Chris Oyakhilome facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Born	Christian Oyakhilome (1963-12-07) 7 December 1963 (age 61) Edo State, Nigeria
Occupation	Pastor, faith healing minister, television host, author, philanthropist
Known for	Global Evangelical Outreach
Notable work	Founder, LoveWorld Inc
Spouse(s)	Anita Ebhodaghe ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 2016)​
Children	2

Christian Oyakhilome (born on December 7, 1963), often called Pastor Chris, is a Nigerian pastor and author. He is also a televangelist, meaning he shares religious messages on television. He leads LoveWorld Incorporated, a Christian organization based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Pastor Chris is the founder of Christ Embassy, a big church with locations in many countries. He also writes a popular daily book called Rhapsody of Realities. He organizes large gatherings and special "healing school" events each year in Nigeria and South Africa.

Early Life and Education

Chris Oyakhilome was born on December 7, 1963. His parents are Tim and Angelina Oyakhilome. He was born in Edo State, Nigeria. He is the third of seven children and the first of two sons.

He went to Edo College for his schooling. Later, he received a scholarship to attend Bendel State University. This university was later renamed Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma. There, he studied and earned a degree in Architecture.

His Ministry and Teachings

Christ Embassy in Luton, England

Chris Oyakhilome started his ministry while he was still a student at Ambrose Alli University. He created a group for young people called Youth For Christ. This group became the biggest student fellowship at Bendel State University.

After finishing university in 1987, he started a church in Benin City. In 1989, he moved to Lagos and founded Christ Embassy. His ministry has grown to include churches and student groups in many places. These include the United Kingdom, the United States, Ghana, and South Africa. He also holds "healing school" sessions in South Africa, Lagos, and Canada.

Pastor Chris also started a Christian television network. It broadcasts his messages around the world from Africa. In 2006, he held a very large event in Nigeria called "Good Friday Miracle Night." Millions of people were said to have attended. He also hosts "Higher Life" conferences in many countries. These include Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the UK, the US, and Canada. He organized a big event called Night of Bliss at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

He also runs an International School of Ministry. In 2016, one of its conferences had 5,000 ministers from 145 countries. Pastor Chris uses social media to share messages with Christians globally. He also has a smartphone app called KingsChat. In 2015, he received special honorary degrees from Ambrose Alli University and Benson Idahosa University. In 2017, he worked with another pastor, Benny Hinn, to create a Christian TV channel called LoveWorld USA.

Pastor Chris has hosted several online programs. This includes five "Global Day of Prayer" events with Benny Hinn.

Personal Life

Chris Oyakhilome married Anita Ebhodaghe on February 2, 1991. They met when they were students at the university. Anita was also a pastor in Christ Embassy. They had two daughters, named Sharon and Charlene.

The couple later divorced on February 8, 2016.

On October 6, 2018, Pastor Chris's first daughter, Sharon, got married. Her wedding ceremony was led by Pastor Benny Hinn. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was also present at the event.

In 2011, Forbes magazine estimated Pastor Oyakhilome's wealth. They said it was between $30 million and $50 million.

Helping Others (Philanthropic Work)

Pastor Oyakhilome runs the Inner City Mission Project. This project helps children who are orphans or in need in cities around the world. This organization is part of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International. This foundation works to help people who are poor and those living in inner cities.

The organization sends help and supplies to countries when disasters happen. It also works with government groups to improve people's lives. The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation is a big supporter of orphanages in Africa. These homes care for mothers and babies.

Other groups supported by the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) include:

• The Volunteer Medical Corps
• Trauma Care International Foundation
• Inner City Mission for Children
• Future Africa Leaders Foundation
• Bible for All Mission

In 2013, the UK Charity Commission looked into the "Christ Embassy" charity. This charity is connected to Pastor Oyakhilome's church. The commission found some serious issues with how the charity was managed. A temporary manager was brought in to check how the charity was run. This report showed that the people in charge did not fully understand their duties. However, after new people were appointed to the board in 2016, big improvements were made. The charity's management and control became much better.

Honors and Awards

• Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from Benson Idahosa University.
• Honorary Doctor of Science Award from Ambrose Alli University.
• In December 2023, he was named the Chancellor of Weldios University. This means he is the head of the university's government.

His Writings

Pastor Oyakhilome is the author of Rhapsody of Realities. This book is given out every month in many countries. It is also shared through social media. Below are some of the books he has written and when they were published.