‘There’s No Such Thing as a Worship Leader’ – Pastor Chris Oyakhilome [WATCH]

LAGOS, Nigeria — Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassyhas opened up about the exodus of several gospel musicians from his church, attributing their departure to a shift in priorities from spiritual devotion to personal gain and fame.

Speaking on the issue for the first time, Oyakhilome expressed concerns that church music had become worldly, with worship leaders more focused on self-promotion and financial benefits than on glorifying God.

‘Music Became Worldly, Worship Lost Its Purpose’

According to the pastor, many of the musicians who left Christ Embassy no longer prioritised prayer and soul-winning, often exiting services after leading praise and worship rather than staying for prayers.

“The church was turned into a party place, not a prayer place where God’s word was truly celebrated,” Oyakhilome stated.

He lamented that monetary incentives and the allure of fame led to a fundamental shift in their approach to worship.

“They charged for their singing, they became professionals making money from the church… and many pastors didn’t know that this was the world coming into the church,” he added.

Attempts to Correct, but Resistance Led to Departure

Oyakhilome said he initially embraced and celebrated the musicians but later realized they were drifting away from their core spiritual purpose.

When he tried to correct their approach, he claimed they refused to change and instead chose to leave the church.

“I did at the beginning and celebrated them, but when I changed, they refused to change with me, so I had to let them go,” he explained.

“God was getting my attention and saying this is not the way.”

Call for Repentance and Return to True Worship

The Christ Embassy founder emphasised that true worship leaders must prioritise God’s glory over personal ambition, urging the former members to repent and realign with their spiritual calling.

“They are not worship leaders,” he said. “I hope they all repent.”

Oyakhilome’s comments reflect a growing debate within gospel music circles about the balance between ministry and commercial success, particularly as the industry continues to evolve in both church and mainstream entertainment spaces.