and light where they live politics, education, business, media, tech. We’re shaping policy indirectly because we disciple the policy makers. We’re investing in communities clean water, free healthcare, scholarships, skill empowerment. Our mission is clear: raise reformers, rebuild communities, reveal Christ.
After decades, what drives you daily?
A simple truth: obedience before spotlight. If I obey Him, He handles the outcome. He said, “Feed my sheep, tend my lambs.” So, I show up daily whether it’s five people in a classroom or millions online. It was never about fame. It was always about faithfulness.
