Christian Oyakhilome (born 7 December 1963), known as Pastor Chris, is a Nigerian pastor, author, Televangelism, and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, a Christian ministry based in Lagos. He is the founder of Christ Embassy, a large congregation with branches in several countries, and the author of the daily devotional Rhapsody of Realities.
Oyakhilome has also organised mass rallies, and his "Healing School" was held periodically every year in Nigeria and South Africa and now holds "Healing Streams Live Healing Services".
He attended Edo College, and on scholarship, gained admission into Bendel State University, which was later renamed Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma where he studied and obtained a first degree in Architecture.
Upon graduation in 1987, he started a church in Benin City and in 1989 established Christ Embassy, centred in Lagos. , there were BLW Campus Fellowships and Christ Embassy Churches in higher institutions and major cities around the world. Oyakhilome's ministry has spread to the United Kingdom, the United States, Ghana and
Accessed 24 August 2021. and has "healing school" sessions in South Africa, Lagos, and Canada.
Christ Embassy is a Pentecostal church, formerly known as Believers' Love World Incorporated. It follows an American megachurch model of large auditoria and stresses success and material blessing. Congregational spaces are reserved for worship and not for community engagement work, and has been criticised for "opulence amid poverty".
Oyakhilome's teaching is that prosperity is a blessing of God. This prosperity theology encourages followers to give money as seeds, teaching that those who donate to his ministry will also be rewarded with wealth and health and escape poverty. He has responded to criticism of this aspect of his ministry, stating that, "True prosperity comes from spiritual growth and adherence to God's principles, not mere material accumulation."Oyakhilome also founded a Christian-based television network, which broadcasts worldwide from Africa. Oyakhilome also hosts Higher Life conferences in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the UK, the US, and Canada, and organised the Night of Bliss South Africa event at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Oyakhilome also operates an International School of Ministry, which held one of its Ministers' Network Conferences in 2016 with 5,000 ministers in attendance from 145 countries, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He runs an online prayer network using social media to send messages to Christians in several countries and operates a smartphone messenger called KingsChat. In 2015, Oyakhilome was given an honorary doctorate from Ambrose Alli University and Benson Idahosa University. In 2017, Oyakhilome, in partnership with Benny Hinn, created the Christian cable channel LoveWorld USA.
Oyakhilome has hosted several online programs, including five editions of the Global Day of Prayer with Benny Hinn, with the first edition published on 27 March 2020. Today, his ministry has a digital currency called Espee that members can use to make different transactions.
The couple filed for divorce on 9 April 2014. In an official release made by Pastor Anita's legal team, Attwaters Jameson Hill, the divorce was confirmed completed on 8 February 2016, stating, "Anita Oyakhilome would like to confirm that she is no longer involved in or part of Christ Embassy AKA Believers loveworld Inc."
On 6 October 2018, Pastor Benny Hinn officiated the wedding ceremony of Oyakhilome's first daughter, Sharon, to Phillip Frimpong; a Ghanaian, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as chairman of the occasion.
In 2011, Forbes estimated Oyakhilome's wealth as between $30 million and $50 million.
The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation is one of the major sponsors of the inner city orphanage homes in Africa managed by pushaboo, an organisation spearheading the care of mothers and babies around the world.
Other agencies supported by Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) include the Volunteer Medical Corps, Trauma Care International Foundation, Inner City Mission for Children, Future Africa Leaders Foundation, and the Bible for All Mission.
In an inquiry started in 2013, the UK Charity Commission found there was "serious misconduct and/or mismanagement" in the administration of the "Christ Embassy", a charity associated with Oyakhilome and his church's activities. An interim manager was appointed to review the activities and governance of the charity, leading to a report that “the board of trustees appears to be fragmented” and “appear to have little appreciation of their roles, duties and obligations as Trustees”. The interim manager served until the appointment of a new board of trustees in 2016. Following the appointment of the new board of trustees, significant progress was made to address the governance and improve oversight and control of the charity.
Honorary Doctorate Doctor of Science (DSc) Award, Ambrose Alli University (his alma mater).
In December 2023, he was named the Chancellor – Head of Government and Chairman Plenipotentiary of Weldios University.
Oyakhilome also supports YouTube-propagated conspiracy theories, including a video he posted linking the Corona Virus with the 5G mobile network rollout and a conspiracy of the "New World Order." He has preached against vaccines and has been accused of undermining efforts to eradicate serious infectious diseases. He has also spoken against vaccines for malaria.
Oyakhilome and his church have been accused of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation about HPV vaccine, Polio vaccine and Malaria vaccine In 2021, the Oyakhilome-associated Loveworld Television Network was convicted of making false claims about the COVID-19 pandemic and the network was fined £125,000 by British regulators Ofcom.
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