The members of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, have shown their grievances by contesting against the sitting pastor of the parish, Rev. EMF Oshoffa over an internal crisis.
The protesters, mainly youths, also protested against a parochial committee of the church, counting different allegations that include a change in district leadership and the head pastor allegedly performing ungodly activities.
In the meantime, a member of the church, who described the protest as an eye opener, has penned down a message about the crisis shared on WhatsUp Ibadan’s Instagram page.
He said: “When a worship centre is experiencing an internal crisis, it is not the building that is faced with the majority of the challenges. Often, the shepherds of that parish and the congregation are plunged into disarray, shrinking the size of worshipers as the peace, a prerequisite for worship, is jettisoned. The inability to manage the internal crisis in Celestial is one of the major factors that has affected the evolution of the church.
“One of the first generational parishes in our church in Oyo State, CCC Mokola Parish to be precise, is experiencing a crisis that seems to be beyond the control of the Elders of the Parish.
“CCC Mokola Parish is a heart-loving parish to the pastor founder. The history of the parish is not completed without mentioning Rev. SBJ Oshoffa. He built the parish; he owned the parish; even the pastor was on his way to Mokola Parish for their 13th Adult Harvest in 1985 before he was involved in an accident.
“Currently, the parish recently celebrated their 50th-year adult harvest thanksgiving, where a short video emanated alleging their shepherd, the State Evangelist, in the person of VSE Noah praising a god during the service.
“The background of moving the seat of the State Evangelist from CCC Yemetu Parish to CCC Mokola Parish, Ibadan, started in Feb 2021 when the Elders of Yemetu rejected the transfer of their shepherd over the directives of the pastor.
“On Feb 8, 2021, the pastor directed that the pastor’s seat should be moved to CCC Mokola Parish.
“Rev. EMF Oshoffa invited CCC Yemetu on April 17 when the pastor came to open a parish at Iwo Road, Ibadan officially; CCC Yemetu stood on the ground to tactically support the registered BOT, which the pastor had dissolved with a letter addressed to the pastor on April 18, 2022; while the pastor quickly responded to the elders through a letter on April 20, 2022.
“The present moment at CCC Mokola Parish is the move by the youths to stage a protest to the pastor at his house in Magodo, Lagos, on the 20th of November 2022; a lot of drama occurred when the youths felt unsatisfied with the resolution”, he stated.