Who am i but a messenger...lol... When these open letters get sent to me, if i read them and feel they would appeal to you all, i publish them so as to weigh in on your opinions concerning the matter. Read this one sent in by this young upcoming actor directed at the chief Pastor of Believers Love World Ministries (AKA Christ Embassy) Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Read below;
>That early morning as I prepared to go for a business negotiation, I was so happy after reading a soul lifting page from our daily devotional….. Our messenger angel – Rhapsody of Realities.
I was filled with hope and aspirations. I saw no barricades between me and sealing up a mouth watering business deal. I was still basking in the Euphoria of my anticipations, when my cell – phone rang. I rushed it, with the intent of speaking with my soon – to – be clientele; so I adjusted my collar, cleared my throat, and sat upright, as though I was standing face – to – face with my caller, then I picked the call, and behold, it was my mischievous friend “PAUL” mtcheew ………….. I passed a very long hiss, and changed from the well arranged, well nurtured, and well observed accent I picked the call with to a proper “Delta” pidgin English, as I asked “wetin be that”?
Paul is basically one of my closest friends in life. We have been best pals for well over a decade. We were even room mates in the higher institution.
There is no denying it, Paul and I are relatively good friends, but the truth is that Paul is highly mischievous.
There is no time he won’t like to play some tricks and apologize amidst thunderous laughter later. So I knew he was up to something, but I’d also put on an amour of defense by not sounding very happy, but lo! He was serious this time. He begged me to rush down to his shop at the prestigious Onitsha main market, that a “show of shame” which I’ll love not to be told, was going down. I dropped the call, and the Paul I know would have actually called back almost at ones, but this time he didn’t. I waited for like 5 minutes and when I still didn’t get his call, I called him back, and on the background, I could hear an angry mob of mainly male voices. The major thing I kept hearing was “STOP SPOILING THE NAME OF PASTOR CHRIS ” ……… Repeatedly, the voice kept saying it, and that actually rose my curiosity(because Rev’d Chris is my G.O, my mentor and I don’t joke with him), so I persuaded Paul to tell me exactly what was going on , but he stood his grounds, that I must come and see for myself,
so I ended the call, sprang up, took up my clothes, and raced off. When I was very close to Paul’s shop, I met a lady crying. Usually I can’t stand the tears of a woman, especially in public. It touches my heart, so deeply but believe me, this lady’s case was a different one for me. Instead of feeling for her, all I could do was laugh! Yes laugh! Because she looked every inch funny.
This lady was over – weight , over – bleached, over – dressed, her make-up was excess and even as she cried, one could see different colours of tears, racing down her cheeks, as the tears go washing her over-emphasized facial art. That wasn’t all. Her hair – do was scary, and she was clad in different conspicuous colors of accessories, ranging from a hair chain to different sizes of neck chains.
Worst of all she was wearing ankle chain on both ankles and a nose ring to add to it. The metal bangles on her wrists would be enough to dress up a legion of accessory crazy Indian ladies. I wish that was all. She was still struggling with her tight pant which was relatively a “see through fabric” that couldn’t even cover part of her butts, and her top was a highly revealing one, that one could see how unkempt her armpits were, and the large stretch – marks that looked
like millipedes at the top of her breasts. This lady was just a terrifying figure of attention , but something seized my attention……………… she had some copies of the rhapsody.
Before I continue, my name is Valentine Opute. I am a bonafide, committed, and devout member of the Christ Embassy Church, and a lead vocalist in my branch in Kwale, Delta State. If you ask me, the best thing that has actually happened to me since creation, was finding the love of Christ in Christ Embassy, under the tutorship of Rev’d Chris Oyakhilome, Rev’d Tom, Rev’d TT Edun, Pastor Charles Sagoh and many other anointed and gifted BLW Pastors. Christ Embassy has as a mater of fact, done a lot to transform my person. Form the way I think, to my utterances, belief and my life generally. Me that used to be very cold and weak about going to church now look forward to Sundays, and our weekly activities. In fact I am so proud to be a part of God’s body through Christ Embassy. If I’ll have to come to this world again after this, I’ll still be a Christ Embassy faithful , but the truth has to be told no matter how
bitter it may seem. THE WAY MOST CHRIST EMBASSY MEMBERS DRESS TO CHURCH IS BAD.
That day at Onitsha main market as I was told later, by my wide mouthed friend and his colleagues, the lady walked in, looking every bit like a street walker…….. Tight, see through dresses, chains and bangles everywhere, tattoo on arm and waist, outlandish make – up and all. Ironically, she came to evangelize, and share the Rhapsody, so the wild main market traders threw mockery words at her from different angles and initially, she tried to defend herself but when the words became too heavy on her; she broke down into tears, and left afterwards in total disgrace. I still remember how most of them kept talking good of Rev’d Chris when I got there, but also disqualified the “Hair relaxing thing”, which I quickly let them know he had stopped a long time ago [Rev’d Tom Sir, please take note].
Christ Embassy is a church which I think the Lord has raised to both give meaning to lives, and also clean tears off many eyes but we seem to be over – emphasizing our freedom.
Rev’d Chris Sir, I am not in any way passing judgment on anybody, but the Christ Embassy understanding of looking good is totally un-African, and that alone could cause distraction for baby Christians. I am equally not saying that looking good is not allowed, but when it’s done in excess, that becomes a societal issue.
* My dear man of God
* My life coach
* My mentor
My reactivator of hope when the going gets tough.
It is a very good thing that you stopped making your hair, and it will also be a very good thing if Rev’d Tom, (with due respect) and other Christ Embassy Pastors and leaders world wide could tow same step so that the members would emulate. Again, I’m not totally discriminating men that make their hair to church, but the average African man would see that as a worldly attribute/ luxury, which shouldn’t be seen in the lives of great servants of God like Rev’d Tom and other anointed Christ Embassy Pastors and leaders.
In the same way, looking good is good business actually, but not when a young man walks into the Lord’s house on a Sunday morning, clad in an excessively tight pant such that one can easily see his manhood packed to one side of his laps
* Crazy hair styles (if its not jerry curled)
* And shirts that are not one bit modest
In fact most Christ Embassy members walk into church in comfortable party dresses, and at the close of service, some go straight to pubs and taverns wearing same clothes they wore to church ….. too bad……
My Rev’d, it’ll be a good thing if you pass an order from above ASAP that dressing to church should be entirely modest. The women should emulate Rev’d Anita whom from her appearance alone, one can tell she’s on the Lord’s side. Rev’d Anita’s dress sense is extremely modest, yet she’s every bit trendy, pretty, and contemporary. To that effect, women in Christ Embassy MUST NOT wear shape-revealing or see-through dresses, exaggerate their make-up and hair-do, to make the list of the 21st century fashion icons. I also quickly want to use this medium to beg the wife of my dear prophet of God (pst TT) Pastor E Edun to please take it cool with mini dresses. Not that I give people chance to discuss my spiritual heads – “No”, but in countless occasions, I’ve heard some heart–breaking discussions by non–members and new members too, regarding the dressing style of pastor TT’s wife. Her love for dresses that are not just expected of a highly respected God’s servant, and a supposed role model to many like her. Her inability to emulate the G.O’s wife (Rev’d Anita’s) moral dress sense and all that. We all know that no matter what one does, people must talk, but in the same way, let’s just do the right things first and see if the murmuring will continue. Pastor TT is among those in the herm of affairs in Christ Embassy Church. He is among the CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL popularly known as the CEC and also the resident shepherd in the Asaba Christ Embassy Mega church. Pastor TT is such a good example in the Christ Embassy family and beyond, so one would expect his bride to be nothing less. No denying she is a vibrant preacher, motivator, and a boundless giver, but she urgently needs a revolution as regards her dress sense. The choir members all over the BLW family, should choose very moral styles as their uniforms. This is
in fact a call to all Christ Embassy Pastors, leaders, and members worldwide, to adjust, and deviate from seductive dressing. With due respect, Evangelist Catty’s dress, make up, and hair-do most times are usually not so modest too.
Sometimes when non-members throw those words at me concerning the indecent dressing abound in Christ Embassy (as they call it), I do everything humanly possible (quoting the scriptures and using my argumentative abilities) to defend my Church, even though I know they speak the truth. At times like that I feel so pained in my spirit, as though they were throwing darts at my heart. In as much as Christ Embassy has over the years been able to chaperon many other churches(too numerous to mention), built a highly reputable spiritual standard, and brought the consciousness of Christ to millions of people around the world, the need to also set an inimitable moral standard, is non equivocal.
In conclusion, any clothe that doesn’t go beyond the knee, or a shirt that doesn’t properly cover the breasts and arm pit, should not be worn to church. I would not mention more names, not because I don’t know the names to mention, but I await our dear Reverend to pass his “dressing to church” orders because I believe everyone would adjust, when he does.
With every sense of modesty sir, I look forward to seeing a very visible change, so I look forward to the day “a change of dress style” announcement would be made.
This is my humble request.
May God continue to Bless you Sir, and may His favor, Grace and wisdom not leave your path until forever comes. Selah!
VALENTINE OPUTE
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