Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has confirmed the death of his mother, Deaconess Angel Oyakhilome, while explaining why he does not consider her passing a permanent loss.
The founder and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, announced that his mother died on the morning of Friday, 25 September 2026.
He spoke about her death during the concluding session of the ministry’s Global Day of Prayer on Saturday.
“Yesterday, Friday morning, my sweet mum went to be with the Lord,” he said.
‘I didn’t lose my mum’
Addressing headlines describing him as having lost his mother, Pastor Chris said his Christian faith gave him a different understanding of her death.
“Someone said Pastor Chris loses mum. No, I didn’t lose mum. In Christ, you don’t lose them,” he said.
He added that he believed his mother was immediately present with God after her death.
His statement was not a denial of her death. It reflected the Christian belief that death does not permanently separate believers from God or one another.
The remarks were delivered during the September Global Day of Prayer, a programme broadcast across LoveWorld platforms and other online channels.
Pastor Chris remembers his mother’s influence
Pastor Chris described his mother as loving and remarkable. He recalled repeatedly thanking her in recent years for the values and practical lessons she taught him while he was growing up.
He said she taught him personal discipline, how to dress properly and how to care for himself. More importantly, he credited her and his late father with raising their children in a Christian home.
According to the pastor, the religious foundation provided by his parents helped shape his faith and ministry.
He also spoke about his physical resemblance to his mother, saying members of the family often observed that he looked more like her than his siblings did.
Pastor Chris said he and his siblings had spent time with their mother during the final weeks of her life. He explained that he continued expressing his gratitude to her as it became apparent that she might be nearing the end of her life.
Tributes follow announcement
Deaconess Oyakhilome was widely known within Christ Embassy as “Big Mummy” and was recognised for her service and contributions to the ministry.
She was the mother of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Reverend Ken Oyakhilome and Kathy Woghiren. Nigerian media reports said she was 88 when she died.
Tributes have since been shared by members of Christ Embassy and other Christians around the world, many of whom praised her faith and influence on her family.
Pastor Chris said he was not yet ready to deliver a full tribute to his mother, noting that there would be an appropriate time to celebrate her life.
“Today, I’m not eulogising her for the moment. There’s a time for that,” he said.
He also encouraged his siblings to remain thankful for the years they shared with their mother.
P.M. News reported that funeral details would be released later. The family has not disclosed the cause of her death.
