A headline caught my attention from a news site while surfing the web yesterday, “Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Throws His Weight Behind Celestial Unification Ambassador Rev Olatoso Oshofa” on 16 May, 2016. The young Monarch was also quoted to have said that his ascension to the Throne as Ooni was predicted in the Celestial Church of Christ church.
First, it was revealed via the news site that Tosho Oshoffa, one of the sons of the late sage and founder of Celestial Church of Christ, Reverend Pastor Founder SBJ Oshoffa, paid a visit to the His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye at his Enu Owa Palace when Tosho was invited by one of his ‘followers as a minister at Ijeshaland and he decided to pay homage to the royal father.
Without mincing words, there is nothing wrong in a clergyman paying a visit to a monarch or any one in position of power; you can never tell whom God will use to change a man. It will interest you readers to know that Pastor Enoch Adeboye once visited the royal monarch where he prayed for a successful reign for the young Oba. However, it becomes a wrong move for a clergyman to discuss or drag any traditional ruler into the affairs of a church, a sacred institution that is expected to have holiness as her watchword. If what is written in Romans 12:2 makes any sense.
According to the report and I quote, “The unification of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) worldwide took another giant leap recently at Ile Ife Osun State when the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II received a surprised visit from the Ambassador of the Unification of CCC worldwide in the person of Rev Olatoso Oshofa……
On the crisis within the rank of the Celestial Church, Ooni Adeyeye, revealed that Olatosho was chosen by the CCC Unification as the Ambassador by a Celestial Church Shepherd known as Baba Maforikan, who he claimed was one of those who followed the founder Baba Bilewu Oshofa. According to His Majesty, it was this respected leader that raised the hands of Olatosho up as the Unification Ambassador of the CCC and therefore the church must not die.
He explained further that people of substance in the country are throwing their weight behind the unification project, “ Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo is aware of CCC Unification worldwide led by Olatoso Oshofa and he’s fully in support.’’ The monarch said.
While giving his Royal blessings and support, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi enjoined Olatoso Oshofa to do his best to re-unite CCC worldwide as ambassador for the Unification just as his late father did during his life
I want to state here as a bonafide member of the church that, Celestial Church of Christ is not a family church, it’s a church operated under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Olatosho is the brother and former Personal Assistant to the spiritual leader of the church, Reverend Pastor Friday Mobiyina Oshoffa.
That Tosho went to drag the Oba into the prevailing issues of leadership in the church does not portray him as a Reverend as claimed in the report or has stated to the Oba. For those who have been following happenings within the corridors of the vineyard, it is a rude shock and an absurdity, for, Tosho who once was known to vehemently condemn the Unification drive while serving as P.A. to Rev Mobiyina Oshofa, to have suddenly, out of the blues, become the ambassador of the said Unification move.
The holy book never encouraged or advised that matters concerning the church should be taken out of the church to the domains or palace of traditional rulers or the secular territory. The Bible says the church is a government unto itself and not under the control or interference of any other authority, the church was ordained and existed before the advent of any king or kingdom; in the report above, Ooni of Ife endorsed Tosho.
Nobody has made Tosho a spokesperson for Celestial Church of Christ. He only has the backing of a few people who operate under guise of Unification to achieve their selfish interest and not the interest of Celestial Church of Christ as a whole.
I hope my opinion will dissuade the minds of those who think Tosho has gone to represent Celestial’s interest, and when it comes to leadership of the church, he is not in any way a force to reckon with but an ordinary evangelist in the church.
Celestial Church of Christ is not having any issue as said by Tosho in the report, the people that are having tussle and issues are the people who have failed to allow and accept the spirit of God to have its way in the church.
As a passionate member of the church, constitution allows me to contribute my quota to the growth of the church without any bias or prejudice.
Your Comments, contributions, opinions welcome
Hon. Most Senior Evangelist Alonge Michael
CCC, Worldwide
nothing wrong in the visit, if the motive is pure, it’s welcome
It is offensive for any leader irrespective of the rang to take a spiritual issue,to a traditional ruler.Celestial Church foundation was laid in love,spirit and truth.If there is no hidden agenda,then the unification should be done within the four walls of the church.The focus should be how to move things forward like the days the founder and Rev Bada were leading.It shouldn’t be a family leadership.Let the spirit of truth LEAD
Thank you for your comments: But peace is peace inrespective of whomever God use to achieve it; Olatosho has not taken a wrong step, Careful analysis of your write up still shows some kind of bitterness and using the past to judge the present will never produce accurate results