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Christ Embassy, also known as Believers’ LoveWorld, is an international charismatic ministry founded by Chris Oyakhilome, a pastor, teacher, and self-described healer, in Lagos, Nigeria. A distinctive feature of Oyakhilome’s ministry is the Atmosphere for Miracles program, which televises faith healing meetings.
Christ Embassy also operates charities such as the InnerCity Mission for Children, which provides food and builds schools for indigent children and campaigns against child labor. In 2022, the InnerCity Mission for Children claims to have “distributed over 700 million meals . . . in over 100 countries” (from their official website, accessed 12/3/24). Christ Embassy also hosts the Healing School, in which Oyakhilome “takes divine healing to the nations” (ibid.). The Healing School hosts annual sessions in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Toronto, Canada.
Atmosphere for Miracles is a high-energy show in the style of Benny Hinn meetings. It is meant to create an environment in which attendees can experience God’s healing power. The program features emotionally charged worship, declarations of faith in Christ, and testimonies from people claiming to have experienced miracles, healings, and breakthroughs. As with other healing and miracle ministries, Christ Embassy speaks much about “an atmosphere of faith” and “the manifest presence” of the Holy Spirit. Their website is full of calls to “decree,” “declare,” “proclaim,” and “exercise dominion” over negative situations.
The statement of faith of Christ Embassy is basic and orthodox, as far as it goes. There is nothing unbiblical about what the ministry presents as their doctrine. The problem is that the Christ Embassy and the Atmosphere for Miracles program promulgate the prosperity gospel. Followers are urged to prevail over their circumstances by using “faith-filled words.” They are taught that Jesus “did all these [miracles] to show that we can do the same.” Christ Embassy encourages followers to “proclaim victory over that unpleasant situation. Proclaim victory in your health, family, finances, business, academics, job, etc. Declare that greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Rule and frame your world with faith-filled words, and watch your life move from one degree of glory to another” (ibid.).
The prosperity preaching of Christ Embassy teaches that God grants material prosperity to believers who have sufficient faith. Oyakhilome and like-minded preachers claim that sowing “seeds” into the ministry will result in exponential blessings: “When you pay your tithes, give your offerings, or sow special seeds, you’re actually opening up your capacity to receive. . . . Then call forth your harvest with your faith-filled confessions. So in sowing your seeds, send them forth by the anointing, by speaking the Word over them, and begin to call forth your harvest. . . . Keep speaking words of faith until the harvest of the seeds you’ve sown comes pouring down on you” (ibid.). Such teaching is inconsistent with sound doctrine. It has more to do with the New Age concept of the law of attraction than with the Word of God. God does provide for and bless His children, but He never promises that believers will be exempt from suffering. Nor does God guarantee financial prosperity.
Of course, God still performs miracles today, but they should not be the focus of worship. Worship should focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus promises eternal life to all who believe in Him (Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). This is the true gospel. Miracles, financial prosperity, or other earthly benefits should never overshadow this essential truth.
Believers must “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, ESV) and trust that He will provide for our needs according to His will. If miracles occur, they are gifts from God and not something to be demanded or expected from Him.
The Christ Embassy and Atmosphere for Miracles attract people with promises of healing, success, and financial breakthrough. But some of what this organization teaches is unbiblical: “God’s responsibility is to give you the recipe for prosperity, success, and the good life, and He already did that through His Word. Now, you’re to use the Word to make your life glorious” (ibid.). We must use Scripture to evaluate any teaching and practice. Any ministry prioritizing miracles, wealth, or personal success over the gospel leads people away from Christ. Believers should be vigilant about remaining rooted in God’s Word.
