Celica Church of Christ was established through the injunction of the Holy spirit on November 15th, 1992 at Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria and was announced to the world via a press conference on that day .In an extra research on the name of the church, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), London programme on Africa made the world to understand that the word CELICA has origin in Hebrew ,Spanish and Greek languages. Celica is among the galaxy of stars and it is the brightest.It is the holiest of the holiest among the Celestial bodies.Spiritually it is called the Most Glorious Church of Christ from Heaven. The Church can be distinguished by its chant of Hosanna and the mode of dressing, a white garment with a blue cross at left hand side of the garment .The logo of the church is an eye ,a cross and bible. The church believes in the efficacy of prayers and guidance by the Holy Spirit in all its programmes.
THE ESTABLISHMENT
Prophet Adetunji Adeonigbagbe was a shepherd in the Celestial Church of Christ and he headed the Km 7 Parish, New Ife Road, Ibadan .Before the demise of the founder of the Celestial church, Pastor Oshoffa the Lord had continually shown prophet Adeonigbagbe in a vision, a golden cup which was full of dirt inside and outside.The Lord told him to wash the cup, as he washed the cup, it continually became more dirty then the Lord told him that if he was not allowed to wash the cup, he should ask for a new golden cup but he declined repeatedly.In another vision Papa Oshoffa appeared to Prophet Adeonigbagbe he showed him (Adeonigbagbe) 21 louvers of glass of which 18 had been broken. He told prophet Adeonigbagbe to try and join the louvers together again. All this he relayed to Papa Oshoffa before his demise.His love for the Celestial Church then was great but all God’s words spoke to the church through him and other prophets were not strictly adhered to.The Lord Jesus Christ asked prophet Adeonigbagbe to seal the altar for 3 months and that all members, himself inclusive, must revert back to the ordinary glorious garment of the lowest cadre.The Lord said fighting for positions of authority was tearing the Celestial church apart and the most of the leaders there had no reverence for the Lord.The Lord Jesus Christ said he wanted humility in his church and reverence for his name. In 1992, the Lord Jesus Christ came to Prophet Adeonigbagbe again and asked him to ask for the descent of a new cup he declined as before but the Lord opened his mouth spiritually and the golden cup descended (a new dispensation).In one of the visions, a dove which spiritually signifies love, purity, peace and humility brought two leaves, one dried and one fresh, on the fresh leaf, it was written “Celica Church of Christ, the most glorious Church of Christ from Heaven. In a vision some weeks before the descent of the new cup Papa Oshoffa led prophet Adeonigbagbe outside to a path and showed him a river. There were many people inside the river, it was polluted and dirty. Papa Oshoffa said he (Oshoffa) had allowed people into the river exclusively given to him by God and that they had polluted it. He led him to another river and said this will be your river now, you can see it is very clean and not polluted; do not let anyone fetch water from it except you. He said these words in Yoruba “Odo kan, Orisun kan” which translates as “One River, One Source”. In Celestial Church of Christ, Yemetu, Ibadan, the Director of Prophets/Prophetesses Snr Evangelist S. Ayo Bode now Most Senior Bishop (Prof) S. Ayo Bode (in the Celican fold) had been directed spiritually by the Lord that he was going to be shown the new pastor he had chosen. As Snr Evangelist Bode was in his house one day, a Celestial prophet in spirit drove to his house and told him to follow him. The prophet, though in spirit, drove all the way to Celestial Church, Km 7, Ife Oluwatedo Avenue, Ibadan, on the way he requested for a chalk and they got one. When they reached the church premises there was no-one in sight so the prophet went to the door of the shepherd of the parish prophet Adeonigbagbe and wrote the Angelic language “EPASTORAL” which means the Pastor.
In another vision the Lord called Rev. Oshoffa, the Lord asked for the spiritual object deposited with him, Rev. Oshoffa said he had given it to an elderly prophet but the Lord Jesus Christ said this (Prophet Adeonigbagbe) is the rightful owner. The spiritual object was brought and the Lord placed the object inside Prophet Adeonigbagbe’s body and it spiritually entered and disappeared within his body!The Lord said here is a seal of my covenant with you"Agbara Awamaridi: the unsearchable divine power of God".
On October 28th, 1992 prophet Adeonigbagbe received three visitors spiritually and they (the four of them) went round the church auditorium seven times. These three visitors were Prophet Moses Orimolade Tunolase, Founder, Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, Founder ,Christ Apostolic Church and Rev. Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa, Founder, Celestial Church of Christ all of blessed memory. After going round the church they told prophet Adeonigbagbe they had finished their assignment on earth that it was now his turn and they passed the spiritual baton to him.This was one of the confirmations that he was being sent on a mission by God to the world.The Lord told him his call is divine and that he should open his bible and read Isaiah chapters 60 and 61 for the foundation of his call.The Lord Jesus Christ told him that during the time of Rev. Oshoffa a song was sung for him “Jesu ti joba (2ce) bi aiye fe bi aiye ko, Jesu ti joba” but that during his own time (Adeonigbagbe) this song will always be sung to herald the Christ who works through the founder “Kabiyesi, hosanna, eyin Jesu Kristi, Oba aiku, Egbe ga, Eyin Jesu o, Eyin Jesu Kristi, Oba aiku. At the inception of the church several top echeleon in the Celestial church fold raised so much opposition that they said at several periods that the church will not last for 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 7 years before folding off.
Prophet Adeonigbagbe answered with the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5 vs. 34-39”For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail; But if it is from God you will not be able to stop them; you will only find yourself fighting against God; however we boldly say we must obey God rather than men” since the establishment of the church is by divine order. Prophet Adeonigbagbe is also strengthened by the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who called him, in the book of John 16 vs. 33”In this world you will have trouble; but take heart! I have overcome the world! and also from the book of psalms 62 vs. 1-2”My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him; he alone is my rock and salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken”.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna!