Anita Oyakhilome On How She "Put A Stop To The Abuse" of Marriage To Pastor Chris

Pastor Anita, estranged wife of Christ Embassy founder Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has spoken out for the first time since news of her divorce raged over social media all through last year. Putting paid to rumors of a reconciliation, Anita has opened a personal ministry website where she now goes by her maiden name Ebhodaghe. On the site, pastoranita.org, she talks about how she made a decision to stop tolerating abuse in her marriage and start a new life, writing;

My story is not one of a bed of roses, far from it but I had a choice to either beat myself over the regret of tolerating abuse for so long or put a stop to the abuse and recreate my life for the best..

Chris Oyakhilome's Church Charged N1000 Gate Fee for New Year Crossover Service?

Worshippers at the headquarters of Christ Embassy Church ‎in Lagos had to pay N1,000 each as gate fee to attend a New Year’s Eve service presided over by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. This revelation has shocked many Nigerians and infuriated others who think of the fee as extortion, PM News reports.

Worshippers who wanted to attend the crossover service at Christ Embassy’s headquarters on Billings ‎Way in Oregun Area of Lagos on 31 December, 2014, were made to obtain gate passes that sold for N1,000 each. Those who could not afford such passes were turned back and told that they could go elsewhere to worship or watch the service online for free.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Performs With Daughter After Bitter Marriage Split

Pastor Chris Oyakhliome looked very happy as he danced on stage with one his daughters at the Christ Embassy 2014 IPPC. The father of two daughters seem to have put his divorce saga behind him and actually was on stage to support his first daughter Sharon who is a budding gospel musician.

Sharon Oyakhilome was performing a rendition of her song, 'I'm Excellent' at the recently concluded Christ Embassy International Pastors’ and Partners’ Conference. See another picture below...

In Defence Of Anita Oyakhilome - Why She Chose Divorce After 15 Years Of Pretence

In the divorce saga between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and his estranged wife, many church members are taking his side. But Obinna Akukwe, writing for YNaija, wants us to extend some understanding to Anita Oyakhilome, stating that he had "warned some pastor friends with Christ Embassy early 2013 that they had better settle" the problems between the couple "before it destroys the church."

The writer lists some of the pain the pastor's wife may have undergone over the past 15 years of living a separate life from her pastor husband, and wants us to cut her some slack. Read some excerpts from his defence of her below.

Oyedepo Richest Pastor In The World As Nigerian Pastors Dominate List of Richest Pastors

How does one explain another richestlifestyle list that includes 5 Nigerians pastors out of the 10 around the world each worth over $5Million! Someone said that God must be a Nigerian.

According to the list, Bishop Oyedepo is #1 followed by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome at #2, while Billy Graham who founded his ministry in 1950 comes in at #5. T.B Joshua, Ashimolowo, and Chris Okotie made the 7th, 8th and 9th number on the list respectively. See the full list below...

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Removed as President of Christ Embassy U.K. Branch

According to reports, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been removed as one of the trustees of the United Kingdom’s branch of Christ Embassy. With his removal, Pastor Anita, his estranged wife is now the president of the seven-man Board of Trustees of the branch which is said to be worth N8.2 billion.

Church documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES have shown the six other members of the board are all pastors believed to be loyal to Mrs. Oyakhilome. They are as follows:

Pastor Anita Oyakhilome Removed from Current Edition of Rhapsody of Realities

One of the outward unity between Pastor Chris and Anita, even though they both lived miles apart, was the church's monthly devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, which the couple have co-authored over the years. Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome are currently embroiled in a court case as they go through their divorce, and another casualty of the split between the couple has emerged.

Available copies of the devotional show that Anita’s name has been removed from the October edition of the Christ Embassy ROR. The new front and back cover of the new edition is shown above.

Why The Marriages Of Top Nigerian Pastors Fail By Praise Fowowe

Praise Fowowe, self confessed sex addict turned relationship and sex counselor, wrote this thought provoking article that gives reasons why the marriages of some top pastors, like Pastor Chris Oyakhilome above, have ended in divorce.

1. A man of God is not God, he is a man: Unfortunately, we treat our men of God as if they are spirits who don't live in human body. What do we expect when we saddle them with our numerous issues. Unfortunately, many are not wise to say no to church members whose lives will continue if they drop dead.

Church members have academic, financial, and even marital problems, they go to the pastor as if the man is built to solve every problem and in our quest to prove that we are superstars, we also fail to embrace the use of professionals who are trained in these things because of our hidden fear of respect.

What stops a man of God who knows his marriage is in danger to take a back seat and allow a church member whose marriage is a model take a message on a Sunday that marriage is meant to be discussed? You are not built to solve every problem.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Suspends Pastor For Discussing His Divorce, Calls It Blasphemy?

Blasphemy is supposed to mean speaking out against God, now Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy, has given it a new meaning.

The pastor who is embroiled in a divorce drama with his estranged wife suspended one of the church pastors in Lagos, Michelle Okojie, for her “subversive activities” - read, discussing the divorce with church members and not being supportive of the sainted pastor Chris.

Citing Bible passages from Romans 16:17-20 and Titus 3:10 wherein Christians were told to “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles,” the church warned every member of the congregation to stay away from Ms. Okojie.

So from being beloved, a Pastor has been cast into outer darkness from the church. Na wa o... see her pictures during happier days as part of the church below...

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Addresses Congregation On Divorce Suit By Wife, Admits It's Unbiblical

Pastor Christian Oyakhilome finally addressed his church congregation about the divorce suit brought against him bu his wife, and the attendant allegations of adultery in the press. This is coming after more than a week of maintaining silence other than threatening the media through his lawyers a few days ago.

Speaking on Sunday evening during the monthly global communion service of the church, he said the allegations of adultery against him were “crazy” and “stupid”. Oyakhilome acknowledged that divorce is unbiblical but said he will answer his wife in court if she insisted on it [read here]. He urged members of his church to pray for his estranged wife.

I understand that some media houses particularly in Nigeria and maybe in South Africa (I don't know) but there are some of them that have been writing some real stupid things...real stupid things, and errrrhh...frivolous charges...that's crazy.

Adultery Is Not Anita Oyakhilome’s Primary Reason for Divorce, But Total Neglect

Facts have emerged at the weekend that the ground on which Pastor Anita Oyakhilome is seeking to divorce her husband, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the President of Believers’ Love World Inc., popularly known as Christ Embassy, is not adultery but on behaviours that suggest that she cannot ‘reasonably be expected’ to  live with him.

There had been media reports that Anita decided to divorce Pastor Chris based on allegations of ‘adultery’ and ‘unreasonable behaviours’ but a copy of the court papers for the divorce process filed at the  Principal Registry of the Family Division (PRFD) of  the High Court of Justice in possession of THISDAY,  revealed that she applied for “divorce on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.”

In her statement of case in support of petition at PRFD with number FD14001650, Pastor Anita however, accused her husband of having inappropriate relationship with some of his female staff members.

Mismanagement of UK Church Funds Behind Pastor Chris And Anita's Marriage Troubles?

Money problems may be behind the imminent breakup of the marriage between popular mega-church pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Anita. According to a new report on Premium Times, the United Kingdom Charity Commission is investigating the UK branch of Christ Embassy over controversial payments.

The United Kingdom Charity Commission has launched a probe into the transfer of at least N941 million (£3.6 million) by the church to overseas entities between 2008 and 2012.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Charity Commission said it has opened a statutory inquiry to investigate Christ Embassy over “a number of serious concerns relating to the use of charitable funds, in particular large connected party payments and the potential misapplication of grant funding.”
According to the Charity Commission, which is the regulator of charities in England and Wales, statutory inquiries are only opened to investigate “the most serious” regulatory breaches.

The commission said the purpose of the inquiry is to “determine whether there has been any mismanagement or misconduct on behalf of the charity trustees; to establish whether charitable funds have been properly applied and take appropriate remedial action if necessary.”

Chris Oyakhilome Denies Adultery Allegations, Threatens to Sue The Press

Head pastor of Christ Embassy Church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has threatened to use legal action against journalists who publish false stories about him and his wife, during their on-going divorce. He also denied the adultery charges alleged against him as cited in the divorce filing by wife Rev. Anita Oyakhilome.

According to Saharareporters, the pastor, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), called the accusations of adultery a "false and malicious" attack against him and the church.

“The attention of our client, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, and the church has been drawn to the wave of false, malicious and fabricated stories being published in the print and electronic media about his person, the church and a matrimonial cause between him and his wife," his attorney stated.

Sharply criticizing the recent coverage of the divorce proceedings, which the statement did not refute, the release claimed that publishers went so far as to fabricate claims that he had committed adultery against his wife, Anita.

2 Demands By Rev. Anita Tearing Apart Her Marriage To Pastor Chris

Since  the news broke of divorce proceedings between Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome, church members of Christ Embassy have been taking sides, for or against either the husband or the wife.

Now, a close friend of Pastor Anita, and a founding church member of the UK Branch, has shared what she believes led to the marriage breakdown on the controversial Facebook page for Rev Anita's supporters.

Cyla Simpson says she took time to find out what is really happening and these are the things Rev Anita is asking for:

1. For Pastor Chris to, "please put the family in the timetable too. The times you don’t have any engagement, please come home. I need you and the children need you."

2. On Pastor Chris immorality, "to let all these ladies move out of White House and go and get houses outside... if they don’t already have one and allow them marry."

Read the full post below...

Pastor Chris & Anita Oyakhilome’s Wedding Picture Released As Lawyers Say No To Reconciliation

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his wife, Anita Oyakhilome are above pictured on their wedding day more than 20 years ago. Those sympathetic to Pastor Chris released the picture to remind Pastor Anita of better times in hopes that she will reconsider the divorce.

She reportedly became a born-again Christian at the Believers Loveworld Campus Fellowship, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma where Chris was still a pastor in the late 1980s. Supposedly, he has remained her one and only spiritual guide and mentor since their marriage until recently when things fell apart and she filed for divorce.

However, when City People Magazine contacted Pastor Anita’s lawyers, Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, a UK-based full-service law firm, their spokesperson said there were not anticipating a reconciliation.

Pictures of Oyakhilome Daughters Surface as Man Sends Open Letter To Pastor Anita on Divorce

Charlene and Sharon Oyakhilome are the UK-based daughters of  Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome. The older sister, Sharon celebrated her 21st birthday last month, and is a fast-rising gospel singer with the stage name Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome (CSO).

Pastor Anita Oyakhilome, the girl's mother,  had recently filed for divorce from her estranged husband, and the founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Speculations of the split between the couple came to light after church members in London sympathetic to their Pastor Anita, had set up a Facebook page calling out Pastor Chris for being un-Christian in his marriage, and how he has been treating Pastor Anita in the church.

Following the revelation in the press that it was actually Pastor Anita that filed for divorce, Mr Emeka Asinugo, a London-based journalist, has sent out an open letter addressed to her.

See more pictures of the daughters and the open letter below...

Christ Embassy Removes Picture of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome And Wife From Website

Above is Pastor Chris and Anita Oyakhilome at the top of the Christ Embassy website in July 2014. As of today, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Christ Embassy have removed the image of estranged wife, Rev. Anita Oyakhilome from the church website (http://www.christembassy.org/).

This is following the shocking revelation that she filed for divorce in London this week. Anita Oyakhilome filed for divorce on the grounds of 'unreasonable behaviour' and 'adultery' on the part of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

Members of the church in the UK had shown concern over Pastor Anita’s absence from the church, in which she officiates, since November 2013. This followed some comments credited to Pastor Chris on the ongoing crisis in his marriage.

Recent comments on the Facebook Page set up by those concerned members of the Christ Embassy church show a sharp division over the couple's split. [Read Here]

See the current picture of the Christ Embassy website and some member's comments below

Facebook Page Shares Pastor Chris And Anita Oyakhilome's Divorce Update

The Facebook page that initially brought to light the issues between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Pastor Anita has become operational again. Their stated aim is to reconcile the couple and prevent divorce, but it seems bridges can no more be mended. The message below was posted a week before the news about Pastor Anita filing for divorce emerged.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is very interesting that we requested the closure of this page and were informed that in 14 days, the page will shut down. But... its still here! What happened?

The Lord needs the page open! The purpose obviously has not been achieved. There is a huge question still hanging - "Where is Rev. Anita Oyakhilome?"

I believe the Lord allowed our silence to show us and all of you who are concerned about the ministry just how deep the problems are. It is not surprising the negative, abusive and insultive comments people have come here to make against others because they decided to stand up for truth and speak up.

Rev. Anita Oyakhilome Files For Divorce in London Court, Citing Adultery by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the general overseer of Christ Embassy Church, along with his wife, Rev. Anita Oyakhilome. Pastor Chris is mostly based out of Nigeria and South Africa while his wife operates from the UK and Europe. This living apart has led to speculations of separation over the years. Pastor Chris even came out last June to state they were OK. [Read here]

However, according to The Cable, the dissolution of the marriage has now been filed by Rev. Anita.

The wife is seeking divorce on the grounds of “unreasonable behaviour” and “adultery”. She outlined several allegations against the pastor which cannot publish for legal reasons. The divorce case, with Suit No FD14D01650, was filed on April 9, 2014 at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London, UK, on Anita’s behalf by Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, a full-service law firm with expertise in commercial law and a strong consumer focus in family, wills and estate, personal injury law and medical negligence.

Efforts to reconcile the popular couple, whose church is one of the biggest denominations in Nigeria and has branches all over world, have failed. They have two teenage daughters, Sharon and Charlyn."

Where is Rev. Anita Oyakhilome Facebook Page Closed as Pastor Chris Says They're Fine

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has finally spoken out on the state of his marriage to wife, Pastor Anita Oyakhilome, and to alleviate the concerns of some members of is church who fear that  had crashed. Speaking through one of his officials, Kenneth Achumasara, he told a Nigerian magazine that;