Many Nigerian Christians are infuriated over reports that the headquarters of Chris Oyakhilome owned Christ Embassy in Ikeja, Lagos made worshippers pay the sum of N1,000 each as gate fee to attend a New Year's eve service.
It was learnt that worshippers who wanted to attend the crossover service presided over by Pastor Oyakhilome, were made to obtain gate passes sold at N1,000 each.
Those who couldn't pay were turned away and asked to go worship else where or watch the service online for free.
It was also gathered this isn't the first time it had happened as a similar incident occurred during the 2010 crossover service into 2011, which led to an uproar with Nigerians describing the act as 'extortion', 'abuse of Jesus teachings' and another confirmation that some Nigerian churches and pastors are more interested in making money than winning souls for God.
However, Christ Embassy explained informally that it was a way of 'controlling the the crowd and discouraging thousands of people who come to church once a year on 31 December and prevent “real worshippers” from securing seats at the headquarters on that important night.'
Many Nigerians have continued to express their shock and disbelief on the repetition of the crossover service incident on social media, especially Facebook.
”Gate fee collection appears good for crowd control in a theatre or secular concert, but not sound enough in the house of God where Christ the head of the church bids everyone to come, even when they only respond once in a year,” wrote on Femi Olulowo on Facebook.
“Even if the church prefers his already saved members to partake in a particular service, gate pass should have been given to them at no cost and they will have the privilege of going in first.
“The crowd control rationale for gate fee collection in church in my opinion is world based,” he said.
Another Facebook user Onyeka Okochi wrote that salvation doesn't come at a cost, adding that in the Bible, a man who wanted to pay for salvation was refused.
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