A London based journalist has written Pastor Anita Oyakhilome, asking her to drop her divorce suit she instituted in a London court against her husband, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy church.
Speculations of the split between the couple came to light after church members in London sympathetic to their Pastor Anita, had set up a Facebook page describing Pastor Chris as being un-Christian in his marriage, and condemning how he has been treating Pastor Anita in the church.
However, Mr Emeka Asinugo, a London-based journalist has sent out an open letter addressed to Anita.
In the letter,, which has since gone viral, Anita was given reasons why she shouldn’t go on with the divorce proceedings.
The letter reads:
“Our dear Anita,
I am addressing this letter to you because I know that it is you who will hold the key to triumph over the challenges that have recently raised their ugly heads in your family and in your ministry. I am convinced that even if you don’t read this letter directly from me, some of the numerous members of Christ Embassy across the globe could read it and draw your attention to the words of an old man who is pretty much in the same calling as you and your husband are. I am writing this from my home: The Vicarage, St. Matthew’s Church of England, Stratford, E15 4JX, where my wife, Christy is the Vicar, and the co-ordinating Chaplain of Westfield, Stratford City.
“We were all taken aback when we read about your intention to file for a divorce against your husband, Pastor Chris. It was a scandal, Anita, and you must not let it happen. I need not tell you that in today’s world, many factors tend to get in the way of successful marriages. It is, therefore, practically impossible to recommend a general panacea for all the troubles that can hamper the success of any marriage. But in all our travails, as Christians, we must bear in mind the fact that in a very profound sense, marriage is the most intimate of human relationships, involving sharing a person’s entire life with his or her spouse. By its very nature which emphasizes conjugal love, the institution of marriage is ordained for procreation and for the ultimate education of children who come from such marriages. It calls for self-surrender to the other spouse, a surrender that is so intimate and complete that spouses become “one,” not only in body, but also in soul, without necessarily losing their individual identities.
“As the servants of God, you must ask yourselves where the ultimate education of your children comes into this divorce prompting. If this divorce actually takes place, how would your daughters who you are preparing to become future leaders in the church and mothers in the family feel, knowing they come from a broken home? And how do your numerous followers interpret your individual identity with reference to your commitment to family and church?
“There is an African adage that says: there is no age when a man can say: ‘I have known it all’. That adage also applies to the institution of marriage. No one can claim to know all there is in that human relationship called marriage. It is a university. Those in it learn by the day from it. And most times, the lessons come in different shapes, culminating in various experiences. As a result, the marital experiences of people actually differ one from another, depending on circumstances and such factors as upbringing, environmental pressure and work demands.
“In all of these, no one can claim to have a ready answer to all the myriads of problems that couples face daily in their marriage relationships. It is even more complicated these days when people marry for various reasons that can range from legal, social, emotional and economic needs to spiritual stability or upliftment. But no matter the reason a couple gets married in the first place, the demands of marriage remain ultimate and constant. Husband and wife must have a unity of purpose in all their undertakings. In short, they must be seen as, and remain, “an item” in the eyes of their society.
“Many of your admirers across the globe want to believe that work pressure, which is pressure from those you work with or think you are working with, is responsible for this undesirable development of you, Anita, filing for a divorce against Chris. The truth they want to believe is that not only has Satan attended service at Christ Embassy, just as he attends services in all churches that are reputed to be doing well, he is waiting to receive Holy Communion! He has penetrated your ministry and is using your work force to direct you. That is the challenge.
