But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5).
Those are the statement of confirmation of the importance of Jesus Christ to humanity, his assessment of duty and purpose of visitation to the world; being a Church of complete background to the biblical definition of Christianity, Celestial Church of Christ through the divine instructions of the holy spirit established by the saint Rev (Prophet) SBJ Oshoffa strongly believed in the scripture of Jesus Christ throughout his lifetime.
The Pastor Founder, left a well detailed church with doctrinal practice to members of the Church to abide with. The Church Constitution as stated in section 99 (e) said “ This is held on the Thursday of the Holy Week (Passion Week). It is in commemoration of the event when Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples during the last supper. For this purpose, it has been laid down that representatives of each parish shall congregate at the Diocesan”.
SATURDAY 1ST APRIL 2023
The 2023 Easter activities of the Church commenced with the gathering of shepherds/church workers at the Church Seminary hall built through the personal initiative of an individual known to all at Km 53 Lagos- Ibadan Expressway. The same venue was the original place scheduled for the peace reconciliation meeting between the Pastor & the dissolved BOT in year 2021 before cabals within the Church raised false alarm of purported arrest of the Pastor which aborted the peace process.
The 2023 washing of feet service was well attended, Shepherds prepared themselves for the basic ordinance of the Church with full compliance and arrangement, the physical appearance of the Pastor graced the service with the pastoral duty of washing of the feet of senior clergies in the fold while the senior clergies took over the washing of feet of other shepherds.
SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2023
The Day witnessed the world celebration of the triumphant entrance of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The world expressed their Joyfulness with songs and praises to identify with the King of kings; while Celestial Church of Christ also agreed withouts the philosophy of the scripture. Section 99 (e) further explained that “The representatives would return to their respective parishes on Sunday (i.e. the Palm Sunday) and would perform the washing of feet of members at their respective parishes on the following Thursday-John 13:5-9”.
The Pastor led the procession of the Palm Sunday at CCC International Headquarter Ketu Lagos, the Pastor also preached about the significance of Jesus Christ as King. The Palm Sunday drew the attention of all parishes throughout the world regardless of the factionalization, singing hymn 127 “ Jesu logun ketekete, t’ awon angeli nko Hosannah”
MONDAY 3rd TO WEDNESDAY 5th OF APRIL 2023.
The Church started to participate in the fasting period with evening devotional service in all parishes throughout the world. The period is reflection of togetherness of members using one cup to drink the holy water to break their fasting. Truly Celestial Church of Christ is the last boat of salvation.
THURSDAY 6TH OF APRIL 2023.
The day accommodated (3) devotional services in Celestial Church of Christ, each parish washed their feet singing “Omo Olorun L’emi, omo Olorun L’emi, ati we ese mi nu, ninu eje odo aguntan, omo olorun l’emi”. Shepherds talked on the value of washing of feet to their members while the holy communion service follows, members who are baptized with the strict instructions of the Church took the holy communion with pure heart singing “Mo mbe ninu ododo, fun dapo awon eni mimo ewa ninu idapo, titi emi o fi pada wa (hymn 771). The April edition of the New Moon Service was also observed.
FRIDAY 7th of April 2023.
The Pastor Founder documented in section 99 (e) of the Church Constitution that “This is a congregation of all members of Celestial Church of Christ Nigeria Diocese at Makoko from the morning/afternoon of Good Friday until Easter Sunday. Three services are held in Celestial Church of Christ on Good Friday to celebrate the anniversary of the arrest, trial, conviction, crucifixion and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m. local time. Representatives of each parish in the Diocese are enjoined to attend the 3.00 p.m. service at Makoko and thereafter partake of the feast of fruits and water at about 5.30 p.m. The day’s celebration would be considered over thereafter as from about 6.00 p.m”.
The Pastor Founder patiently told the church the mode of service, with the provision of administration to follow after his demise, but the refusal attitude by the Church has pushed us to the present state of confusion. As a strict faith of instructions, the Good Friday service was held at various Divisional Headquarter outside the jurisdiction of Lagos State while CCC National Headquarters Makoko Parish Yaba hosted the general congregation of Celestial members.
THE 12 NOON SERVICE AT MAKOKO HISTORY.
It was reported that during the short sermon delivered by the number (3) citizen of the Church in person of Most Superior Evangelist Deji Nunayon, the Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa arrived at the event of the day, while the Pastor instructed that he would wait inside his car till the end of the sermon which was unknown to baba Nunayon .Immediately M/S/E Nunayon heard of the arrival of the Pastor, he asked the choir to sing a song from the oldies of the church. With expectation that the Pastor would come into the Mercy which is the normal process. M/S/E Nunayon ended his spirit filled preaching immediately. The gallant youths of Makoko and some other parishes youth stopped M/S/E Nunayon from leaving their parish demanding that M/S/E Nunayon should greet the Pastor while the youth also insisted the Pastor’ can’t enter mercyland pleading that the Pastor must come down from his car to allow M/S/E Nunayon extend his greetings ,.
The youths acted as peace maker toward the repositioning of the Church structure but this division has gone deeper than the knowledge of the youth who took up the challenge of a “Mediator” for the betterment of the Church. Unfortunately, the move was not successful holding to the fact that both refused to come down from their cars.
At the 3pm service, the Pastor highlighted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to mankind from the scripture of Luke 23 vs 44 to 49. The Pastor concluded his sermon saying “Jesu wa, oluwa, olugbala, si lekun anu re fun wa, k’ awon Ogun orun re wole wa, halleluyah ni orin wa, halleluya, halleluya, halleluya mbe lenu wa (hymn 157) then he prayed for members to receive the blessings attached with the death of Jesus Christ while he prayed for the unity of the Church, asking God to intervene in the Church crisis.
The public declaration of the Pastor's prayer clearly showed the awareness of the Pastor in the misunderstanding of leadership management of the Church; as the Pastor has prayed, we will continue to pray for the betterment & togetherness of the Church because it is a fact that the moment the Pastor reunite with M/S/E Banjo, M/S/E Nunayon, A/V/S/E Ogunremi, Sup Evang (Prof) Akintwriwa, Sup Evang Olarewaju etc the Church will return to the progressive mode of development. The Basilica at Imeko would be given attention while other projects would commence. As the Pastor had prayed, God would grant us peace Celestial Church of Christ desires.
SATURDAY 8th OF APRIL 2023.
Section 99 € of the Church Constitution further instructed that “The following day, Saturday, in the evening, there will be a procession to the Cemetery for a devotional service there at twelve midnight”.
The Pastor resumed back to the Passion week activities with the Service which annually holds at CCC Makoko Parish, Yaba ever since the inception of Celestial Church of Christ in Nigeria. The service received a large turnout of worshippers to witness the doctrinal practice & preaching about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Pastor took the sermon inside the rain at Makoko Parish, the Pastor talked about the resurrection of Jesus Christ relating it to the present situation of our society. The service observed a joyful sound of praise at 12 midnight, signifying the resurrection of Jesus Christ while the Pastor also danced to the music rendition by the host choir.
SUNDAY 9th OF APRIL 2023 (EASTER SUNDAY).
Every member of the Church expressed their Joyfulness of praise singing “ E yin, e yin olorun imole, e yin e yin, oga go, Nigba gbogbo, o nyo pelu wa, E tujuka eyin ijo mimo, ji ji oji, ji ji oji pelu ayo nla nla nla (Hymn 181). As the Pastor Founder instructed in section 99 € that “Then on Easter Sunday morning, there will be full devotional service of joy and victory in the Church”.
The Pastor continued his Pastoral duty at CCC National Headquarters, Makoko Parish in fullness of Joy from the congregation. The Pastor arrived with his wife & aides to perform the laydown rules of the Church basic ordinance. The Pastor also preached on how members must abide by the teaching of Jesus Christ in their daily activities & follow the example of son of Mary. During the sermon, the Pastor rendered “ Nigbati fere oluwa yio dun, ti ise ki o si mo, a o pe ohun aiaye ‘gun merin wa lati fi ise won han ni’ waju olugbala wa, Nigbati fere yio dun, emi o wa nibe…(hymn 580).
The Pastor used the hymn to project the aftermath of every living soul with the need for proper assessment of our way of life. Later the Shepherd V/S/E Kiki delivered the appreciation message of the Parish Elders/Parochial Committee & members of the parish to the Pastor, he expressed his thankfulness for the Pastor’s love toward the evolution of the Church.
MONDAY 10th OF APRIL 2023 (GALILEE DAY).
The Pastor returned to the Church Seminary School located at Km 53 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Galilee Day was graced with the continuous function of the Pastor who took part in the event of the day. Later the Pastor with his wives & elders danced to the melodic rhythm of Honorary Senior Evangelist Abel Dosumu popularity known as Mega 99. Truly some members argued that the Galilee Day was never added to the practice of the Church through the Pastor Founder; however the progam received positive phenomenon of response from members who attended the Galilee Day.
2023 Easter Day is over, God will resurrect everything in our lives and the Church while we pray to have the reunion of the Pastor, M/S/E Banjo, M/S/E Nunayon, A/V/S/E Ogunremi, Sup Evang Olarewaju, Sup Evang Akintwriwa and others in 2024 Easter activities.