Why Pastor Oyakhilome Says Prominent Music Ministers Sinach, Frank Edwards, Joe Praize, and Eben Left Christ Embassy and What It Means for the Church

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of LoveWorld (also known as Christ Embassy), has finally addressed the long-standing rumors surrounding the exit of several high-profile gospel music ministers from his church. In a recently surfaced video, the pastor shed light on why he parted ways with some of the most celebrated gospel singers, explaining that their departure was due to a loss of spiritual focus.

For years, speculation had circulated that these music ministers left Christ Embassy due to restrictive measures that prevented them from ministering outside the church. However, Pastor Oyakhilome has now clarified the reasons behind their exit, saying the real issue lay in their shift away from the core purpose of ministry.

In his video, Pastor Oyakhilome revealed that the gospel singers had strayed from the mission of celebrating God in their music ministry, and instead became preoccupied with fame, wealth, and entertainment. “The church was turned into a party place instead of a house of prayer where God’s word was truly celebrated,” he explained.

The pastor described how, over time, the gospel musicians began to prioritize their personal glory over their spiritual calling. According to him, the once-vibrant worship sessions had lost their original essence. The music in the church became worldly, focused on self-celebration and entertainment, and even began to feature monetary transactions, with some ministers charging for their performances.

“They were not soul winners,” Pastor Oyakhilome continued. “They led praise in church, but when it was time for prayers, they would disappear. The church lost its original way of worship.”

The shift from spiritual ministry to professional entertainment led Pastor Oyakhilome to make a hard decision. Despite initially embracing and celebrating the talents of these music ministers, he knew that their unwillingness to align with the spiritual direction he envisioned for the church had become too much of a divergence. “I told them that the Lord wanted us to return to the right path, but they had become too famous and unwilling to change,” he said.

He also expressed sadness at how they allowed their success and the financial rewards of their fame to cloud their spiritual path. “They were making some money, though it wasn’t even a large sum, yet the little they were earning was too appealing to them, and they didn’t want to follow me anymore,” he lamented.

While Pastor Oyakhilome acknowledged the impact these ministers had in their earlier years, he made it clear that their choice to pursue personal gain over worship led him to the conclusion that they were no longer fit to serve as worship leaders. He ended with a hopeful message, praying for their repentance and a return to the true purpose of gospel ministry: “I truly hope they repent. They are not worship leaders.”

This revelation from Pastor Oyakhilome provides significant insight into the challenges faced by churches that see their ministries grow in fame. It underscores the delicate balance between maintaining spiritual integrity and the pressures of fame and financial reward.

What do you think about Pastor Oyakhilome’s decision? Do you agree with his assessment of the music ministers? Let us know in the comments below!

Watch the full video here: