Bishop Wesley J. Arije was born into the royal family of The Arije ninu Adura chieftaincy in Nigeria, Africa. Though he was a preacher’s son, he never envisioned that he would someday shepherd over 160 churches worldwide.

Bishop Arije’s father trained him at an early age as a carpenter. He built on that foundation by attending the Technical Training Institute in Nigeria. In 1978, God rewarded his scholastic achievement. He was the recipient of 21 scholarships given by the federal government to attend an engineering institution in the United States.

Bishop Arije received numerous degrees ranging from Bachelor’s to Doctoral degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. In 1986, Bishop Arije attended the C.H. Mason System of Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master’s Certificate. He also completed his Doctor of Divinity degree coursework at Master’s International School of Divinity.

Bishop Arije professed salvation at an early age, but his true passion for Christ did not begin until years later. In 1981, he connected with the ministry of Bishop C. W. and Mother Addie Gillespie in Carbondale, Illinois. The oracle Bishop Gillespie often recited to his son in the ministry, “Mark those who labor among you”. It was during this time that Mother Gillespie conveyed, “[Bishop Arije] is a gifted preacher who will one day be a great pastor”.

In 1983, upon moving to Memphis, Tennessee to continue his secular education, God gave him a part in His ministry with a dazzling vision and a mission to go and deliver His people. Bishop Arije served as an Assistant Pastor to Bishop Samuel L. Lowe, then Prelate of the Fifth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ for over 16 years. During this period, he served in the capacities of the Dean of United Jurisdictional Auxiliaries Convention (UJAC), Sunday School Superintendent, and Jurisdictional Business Manager.

Although Bishop Arije served faithfully in the Church of God in Christ, he continued to remain connected to Bishop C.W. Gillespie. In March 2003, Bishop Gillespie appointed Bishop Arije as Senior Pastor of Pavilion of Hope – Dyersburg. Rapid growth began to take place as God set His approval upon the ministry. As the number of worshippers increased, trying to find a larger venue became a primary focus. On Resurrection Sunday of April 2003, the church made a commitment to purchase the current properties at the Finley Street location. Ten months later the congregation celebrated God’s blessings and burned the mortgage as the church was paid in full. In July 2004, the church purchased 31 acres of land. This land has become widely known as the future site of the “Pavilion of Hope, Home of the Holy Dome”, a multi-purpose facility that will serve both the needs of the ministry and the community.

Years later, Bishop Arije accepted invitation of his superior and the selection of his peers to the Bishopric. He was consecrated in 2010 during a lavish ceremony with many Ecclesial Governances from around the world in attendance to celebrate the event. Soon afterwards, he was appointed as the Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the March of Faith Outreach Ministries, Inc.  

In December 2016, a word of prophecy was given through Bishop Arije that promised the year 2017 would be the year that the ministry would experience duplication and exponential growth.

Bishop Arije did not forget the vision that God showed him. In March 2017, the church expanded to Memphis, TN and launched the Pavilion of Hope – Riverdale campus. The lot spans over 7 acres of property and land in East Memphis. He has actively gained ground in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Not even a year after Pavilion of Hope Riverdale, God fulfilled His Word with the 3rd location, Pavilion of Hope Frayser campus.  Since then, Pavilion of Hope – Caruthersville campus, and Pavilion of Hope – Bolivar campus has been added.  

In July 2017, Bishop Arije was installed as the Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the March of Faith International Fellowship, Inc. He is a world-renowned orator and author. He has published three very successful books: “Soaring as Eagles: Unleashing the Christian Eagle Within”, “Created to Hear the Voice of God” and his latest release, “The Power of the Communion”. He has traveled the world and gone as far as Saudi Arabia sharing the good news and establishing churches. He is the Dean of the School of Prophets and is known as the Bishop that “Pastors the Pastors and Shepherds the Shepherds” around the globe.

Bishop Arije and his wife, Pastor Betty, have been married for over 30 years and have 3 children- Victor “Deji” Arije (Katrina), Eyitayo “Tayo” Arije, and Melody “Babylove” Nsude (Nelvin).  They are also the grandparents of 5: Damien, Daniel, Maya, and Ayodeji, Jr., Sophia.