“There Was No Strife” Between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome & Us — Deacon Buchi Opens Up.

Veteran Nigerian gospel reggae minister. Buchi Atuonwu has spoken openly about his journey away from Christ Embassy, explaining that his departure was not caused by a personal conflict or falling out with the ministry.

Responding to a question about whether he was still with Christ Embassy and what led to his move, Buchi said there came a time when the order of worship within the ministry changed.

He stressed that despite moving on, he still holds Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in high regard, recalling that the pastor personally led him to Christ.

“The angel of the house, the pastor, who is still our pastor… you can’t deny the role that he has played in our lives and in our upbringing.”

Buchi explained that several ministers like Ada, Mosesbliss, Samsong, Frank Edwards etc who passed through the ministry continue to respect Pastor Chris and remain committed Christians, even though they now worship or serve in different congregations.

According to him, leaving one denomination or congregation for another should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of conflict.

“Every movement does not have to be a sign or a result of strife. there is no strife in it.”

Speaking specifically about his own case, Buchi said a new order within the ministry no longer permitted reggae music in church.

However, he explained that even before that change, he believed God had already impressed on his heart that his assignment was not limited to ministering to people inside the church.

“I didn’t send you to the church. I didn’t send you to preach to the people in church. I didn’t send you to sing to the people in church.”

Buchi said he understood his music ministry to have a wider evangelistic purpose, particularly reaching people outside conventional church spaces.

He added that although believers naturally connect with his songs because they are rooted in scripture, many of the people he believes he was called to reach are those outside the church.

For Buchi, the transition was therefore not a rejection of Christ Embassy or Pastor Chris, but part of what he described as God changing the order of his ministry assignment.