The founder of the Believers Loveworld Ministries, also
known as Christ Embassy, Chris Oyakhilome, on Sunday, enjoined his congregation
to refrain from speaking against a man of God. The church also suspended
Michelle Okojie, a pastor in Lagos, for her “subversive activities.”
At the church’s Sunday service, Mr. Oyakhilome described a
man of God – as different from a preacher – as one who had been given a
revelation from heaven. “To speak against the man of God is to bring a curse on
yourself and your children. When you hear people speaking against a man of God,
move away from there.
“This is the first service of this nature and I don’t know
what you are expecting, but you will be blessed.
“It’s gonna be a short service but will be loaded,” Mr.
Oyakhilome said.
Though he was not physically present at the church’s
headquarters in Lagos, he conducted the service via a telecast from the branch
in Pretoria, South Africa.
Speaking on the topic of the day’s preaching, ‘Children of
the Word,’ he cited a plethora of Bible verses to encourage his congregation
not to stray from God.
“Sometimes when you are going through challenges in your
life, you many not know what steps to take. He says you should take these
scriptures as a light shining in the darkness.”
“A carnal minded person will say ‘How many times do we give
offering? One, two, three, four times. Spirit people don’t think like that. A
carnal minded person will come into the church and say ‘This place is hot,’
‘The A/C is not working,’ ‘The fan is not working.’ A spiritually-minded person
will instead say ‘How can I contribute to change this place?’
“Say I refuse to be a carnal person.”
After a list of offerings that included monies for Bible
sponsorship, Children/Teens Ministry, Healing School, Reachout Nigeria,
partnership with the church, amongst others; it was announced that Michelle
Okojie, one of the Lagos pastors, had been suspended from the church.
“It has come to our attention that Pastor Michelle Okojie
has been visiting church members in private and slandering the ministry,
engaging in subversive activities that are against the scriptures,” read the
statement issued by Ray Okocha, the church’s Secretary General.
Citing Bible passages from Romans 16:17-20 and Titus 3:10
wherein Christians were told to “watch out for those who cause divisions and
create obstacles,” the church warned every member of the congregation to stay
away from Ms. Okojie.
“The church is not a social club where you can walk in and
walk out at will and live disorderly.
“Pastor Michelle is hereby suspended from the fellowship.
“Avoid her. Do not fellowship with her. Do not try to
counsel her or receive counsel from her. All you can do is direct her to her
pastor.
“Do not be a partaker of another man’s sin.”
Efforts to ascertain from the church members the real
reasons for Ms. Okojie’s suspension were unsuccessful as all the church members
approached for comments declined to speak.
But one who spoke over the telephone said that the pastor
was suspended for blasphemy.
“She has been suspended for blaspheming against the
ministry. But we don’t know exactly why,” said the church member who did not
want her name mentioned for faith reasons.
Source: Sahara Reporters
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