| Christ Embassy | |
| Main Classification: | Evangelicalism |
| Theology: | Neo-charismatic movement |
| Founder: | Chris Oyakhilome |
| Headquarters: | Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Founded Date: | 1987 |
| Area: | World |
Christ Embassy (also known as LoveWorld Incorporated or Believers' Loveworld) is a megachurch and Christian denomination founded in 1987 by Chris Oyakhilome who hails from Edo State, Nigeria.
The Church, with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, has since become a global network of churches, with congregations in many countries. By 2019 the church had 145 branches on five continents. The Church has ministries in Canada,Ghana,Nigeria, South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom.[1]
The church started with a prayer group led by Chris Oyakhilome, at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, while he was studying architecture in 1987.[2] [3] The church celebrated its 30th anniversary in November 2017.[4]
Several other ministries around the world participate in its programs and conferences including the International Pastors and Partners Conference (IPPC), which is held every November in Lagos, Nigeria; the International Cell Leaders' Conference (ICLC), which is held in the middle of the year; the International School of Ministry; the Healing School, etc. [5]
Christ Embassy is a registered charity in the UK, established in 1996. In July 2013, the Charity Commission launched an inquiry regarding the use of charitable funds; however, inspections of records did not resolve concerns about its financial management, and in August 2014, the Charity Commission appointed an interim manager to run the charity until 2016.[6] [7] British tax authorities withheld £2.8 million in Gift Aid tax refunds from the charity as they were concerned not all of the charity's income was being spent for charitable purposes.[8]
A branch of the Christ Embassy Church in Sydney was ordered to close for seven days in August 2021 after an illegal in-person service was conducted there during a COVID-19 lockdown.[9] The service was attended by 60 people. The pastor of the church had previously discouraged his followers from receiving COVID-19 vaccines.[10]
Christ Embassy runs seven TV channels, including LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT, LoveWorld Plus, LoveWorld UK, LoveWorld Nigeria, LoveWorld India, and LoveWorld USA.[11] LoveWorld USA is run in partnership with Pastor Benny Hinn, who appears in many programs on the channel.[12]
His UK TV channel was sanctioned twice in the UK for sharing misinformation about COVID-19, including suggesting that Covid was planned and vaccines included manipulative nanochips.[13]
LoveWorld USA was an American Christian cable television network launched by Chris Oyakhilome and Benny Hinn in 2017.[14] [15] It was available on Charter Spectrum and DirecTV as well as other small cable operators in the U.S. Currently, LoveWorld USA has stopped cable broadcasting and is no longer available on DirectTV or Charter Spectrum, but is still available for streaming on its website.
Oyakhilome's publishing house, Loveworld Publications,publishes his books, including ‘Rhapsody of Realities,’ a monthly Christian devotional that sells 2 million copies every month.[16]
Christ Embassy also has a book publishing firm called LoveWorld Publishing Ministry.