Founder of LoveWorld, also known as Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has shed light on the departure of several gospel artists from his church, attributing their exit to a shift in focus towards fame and financial gain.
In a live address, Oyakhilome expressed concerns over how music within the church had taken a worldly turn, emphasizing that some artists prioritized their personal interests over genuine worship.
According to the cleric, the affected musicians were more committed to leading praise and worship sessions but often failed to participate in prayer meetings.
He stated that despite initially celebrating their contributions, he later realized they were deviating from the church’s core values.
“The church was turned into a party place, not a prayer place where God’s word was truly celebrated,” Oyakhilome said. “They were not soul winners; they led praise in church, and when it was time for prayers, they were gone.”
He further lamented that some musicians had commercialized their services, charging fees for singing in church, which he saw as a sign of misplaced priorities.
“The music in the church became worldly; they danced for themselves, celebrated themselves, not God. They charged for their singing and became professionals making money from the church,” he added.
Oyakhilome explained that he attempted to guide them back to what he believed was the right path, but when they resisted, they chose to leave the church instead.
“I told them the Lord wanted us to do the right thing… they had become too popular, and even the little money they were making was too attractive to them. So they didn’t want to follow me, and they made a detour. I hope they all repent because they are not worship leaders,” he concluded.