It was learnt that worshippers @ the headquarters of Christ Embassy Church in Lagos had to pay N1,000 each as gate fee to attend a New Year’s Eve service presided over their Pastor Chris Oyakhilome !
The infuriated worshippers who wanted to attend the crossover service at Christ Embassy’s headquarters on Billings Way in Oregun Area of Lagos on 31 December, 2014, were made to obtain gate passes that sold for N1,000 each and those who could not afford such passes were turned back and told that they could go elsewhere to worship or watch the service online for free!
While the practice is not new in Christ Embassy Church, it led to an uproar in January 2011 after it was first introduced on 31 December, 2010.
Many people described it then as extortion, abuse of ‘Jesus’ teachings and another confirmation that some Nigerian churches and pastors are more interested in making money than winning souls for God.
With a sitting capacity of roughly 20,000 seats, Christ Embassy might have made at least N20 million from the sale of gate passes used for the crossover service.
While virtually all prosperity churches in Nigeria apply the principles of “giving to the church to receive from God”, many say the level of financial demands and pressures in Christ Embassy Church is unusually high.
Many Nigerians expressed their indignation on the social media, especially Facebook.
”Gate fee collection appears good for crowd control in a theatre or secular concert, but not sound enough in the house of God where Christ the head of the church bids everyone to come, even when they only respond once in a year,” eye witness said
He said the church should rather see their once in a year response as an opportunity to reach out to the loss (non regular attendees) and make disciple of them as Christ commanded.
“Even if the church prefers his already saved members to partake in a particular service, gate pass should have been given to them at no cost and they will have the privilege of going in first.
“The crowd control rationale for gate fee collection in church in my opinion is world based,” he said.
According to eye witness report, salvation doesn’t come at a cost.
He said in the Bible, a man who wanted to pay for salvation was refused.
Nigerian worshippers are gullible. “Did God come down through him (the pastor) that day?,” he asked.
“I have watched the man preach severally and I don’t know the magic in his sermon and anointing that keeps making people fall for his tricks and gimmicks.
“He quotes one Bible reference and shouts as if he just revealed what no man had ever read or seen in that passage before and then takes a run front and back and they all starts shouting. Just disgusting most times,” he said.
To Clement Ali, “does it mean if I don’t have N1000, I won’t be allowed into the service?
In that case, his intentions is the money.”
“Let them continue to pile up riches for themselves here on earth where moths will eat up and where thieves will break through,” eye witness said.
He added: “SALVATION IS FREE and cannot be bought with money. Jesus said, freely l gave you, so also, freely ye shall give.”
According to another eye witness some people are born spiritually blind, deaf and dumb.
“However you preach to them they will never hear and understand,” she said.
I could not believe that gate fees were collected at Christ Embassy Church on 31 December. “Somebody should please tell me this is not true. If it is true it means corruption is now everywhere,” eye witness said.
Another Eye witness asked sarcastically; ”Are you people just realising now that most of these so called Men of God are con men? People have been paying for prayers, so why can’t they pay for venue?”
“Why are we going to blame a business name for doing his business, he is business man not a Pastor for real”.
