Difficult to fill vacuum left by CCC worldwide founder, Oshoffa —Prophet Soyemi

Prophet Emmanuel Soyemi is the chairman, Committee on the 70th anniversary of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide. He speaks on the experiences of the CCC, founded by Pastor Samuel Biléhou Joseph Oshoffa in 1947, and how the church plans to celebrate its anniversary, in this interview with BOLA BADMUS. Excerpts:

 

THE founder of the church, Pastor S.B.J. Oshoffa is no more. Has the vacuum he left been filled?

The vacuum he left has been difficult to fill. Nobody should deceive himself that it can be filled. Pastor Oshoffa was an exceptional human being. He was disciplined, transparent and gave willingly. He was also blessed with exceptional spiritual integrity. He was very humble and had no airs about himself.

 

You said the position he left has been difficult to fill. However, when you look at church leaders today, who can you compare him with?

No one. I could say Pastor E.A. Adeboye exhibits such as was Pastor Oshoffa’s humility. However, no one can compare with Pastor Oshoffa.

 

Can you tell us about the upcoming church’s 70th anniversary?

The event is to attest to what God has done among mankind by releasing this grace to celebrate these 70 years. We will also use the celebration to participate in our social responsibility to our environment. We intend to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East and the North-West. We also intend to visit motherless homes or homes for the aged. We intend to organise empowerment programmes and provide medical intervention for the people. We are planning some activities that we think we can do to benefit mankind. That is the purpose of the church. By March 31, we are going to unveil the anniversary logo. However, the activities would climax on September 29, 2017; the church was founded on September 29, 1947.

We will be at the Republic of Benin on May 31. That’s the date that commemorates the day the divine power from heaven really descended on Pastor S.B.J. Oshoffa. The church was revealed on September 29. The power came down on him while he was in the wilderness. So, we are going to start from there. We are also going to pray for this nation. That one will be done in Lagos on July 7.

 

With the 70-year experience the CCC has garnered, when you consider the place of Christianity in the country today, will you say the church has played its role effectively?

Spiritually, yes, the CCC, for instance, has been very popular over the years, in terms of significance. Sadly, overall, you know the world itself is growing old and faith is growing cold. This is affecting everybody, not just the CCC. Still, I would say the church has not done badly in its role with regards to making a positive effect globally.

 

There have been questions on the unity of the CCC. Is the church really united?

The church is one. Ambition may seem to have affected the church in some way but, it is the same mode of worship; the same doctrine. Why would you now say the church is not one?

 

What is your advice for leaders?

Most of our leaders, our national leaders, are disconnected from God. They should reconnect with God. If God puts you there, He puts you there. If a leader is disconnected from God, everything would be in shambles. That is the greatest problem we are facing.