Prominent pastors in the country have slammed Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his Christ Embassy Church for imposing a N1,000 toll fee on worshippers who attended New Year’s Eve service at the Christ Embassy Headquarters in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. News sources had reported in its 5 January 2011 edition how Christ Embassy pastors sold tickets valued at N1,000 each to worshippers who wanted to attend the crossover service in their church. Indigent worshippers who could not afford the money were denied access and sent back by security men at the gate. The church explained that it collected gate fees from worshippers to control the huge crowd that always besieges Christ Embassy on New Year’s Eve service. This development has outraged many Nigerians, including prominent pastors, at home and abroad. The pastors who spoke with us yesterday described the imposition of toll fee by Christ Embassy as a sacrilege. The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde, described Oyakhilome’s action as anathema and abuse of Christianity. “It is a sacrilege and commercialisation of religion. It is an abuse of Christianity,” he lamented. Founder, Soul Winning Chapel, Rev. Moses Illoh, said that such an act “is sacrilegious,” adding that the gospel of Christ is supposed to be free and not to be paid for. “There is no excuse for this. The church of God is for everybody, both for the poor and the rich. The church where they collect money before you can go in to worship is not a church.” According to Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, such pastors who collect money from worshippers should be stoned to death or be crucified. “Is this possible? Such church should be destroyed and such pastors should be stoned to death. Pay N1,000 to enter a church? Is the church in heaven? It is never done. Read more... http://www.NigeriaCurrentNews.com/church-gate-fee-pastors-condemn-oyakhilome/
Posted: at 11-01-2011 03:32 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
uchechrs at 11-01-2011 03:45 PM (14 years ago) (m)
"According to Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, such pastors who collect money from worshippers should be stoned to death or be crucified. “Is this possible? Such church should be destroyed and such pastors should be stoned to death. Pay N1,000 to enter a church? Is the church in heaven? It is never done"
YOU ALL ARE THESAME ONLY THAT HE THAT LOUGHS LAST LOUGHS BEST
all these commercial pastors in Niger please repent for the Kingdom of GOD is at hand, money would rather take you to hail and never heven. so repent now and welcome JESUS CHRIST and denounce bajesus
Posted: at 11-01-2011 03:45 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
The proceeds realised from the gate takings should be donated to charity. This attitude should not be encouraged by the church. Salvation is FREE and should not be commercialised
Posted: at 12-01-2011 04:36 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
mat-James at 12-01-2011 06:01 PM (14 years ago) (m)
hehehe, anybody wei no get money no go here preaching ooohh, and go die go hell fire, anybody wei wan go heaven must av money for gate fees period, u like it or not. na we talkam
Posted: at 12-01-2011 06:01 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
all of you are liars.i was in that meeting and nobody collected any money from me.you guys just won't leave pastor chris alone.it is not your fault he is more successful than all of you.as 2 face will sing if nobody talk about you then you are nobody.so pastor chris is rich that is y they keep talking about him.you guys go get a life.
Posted: at 15-01-2011 06:57 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
urchmony at 16-01-2011 09:37 AM (14 years ago) (m)
WHICH MAN OF GOD IS ENCOUREGING STONING TO DEATH?WHERE DO HE GOT DAT FROM D BIBLE?THIS PRIMATE SHOLD READ HIS BIBLE VERY WELL.BECAUSE A POT SHOULD NOT CALL A POT A CHACOLE.
Posted: at 16-01-2011 09:37 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie
Ortopazz at 22-06-2011 02:09 AM (13 years ago) (m)
NOT A BAD IDEA SHA, IF IT IS TRUE THEN I SEE NO SENSE CHARITY OR NO CHARITY, AFTERALL PASTOR CHRIS IS AMONG THE RICHEST PASTORS IN NIGERIA SO WATS THE MONEY DOING WHEN HE CAN EASILY TAKE K OF ISSUES LIKE THAT.
Posted: at 22-06-2011 02:09 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac