The Celestial Church of Christ has finally put to rest the uproar following the publication of an event flyer by the official media handle of the church, CCC Media.
The confusion was generated by the age long anxiety of all CCC members worldwide to start holding the Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving event regardless of the grading; whether as a parish or ministry.
In the flyer, PraiseVille Celestial Showers, a part of the CCC family and located at No. 302A, along Muritala Mohammed Way, Yaba, in Lagos publicised the events lined up to celebrate its anniversary.
A debate ensued when CCC Media shared the flyer on its platform on why it has to be so as the said church is not a parish but a ministry. Allegedly, ministries are not allowed to hold the popular event.
In a release made available to Freelanews and signed by CCC Worldwide’s head of media, Superior Evangelist Dr. Kayode Ajala, neither spiritual head nor Pastor-in-Council approved that ministries should hold harvest events by that singular act.
“Our attention has been drawn to the raging controversy ignited by our recent release titled ‘Updates: C.C.C. Adult Harvest Thanksgiving September/October 202, which highlighted the Annual Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving of PraiseVille, headed by Superior Evangelist Kunle Hamilton.
“There are many insinuations, assertions and outright misinterpretations that our release is an endorsement and approval that ministries in the Celestial Church of Christ can now hold annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service.
“We wish to make it clear that neither His Eminence, Reverend EMF Oshoffa, nor Pastor-in-Council, CCC W/W has approved that ministries in the CCC can hold annual Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations,” he added.
Dr. Ajala also stated that there was nowhere in the flyer that PraiseVille was indicated to be a ministry or a parish.
“Nowhere in the PraiseVille Harvest flyer published by the CCC Media was it indicated that PraiseVille is a ministry and not a full fledged parish of the Celestial Church of Christ,” he wrote.
The CCC Worldwide’s head of media then appealed to members to allow the issue to rest while taking full responsibility for the confusion.
“We take full responsibility for the error of publishing the PraiseVille flyer and apologise for the uproar it has generated so far.
“Ministries are not full-fledged parishes and cannot hold annual Adult Thanksgiving Celebration in the Celestial Church of Christ,” Ajala submitted.
In a swift response to this, Dr. Hamilton confirmed that his church is a ministry and not a parish.
“Thank you for the clarification, my brother, Sup. Evang. Kayode Ajala. We move. God bless His Eminence, Pastor EMF Oshoffa as he continues to straighten things up for us all in this great Church. Halleluyah!
“Let me also clarify further. CCC PraiseVille is a ministry that is focused on the salvation and Christian growth of our members, all of whom are groomed to be better Celestians in their different parishes,” he said.
The shepherd also revealed that CCC PraiseVille doesn’t organise bazaar sales nor sell oil. According to him, the church doesn’t sell soap, perfume, honey or candles also common during the event.
“We don’t host harvest revivals like parishes do. Instead we take the undiluted Word of God to the helpless and the homeless. And we give gifts to those who come to fellowship with us, especially once a year for our Thanksgiving, which is strictly a HARVEST OF THE WORD and not annual parish harvest as others know it,” an unperturbed Dr. Hamilton explained.
In a related development, Revrd Oshoffa has touched down on the American soil on Wednesday with his loving wife, Mother Celestial Celine Oshoffa and Superior Evangelist Oshoffa, in continuation of his working visitation.
Recall that Freelanews reports that the man of God started his pilgrimage from France.
His Eminence landed at the Dulles Airport, Washington DC, USA, and was received with fun-fare by church leadership and faithfuls in the United States of America.
The joy was visible, illuminating and infectious as Celestial Church of Christ members in the USA turned the grounds of the Dulles Airport, Washington DC into a celebration arena as they sang, drummed and danced with the trumpets blowing to receive His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, the Supreme Head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide.
The pastoral train, on leaving the airport, headed straight to the Celestial Church of Christ, Metropolitan Parish, Washington DC, to pay obeisance and thanksgiving for the safe arrival of the Pastor and Supreme Head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide.
At the Dulles Airport to receive the man of God were Head of USA Diocese, VSE Olaitan Balogun, VSE Anthony Iremiren (Grand Patron, USA Diocese), AVSE Adepoju (Chairman, Shepherd’s Council, USA), VSE Martin Webb (Assistant Chairman, Shepherd’s Council, USA) and Sup Evang Lawrence Oni (Diocesan Treasurer).
Others were Sup Evang Niyi Awodunmila (Secretary, USA Diocese USA Diocese), VSE Yusuf (Region A Supervisor), Sup Evang Ayo Homer Williams, Sup Evang Oshin, Sup Evang Koiki, Sup Evang Moses Akande, and MC Shade Fashola, amongst others..
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
