Pastor Chris coming to Zimbabwe

Excitement is running high among Zimbabweans after Christian Oyakhilome, one of Africa's most influential church personalities, said last weekend in South Africa that he will embark on his maiden visit to Zimbabwe soon.

"I think I should be coming to Zimbabwe soon, Halleluja" said the man whose visit many Zimbabweans have been yearning for, amid joyous applause from the many locals at the church's Leaders and Partners Conference at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg.

Pastor Chris was impressed with the strong presence of Zimbabweans under the roof of one of Johannesburg's most-recognisable landmarks hosting more than 20 000 guests.

The founding president of Believers' Love World (BLW) Incorporated known as "Christ Embassy" is a teacher, healing minister and television host leading one of the fast-growing Bible-based international Christian ministries headquartered in Lagos.

In Zimbabwe, the church has quietly witnessed phenomenal growth under the anointed leadership of zonal pastor Ruth Musarurwa and spiritual guidance of its regional leader, Ose Oyakhilome who also leads a strong following in South Africa.

"We are looking forward to the Man of God's visit," was all a visibly excited Musarurwa could say to the Daily News on Sunday last week.

Although its leader, Chris is yet to set foot in the country, the church in Zimbabwe is continuing to grow, a sign which many believers have attributed to the anointing of God in the ministry.

Today, the local leadership have afforded Zimbabweans a chance to speak to the Christ Embassy leader live on television through the State broadcaster ZTV during an hour-long question and answer broadcast starting at 6pm local time.

Seven years ago, Musarurwa was appointed as a cell leader by Chris, starting the ministry in Zimbabwe, and she has led the church to a growth of nearly 160 churches around Zimbabwe.

Now she is a zonal pastor.

With gatherings of over 2,5 million people in a single night's event it is no surprise that the BLW commands a huge following in Zimbabwe and southern Africa.

Chris' ministry has expanded rapidly beyond the coasts of Nigeria and South Africa, and he now holds large meetings in the United States and has healing school sessions in Canada and the United Kingdom.

He commands a strong following especially among youths and is notable for organising never-to-forget meetings in the mould of the Night of Bliss South Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and Higher Life Conferences in Canada, United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

He pioneered the first 24-hour Christian Network from Africa to the rest of the world in 2003, and this has given rise to three satellite stations, the LoveWorld TV in the UK, LoveWorld SAT in South-Africa and LoveWorld PLUS in Nigeria.

Through this medium, at least according to the church, millions of people have been reached with the beautiful message of salvation and many lives have been transformed.

Pioneering the establishment of The Inner City Mission of Christ Embassy, a ministry caring for children living in the inner cities around the world and giving them hope and a future, has been one the many successes attributed to him.

He is the author of the bestseller Rhapsody of Realities, published in over 148 languages throughout the world, with several millions of copies of the daily devotional and Bible-study guide being distributed in over 160 countries.