By Walter Smith
The right-hand woman to the founder of Christ Embassy or Loveworld Inc., Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has been one of his most trusted and accomplished partners in the ministry for almost ten years.
As the CEO of Christ Embassy, the Lagos Zone 5 director, and manager of both the ISM and the annual IPPC, Pastor Deola Phillips has played an integral part in the fortification of Christ Embassy, and also continues to be a key contributor in its ever-expanding influence. The CEO recently took home the most notable award of the Christ Embassy ministry at the IPPC of 2018, the award for the Top Partnering Zone.
The renowned award is handed out once a year during the annual International Pastors’ and Partners’ Conference and is known as one of the most prestigious prizes in the global convention. It is given to the partner who exhibits the utmost commitment and dedication to the ministry’s cause. Out of the many Christ Embassy partners, only ten of them are “specially recognized as ‘Gold Partners’”.
This selection signifies the “exceptional commitment to the vision of the Man of God. These few Golden Partners are handed awards based on their achievements in their zones.” It was Pastor Deola Phillips who won the award for Top Partnering Zone. This was Pastor Deola Phillip’s eighth consecutive win.
This win signifies the incredible sense of commitment to the church, and how she has led ‘Zone 5′, the church of Nigeria to new horizons.
In a Loveworld News, the recent report read that the highly esteemed Zone 5 director, “poured out tears of gratitude and overwhelming joy in the company of exuberant leaders and Pastors from the zone.”
In addition to the series of accolades, the highly esteemed partner has helmed many initiatives within Christ Embassy. These initiatives all seek to nurture and assist forgotten communities who, without a helping hand, may never see a slither of hope. These many projects include; Trauma Care Intl. Foundation, an NGO that is focused on improving the health status and life expectancy of local communities, nations and regions; Volunteer Medical Corps, a medical outreach program that provides medical care, relief assistance and sustainable health care solutions to communities who are in dire need; and the Future Africa Leaders Foundation Awards (FALA), an award ceremony that celebrates young African leaders.
The new CEO was also the first Head of Department for the LoveWorld Television Ministry and is one of the very few recipients of the highly esteemed and coveted St. Paul’s Award. Pastor Chris has noted that her actions will put “my praise on the lips of men.”
However, Pastor Deola Phillips, who is currently a fundamental player in the LoveWorld network, grew up in a family completely disconnected from the Church, or even spirituality, stating that even though she was born into a “Christian family, no one ever talked about being born again or even a relationship with God.” Yet Phillips still remembers having some form of an inexplicable sense of something greater than herself. “I had become conscious of God in a way I really couldn’t explain.”
Philips told Loveworld Plus how her time as a student at the International School of Ibadan, was when she found her connection with God. The Pastor describes that time in her life, saying that even though it wasn’t a place to “find God”, she knew things were soon going to change. Pastor Deola recalled the moment she felt a major shift in herself.
“I remember standing at the gate of the girls’ dormitory where I lived as a boarding student, knowing that something had happened, and my life would no longer be the same.” Phillips also vividly recalls the day she gave her life to Christ and even the date of “March 15th, 1985”, and from that moment, her life would take a whole new meaning. Since that very day, after all that soul searching, Pastor Deola Philips has immersed herself in the ways of God, under the tutelage and guidance of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Additionally, Phillip’s hard work and successful career are due to a strong commitment to community service. The LoveWorld partner values above all the notion of partnership.
In the recent IPPC, The Loveworld CEO delivered a very thought-provoking message on the importance of partnership. The highly esteemed Pastor lectured on the value of “starting small”, stating that partners should make their biggest contributions, even if those are initially small. She encouraged the “partners to boost their faith, reiterating that the Red Sea did not split open until the Israelites stepped in according to the instruction of God.”
In her speech, she expressed how she is prepared to give her all for the word of God.” I’m stepping forward. I’m ready and I’m able. I’m putting everything I have for the building of the temple. I’m giving willingly for the advancement of the gospel. The Lord can depend on me to do big things.”
Quoting Pastor Chris, she defined leadership as, “the ability to respond, because leadership is the assumption of responsibility, of guidance, control and directing, following the burden of higher intelligence or superior knowledge or information.” Pastor Deola Phillips has evidently exhibited exemplary leadership skills, and together with Pastor Chris, will continue to lead Christ Embassy and Loveworld Inc. into new and exciting directions.
Share
Contributors
