In a religious landscape crowded with charismatic personalities and doctrinal noise, Rev. Dr. Sam Oye stands out—not by volume, but by clarity. As the founder of The Transforming Church International and host of the globally followed Prophetic Prayer Hour (PPH), he doesn’t just preach change—he builds it.
From a life-altering encounter in Lagos to leading a spiritual movement across continents, Dr. Oye offers more than inspiration; he offers instruction.
In this revealing conversation, he confronts a critical challenge facing Nigerian Christianity: the dangerous misinterpretation of scripture born out of personal wounds and weak theological grounding.
What inspired you to start The Transforming Church, and how has the journey been so far?
It all began during a 21-day fast in Lagos in the year 2000. On the final day, I had a life-altering divine encounter. The Lord instructed me to relocate to Abuja and start a church; however, that wasn’t my first calling encounter. At the age of 15 in 1989, I had a supernatural visitation from Jesus where He told me I would plant churches and train leaders for Him. He specifically said the headquarters would be in Abuja, with branches spreading throughout Nigeria and the world. In 2002, I obeyed and moved to Abuja. We began in a small classroom in Wuse 2 with a handful of people. Initially, it was called Harvest House, but as the vision evolved, it became what we now know as The Transforming Church (TTC). Today, we are a multinational apostolic family with branches across Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States and the Philippines, with a massive e-church community worldwide.
What is the story behind the Prophetic Prayer Hour (PPH) and what sets it apart as a global movement?
The Prophetic Prayer Hour was born not out of strategy but pure obedience. While returning from a powerful meeting in Florida hosted by Pastor William McDowell, I heard the Lord clearly, “Return home and pray with my people.” I thought it would be a simple five-day morning prayer for our church members. But a few days before the meetings, we encountered unrelenting rainfall. I almost cancelled the sessions until my wife gently suggested, “Why not just pray with them online?” Initially, I laughed. I had once joked about online prayers, but the Spirit of God said, “Do what your wife said.” We started online in a very modest way. No PR, no marketing; just obedience. What was meant to be a five-day prayer has now become a global altar of fire, running daily for over 1,500 days now. Today, millions join us daily from over 110 countries and God continues to confirm His presence with mind-blowing miracles, deliverance and revival.
Prophetic Prayer Hour (PPH) has grown significantly. How do you sustain the consistency required to lead such a movement daily?
The secret is compassion and grace. Everyday, I’m aware that someone is desperate for help—battling addiction, depression, affliction or confusion. When ministry is driven by ego, you will crash but when it is driven by genuine compassion, grace flows like a river. God keeps pouring strength into me because I never stopped pouring into people.
What Have Been Some Of The Most Impactful Testimonies From The PPH Sessions That Have Kept Uou Going?
PPH is a fountain of wonders without number. We’ve documented hundreds of verified miracles, including 35 years of diabetes healed, 32 years of chronic migraines and insomnia reversed, 24 years of hemorrhoids vanished, 23 years of Crohn’s and colitis healed, 17 years of infertility broken, 14 years of barrenness turned into triplets, 11-year-old child healed of slip disc, six years of joblessness ended in 48 hours, fibroids dissolved, blind eyes opened, deaf ears opened court cases overturned, lost souls saved and baptized. PPH altar is a womb for testimonies.
In What Ways Can People Actively Engage With PPH?
PPH is not a show; it’s a spiritual school where we teach people how to pray with power, discern spiritual signals and operate in kingdom authority every weekday at 5:50 a.m. (WAT) on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X – @revsamoye.
Share with us about your journey as an author
My writing journey began with pain. In 1999, I suffered a deep personal loss and out of that pain came my first book, ‘Yesterday Can Kill’. It was raw, healing and deeply liberating for many. Since then, I’ve authored several titles including, ‘The 7 Forces of Breakthroughs’, ‘The Emerging Leader’, ‘The Prayer Switch’, ‘The Limit Breaker’, ‘The Singles Checklist’, ‘The Singles Compass’, ‘Crack It’.
They’ll be available globally on Amazon soon. My books are tools for healing, alignment, leadership and destiny navigation.
Your teachings are global. How do you balance theological depth with practical relevance?
I believe in applicational theology. The Bible isn’t a relic—it’s a manual for victorious living. I teach people how to hear God, lead like Jesus, succeed with kingdom values, build godly families, make wise decisions, win in businesses, career and purpose. If it doesn’t transform lives, it’s not gospel.
What are the most pressing issues singles and couples face today, and how do you help?
The biggest issue is not lack of partners; it’s lack of wisdom. Many singles are spiritually strong but socially disconnected. They don’t know how to attract, connect or communicate. I teach them to combine prayers with preparation. For married couples, we deal with issues like sexual dysfunction, financial misalignment, parenting struggles and emotional betrayal. Whether single, married, divorced or widowed, we provide relevant teaching, prophetic covering and practical wisdom to restore dignity and direction.
How can pastors and leaders build systems for sustainable growth?
Growth doesn’t just happen by accident; it’s built by structure, strategy and leadership pipelines. In TTC, I don’t do everything. I train the people who build the systems that build the church. Growth happens when you multiply vision through empowered teams; not when you micromanage outcomes.
What are the top three leadership principles that shape your ministry?
The first is teamwork which drives impact. No vision thrives in isolation; do I don’t build alone. I raise teams that run with the vision. Together, we scale what one man cannot carry. Secondly is vision which provides direction. You can’t lead what you can’t see. Vision gives clarity, filters distractions and anchors decisions. I lead based on what God has shown. Thirdly is prayer which fuels execution. Prayer is not optional; it’s foundational. Without prayer, vision loses power. I birth strategies in prayer before building them in public.
How can individuals discover their purpose in ministry?
Purpose is not something you figure out; it’s something God reveals. It is His original intention for your existence etched into your spirit before time began. You won’t discover it merely through introspection or personality tests. True purpose is unearthed in the presence of God, not in the opinions of men. Your gifts may hint at it, and your burdens may point towards it, but only God can unveil it with precision. So, you start by serving faithfully where you are. Don’t wait to be called by a title, step out in obedience. As you pour yourself into service, divine direction will begin to rise. Many never discover their purpose because they sit still waiting for lightning when in fact, God often reveals the next level as you move in faith. When you show up for duty, heaven shows up with details. Obedience always precedes revelation.
What advice do you have for those feeling called into ministry but unsure where to begin?
Don’t wait for a platform; step into service. Ministry begins where obedience meets opportunity. Serve in silence, follow a mentor and carry burdens before you carry microphones. God promotes those who show up in the shadows. Faithfulness is the seed; Start small, stay consistent. God will unveil the next step as you move. Never confuse calling with spotlight. Some of the most anointed ministries were forged in obscurity. If you can’t serve when no one is watching, you’re not ready to lead when everyone is looking.
How do you train and deploy leaders effectively?
At The Transforming Church, we are intentional about raising leaders, not placeholders. We are a people-development church committed to helping individuals discover their callings, develop their capacity and deploy with clarity. Through a structured leadership pipeline that includes the transformers programme in various forms, we ensure that every believer is equipped to grow spiritually and serve effectively. We don’t just assign people to roles—we align them with purpose. Every training is designed to stir gifts, sharpen vision and shape character. We develop leaders who are not only fit for ministry in church but also positioned to lead with impact in business, government, education and culture.
What’s the greatest challenge facing the Nigerian church today?
Some of the greatest challenges are doctrinal distortion and spiritual disunity. The Scriptures remain infallible, but many interpret them through the fog of personal wounds, pride or shallow theological grounding resulting in fragmented truth and competing voices in the body.
The church must return to the centrality of Christ, the authority of Scripture and unity of the Spirit.
How is The Transforming Church shaping Nigeria’s spiritual and social landscape?
We disciple believers to be salt in culture and light in systems by equipping them to influence government, business, education and beyond. Our impact doesn’t stop at the pulpit; it flows into policy, productivity and people’s everyday lives. We’re also deeply engaged in community transformation—providing clean water, education, healthcare and hope to underserved areas. Our mission is simple: raise reformers, rebuild communities and reveal Christ.
ENDS***
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