Chris Oyakhilome

Chris Oyakhilome
Occupation Pastor, faith healing minister, television host and author
Net worth $30–50 million (2011, Forbes)[1]
Website

http://www.christembassy.org/

http://www.pastorchrisonline.org

Chris Oyakhilome (known popularly as "Pastor Chris") is a Nigerian minister who is the founding president of Believers' Loveworld Incorporated, also known as "Christ Embassy", a Bible-based Christian ministry headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

His ministry runs several arms including the Healing School, Rhapsody of Realities (likely the most translated book in the whole world, 662 translations), and an NGO called the Innercity Missions for Children as well as three Christian television channels: LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT and LoveWorld Plus. Oyakhilome's television programs feature his faith healings, miracles and large meetings which his ministry organises around the world, with gatherings of over 2.5 million people in a single night's event.[2]

On 11 June 2015, Oyakhilome received an honorary D.Sc. degree from his alma mater, Ambrose Alli University.[3] Recently, on Friday, the 23rd of October 2015, Oyakhilome received another honorary D.D. degree from the Benson Idahosa University.[4]

Oyakhilome's ministry has expanded rapidly beyond the coasts of Nigeria and South Africa, and he now holds large meetings in the United Kingdom and the United States and has Healing school sessions in South Africa and in Canada. Oyakhilome has a strong following especially among youths [5] and is notable for organizing the Night of Bliss South Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.[6]

Oyakhilome runs a global prayer network using social network platforms to send messages to Christians around the world regularly. He currently has over 1.2 million followers on Twitter,[7] as well as his own social networking website called Yookos. Oyakhilome is also the author of the daily devotional "Rhapsody of Realities". It is currently available in 662 languages [8] and distributed in all countries of the world.[9] Oyakhilome also hosts Higher Life conferences in Nigeria, South Africa, UK, US and Canada.

Oyakhilome's Future Africa Leaders Award is an initiative aimed at exploring and expanding the leadership potential in Africa and for Africa, by identifying, celebrating and supporting young Africans who have demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their generation positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring, and through other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future. Over 30 young Africans have been awarded from 2013 till date.[10]

Criticisms

Oyakhilome has been the target of the Nigerian government's scrutiny for his meetings and alleged miracles.[11] Oyakhilome has also been a target of criticism by the Treatment Action Campaign for his support of faith healing to cure HIV.[12] In addition, in 2016, the South African government threatened to jail Oyakhilome if his organization does not reveal what they do with all the donations they receive. [13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Five Richest Pastors In Nigeria". Forbes.com. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  2. ↑ "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome… definitely a Crowd Magnet!!". TheShoutsBlog. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  3. ↑ "Ambrose Alli University Honours Chris Oyakhilome With Doctorate Degree". InformationNigeria. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
  4. ↑ "Pastor Chris Oyakhilome pledges N1billion to Nigeria University". Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  5. ↑ "Pastor Chris' Ministrations at IEYC 2015 (Session II)". Loveworldnews.com. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  6. ↑ "We attend Pastor Chris’ Night of Bliss". DRUM. 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Stats and Ranking for Pastor Chris". Twitaholic. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Rhapsody of Realities NOW in 660 Languages". Loveworldnews.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Rhapsody of Realities NOW in 660 Languages". Loveworldnews.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  10. ↑ "Report: 2014 Future Africa Leaders’ Awards". Loveworldsat.org. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  11. ↑ "Televangelists told to verify miracles or pull the plug". The Times (South Africa). Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  12. ↑ Treatment Action Campaign (2 August 2010). "ETV promoting AIDS quackery". Politicsweb.
  13. ↑ "South Africa threatens to jail Pastor Chris Oyakhilome". The Premium Times (South Africa). Retrieved 2016-1-1. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links

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