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Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is a Nigerian televangelist, author and minister best known as the founder and president of LoveWorld Inc., widely known as Christ Embassy, and as the author of the daily devotional Rhapsody of Realities. His global ministry spans television networks, churches and outreach programmes.
Key Facts
- Born 7 December 1963 in Edo State, Nigeria.
- Founded Christ Embassy (Believers’ LoveWorld Inc.) in 1987.
- Authors Rhapsody of Realities, a widely translated daily devotional first published in 2001.
- Pioneered LoveWorld satellite television networks broadcasting from Africa worldwide.
| Profile Snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Chris Oyakhilome |
| Known As | Pastor Chris |
| Date of Birth | 1963-12-07 |
| Age | 62 |
| Place of Birth | Edo State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | 🇳🇬 Nigerian |
| Occupation | Televangelist, author, minister |
| Education | Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma |
| Best Known For | Founding Christ Embassy (LoveWorld Inc.) |
| Net Worth | Not officially disclosed |
Who Is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome? Early Life and Education
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome was born on 7 December 1963 in Edo State, Nigeria, to Tim and Angelina Oyakhilome. He grew up in a Christian home and showed an early interest in faith and ministry.
He attended Edo College before studying at what was then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, now known as Ambrose Alli University. He completed his first degree there in the late 1980s.
As a student, he led a campus fellowship that grew rapidly, an experience he often cites as the seed of his later ministry. He has spoken of feeling a strong call to preach from a young age, long before he formally founded a church, and that early drive shaped the path he would follow after graduation.
Founding of Christ Embassy
Oyakhilome established Christ Embassy in 1987, around the time he completed his university studies. The ministry, formally known as Believers’ LoveWorld Inc., began modestly before expanding across Nigeria and beyond.
Over the decades, the church grew into one of the largest charismatic Christian ministries to emerge from Africa, with congregations and partners in many countries.
Christ Embassy describes its work as reaching people worldwide with Christian teaching, and the ministry reports a presence in well over 200 countries. The organisation runs cell groups, conventions and training programmes that have helped it spread quickly among young urban congregations in Nigeria and across the diaspora.
LoveWorld Media and Rhapsody of Realities
A defining feature of the ministry is its media reach. Oyakhilome pioneered a 24-hour Christian satellite network broadcasting from Africa to the world, which gave rise to channels including LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT and LoveWorld Plus.
He is also the author of Rhapsody of Realities, a daily devotional first published in 2001. The ministry says it has been translated into thousands of languages, making it one of its most widely distributed publications.
Alongside the devotional, Oyakhilome has written and published numerous books and teaching materials used by followers around the world.
Ministry and the Healing School
Oyakhilome is widely associated with the Healing School, a programme run under his ministry that he presents as a setting for prayer and faith healing for the sick.
Through conventions, broadcasts and outreach campaigns, his ministry draws large crowds and online audiences, and he is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable religious figures.
His ministry also runs outreach and humanitarian initiatives, which it frames as part of its global mission. These include book distribution drives, youth programmes and partner networks that extend the reach of his teaching far beyond his home base in Nigeria.
Personal Life of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Oyakhilome married Anita Ebhodaghe in 1991. The couple, who have two daughters, worked together in the ministry for many years before their relationship publicly broke down.
Divorce proceedings were reported in 2014, and the divorce was reported as finalised in 2016. Both have largely kept the details private, and Viorah TV reports the matter only as public record.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Net Worth
There is no official figure for Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s net worth, and his personal finances are not a matter of public record. Figures that circulate on net-worth websites are speculative and unverified.
Earlier media estimates have placed him among Nigeria’s wealthier pastors, but these reports are not independently confirmed. Viorah TV does not publish an unverified net-worth figure.
From a campus fellowship to a global broadcast ministry, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome built one of Africa’s most far-reaching Christian movements.
— Viorah TV
Controversies
As a high-profile religious leader, Oyakhilome has attracted scrutiny. In 2013, the UK Charity Commission reported finding governance failings in the administration of a UK-registered Christ Embassy charity and appointed an interim manager; the ministry cooperated with the review. Viorah TV reports this only as a regulatory matter, not as a finding against him personally.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, remarks broadcast on his LoveWorld network linking the virus to 5G technology drew criticism, and in 2021 the UK regulator Ofcom fined the channel over claims it deemed potentially harmful. Critics and fact-checkers disputed the remarks, while the ministry defended its broadcasts. His public divorce has also drawn attention. These matters are presented as public record, attributed to their sources, with no accusation stated as fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome?
He is a Nigerian televangelist, author and minister, and the founder and president of LoveWorld Inc., known as Christ Embassy.
When and where was Pastor Chris Oyakhilome born?
He was born on 7 December 1963 in Edo State, Nigeria.
What is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome best known for?
He is best known for founding Christ Embassy in 1987, authoring the devotional Rhapsody of Realities, and building the LoveWorld television networks.
Is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome married?
He married Anita Ebhodaghe in 1991. Divorce proceedings were reported in 2014 and reported as finalised in 2016; they have two daughters.
What is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s net worth?
It is not officially disclosed. Figures circulating online are speculative and unverified, so Viorah TV does not publish a confirmed amount.
Conclusion
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has built one of the most influential Christian ministries to come out of Nigeria, combining churches, broadcasting and a hugely distributed daily devotional. Admired by a vast following and questioned by some critics, he remains a major figure in global Pentecostal Christianity and a notable name in Nigerian public life.
