Flashback: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, how he rose from school prayer group

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I listened intently as a pastor who attended Pst Chris’ meetings in UNIBEN described those earlier meetings in the University of Benin. Pst Chris was a pioneer student of Bendel State University when it was founded in Ekpoma by Ambrose Ali in 1981 ( the University is now named after it’s founder but Pst Chris was just about 18 when he gained admission to study Architecture). However Pst Chris had a strong presence and following in UNIBEN so much so that many still assume he graduated from UNIBEN.

The young pastor said when he’d attended that campus outreach meeting by Pst Chris in UNIBEN, he was a protege and great admirer of Pst Chris and knew of Pst’s growing reputation for miracles. But that day, pastor Chris did something that left his protege pitying him. He suddenly stopped midway through his sermon and asked all who were deaf in one ear, left or right to stand up. (I’ve seen him do that recently in a Californian meeting with Pst Benny! I wonder why he asks for those deaf in one ear not both!) The pastor said 6 or so people stood up. He called them up to the podium and sticking both his forefingers in both ears he hollered “I command the deaf spirit to come OUT in Jesus name!” Each person fell to the ground as if struck to the ground and all got up off the ground hearing perfectly from both ears!

Pst Chris’ exploits didn’t end in high school. He went to campus to study Architecture almost as a secondary ambition. His primary focus was soul winning. A commentator wrote “As an undergraduate, he established a fellowship known as Youths For Christ (YFC), notable among the leaders was another student, Tom Amenkhienan who was the leader of the choir. Anita Ebodaghe and her friend, Joy Ihegie were members of the choir who soon married both Chris and Tom. YFC soon became one of the largest fellowships on Campus in Ekpoma.” The truth is that Pst Tom Amenkhienan is Pst Chris’ cousin from his maternal side. As if founding a fellowship in one campus wasn’t exerting enough, his influence led Pastor Emmanuel Ogiemudia to found the first UNIBEN chapter of Youths for Chris fellowship. According to a source Pst Emmanuel came to Christ through Pastor Oje Ohiwerei at Ekpoma campus. This Pst Emmanuel under the oversight and guidance of Pst Chris was the person God used to plant the first UNIBEN chapter of the fellowship. Both fellowships grew and became forces to reckon with. In fact Pst Chris’ reputation among young people in the entire region then can be compared to Apostle Joshua Selman’s among undergraduates today! Funny enough he was fondly referred to simply as Bro Christian in those days.

A dear friend of mine said he (Pst Chris) was so sold out to prayers in those days that he’d retire into the bush and he’d groan and pray in tongues. The friend said that at least on one occasion, a hunter almost shot him thinking he was a wild animal!

Anyways Pst Chris was a man of prayers in his youth and he was very studious of the word! Predictably, his grades in school was adversely affected. It’s been said he had to spend an extra year in school as a result which was bad news to the devil!

Later the Youths for Christ fellowship was formerly registered and incorporated as Believers Loveworld. Even after graduating, the fellowship continued to grow and proliferate.

However, life after school saw Pst setting up a little “firm” in which to practice his profession and some young people were even employed and the returns from this office went into his regular crusades in all the villages around old Bendel State! He told of how he invited his father to come and see his office and the elder Oyakhilome came expecting to see a rundown office but was astonished to see a well furnished office properly set up! Yet the 🔥 in young Chris’ heart kept burning. It was clear he was headed for full time ministry. That made him seek the Lord and pray very hard! By 1987 the church arm of the ministry named Christ Embassy started.

Pst Chris said later that he was contented to base his ministry in the Midwest even though he knew he was going global but God spoke to him clearly that he was to move to Lagos in the 1990s before his marriage. He said he complained to the Lord. Being an evangelist at heart he argued “A lot of great ministries are already headquartered in Lagos. Deeper Life, RCCG, TREM…Will it not be better if I am based here. The need seems greater here than there!” The Lord insisted and promised him that if he’d obey and make the move, his ministry will flourish there in Lagos and will be mentioned side by side with the said great denominations he had mentioned.

I must comment here that at this point, it wasn’t that Pst Chris didn’t want to leave his comfort zone. He had left BLW in the hands of competent successors as founder and president and even though he kept overseeing the several chapters, he channeled his energy to the new fledgling Christ Embassy churches. The church like the fellowships before it had prospered. By this time Pst Chris had raised a strong and formidable team many of which are relations. But God said to leave it all and move to Lagos. He obeyed.

In Lagos he started from the scratch with just a handful of people. Like they say “The rest is history!”

The mandate was to take God’s divine presence to the peoples of the world.

As at 2017 when Christ Embassy clocked 30 years, there were more than 3500 branches of the church all over the world!

THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER MEN OF GOD.

Many have accused this great general of not giving credit to others who have influenced him. I don’t see it like that. To me, Pst Chris is wary about riding on the fame or coattails of others. But it is clear Pst Benny Hinn has been an influence on him. Apparently he’d pattern his ministry deliberately like Benny’s. But there is more.

Benny Hinn’s attention was drawn to the ministry of Pst Chris by Jan Crouch. Benny had watched Pst Chris’ Atmosphere for Miracles on TBN with the Crouches then Jan wanted Benny’s comments. She said “Is there something familiar about him?” Benny laughed “Sure! The white suit!” Everyone giggled. But Paul Crouch said “He is a great minister from Nigeria. They are calling him the African Benny Hinn!” Benny said “That’s flattering. I like that!”

Well this was certainly after 2001, because Pst Chris programme on TBN started around that time or later. But Pst Chris had been preaching and praying for the sick since at least 1979. Certainly earlier. Inarguably Osborn and Archbishop B.A Idahosa were role models in the earliest years.

However I find it interesting that in 1987 when Pst Chris first saw Benny Hinn’s ministry on video, years before he read his books, he found it queer that Benny Hinn was ministering like him. In fact a sister had told him “I have found another pastor from America that ministers like you!” Pst Chris’ interest was piqued.

Also it is obvious that Kenneth E. Hagin and Kenneth Copeland had influenced Pst Chris. in fact, he seems to have taken the best out of those ministries. Why then does he not speak frequently about it like Benny Speaks of Kuhlman?

The answer is simple. He said he made a list of several ministries through which God had shaped his own ministry. He wanted to contact them all and share his testimony as well as express his thanks. God stopped him. He said Benny Hinn was number three on that list. Then God said “Don’t contact them. Keep doing what I tell you. They’d see your fruits and contact you themselves!” This was true for Benny Hinn. He contacted Pst Chris himself. Same is true for Morris Cerrulo. He too contacted Pst Chris himself.

Pst Chris is so full of passion and hunger even now. Recently he sponsored a ministers conference with Benny Hinn in LCC Ikeja, Lagos. As Benny Hinn was teaching, he asked us to rise up and pray and ask God to use us. Pst Chris was on his feet sobbing in deep prayers “Use me Lord!’ That shook me! After so much impact all over the globe, he is hungrier now than when he held his first crusade as a teenager.