Brief History

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Brief History

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The Celestial Church of Christ World-wide came into the world from heaven by DIVINE ORDER on the 29th of September 1947 in PORTO NOVO, REPUBLIC OF BENIN (formerly REPUBLIC OF DAHOMEY) through a single individual, a man who is the founder of the Church, the Reverend Pastor Prophet Founder SAMUEL BILEHOU JOSEPH OSHOFFA.

The Church has its National (Diocesan) Headquarter-, at 12/15 Church Street, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos state, the Supreme Headquarters in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin and with International Headquarters at Mission House, Ketu, Lagos state, Nigeria.

THE DIVINE ORDER

On the 29th of September, 1947, in the deep mystery of the divine appearance, during prayer, of the winged angel bathed in intense light, word came from God to the Founder:

“It is the wish of God to send you on an errand of preaching to the world. Many nominal Christians there are who, when confronted by difficulties and problems of this world, they run after fetish priests and other powers of darkness for all kinds of assistance. Consequently, on their death, they cannot see Christ because, by their action, Satan has left his spiritual mark on them. To assist you in your work so that men may listen to and follow you, miraculous works of Holy divine healing will be carried out by you in the name of Jesus Christ. These works of divine healing and God’s spiritual mark on you will testify to the fact that God sent you”. Thus was born the world-wide CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST.

The name of the Church came down from Heaven by divine revelation through MR. ALEXANDER YANGA, who was at that time undergoing spiritual healing at the residence of the Pastor Founder and who was held in trance for seven days. At the end of the seventh day, he asked for a piece of chalk and wrote the name of the Church on the wall thus.. “EGLISE DU CHRISTLANISME CELESTE”, meaning “Celestial Church of Christ”.

Apart from also being a prophet, the Founder was allowed by DIVINE ORDER to use the name “EPASTORAL” in angelic language, which was also translated for him’ as “PASTOR”. This was after he had spent the first five years since the birth of the Church as “EVANGELIST”

Our Core Doctrine

We are bible based AFRICAN Instituted Church.

THE CHURCH IS UNDER THE ABSOLUTE DICTATE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is hereby emphasized for note that:

The name of the Church, The tenets and mode of worship of the Church, and The service hymns of the Church, which formed the doctrine of the church were all revealed through the Holy Spirit as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ (see John 14:25,26) thus: “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”.

It is ordained by the Holy Spirit that:

Members of Celestial Church of Christ are forbidden to engage or participate in:

  1. Any form of idolatry, fetish ceremony or cults, black magic and charms.
  2. Cigarette or tobacco smoking or snuffing or any type of weed smoking or snuffing is forbidden to members of the Celestial Church of Christ.
  3. Consumption of any form of alcohol, wine or any strong drink that can intoxicate is forbidden to members of Celestial Church of Christ as the odour of all these – cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, etc. – are repugnant to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
  4. Consumption of pork or any food offered as sacrifice to idols or other powers of darkness is forbidden to members of Celestial Church of Christ; Members are forbidden to wear apparels made of black or red materials except for professional reasons.
  5. Members should not wear shoes when wearing their sutana or within the premises of the Church.
  6. Male and female members are forbidden to sit together side by side within the Church and its premises.
  7. Female members cannot enter the Sanctuary without appropriately covering their heads.
  8. Female members during menstruation are not allowed to come within the precincts of the Church until after their sanctification after seven clear days; and where the menstruation extends beyond seven days, two clear days should be allowed for after stoppage before sanctification.
  9. Female members are forbidden from entering the altar area or leading the congregation in worship.
  10. In Celestial Church of Christ, only white candles are to be used. Coloured candles are strictly forbidden.
  11. Fornication and adultery are forbidden in the Celestial Church of Christ.
  12. Holy is the Celestial Church of Christ and all who worship in her should endeavour to be clean in body and in soul.

Mode of worship includes the setting of the Altar, and the seat therein, the number of candles used for various types of services and the seating arrangement in particular, it should be noted that the seating arrangements was revealed through a Prophetess who under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the wilderness on Friday 5th of October, 1947, sketched the seating arrangement using oranges.

There are a number of Holy Rites or Sacrament within the form of worship in Celestial Church of Christ utmost importance.  Members shall avail themselves of the opportunity to partake in these rites or sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Annual Washing of Feet, Annual Pilgrimage to Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria at Christmas Eve, Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service, and Holy Mary’s Day.

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