For fear of spreading speculations and biases, which
could lead to loss of members over the ongoing divorce mess involving Reverend
Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church, Oregun, members of the church have
been barred from discussing the pastor’s domestic life. A source told National
Mirror that the members have been urged to respect the pastor’s view of ending
the marriage, considering the portion of the Bible that urged Christians to
“get rid of the finger that could lead them to hell.”
The source said that the
members were asked to stop discussing the issue because of its perceived
implication to their faith and probably mass exodus.
The decision prompted the issue
of the press release last Monday by the pastor’s spokesman, Ladi Ayodeji, in
which he fore-closed future references to the marital problem.
The announcement about the
pastor’s separation from Stephanie Henshaw, a mother of three, came to the
congregation as a shock, as they did not have an inkling of what had been
happening in their house until it was announced in the church last Sunday.
“The pastor had, prior to the
announcement, urged the members to understand his plight and respect his view,
after which he told the congregation that he had packed up the marriage with
his wife,” the source said.