The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) was founded in Africa by Samuel Oshoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin. The CCC is a prophetic one with a Christian background.
The faithful are called Celestians, and the Church is sometimes informally called Cele. It is one of the most widespread indigenous prophetic-charismatic movements in West Africa.
The Church falls under the category of churches popularly known as Aladura (the prayer people), which emerged among the Yoruba in Western Nigeria.
CCC started among the Egun and Yoruba peoples and thus had its worldview shaped mainly by these religio-cultural backgrounds.
Although the Church had its origin in Porto Novo, it was its inception in Nigeria in 1950 that gained popularity and fame.
Within five decades of its existence, the movement had transcended geo-ethnic boundaries with a membership running into several million and over 4,000 parishes scattered worldwide.
Parishes were being planted concurrently in the West African sub-region of Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal.
The growth of this Church transcended the African frontiers to the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Between 1976 and 1996, CCC parishes increased from 254 to 2,051. Of these, 1,744 are found in Nigeria alone, while 307 parishes are scattered within the West Coast of Africa, Europe, America, Canada, and other parts of the world.
The Church uses English language Bibles, and the Yoruba translated versions.[10] The Church supposedly takes elements from Gungbe and Yoruba thought.
It also has strong similarities to the “purification movements” against paganism that are relatively common in African Christianity.
Oshoffa believed he had a mission to combat “[Satan], ‘fetish priests’ and other ‘powers of darkness.’ The Church is well known in Parishes, Dioceses all over the world, with its International Headquarters in Nigeria.
BACKGROUND OF THE FOUNDER
The Church was established by the Reverend, Pastor, Prophet, and Founder Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa (1909-1985), who was born in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin. He was the son of a Nigerian mother and a Dahomean father who practiced the Methodist religion.
He had a divine revelation while lost in a forest on 23 May 1947 during a solar eclipse. Through this vision, he got a spiritual calling from God to embark on a special mission and to found a church charged with cleansing the world.
Following this transformation, he received spiritual gifts of healing, prayer, and prophecy and became famous for his healing miracles, including raising the dead. One of the essential healings by Oshoffa in these early years was that of Mr. Alexander Yanga, a man who was held in a trance for seven days.
At the culmination of his spiritual healing, Yanga wrote the name of the Church on the wall, and the Celestial Church of Christ was named.
Having appointed himself Prophet, Reverend, Pastor, and Founder, he occupied the highest office of his movement. His hegemony on doctrine and discipline issues made succession difficult when he died in 1985 in Lagos, Nigeria.
LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION OF CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
The demise of Founder Oshoffa in 1985 marked a watershed in CCCs history. Although the movement has continued to grow since Oshoffa’s death, major suffered setbacks have also been recorded.
The most immediate was the matter of succession, and continuity, owing to the leadership instability that rocked the Church after the death of Oshoffa.
Alexander Abiodun Bada was enthroned as Oshoffas successor in 1987 amidst leadership tussles and a prolonged legal crisis, a position he held until his death in 2000. Badas demise did not eventually put an end to the legal crisis.
As the leadership tussle continued unabated, the church hierarchy swung into action to fill the leadership vacuum with the enthronement of Philip Ajose in February 2001, who was until then the head of the CCC Overseas Diocesan headquarters in London.
Philip Ajose died on 2 March 2001, six days after officially being installed as Pastor-leader of the CCC Worldwide. A dispute followed over the succession to Ajose. Some members declared Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse as the new leader in 2003, while the majority recognized Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, son of Samuel Oshoffa.
Following Jesse’s death, his faction declared that Superior Evangelist Paul Suru Maforikan was the new spiritual leader of the Church.
Contrary to the procedure of succession in Nigeria, Porto-Novo, the supreme headquarters, successfully chose Rev. Pastor Benoit Agbaossi as the head of the Church shortly before his death in 2010.
PRACTICES AND BELIEF OF CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Church is governed by twelve major recommendations, consisting of several prohibitions, including food, common to a number of other monotheistic religions. Tobacco, alcohol, and the eating of pork are forbidden.
The faithful must not wear their shoes while wearing their garments and within the main Church. Men and women are separated at the Church.
Menstruating women and those who have recently given birth are unclean and cannot enter the church building or wear the garment for seven days in the first case, after which they would be “sanctified.” Members of CCC are forbidden to engage or participate in any form of idolatry, fetish ceremony or cults, black magic, and charms. Only men who are “anointed” are allowed access to the altar.
DOCTRINES OF CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Celestial Church of Christ doctrine is rooted primarily in Scripture and emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit. The Church doctrine strongly emphasizes prayer, healing, prophecy, visions, and dreams.
CCC beliefs occupy an important place for its members as they lie behind the ritual practices, the principle of membership, and decisions of the Church. The Bible represents the basic source and foundation of their beliefs and modes of worship.
The CCC Constitution (p. 29) explicitly states that the name and organizational structure of the Church, its doctrines, and rituals are derived primarily from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Apart from the centrality of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, angelology occupies an important place in their belief system.
HOLY RITES OR SACRAMENTS
There are several Holy Rites or Sacrament within worship in the Celestial Church of Christ with utmost importance. Members shall avail themselves of the opportunity to partake in these rites or sacraments, which include; Baptism, Holy Communion, Annual Washing of Feet, Annual Pilgrimage to Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria at Christmas Eve, Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service, and Holy Marys Day.
HEADQUARTER OF CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Celestial Church of Christ headquarters is located at the Mission House in Ketu-Lagos. The Supreme headquarters is located in Porto-Novo by its birth there. Other sacred CCC places include:
- The Celestial City (New Jerusalem) at Imeko.
- The International Camp Centre along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
- The Mercy lands are attached to each local parish of the Church.
