Davido Oyedepo
Christ Embassy Bans Couples, Pastors & Wives From Attending Same Church Parish, Females Ministers Cry Out
Sept 6, 2014 – Christ Embassy Banned Couples, Pastors & Wives From Attending Same Church Parish, Females Ministers Cry Out
Here is a report culled from Saturday Sun on the latest controversy inside Christ Embassy Church
Apart from the sack of the London pastor, another issue connected to the divorce, which has also been generating tension in the church, is the cry of female ministers who are accusing Pastor Chris of introducing “controversial rules that are now threatening the foundation of many marriages in the church.”
A female church member of one of the Christ Embassy branches in Abuja told Saturday Sun that “the revolt of Rev Anita will be a child’s play to the one that people will soon see when we open up on how a secret policy introduced some time early this year has been tearing many families and homes apart in our parishes across the country. This is a strange directive that husbands and their wives must not worship or attend the same parish. Now, if a couple is a member of a parish, one of them has to be posted to another parish and this is fuelling adultery in the church in no small measure. Some of us who are female ministers that have been separated from our husbands, we are already talking. Some have started revolting against the order in their parishes while some have refused to obey such transfer orders.”
Another top female official of the church in one of the parishes located in Ikeja corroborated the story when she told Saturday Sun: “The policy is real but it is creating tension in the church already.” The female minister, whose husband has been transferred out of the parish they have been attending together for years to give effect to the policy further, stated: “It’s a heartbreaking development because now we know that that directive was introduced to justify why Pastor Chris has to be in Lagos and his wife in London but beyond that, it is encouraging immorality while the church believes that we have an unusual grace that covers our human failings including adultery.”
Coming down to her personal experience, the female minister disclosed that soon after her husband was transferred to a parish far away from their initial one, “one of the male ministers where I am to stay back started winking at me. The first Sunday I felt he did that unknowingly or without any ulterior motive but the following Sunday he came to shake hands with me after service and what he did was to use one of his fingers to scratch my palm during the handshake. I was miffed but I couldn’t do anything because he will deny and I will look stupid but since then he got my message because I stopped greeting him.”
One of Pastor Oyakhilome’s aides, who hails from Edo State and manages some of the church’s business concerns in Ikeja area of Lagos, had denied there was any divorce lawsuit between the couple when called Friday last week.
According to him, “they got married in Nigeria, how would they file a divorce suit in London? It is not true and it’s not possible. If anything is filed, it is either in Nigeria here or nowhere else because both are Nigerians. Even though, the wife may have dual citizenship, her father is a Nigerian and they both carry Nigerian passports.”
Confirmations from Anita’s lawyers in London, however, put a lie to his denial.
On the alleged order that couples who are pastors or members of the church are forbidden to serve in the same parish, the official said such should not be an issue. “If a church is expanding, more hands will be needed to handle the parishes. Ninety-nine per cent of our pastors are working class and only come to church when there are services.
“Those complaining still have access to their husbands after church. They should as well try and work in the same environment with their husbands or wives. It’s really laughable and not an issue of discourse in a church like Christ Embassy.”
Please make una no say my Amebo is too much oooo, as a confirmation to this ongoing thing, remember I told you guys I was on vacation in Canada last month, Yes my host and her husband are committed members of Christ Embassy Church (The husband is a Pastor there).
To my surprise, on getting there, they told me they have started their own church. The husband categorically told me, they left the church because of too much politics and that he can never leave his wife and attend another parish.
This family used to be on fire for God at Christ Embassy, at a time before they left Nigeria, they even persuaded me to join. They dedicated so much effort and time to the church. I never believed such a couple could ever stop going to the church.
What happened to this powerful marriage verse “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder”?
Christ Embassy members no vex abeg… Some of you have started bombarding me with hate emails. I feel una just pray for God to take control, don’t take it on me or others.
Pastor Chris is one of my favourite Nigerian inspirational speakers, I have several of his books. I pray things get back to normal in his ministry.
Close your eyes and let’s say a word of prayer for him, father restore peace and calmness to this troubled ministry. Let your wave of peace flow through, restore Rev Anita & Pastor Chris’ marriage.. IJN we pray amen and amen
Anuoluwapo Olaitan
September 6, 2014 at 6:58 AM
I’m a member I don’t see anything wrong with the new policy. It is not a rule, it is a policy to combat adultery
fernandez
September 8, 2014 at 11:36 AM
sorry oh but, seperating the husband and wife from worshiping in the same parish. how is it helping to combat adultery?
@me
September 16, 2014 at 6:27 PM
You separate a man and his wife and you say it’s the best way to combat adultery? Pray that God opens your eyes to see cos I assume you’re short sighted
Nathan
September 6, 2014 at 7:08 AM
is now a secret society no longer a place to worship God. Not becos a pastor and his wife fall out does not impose their mistakes upon others. Why then should husband and wife wed in the same church instead of separate churches.
Colly
September 6, 2014 at 7:51 AM
Dear Nathan, Ask them please, who is fooling who ? may be during any wedding he will go to the London branch wed the Man and come back to Nigeria to wed the Woman, why everything about Nigeria can never be straight, why this rule or policy ? this is to encourage auditory, for either men or woman of his church can claim to be in Ogun state of the church while the other will claim to be in Benin branch of the Church, if its true that he said this and to implement it, all I have to say is, what a world and may God help us direct us to his rightful prophets.
Sophia
September 6, 2014 at 7:42 AM
Sorry if CEC members are sending hateful messages to you, just mark them as spam and ignore it people attach too much importance to their spiritual fathers these days.
I’m a jamaican married to a Nigerian and I attend Christ Embassy. We left because they wouldn’t marry us since my man is not a church member.
They have rigid rule
richard tee
September 6, 2014 at 7:53 AM
Men! Short of words! Daris God o!!!!
bezo
September 6, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Face your problem yourself and don’t put it on other people, if your wife frustrate you coz she saw you doing homozexxual doesn’t mean you should use it to frustrate other people, coz your wife caught you doing homosezual doesn’t mean your other pastor’s should be doing the same to break up their homes, leave them to be with their wives, remember is 14yrs in imprisonment with hard labour.
mae
September 6, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Pst chris wt new policy… Members will start leavin…
jekwu bethel
September 6, 2014 at 3:57 PM
@ bezo u no well. Naijagist una no go kill me make i close my eyes abi ? If i close my eyes how i go fit say de prayer which u have put in a written words ? Abi make i use my spiritual eyes…lol. As 4 pastor Chris and Anita we are watching u guys
Networkbusy
September 6, 2014 at 4:53 PM
Make una 4get about this man called pastor chris,he was just doing what he was instructed to do in his********
Jenkins
September 6, 2014 at 9:59 PM
d families dat lived together! pray together! so 4 a pastor to say husbands n wives should not worship together it is an error!is not everytin ur pastor said u wil follow! bcos he his human!
Metu Nyetu
September 6, 2014 at 10:42 PM
(I’m just thinking out aloud. Pls take it dat I didnt comment here)
Many are they who beliv dat Pastor Chris is gay owing 2 his relaxer-honed appearance. I dnt knw. Bt I hav somthn about him dat causes me question marks: it is his endorsement of masturbation, yet his members dnt feel disturbd about it. D breeze dat dis unsaintly stance came wit has apparently abated. Yet again has risen d issue of scattering couples 2 diff branches of d church. 2 wat infernal purpose? How els could adultery b indulged & promoted? Cnt their membas 4see things b4 they hapn? Or dont they hav independent thots?
I’m jst tryn so hard not2use certain wordz in dis my talking-to-myself, bt u knw, som missed-road MOG’s can really make pawns out of their gullible members. Let it not b dat Christ Embassy members are nw not any mor diff frm those deluded folks in Ghana(Right?) who once 8 grasses like goats as instructd by their pastor afta a wierd revelation.
I’m afraid! Who knws wat unscriptural thing dat we would hear nxt? God help us!
Esther
September 8, 2014 at 1:56 AM
i understand how Anita is feeling because i am in the same situation. I will not reconcile with my pastor husband never again. Our first 2 daughters are in the Uni and my so called pastor has no clue how they got there. He only wants me to show up in the church and after the service we go to our seperate houses. i did it for about a year, covered him up so pple wont know but i could not carry on living a deceitful life. I have since gone back to my background (catholic)and haappy serving God there. A preacher or minister of God living away from home shows lack of care, deceit, no respect for his marriage, money cautious,selfishness and as Chris been a successful public speaker, it comes with lots of pride as well without him realising it thus inviting devil into his heart. Anita will be responsible for the children welfare, their education, giving them moral support when daddy is somewhere preaching the suppose goodness to unbelievers. He laid his bed like my enstrange husband did, that way so he will have to sleep on it. I believe she has been neglected and has been pushed to the wall. if she could do anything to change the situation, i am sure will she wll try. she is married but has no security from her husband. She is mourning at the moment and what she needs right now is prayers for courage because she is an emotioanaly battered woman.There is more to it than the eyes can see that i am sure about.
Udala
September 9, 2014 at 9:15 AM
Esther I can see that you face same thing. I highly sympathized with you my dear. I will be there for you Esther in case you want to give another man a trial. i promise to love you.
Benjamin. O
November 26, 2014 at 11:48 PM
@Esther, thanks for opening my insight to seeing it from your angle. “You can’t eat your cake and also have it.” Why separate yourself from your wife… As far as I know, your home is your first church, haha! Frankly, I am a fan of his messages(Word of God) but am nt bias, I stand for truth.
Raymond
February 15, 2017 at 3:04 PM
you all are idiots and I think you need the mercy of God to forgive your lying tongues