A former member and voluntary usher at Prophet Odumeje's church has come forward with surprising revelations about the popular cleric's early ministry days, shedding light on aspects of his past that many followers may not know.
Early Ministry Days in Onitsha
Pastor CC Israel recently took to Facebook to disclose that he was actively involved in Prophet Odumeje's ministry during the early 2000s. According to his account, he served as a voluntary usher at the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministry located in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Israel explained that he joined the church primarily due to its proximity to his residence at Anthony Fride compound in St John's Street Odoakpu Onitsha, off Bida Road. Having returned to Nigeria after five years abroad, the evangelist was seeking a ministry to identify with and found Odumeje's church conveniently located nearby.
The Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Influence
One of the most surprising revelations from the former usher concerns Odumeje's early style and inspiration. Israel claimed that during those early years, Prophet Odumeje modeled himself extensively after Reverend Chris Oyakhilome, the president of LoveWorld Incorporated.
The cleric frequently dressed in white suits with matching white shoes and styled his hair in imitation of his role model. More notably, Odumeje would mimic Pastor Chris's accent during preaching sessions, often delivering sermons with one hand in his pocket, similar to Oyakhilome's distinctive style.
During deliverance sessions, Israel recalled that Odumeje would flip his legs in the manner of Pastor Chris, after which congregants would fall "like a pack of cards." The former usher described the early Odumeje as "very gentle while preaching" and quite different from the more flamboyant personality he exhibits today.
Mysterious Departure and Humorous Warning
While Pastor Israel remained tight-lipped about his exact reasons for leaving the ministry, he hinted at some discomfort, mentioning that Odumeje "started looking at me one kind during some of his preaching" shortly before his departure.
In a lighthearted twist, the former usher jokingly warned that Nigerian highlife singer Flavour should be held responsible if Prophet Odumeje ever decides to leave the ministry in the future. This comment comes amid recent collaborations between the cleric and the musician, including a viral video that generated significant social media buzz.
Israel expressed mixed feelings about Odumeje's transformation, stating that while he wished the prophet had maintained the Pastor Chris style, he acknowledged that the humorous aspect of his personality might never have been discovered if he had remained that way.
