Founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has reflected on the profound influence of his late mother, Deaconess Angel Oyakhilome, following her death on Friday.
Pastor Chris spoke about his mother for the first time during the ongoing Global Day of Prayer programme, where he remembered her as a key influence in his upbringing, faith and ministry.
Rather than focusing on grief, the cleric used the occasion to express gratitude for the lessons his mother taught him and the Christian foundation she provided for him and his siblings.
He said spending time with his mother and his siblings in the weeks preceding her death gave him an opportunity to repeatedly express his appreciation for the impact she had made on his life.
Pastor Chris credited his parents with creating a home where he and his siblings were introduced to Christianity and taught values that shaped their lives.
He recalled lessons from his childhood, including personal discipline, proper grooming and faith, which he said contributed to the person he became.
The LoveWorld founder also described his mother as a loving and remarkable woman, noting that members of the family often remarked on the physical resemblance between them.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding her death, Pastor Chris said his Christian beliefs influenced his understanding of the transition from life to death.
He explained that he did not view his mother as lost, saying she had transitioned from earthly life to be with the Lord.
Pastor Chris also encouraged his siblings to remain thankful for their mother’s life and the time they had with her, while acknowledging that many people lose their parents earlier in life.
He said the family would provide details of her funeral arrangements in due course.
Deaconess Angel Oyakhilome was also the mother of Rev. Ken Oyakhilome and Kathy Woghiren.
