Worshippers Pay N1,000 To Enter Oyakhilome’s Church 
Published on January 5, 2011 by pmnews · 114 CommentsChrist Embassy Church in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, is being turned into show business as members were made to part with N1, 000 each as gate fee before they could enter their church to attend the New Year’s Eve service, P.M.NEWS can reveal.
P.M.NEWS confirmed that only members who could afford the N1, 000 gate fee were allowed into the premises of Christ Embassy Headquarters at Oregun, Lagos, where self-styled cleric and business man, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, preached on 31 December 2010.
The N1,000 ticket at Oyakhilome's Christ Embassy church
Indigent members who could not afford the N1, 000 tickets, were denied access and sent back by security men at the gate, it was learnt.
The church, a source said, realised about N25 million from about 25, 000 members who bought the tickets.
It was gathered that the church informed its members that it decided to impose a gate fee to control the huge crowd that always besiege the church on the New Year’s Eve church service.
“Pastor said that to control the crowd and only allow genuine members who could do anything to be in church, it was good to pay a gate fee. Last year for instance, even senior pastors in the church could not secure a seat in the church on New Year’s Eve service,†our source said.
The ticket, bought by our correspondent, was still on sale today, five days after the New Year’s church service took place.
A copy of the ticket has the following information printed on it: “one service…different locations worldwide impact! Time: 7 pm, Venue: Loveworld Convocation Arena, N1,000, December 31st New Year’s Eve Service With Pastor Chris.â€
There is also a bold picture of Oyakhilome wearing one of his flashy suits. On the background there is a huge crowd in adulation of the man who once boasted that he will never be broke in life.
At the back of the ticket is a bold inscription : “ This ticket admists one person.â€
The development, described as scandalous by those who got a glimpse of it, is unprecedented in the history of Christianity in Nigeria.
In the medieval period, similar scandals led to the break-away of Martin Luther from the Catholic church. This led to the formation of the Protestant movement.
At that time, Catholic priests were collecting money, known as indulgences, from worshippers before they could confess their sins.
These indulgences had become big business in much the same way pledge drives have become big business in Nigeria.
The development outraged Luther and others who kicked against it, quit the church and founded the protestant movement.
The latest scandal in Oyakhilome’s church comes only weeks after he appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to answer questions on money laundering allegations.
According to TheNews magazine edition of 13 December 2010, the alleged laundering of $35 million by Christ Embassy was traced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the help of foreign partners.
The magazine reported that Oyakhilome and money have had a bitter-sweet relationship. While money has brought him a lush lifestyle: an eye-popping auto collection, a movie-star wardrobe of stylish suits and choice properties that include a stunning church auditorium, it has also brought him an arm-long list of scandals.
— Simon Ateba
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2011 P.M.News
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It is amala and gbegiri journalism to sensationalise stories with the motif of just selling your paper. If Christ Embassy needed money that bad as u would want your readers to believe, the tickets would have been sold universally and you can imagine how much we could have made. Pls find out why Partner members decided to buy tickets for the service or did you see any advert imploring people to buy tickets. Any body that leads people astray have destruction waiting for him. Beware.
Tell them what they need to hear,this rummor has to stop its unfair spoiling the name of God
spoiling the name of the man of God
Bestman, i really sympathize with your sense of reasoning. There’s no tenable excuse for this absurdity…. don’t let religion blind you to Christ’s way of life (Christianity).
I never believe that man to be man of God for once! imagine reaping people of thier cash! cherrful giver is what God loves.
It is a pity
This really bull shit…..Under any circumstance should any church Member pay to get into the church……..@ roland i can see yur so so so dumb, but neva mind its allowed to be dumb….
… u guyz ar reali funny tho!… “wen d end is near, they love of many shall become cold”… pls know who u serve… God or Man”… its a battle financed by the devil… uhmmm~
what a surprise,collection of # 1,000 by man of God,is that how Jesus Crist teach him.Well, his congregation should have think about of been there as member of his Church.Well done ‘Jare’ shape Pastor,continue till enternity day.
one-da-fool
Wonders shall never End.Our Lord Jesus Christ has a lot of things to judge when ever on earth.It’s against Christain Religion
Its ridiculous! I dont want to believe he did that.
he never did
there must be a reason for this. dont let us look at it from the monetry part of it.
it might just be to know that amount of people in the arena. i.e censor
From my knowledge, i learnt there were viewing centers outside the arena and people watched and got blessed.
He is a man God and has blessed a lot life so dont let us crucify him on this small matter.
And pls. stop this junk publication and see how u can make get people into the kingdom of God
Though CE owes no one an explanation for its actions, it will be important to clarify a few issues. No one was invited for the program, that is not a Christ Embassy member. The event was not held in “CHURCH” but in an outside venue, no one was denied entry into “CHURCH”. Members of Christ Embassy who were willing and in agreement got the tickets, as a commitment to the ministry, and did not complain to PM News.
It is a family affair. I cannot come and question your churches in-house decisions. Besides the falsehood in your story is a disgrace to our Journalism profession, and to your Paper; it wreaks of bias and fallacy.
they dont knw wat they do…leave them their end is at hand…..we continue to pay as long as we have agreed as church and if my pastor saysi should do it i wl do it…we are richhhhhhhh.
This is a new dimension in the fleecing church business. That Fashionista Chris Oyakhilome can impose a gate fee on members who wish to attend a New Year Service reveals his uncontrolled apatite for Earthly Gains. It’s a really sad development!
Mr Simon Ateba, I am sure you got a big fat ” AWARD” and a pat on the back for this article at the PM News but what ” REWARD” will you get from God when we get to heaven?
Something for you to ponder on…
Ama
Mr Simon Ateba,the PM News reporter I am sure you got a big ” AWARD” for this article but what will your ” REWARD” be when you get to heaven?
Something for you to ponder on…
God bless you .
This church business, ‘ na good business o’. #1000 per worshiper, ‘na wa o’
I think pple should not take this news serious. PM News has a reputation for publishing news without investigation. I am not a member of CE, but I have learnt from experience that PM News owe us lots of apologies for her chains of misleading news. The man of God is rich enough to have hosted the event free. Pls let’s hear those who attended the service.
WELL, LET US LOOK ONTO GOD ALMIGHTY TO SEE US THROUGH
have you journalists not learnt your lessons?the more you witch hunt oyakhilome and write about him,the bigger he grows.have you not noticed that your writing has stopped nothing so far.The man is bigger than before.many preachers have come and gone but he keeps getting bigger,does that not tell you something?there’s a higher power backing him up
God have mercy on us and help to know where to enter and worship you
“Touch not my Anointed and do my Prophets no harm”. Criticizers and beefers beware. If you can pay 5,000 to see R.Kelly perform, what is 1000 to your soul?. No wonder people don’t take Christianity serious, because its a free gift. Remember whatever u don’t pay a price to get u will never value. Invest in ur spiritual life and save ur soul!
did you ever notice this scripture ………..freely you have received, freely give?
Not All Those Who Say… LORD LORD will enter into my Kingdom..( God explain in d book of Matt)….this people are the reason why God has not yet come to collect his own, because god will not even see one person to go with…..this so-called men of God are leading people away from The True God because of their Evil act….imagin to workship God is na with a TICKET……..JEH. Have mercy
Well! Pls. Ask all pastors if they are involving in any community
Development and all the tickets they sold how much tax did they pay
I just belief Nigerians are too gullible and refuse to ask questions
Even on campuses blw members are incredible with their dollars offering.
God dey! Nass. Should legislate for taxes or community development
am not surprise at all..its just a sign of the end time.*Remember Fela song about pastors? Then u should understand that most so called man of God are in for the wealth.
are we sure this post is real ? Its so degrading to God ,
u r slayed by ur words against a man of god
FOI, yet you don’t know hear to talk. When I read report of this such, I ask myself, “why was it publish”, I tell you, you can find it in the lines of the report, jealous, hatred etc.
“Great people don’t critised lesser people but lesser people critises great people”. “Poor people complain, Rich people work things out”
… the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hidth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field Matt 13:44.
Simon, sorry you can’t see. All you see is money. If only you know, you would have buy for yourself and passerby also.
D bible is complete!
 press has said a lot of outrageous things in D̶̲̥̅ past dat we don’t even know wat to believe but dat is by D̶̲̥̅ way. If we look closely most of D̶̲̥̅ people dat commented do not have even D̶̲̥̅ slightest idea of the basic tenets of christianity, if thay do den they will know that Mathew 7:1 says judge not that u may not be judged. Who ‎​​r u to judge, are u God? Most of u do worse things, rather than remove the logs in ur eyes u ‎ go remove the speck in another man’s eyes, those dat speak of flashy clothes and jet, if it is painin u so much, go buy yours haba most of u ‎are bunch of hypocrites
All commentators have good points. I will encourage us all to know Who we believe!
pls let those who attended the service speak out………………….. lets not be too quick to condeem moreover, pm news are they credible?
Good people Jesus Christ came to abolish man made hierarchal religion in which some lord it over others. He came to establish a community of called out people (called the “church”, the ekklesia or called out ones metaphorically the “bride” the “house”). In this community of believers there is only one “pastor” the Mfalme Jesus Himself. All the others in this called out community are to be functioning “members”, none with any higher “rank” than any other. All are equally important and necessary each one having a function that collectively they will be an earthly expression of the mind, heart, nature of the true “pastor” the one Mfalme Yesu mfalme wa wafalme. Pastor is not a charismatic personality who outranks the others. If anything he is to be servant to the others. Pastor is a function within the community and the community is a holy priesthood all mutually subservient to the head Yahshua Ha Mashiach.
So therein lies the root of the problem with this so called man of God who charges money to attend an assembly of believers. He is part of a man made tradition where men set themselves up to be something or someone special so that they can lord over the so called “lesser” ones. If those of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus understood this we would not flock to these impostors for our spiritual “manna” as it were. We would be serving it up to one another in our small non sensationalistic local meetings and assemblies. These charlatans would be out of business if we understood the true nature of the “church”.
Don’t take my word but search the scripture for yourself to see if these things be true:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
I suggest we all read Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola to discover more of where this sort of thing originated. More info here:
http://www.paganchristianity.org/
Yesu Mfalme wawafalme!
Genuine Christians should not keep quiet on this kind of “busy body” journalism. Don’t write about what you don’t know. Something is definitely wrong with the writer of this article, PM news and all those who think it’s in the place to judge a Man of God. My prayer for all of you: Father forgive them for they know what they do!
Talk about our economic woes, talk about how to vote righteous men into power in the next elections, talk about how to better the lot of the niger deltans (the hen that lays the golden egg), talk about ritual killers (all the politicians hiring evil men to kill innocent citizens for political powers), talk about the brouhaha in the power sector and billions of dollars some have carted away, talk about things…..and leave out bad-mouthing Men of God in your uncivilized and wicked journalism. Where were you when Pastor Chris had a crusade with over 4million people attending: changing lives, healing people, helping the poor and so much! You must desist from this kind of dirty work or else…..angels will finish you.
I wanna say that you get ur facts right. the man in question is a man of God, we have heard of this in bible days, be careful.
For the Kingdom of God suffereth Violence and the violence taketh it by force,If our Lord Jesus Christ was criticized,,dealt with and nailed on the cross,Who is our man of God Pastor Chris not to be criticized?Pls Brethren,we have alot of Job to do,lets continue to Minister to them until they receive the holy spirit,there is a huge task ahead of us before the coming of our Lord Jesus christ,remember we have a duty of soul winning……..Ride on Pastor.
people please lets open our eyes, your so called “PASTOR” Chris is busy building a business empire which his children’s children will eat from. the reason for implementing the gate fee is to allow only serious worshippers in right? but where does the so called unserious people go then? thought that is the purpose of the church?
I’m dissappointed with you guys, if they have 2 control crowd and filter the members from the hoodlums with N1000 then its a good idea.
Dont you know that in such gatherings where there are thousands and millions of people in attendance, there are always pick pockets, thieves and so on..?
A pick pocket wouldn’t risk N1000 to attend a church program don’t you think?
Please PM News, leave them alone and talk more about what will profit you cos’ honestly, this kind of news profits nothing. Touch not my “Annointed”.
God bless you all!
say what you have to say it doesnt change abit about who Pastor Chris is God bless you Pastor
I am writing a paper on romoba vacuum cleaners and I identified this post being really useful and informative. Thank you.
I am not a pastor Chris fan neither have i attended his church b4 but i want us to b careful of wat we say. Even other pentecostal churches organize concerts, seminars and place a gate fee of #100, #200 #500 even #1000 or more. Pls lets leave dis man of God alone. Thinking about it, he didnt use d church, do u know how much d venue would cost. Am not exonerating him but pls let GOD b d jüdg€
I am glad that nigerians have woken up and now they realise that this piece of *ish dont sell anymore…PM NEWS GO JUMPNoff a cliff