09/02/2025
I wept reading this 😭 Music Ministry Chia 😓
The Evolution of Gospel Music: A Gift Turned Industry
You cannot trace the new wave of gospel artists in Nigeria without recognizing the influence of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
Many of today’s gospel stars are his products—his spiritual sons and daughters. From Sinach to Moses Bliss, he gave them not just a platform but global exposure, elevating them from choir members to international gospel sensations. Under Christ Embassy, they blossomed, their voices reaching the ends of the earth, their songs becoming anthems of worship.
But with growth came change.
They are no longer just ministers; they are now brands. They have payrolls to manage—personal assistants, band members, drivers, managers. The days of accepting whatever the church gives as honorarium are long gone. Today, they charge fees, just like their counterparts in the secular industry. Ministry has merged with professionalism. Worship has intertwined with business.
And now, as life often comes full circle, the very structure that birthed them is feeling the weight of this evolution.
Pastor Chris, the same man who once rejoiced over their songs, who sang their lyrics with joy, now finds himself at odds with them. They want to charge him—charge Christ Embassy—to "perform" on the same altar where they once ministered freely, filled with nothing but gratitude and passion.
Now, Pastor Chris is responding. His rebuttals to their lyrics, his subtle disapproval—it all speaks to a deeper disappointment. The songs he once embraced now draw his scrutiny, not because the lyrics have changed, but because the hearts behind them might have.
The shift is undeniable.
They have turned their gifting into an industry, and the church has become their primary audience. No longer relying on the offerings of congregations, they demand fixed payments, setting their own price for ministry. Yet, this was never how it started. The pioneers—Mama Bola Are, Pastor Joseph Adelakun (Baba Ayewa)—never charged for worship. They sang with joy, they ministered with purity, and somehow, God took care of them.
The church is adjusting. Some, like RCCG, have taken a firm stand, relying solely on in-house talent. For the past three years, they have not invited non-members to their major programs, perhaps signaling a return to the old ways.
But can gospel music truly go back to what it once was?
It’s doubtful. An industry has been built, systems have been established, and an entire generation has embraced this new reality. What started as a calling has, for many, become a career. Default settings have been overwritten.
And maybe that is the real question—when worship meets industry, can it still remain worship?
© SEGUN BEN-AJAYI
