STEPHANIE OKOTIE BREAKS SILENCE ON HER DIVORCE FROM REV. CHRIS OKOTIE

STEPHANIE OKOTIE, breaks her silence

About a month ago, on a Sunday service, Rev. Chris Okotie, senior pastor Household of God, situated in Oregun, Lagos, Nigeria, formally annouced his divorce to his wife Stephanie Okotie leaving no reason behind. Less than two weeks after he had sacked his wife of four years, his church came out with a press statement giving the impression that the couple had settled for a seperation, but from the way the enstranged wife of the pastor sounded on her facebook page, it`s so evident that she left in pains- below is what she wrote on her page and response of some of her friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLD OF GOD RELEASES PRESS STATEMENT ON REV. OKOTIE`S DIVORCE.

Okotie and Stephanie, when the going was good

After announcing to his flock about his second divorce on Sunday, June 24, 2012, the senior pastor of Household of God, Rev. Chris Okotie has been avoiding the press. Journalists have been trying to get him to speak more on his failed marriage to Stephanie Henshaw, whom he married four years ago, but the man of God has refused to say anyyhing. Nevertheless, his church has officially released a press statement concernig his crashed marriage which unfortunately, is the second Read the statement below.

"The Pastor of our Church, the Household of God, Oregun, Lagos, Rev Chris Okotie announced his separation from Stephanie his wife of four years, at the end of last Sunday`s service.

Both parties arrived at this decision after careful review of the prevailing circumstances which pointed to the fact that it is the best option for them at this time. They also agreed not to divulge details of this incident for personal reasons.

Rev Okotie thanks concerned friends and well-wishers and asked for understanding. He also expressed the hope that their decision would be respected as no further details would be given on this issue.” - Household of God spokesperson, Mr. Ladi Ayodeji

Chris Okotie ends second marriage

Rev. Chris Okotie and Stephanie Henshaw when the going was good.

Rev Chris Okotie’s second marriage has ended after only four years. The Head Pastor of the Household of God announced in church on Sunday June 24, 2012, that he has separated from Stephanie Henshaw whom he married in August 2008. He told his congregation that he wanted to be the one to break the sad news to them and hoped for their understanding. He also said there was no going back,that the marriage was over!

This is Rev Okotie’s second failed marriage. It would be recalled that a lot of controversy trailed his marriage to Stephanie, a widow and mother of three. Pastor Okotie had earlier divorced his first wife Tina, who is now living in the United States of America.

The marriage between the estranged couple started during a thanksgiving service held in his church on August 10. Okotie created a stir when he told his congregation that the Holy Spirit revealed to him that his bride had never been married before. The woman, who was married, was dead and this one is born again, a new creation and quoting the bible, he said, “old things had passed away”- so also was the fact that she was once married. Okotie had also dispelled the belief that the bible is against re-marriage after divorce in a situation where the spouse is still alive. “There is a difference between a man abandoned by his wife and the one that divorces. The only thing that breaks a relationship is a divorce and even when there’s a divorce, the bible says you can re-marry,” he said.

It was gathered that Okotie ignored opposition from his church members and other relatives concerning his decision to wed Stephanie, claiming he had heard God clearly this time. Members of the church had even organised secret vigils and prayer sessions for their pastor to change his mind, but when their prayer did not materialise, some relocated to other churches. Some of his followers claimed his actions were contradictory and confusing.

At a press conference, Okotie said his new bride was destined to marry him from her birth and that people really did not appreciate what love is. He said he began ‘walking closely’ with Stephanie in 1999, a year after his divorce and he had asked her to marry him many times. “She was not particularly certain whether it was what God wanted for her. So I had a situation where I had to get the Lord to persuade her that he is part of this agreement,” he said.