By THE founder and Senior Pastor of LoveWorld Incorporated (Christ Embassy), Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, says the likes of Sinach, Frank Edwards, Eben and others, who left his church, are not true worship leaders, but mere entertainers.
Stonix News reports that quartet have, since, left Christ Embassy where they nurtured and grew to become world gospel stars.
Sinach
Spoken for the first time about why these gospel artists left his church, Oyakhilome, in a recent viral video, explained that the music ministry in the church had changed, and he had to make tough decisions.
According to him, the church was turning into a place of entertainment rather than worship, a situation, he added, God told him to address.
Joe Praize
“Why did it happen? The church was turned into a party place, not a place of prayer where God’s word was truly celebrated.
“They were not soul winners; they led praise in church, and when it was time for prayers, they were gone,” he said.
The clerics fears and observations are commonplace mostly in Pentecostal churches where during serious spiritual engagements such as prayers, fasting, evangelism, and others, so-called instrumentalists and musicians take cover only to resurface when it’s time to sing and dance.
Eben
Pastor Chris, therefore, expressed disappointment at this carnal attitude, adding that some gospel artists were more focused on becoming celebrities and making money rather than leading the people in true worship.
He took a swipe on them for allegedly commercialising gospel music and allowing worldliness to shape their careers.
“I celebrated them at the beginning, but when I changed, they refused to change with me, so I had to let them go.
“God was getting my attention, telling me this was not the way. I told them the Lord wanted us to do the right thing,” he explained.
It will be recalled that Sinach, one of the biggest gospel singers in Africa, became globally recognised for songs like “Way Maker” and “I Know Who I Am.”
As she grew in leaps and bounds globally, she allegedly began spending less time at Christ Embassy, which, it was rumoured, caused tension within the church.
In a similar vein, Frank Edwards, known for his hit songs like “Mma Mma” and “You Too Dey Bless Me,” built a successful career and his own record label.
Several reports, however, alleged that the church leadership wanted more control over his music engagements.
Pastor Chris implied that the gospel artists became too independent and started making money, which distracted them from their primary spiritual duties.
“They had become too popular, and because they were making even little money… do they know what big money is?
“The little money they were making was too attractive to them, so they didn’t want to follow me.
“So they made a detour. I hope they all repent. They are not worship leaders,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Christ Embassy is renowned for producing some of the biggest gospel musicians to come out of Africa.
Frank Edwards
The church’s LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry (LMAM) helped launch the careers of many artists.
However, Pastor Chris suggested that some strayed from the church’s core values, making it necessary to part ways.
Despite the departures, Christ Embassy has continued to develop new gospel artists, even as Sinach, Frank Edwards, Joe Praize, and Eben have remained successful in their independent music careers.
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