As leader of the Christ Embassy church, it came as a shock to many people that the marriage between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his now ex-wife, Anita Ebhodaghe, came to an end. But what is the real story behind their divorce?
As a high-profile couple in the Christian world, there were many unfounded rumors surrounding Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Anita Ebhodaghe’s divorce.
According to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, they had different visions for the future of the Christ Embassy church, which he established in 1987.
While the couple was married, Anita Ebhodaghe took on the role of pastor in Christ Embassy. She also ran the church’s branches in the United Kingdom.
However, that ended when Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Anita Ebhodaghe separated in 2014 after 23 years of marriage.
Reports about a possible divorce started coming out in May that year. The divorce, however, was only finalized in February 2016.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has not said much about the divorce over the years.
He has stated that he has accepted this challenge in life and maintained a positive outlook by letting the divorce inspire him to stay true to his path.
Ex-wife, Anita, appreciates support received after divorce
When questioned about the divorce, Anita Ebhodaghe also had a positive message to relay.
She said that life will always bring a lot of challenges, like a broken relationship, problematic marriage or loss of a job, but only strong people can turn these challenges into opportunities to start something new.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s ex-wife continued to say that life is a gift from God.
“Regardless of a person’s age, gender, social background and so on, a strong person must always follow their dream,” she has said.
She believes that people should appreciate life and that nothing is permanent. Anita Ebhodaghe has only shared a positive attitude and a strong belief that life must go on.
To conclude her message to the public, Anita Ebhodaghe wrote on her website that her mission is to inspire people.
She is determined to go on regardless of what life brings her way, and she appreciates the support she has received.
Pastor Chris and ex-wife share their most valuable assets
Both Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and ex-wife Anita Ebhodaghe agree that their children are their most valuable assets.
Through their marriage, they share two daughters, Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome and Charlene Oyakhilome, both of whom are successful in their own rights.
Both daughters are active members of the Christ Embassy church.
While Charlene Oyakhilome prefers to keep a low profile, she has been involved in gospel music.
The eldest of the two sisters, Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome, is actively involved with the LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry (LMAM), which is Christ Embassy’s music ministry. There, she performs under the stage name of CSO (Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome).
In 2018, she married Dutch/Ghanaian businessman Phillip Frimpong in a lavish wedding ceremony officiated by Pastor Benny Hinn, a close friend and colleague of her father, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
In April of 2021, Carissa Sharon Oyakhilome welcomed her first child and the first grandchild for Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and ex-wife Anita Ebhodaghe.
Talent runs in the Pastor Chris Oyakhilome family
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Anita Ebhodaghe’s daughters are not the only family members who have joined Christ Embassy in one way or another.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has a younger sister, Evangelist Katherine Wonghiren, who is also a committed and dedicated member of the ministry.
She is the Director of the LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry and the LoveWorld Creative Arts Academy.
She also holds the position of Chairman of the LoveWorld Records Label and is an accomplished songwriter, having won three awards at the recent LoveWorld International Music and Arts Awards (LIMA) in November 2022.
Before and after divorce: Billions of people inspired by Pastor Chris
Since the establishment of the Christ Embassy church in Nigeria in 1987, the success of it has grown globally.
With active members all over the world including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa and many other locations, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is used to addressing global audiences in the billions.
Both before and after his marriage to Anita Ebhodaghe, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has written many books on Christian living.
He recently announced that his daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, has been translated into every known living language of the world (7,858 languages).
Consolidating its place as the world’s number one evangelical tool, the rise of Rhapsody of Realities to the most coveted spot as the world’s no. 1 daily devotional and now the most translated book in the world began with the first edition published by the LoveWorld Publishing Ministry in 2001.
