Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: LOVEWORLD NATION.
Pastor Christian Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.) is the Founder of Believers LoveWorld now known as LoveWorld Nation, a Bible-believing Church founded in 1987. He has made a mark in missions both in Nigeria and globally through his innovative approach as a reverse missionary. Born in Nigeria, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has successfully taken the Gospel to the World reaching out to countless number of souls for Christ. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has employed various strategies to achieve his missionary goals. Church Gist. Through the years, various ministry departments of the Church have been birthed to effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of these ministries include: TV Ministry such as LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT and LoveWorld Plus. Internet Ministry such as: LoveWorld Cyber Ministry, the Healing School, Rhapsody of Realities, LoveWorld Publishing Ministry, LoveWorld Christian Network, LoveWorld Multimedia Ministry, LoveWorld Record Limited and LoveWorld Music Ministry. The Publishing House – LoveWorld Publications published his first book, “Recreating Your World” in 1995 and ever since has published all of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s books including “Rhapsody of Realities” and books that cover topics such as: Prayer, faith, prosperity, divine healing and health, the Holy Spirit, soul-winning, Christian living and spiritual growth. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has written more than 30 books besides the daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities.
In 2001, the first edition of the Rhapsody of Realities (The Messenger Angel) was published in English Language at Ikeja, Lagos State Nigeria by LoveWorld Publishing Ministry of the Church. The devotional was conceived to enlighten and guide believers in their daily walk with God. It has been translated in all 8,123 known languages of the World including: Afrikaans, Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Mandarin, Myanmar, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili… and still counting. Church Gist. Today, billions of copies of the devotional have been distributed in 242 countries and territories. Having been translated in all known languages, it has been made accessible to millions of people all over the World through her ReachOut World Campaign. The influence of the devotional transcends denominational and religious boundaries, impacting the lives of many people and bringing about countless testimonies of changed lives. The digital versions of the devotional are also accessible through the Rhapsody App, which includes audio readings, e-books and other features that enhance the user’s experience. This move has significantly broadened the reach of the devotional, allowing it to penetrate regions where physical copies may not be readily available.
The Church utilizes various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Website, YouTube, KingsChat, CeFlix among others and the Pastor Chris Digital Library as evangelism tools to spread the Gospel and to connect with millions of people globally. In 2002, LoveWorld Nation became prominent on television, not just in Nigeria but all over the African Continent through her ‘Atmosphere For Miracles’. Church Gist. In 2003, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome pioneered the first 24-hour Christian Network from Africa to the rest of the World and this gave rise to more satellite stations on other continents of the World such as: the Loveworld USA in America, Loveworld TV in the UK, Loveworld SAT in South-Africa and LXP in Nigeria, Loveworld Mena, Loveworld India, Loveworld Persia and still counting. Through this medium, millions of people have been reached with the Message of Salvation and many lives transformed. These stations are also available on the mobile platform via the LiveTV App.
On 31st October 2003, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome organized Night of Bliss in Port Harcourt with an estimated attendance of 2.5 million people. ‘Atmosphere For Miracles’ is another program of the Church that airs on major television networks in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Asia, Europe and around the World. The programs bring God’s divine presence right into the homes of millions around the World.
In 2007, the ReachOut Campaigns started. It is a movement aimed at reaching every man in his world and in his language with the good news of hope. This is done through the free distribution of the Rhapsody of Realities while embarking on humanitarian projects and skill acquisition programs in the communities. Church Gist. Every year, during national holidays and celebrations in nations around the World, ReachOut Campaigns partners organize the free distribution of Rhapsody of Realities to targeted communities. Some distributions are heralded by major carnivals and festivities while the others though marked quietly are equally changing lives.
The LoveWorld Records Limited located in Ikeja was incorporated in 2008 to promote Gospel music. The recording studio has produced many other talented music artistes who are members of the Church. Church Gist. It is the first record label dedicated solely to the publishing, production, marketing and distribution of Gospel music and the promotion of Gospel artistes. Barely two years after its establishment, it is said to have broken into international markets like the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, South Africa and Ghana.
On 7th March 2010, the Church held a concert to raise funds through the selling of tickets for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The Church focused on the children of Haiti and sent relief materials such as: Food, drugs and clothes. In 2011, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome founded the LoveWorld Schools located in Lagos State Nigeria. Church Gist. He also pioneered the establishment of the InnerCity Mission, an outreach program that ministers to children living in the inner cities of our world, giving them hope and a future, providing free schools and meals under the auspices of Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI). Some of her free schools are located in Lagos State, Delta State, Adamawa State, Edo State, Ogun State, Taraba State in Nigeria, India, Liberia and still counting.
The Church has been at the forefront of promoting the music ministry in the Body of Christ. She holds a yearly award ceremony initiated by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome called the LoveWorld International Music and Arts Awards (LIMAA), an event that awards Gospel musicians over the years for their exploits and impacts on the music world. The first LIMAA was held in 2016. At LIMAA 2016, The Songwriter of the Decade award was won by Sinach plus a $100,000 prize. The Songwriters of the Year award was won by Ada and Eben plus a $50,000 prize. Songwriter of the Year (Star Project) was won by Israel Strong plus a $25,000 prize. Worship Song of the Year – “Holy Spirit” was won by Martin PK plus a $100,000 prize, Hit Song of the Year was won by “Victory” by Eben plus a $50,000 prize among others. Church Gist. At 2021 LIMAA, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome gave out over $275,000 (N160 Million) to award-winning Church members. At LIMAA 2023, Artistes of The Year was awarded to Sylvia and Pastor Saki ($25,000 each), Worship Song of the Year – God of Heaven and Earth by Evangelist Kathy ($50,000), Song of the Year Award – “Faithful and Just” written by Evangelist Kathy and performed by Maya. $100,000 for the Songwriter, $25,000 for the performer, One Million Naira each for all the Back-up Singers of the Song at Healing Streams among others. From these events have emerged renowned Gospel music ministers such as: Sinach, Joe Praize, Frank Edwards, Moses Bliss, Testimony JAGA, EBEN, Bishop Chikancy, Jahdiel, Buchi, Samsong and a host of others who has been a blessing to the lives of people all over the World.
On 27th March 2020, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome held the first Global Day of Prayer with Pastor Benny Hinn and prayed against Coronavirus which was spreading rapidly globally. The program recorded 3 billion hits by online viewers. Church Gist. In December 2020, he was accused of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation about HPV, polio and malaria vaccination during a live broadcast. And as a result, the Office of Communication in the United Kingdom (OfCom) said in a statement that the station was fined £125,000 (N65.6m) for breaching the country’s broadcasting code by disseminating misinformation on COVID-19.
In 2021, ESPEES was launched as a digital currency for the Church community and beyond. It is a cryptocurrency owned by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. ESPEES operates on its own blockchain, ensuring secure, transparent and fast transactions. The total supply of ESPEES is capped at 10 billion coins. ESPEES is accepted as a form of payment within the Christ Embassy ecosystem and partner merchants. A portion of ESPEES transactions goes towards supporting charitable projects and community development programs.
In 2023, the 13th Free School of the InnerCity Mission For Children was commissioned at Iguobazuwa in Edo State Nigeria. The Mission in 2023 alone reached over 1 million households, providing 1.2 billion meals to vulnerable families in 100 countries through the Meal Campaign of the InnerCity Mission. Church Gist. As it pertains to a partnership with the Church, apart from her foreign partners, there is a selected group of members that belong to the ‘Haven’, they ensure that the Ministry is not short of funds to run Church activities. The Haven assists in the sponsorship of key projects of the Church. Their financial commitment to the Church runs into billions of Naira annually. Another group that is open to everyone is the group of partners who sow seeds in ‘Partnership’ with various sectors of the Ministry.
The Church is the host of various international programs: International Pastors and Partners Conference (IPPC) convened by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and LoveWorld Nation. It is an immersive spiritual gathering dedicated to nurturing increased knowledge of God’s Word and celebrating the Christian faith. The International Cell Leaders’ Conference (ICLC) is a special annual conference that celebrates soul-winning exploits across the Ministry. She is also the host of The Higher Life Conference among others. Church Gist. With a burning desire to bring God’s Word to all men in simplicity and with the power of the Spirit, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome established the International School Of Ministry (ISOM), a unique spiritual and academic institution to train and equip ministers of the Gospel of Christ, building in them the realities of God’s Word and empowering them to carry the Message of eternal life in Christ Jesus to their world, with great demonstrations of the miraculous power of God.
On 23rd June 2024, the Church Headquarters known as LoveWorld Convocation Arena located at Oregon in Ikeja, Lagos State Nigeria caught fire and was burnt down. On 6th October 2024, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome shared the design of the new improved LoveWorld Convocation Arena of Christ Embassy. In December 2024, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome gave one million ESPEES (1.7 billion naira) to the LoveWorld Film and Arts Ministry for the making of Gospel Movies at the 2024 LoveWorld International Music and Arts (LIMA) Awards.
The Church is marching on and the gates of h€ll shall not prevail against it! God has helped the Ministry to spread in over 3,500 branches with presence across the entire African continent, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. She has planted Churches in over 100 countries such as: Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America among others. Church Gist. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome holds massive teaching and healing services like Healing Streams and Your Loveworld Specials with many people in attendance globally. The world-renowned Healing School Ministry of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is known to manifest the healing works of Jesus Christ today and it has helped many receive their healing and miracles through the gifts of the Spirit in operation. Indeed the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been spreading from Nigeria to the World. Hallelujah!
SOURCES:
Church Gist Archives
Christ Embassy Website
InnerCity Mission For Children website
Rhapsody of Realities website
Believers’ Portal
ResearchGate
Christ Embassy Facebook Page
#ChurchOfTheWeek
#LoveWorldNation
#ChurchGist
