Chris Oyakhilome

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Chris Oyakhilome
Born (1963-12-07) 7 December 1963 (age 57)
Edo, Nigeria
OccupationPastor, faith healing minister, television host and author
Spouse(s)
Anita Ebhodaghe
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 2016)​
Children2
Websitewww.pastorchrisonline.org

Chris Oyakhilome (also known as "Pastor Chris") (born 7 December 1963) is the founder and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ministry and theology[]

Christ Embassy Luton - England

Oyakhilome's ministry holds meetings in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia,[2] and has "healing school" sessions in South Africa, Lagos and Canada. He was also the first to pioneer a Christian-based television network from Africa to the rest of the world. He also held the largest single night event held in Nigeria in 2005 with 3.5 million people in attendance "Good Friday Miracle Night".[3] Oyakhilome also hosts Higher Life conferences in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK, US and Canada,[4] and organized the Night of Bliss South Africa event at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.[5] Oyakhilome also operates an International School of Ministry,[6] which held one of its Ministers' Network Conferences in 2016 with 5,000 ministers in attendance from 145 countries, in Johannesburg, South Africa.[7][6]

Oyakhilome runs an online prayer network using social media to send messages to Christians in several countries. He had over 1.2 million followers on Twitter in 2013,[8] over 1.9 million followers on Facebook,[8] and operates a smartphone messenger called KingsChat.[9] Oyakhilome is also the author of the world number one daily devotional "". In 2015, Oyakhilome was given an honorary doctorate from Ambrose Alli University,[10] and Benson Idahosa University.[11] 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 Pastor Benny, the 5th edition from 26-27 March 2021 having over 5 billion people in attendance from all nations of the world. The first edition in 27 March 2020 had over 3 billion in attendance.[12] Others programs include 'your Loveworld Specials with Pastor Chris,' which had different seasons and phases that recorded 1.8-2.5billion connected each phase. The Healing Streams Live Healing Services recorded several numbers, with its first meeting with Pastor Chris in March 2021 recording 3.5 billion on the 12th, then 4.1 billion and finally 4.9 billion people on the 14th. [13][14][15] Previous Healing Streams online services were held by senior Pastors of the Healing School of LoveWorld.

Personal life[]

Oyakhilome was born on 7 December 1963 in Edo State, Nigeria, the son of Elder T.E and Angelina Oyakhilome.[16]

In 1991, Oyakhilome married Anita Ebhodaghe. They had two daughters. Anita Ebodaghe filed for divorce on 9 April 2014 at the Central Family Court in London. After the separation, they also decided to share custody of their two children.[17][18] They divorced in February 2016[19] after 25 years of marriage on the basis of "Unreasonable Behavior."[20] On 6 October 2018, Oyakhilome's first daughter Sharron Oyakhilome, married Phillip Frimpong; a Ghanaian man, and her mother was reportedly absent.[21]

In 2011, Forbes estimated Oyakhilome's personal wealth as between $30 million and $50 million.[22]

Philanthropic work[]

Oyakhilome operates the Inner City Mission Project, which works to assist orphaned and indigent children in inner cities in several countries.[23] The organisation is under the auspices of the Chris Oyahkilome Foundation, which works to help the poor and those in the inner cities. The organisation sends relief materials to countries when disasters strike and works with government parastatals to improve social wellbeing.

The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation is one of the major sponsors of the inner city orphanage homes in Africa managed by pushaboo,[24] an organisation spearheading the care of mothers and babies around the world.

Other agencies[25] supported by Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) are the Volunteer Medical Corps, Trauma Care International Foundation, InnerCity Mission for Children, Future Africa Leaders Foundation and the Bible for All Mission.

Honors[]

Oyakhilome has an honorary doctorate in divinity from Benson Idahosa University.[26][27]

He is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where he obtained a degree in Architecture and an honorary Doctor of Science award.[28]

Controversy[]

Oyakhilome's statement about marriage has been a subject of controversy. He has come under strong criticism from Nigerians on social media over his religious views on gender equality.

A Facebook post cited an excerpt of the clergyman's message titled "Who is a husband and what is his role?", in which husbands were defined as "masters" as opposed to "male partners".[29]

Oyakhilome's ex-wife, Anita, on 8 February 2016 finalised her divorce from Oyakhilome and dropped his last name for "Obhodaghe".[29]

Oyakhilome has also been a target of criticism by the Treatment Action Campaign for his support of faith healing as a supposed cure for HIV/AIDS,[30] and his devotional Rhapsody of Realities has claimed tumors will disappear if rebuked.

Oyakhilome has been accused of preaching the prosperity gospel and using his followers for money, stating that those who donate to his ministry will be rewarded with wealth, health and good luck.[31]

Oyakhilome also supports YouTube-propagated conspiracy theories about a "New World Order".[32]

Writings[]

Oyakhilome is the author of several books, including Rhapsody of Realities, distributed monthly in several countries.[33]

References[]

  1. ^ "The Five Richest Pastors In Nigeria". Forbes. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ^ News report from Channel 7: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/christ-embassy-leader-shares-conspiracies-c-3756414. Accessed 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Pastor Chris' Ministrations at IEYC 2015 (Session II)". Loveworldnews.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ http://www.nigeriagalleria.com. "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Nigeria Personality Profiles". nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. ^ "We attend Pastor Chris' Night of Bliss". DRUM. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Naija News Hub - News, Entertainment, Information & Tips". Naija News Hub. Retrieved 3 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Welcome Luncheon at ISM Ministers' Network Conference". Loveworldnews.com. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stats and Ranking for Pastor Chris". Twitaholic. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  9. ^ "KingsChat on Google Play". Google. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Ambrose Alli University Honours Chris Oyakhilome With Doctorate Degree". InformationNigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome pledges N1billion to Nigeria University". Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  12. ^ "GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER WITH PASTOR CHRIS AND PASTOR BENNY HINN". www.pastorchrisonline.org. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  13. ^ School, The Healing. "Enter the Healing School with Pastor Chris". enterthehealingschool.org. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  14. ^ "BREAKING: Over 3.4 Billion People Attend Pastor Chris' Live Healing Service". Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Pastor Chris gather 4.1 billion for record breaking healingstreams program".
  16. ^ "A Biography of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: The Glorious Life of the Man of God". Nigerian Tribune. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  17. ^ "RELIGION NEWS in Brief – JOURNALIST launches book and more". sundaymail.co.zw. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Divorce latest: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, wife share two children -". theeagleonline.com.ng. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Anita Oyakhilome Attwaters Jameson Hill Harlow". Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  20. ^ Ibenegbu, George. "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: Biography and achievements". Naij.com - Nigeria news. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Bittersweet Wedding: Chris Oyakhilome's Ex-Wife, Anita Absent at Daughter's Wedding". 14 October 2018.
  22. ^ Cocks, Tim (12 October 2014). "Nigeria's 'megachurches': a hidden pillar of Africa's top economy". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  23. ^ "About - InnerCity Mission HQ". The InnerCity Mission.
  24. ^ "Pushaboo". Pushaboo.
  25. ^ "The Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International Takes the Lead in Humanitarian Efforts Across the African Continent". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Bags BIU Doctorate Degree in Divinity". biu.edu.ng. Benson Idahosa University. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Pastor Chris Honored with the Prestigious Doctorate Degree". onlineprnews.com. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome- Awarded Doctor of Science by Ambrose Ali University,Ekpoma, Edo State. | Bizness Watch". www.biznesswatch.com.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "CONTROVERSY OVER CHRIS OYAKHILOME'S MESSAGE ON MARRIAGE WHERE HE SAYS HUSBANDS ARE MASTERS". abujareporters.com.ng. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  30. ^ Vena, Vuvu. "TAC, church face-off over healing claims". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  31. ^ Aarni Kuoppamäki (22 May 2017). "Preachers of prosperity: faith as business". DW. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  32. ^ Orjinmo, Nduka (8 April 2020). "Nigeria's mega churches adjust to empty auditoriums". BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Pastor Chris in maiden Zim trip". NewsDay Zimbabwe. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.

External links[]

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