Christian Onehirokpeana Oyakhilome (born December 7, 1963) is a Nigerian pastor, televangelist, author, and healing minister based in Lagos.
Known to millions as Pastor Chris, he founded Believers’ LoveWorld Inc., also called Christ Embassy, in 1987.
He writes the daily devotional Rhapsody of Realities and hosts the TV program Atmosphere for Miracles. He is also one of Nigeria’s most watched and most debated church leaders.
Chris Oyakhilome at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christian Onehirokpeana Oyakhilome |
| Known as | Pastor Chris |
| Born | December 7, 1963, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Age | 62 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of origin | Edo State (Esan heritage) |
| Marital status | Divorced (married 1991, divorce finalized February 8, 2016). Not publicly remarried. |
| Former spouse | Anita Oyakhilome (now Anita Ebhodaghe) |
| Children | Two daughters: Carissa Sharon and Charlyn. No son. |
| Parents | Elder Tim E. Oyakhilome (father) and Angelina Oyakhilome (mother) |
| Siblings | Six siblings, including Ken (Kenneth) and Kathy Woghiren |
| Education | |
| Secondary school | Edo College |
| University | Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (then Bendel State University), BSc Architecture |
| Honorary degrees | Doctor of Science (Ambrose Alli University) and Doctor of Divinity (Benson Idahosa University), both 2015 |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Founder and President, Believers’ LoveWorld Inc. |
| Church | Christ Embassy, headquartered in Lagos |
| Tradition | Non-denominational Pentecostal and charismatic |
| Mentor | Archbishop Benson Idahosa |
| Began ministry | Campus fellowship in the 1980s; Christ Embassy in 1987 |
| Website | pastorchrisonline.org |
| Career | |
| Books | 30+ titles, led by Rhapsody of Realities |
| TV | Atmosphere for Miracles, LoveWorld TV network |
| Net worth | Unverified. Forbes estimated $30 million to $50 million in 2011. |
Early Life and Background
Chris Oyakhilome was born in Edo State, Nigeria, on December 7, 1963. His family comes from the Esan people of Edo. His parents were Tim and Angelina Oyakhilome.
His father was one of the early leaders of the Assemblies of God church in Benin City. Faith was part of daily life in that house. It was not just a Sunday habit.
Sources disagree on his birth order. Some list him as the eldest son. Wikipedia calls him the third of seven children. What is clear is that several siblings now serve in the ministry.
Family and Siblings
His brother Ken Oyakhilome pastors the Christ Embassy branch in Houston, Texas. He also sits on the church’s central executive council. His sister Kathy Woghiren directs the LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry.
Education
Chris attended Edo College. He then won a scholarship to Bendel State University, which is now Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma. He earned a BSc in Architecture.
Most of his ministry story starts on that campus. Buildings were his degree. People became his work.
Ministry and Career Journey
His calling took shape at university. He led a small prayer group called Youth for Christ. It grew into the largest fellowship on campus and later became the base of Christ Embassy.
Founding Christ Embassy and LoveWorld
Christ Embassy was founded in 1987. The wider organization is known as Believers’ LoveWorld Inc. or LoveWorld Incorporated. Its headquarters are in Lagos.
Some outlets estimate a global membership near 13 million, though the ministry does not publish audited figures.
Television and Media
Media became the engine of the ministry. His program Atmosphere for Miracles airs on television networks across several continents. The church runs channels including LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT, and LoveWorld Plus.
In 2017, he launched the cable channel LoveWorld USA with American healing minister Benny Hinn. Hinn later officiated at Oyakhilome’s daughter’s wedding.
The Healing School and Outreach
The Healing School is a core program. Pastor Chris prays for the sick there, and the ministry reports testimonies from attendees.
His charity arm, the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, funds the Innercity Mission for Children. It supports orphaned and poor children in several countries.
Who Is Chris Oyakhilome’s Mentor and Spiritual Father?
The mentor most often tied to Pastor Chris is the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, founder of the Church of God Mission International in Benin City.
Idahosa died on March 12, 1998. He also mentored other big names, including Bishop David Oyedepo and Ayo Oritsejafor.
In 2020, Idahosa’s family handed Pastor Chris the late archbishop’s personal Bible. They called him a son of the family. That is the clearest public sign of the bond.
Who Ordained Chris Oyakhilome?
No reliable source names one person who ordained him. That is worth saying plainly, because many pages online invent an answer. His ministry began as a student fellowship. It grew from the ground up rather than through a denomination.
Benson Idahosa University later gave him a Doctor of Divinity honorary degree in 2015. That was an honor. It was not an ordination.
Marriage to Anita Oyakhilome
Chris married Anita Ebhodaghe in 1991. They met as students. Anita became a pastor in Christ Embassy and served as vice president of the ministry. She also co-wrote early editions of Rhapsody of Realities.
They had two daughters, Carissa Sharon and Charlyn.
Why Did Pastor Chris’s Wife Leave Him?
Anita filed for divorce in London on April 9, 2014. Her lawyers cited “unreasonable behaviour” and “inappropriate relationships with members of staff”, Oyakhilome denied the claims.
Pastor Chris has said the two no longer shared the same vision for the church. Church watchers also pointed to distance. He spent most of his time in Nigeria. She lived mostly in the UK.
The court issued the decree absolute on February 8, 2016. Her lawyers said she was no longer part of Christ Embassy.
Anita Oyakhilome Today
Anita went back to her maiden name, Ebhodaghe. Reports say she was born on February 26, 1969, and now works as a counselor in the UK. Some outlets list her as Anita Schafer. She has kept out of the public eye.
Chris Oyakhilome’s Children
Pastor Chris has two biological children, both daughters. He has no son. If you searched for “Chris Oyakhilome son,” the answer is that no son is publicly known.
- Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome was born August 11, 1993, in England. She sings gospel music as CSO with the LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry. She married Ghanaian businessman Phillip Frimpong in October 2018. Benny Hinn officiated. Their daughter, Arielle Rachelle-Marise, was born in 2021.
- Charlyn Oyakhilome was born May 14, 1995. Some outlets spell her name Charlene. She lives in London and keeps a private life.
Books by Chris Oyakhilome
He has written more than 30 books. His flagship is the monthly devotional Rhapsody of Realities. The ministry says it reaches readers in thousands of languages, though that claim is self-reported.
Other titles include:
- Recreating Your World
- Your Rights in Christ
- None of These Diseases
- Rhapsody of Realities Topical Compendium series
Beliefs and Ministry Philosophy
Pastor Chris teaches faith, the authority of believers, divine healing, and prosperity. His message fits inside the wider Word of Faith and charismatic movement. He often tells listeners that Christians have legal rights in Christ and should speak with confidence.
He has also said his real “net worth” is spiritual. In a 2025 sermon, he brushed off questions about his bank and personal wealth.
Net Worth: What Do We Actually Know?
Chris Oyakhilome’s net worth is not publicly verified. The most credible number is old. Forbes estimated his wealth at $30 million to $50 million in 2011.
Newer websites claim anywhere from $50 million to $150 million. None of them show financial records. Treat those figures as guesses.
Forbes also noted his wider business interests, including media, hotels, and real estate.
Criticism and Controversies
His career has drawn both praise and heavy criticism. Here are the main documented cases.
COVID-19 and 5G Claims
In 2020, Ofcom, the UK broadcast regulator, sanctioned LoveWorld Limited over content that linked COVID-19 to 5G. In 2021, it fined the channel £125,000 for a 29-hour broadcast with claims it called potentially harmful.
Vaccine Claims
In April 2024, a BBC investigation reported that he had spread false claims about the malaria vaccine. His church has rejected the criticism.
Money Laundering Case
Forbes reported a $35 million money laundering case against him in 2010. He denied wrongdoing, and the case was dismissed.
Divorce Allegations
Anita’s 2014 filing raised claims about staff relationships. He denied them, and no court ruled on those claims because the divorce was not contested on that basis in public record.
Influence and Legacy
Christ Embassy runs hundreds of branches across five continents. Its media reach is among the largest in African Christianity. LoveWorld’s Lagos auditorium is often one among the biggest church auditoriums in Nigeria.
His social network, KingsChat, and the Pastor Chris Digital Library give members daily access to sermons. Few Nigerian ministries have pushed digital outreach this far.
Awards and Recognition
- Honorary Doctor of Science, Ambrose Alli University, 2015
- Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Benson Idahosa University, 2015
- Igbinedion University renamed its teaching hospital the Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Teaching Hospital in 2022
Interesting Facts About Chris Oyakhilome
- He studied architecture, not theology.
- Roughly 40 years of ministry started with a campus prayer group.
- His first private jet was reportedly bought in 2006, according to ThisDay.
- Both of his siblings named above work inside his ministry.
- His daughter Sharon is a gospel singer who performs as CSO.
- He became a grandfather in 2021.
Chris Oyakhilome Timeline
- 1963: Born December 7 in Edo State, Nigeria.
- 1980s: Leads the Youth for Christ fellowship at Ambrose Alli University.
- 1987: Founds Christ Embassy.
- 1991: Marries Anita Ebhodaghe.
- 1993: First daughter, Carissa Sharon, is born.
- 1995: Second daughter, Charlyn, is born.
- 1998: Benson Idahosa dies on March 12.
- 2014: Anita files for divorce on April 9.
- 2015: Receives honorary doctorates from two Nigerian universities.
- 2016: Divorce becomes final on February 8.
- 2017: Launches LoveWorld USA with Benny Hinn.
- 2018: Daughter Sharon marries Phillip Frimpong.
- 2021: Ofcom fines LoveWorld £125,000.
- 2022: Igbinedion University renames its teaching hospital after him.
- 2024: BBC reports on his malaria vaccine claims.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chris Oyakhilome
How old is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome?
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is 62 years old as of 2026. He was born on December 7, 1963, and turns 63 in December 2026.
What country and state is Pastor Chris from?
He is from Nigeria. His state of origin is Edo State, and his family is Esan. He lives and works in Lagos.
Is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome married?
No. He married Anita Ebhodaghe in 1991, and the divorce was finalized on February 8, 2016. He has not publicly remarried.
Why did Pastor Chris’s wife leave him?
Anita cited unreasonable behavior and inappropriate relationships with staff in her 2014 filing. He denied it and said their visions for the church differed. The divorce became final in 2016.
How many biological children does Pastor Chris Oyakhilome have?
He has two biological children, Carissa Sharon and Charlyn. Both are daughters. No son is publicly known.
Who is Charlyn Oyakhilome?
Charlyn is Pastor Chris’s younger daughter, born May 14, 1995. Some outlets spell her name Charlene. She lives in London and stays out of public life.
Who is Anita Oyakhilome?
Anita is Pastor Chris’s ex-wife and a former vice president of the ministry. She now uses her maiden name, Ebhodaghe, and works as a counselor in the UK.
Who is the mentor of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome?
The late Archbishop Benson Idahosa is his best-known mentor. His family called Pastor Chris a son and gave him Idahosa’s Bible in 2020.
Who ordained Pastor Chris Oyakhilome?
No reliable source names an ordaining minister. His ministry grew from a campus fellowship. Benson Idahosa is his spiritual father, but there is no public record of an ordination by him.
Which bank is owned by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome?
None that can be verified. No public record shows that he owns a bank. Reports link his family to an offshore firm, Gmobile Nigeria Limited, but that firm is not a bank.
What is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s net worth?
It is not verified. Forbes estimated $30 million to $50 million in 2011. Higher figures online come from sites that show no records.
What books has Chris Oyakhilome written?
He has written over 30 books. The best known are Rhapsody of Realities, Recreating Your World, Your Rights in Christ, and None of These Diseases.
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