PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME SUSPENDS NEPHEW OVER GROSS MISCONDUCT

The founder of LoveWorld Incorporated better known as Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has indefinitely suspended his nephew, Dr. Daysman Oyakhilome from all church responsibilities and activities over gross misconduct. He made this announcement public during a communion service on Sunday, 7^th August 2022.

Before his suspension, Dr. Daysman Oyakhilome Woghiren served as the president of LoveWorld Next and LoveWorld Innovations. He was once described by business mogul, Mark Zuckerberg, as” an icon and amazon of innovation and invention”. He is also a three-time winner of the American Academy of Animations Award, winner of the Walt Disney Awards, and was among the 16 nominees for the Future Africa Leaders Awards in 2015.

He also formed Carel Films, a video production firm that targets gospel artists to shoot quality videos and is acclaimed for shooting “I know who I am by Sinach” and “I de work by Samsong”.

According to 3news, he had an encounter with the law in 2021 as he was investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria for alleged fraudulent activities. He also left Ethiopia with $1.8 million which he claimed to have received from a youth church program in the form of contributions and donations.

During the communion service, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, aside from the suspension of his nephew, added that he would go through a spiritual rehabilitation program during this period with immediate effect. However, the exact reason for the suspension was not stated. Some media outlets assume it is a result of fraudulent activities or because he openly endorsed Nigerian presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Picture: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Right) and Dr. Daysman Oyakhilome (Left)

The statement by Pastor Chris was however not made to ostracize his nephew but rather to set him aside, reform him and possibly restore him as opposed to society’s cancel culture. Casting someone aside without care for their total well-being could breed bitterness. Like prisoners who keep repeating the same crime, without putting in place programs to positively reform the person, he or she is more likely to keep making the same mistake.

The world in this situation would encourage the nephew to be cast aside but in John 21, we learn of how Peter who denied Jesus Christ was restored by Christ to his former position. Forgiveness is a must but reform is also necessary to prevent that act from ever reoccurring.