Christ Embassy Church in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, is being turned into show business as members were made to part with N1, 000 each as gate fee before they could enter their church to attend the New Year’s Eve service, P.M.NEWS can reveal. P.M.NEWS confirmed that only members who could afford the N1, 000 gate fee were allowed into the premises of Christ Embassy Headquarters at Oregun, Lagos, where self-styled cleric and business man, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, preached on 31 December 2010.
Indigent members who could not afford the N1, 000 tickets, were denied access and sent back by security men at the gate, it was learnt. The church, a source said, realised about N25 million from about 25, 000 members who bought the tickets. It was gathered that the church informed its members that it decided to impose a gate fee to control the huge crowd that always besiege the church on the New Year’s Eve church service.
“Pastor said that to control the crowd and only allow genuine members who could do anything to be in church, it was good to pay a gate fee. Last year for instance, even senior pastors in the church could not secure a seat in the church on New Year’s Eve service,” our source said. The ticket, bought by our correspondent, was still on sale today, five days after the New Year’s church service took place.
A copy of the ticket has the following information printed on it: “one service…different locations worldwide impact! Time: 7 pm, Venue: Loveworld Convocation Arena, N1,000, December 31st New Year’s Eve Service With Pastor Chris.” There is also a bold picture of Oyakhilome wearing one of his flashy suits. On the background there is a huge crowd in adulation of the man who once boasted that he will never be broke in life.
At the back of the ticket is a bold inscription : “ This ticket admists one person.” The development, described as scandalous by those who got a glimpse of it, is unprecedented in the history of Christianity in Nigeria. In the medieval period, similar scandals led to the break-away of Martin Luther from the Catholic church. This led to the formation of the Protestant movement.
At that time, Catholic priests were collecting money, known as indulgences, from worshippers before they could confess their sins. These indulgences had become big business in much the same way pledge drives have become big business in Nigeria. The development outraged Luther and others who kicked against it, quit the church and founded the protestant movement.
The latest scandal in Oyakhilome’s church comes only weeks after he appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to answer questions on money laundering allegations. According to TheNews magazine edition of 13 December 2010, the alleged laundering of $35 million by Christ Embassy was traced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the help of foreign partners.
The magazine reported that Oyakhilome and money have had a bitter-sweet relationship. While money has brought him a lush lifestyle: an eye-popping auto collection, a movie-star wardrobe of stylish suits and choice properties that include a stunning church auditorium, it has also brought him an arm-long list of scandals.
Culled from PM News.
Posted: at 5-01-2011 06:31 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
sleekwalls at 5-01-2011 11:27 PM (14 years ago) (m)
people should wake up and stop being deceive by this so call men of God..they are simply business men in disguise... this is not the first time the so call pastor in involve in this...the sheraton hotel saga any more more
Posted: at 5-01-2011 11:27 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
austaino_ken at 5-01-2011 11:32 PM (14 years ago) (m)
touch not my anointed and my prophet do no harm, be carefull, if you don't have any other thing to do why not get away from this site and go to hell you idiot
Posted: at 5-01-2011 11:32 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
austaino_ken at 5-01-2011 11:40 PM (14 years ago) (m)
u better delete this rubish out from here, is like you are trying God, what has this man done to people, anyway even Christ has enemy upon all his miracle and love he shows the world
Posted: at 5-01-2011 11:40 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
some persons are so fearless to the extent they can just imagine anything and voice it at any place or time! i attend thesame church you claimed here, yet nothing of this happened! so where did you get this from? does it mean you have no fear of GOD at all? or maybe i should ask, who are you working for? the devil or who?
Posted: at 5-01-2011 11:57 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
So my people when you hear such stories and you can verify them as true, never make the mistake of blaming the perpetrators for they are only playing their own part in the bigger scheme of things.
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:05 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie
touch not my anointed and my prophet do no harm, be carefull, if you don't have any other thing to do why not get away from this site and go to hell you idiot
you r a FOOL...
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:14 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
touch not my anointed and my prophet do no harm, be carefull, if you don't have any other thing to do why not get away from this site and go to hell you idiot
you r a FOOL...
you don't have to fight logten coz many people are going to attack you for this,that's for sure.
The difference between GENIUS and STUPIDITY is that, genius has it limits..
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:27 AM (14 years ago) | Hero
touch not my anointed and my prophet do no harm, be carefull, if you don't have any other thing to do why not get away from this site and go to hell you idiot
you r a FOOL...
you don't have to fight logten coz many people are going to attack you for this,that's for sure.
i no fear any body nor pastor o... i test any spirit to knw if e come from God or not
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:32 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
“touch not my anointed and do my prophets do no harm”
Very true indeed, but also hear this brethren, Christ commands us to test the spirits in operation.
Revelation 2 To the Church in Ephesus 1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:46 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie
HE will be thrown in that lake of fire along with his blind members.The poor shall inherit the earth not the rich.And i dont give a damn if you go to his pagan-luciferian church.
Posted: at 6-01-2011 12:46 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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