₦airaland Forum

@ this thread: thanks all for your concern, interest and reactions so far on this thread.

As I read the various reactions to this post, I am happy at the fact that someone out there is benefiting by gaining useful information about the enigma called 'Cele' while others are having the opportunity to air their candid opinion about the church; Celestial Church of Christ.

The truth about 'Cele', is something a lot of people are already familiar with but some of these people will either choose to doubt those facts or simply decide to either deny or ignore them.

TRUTH 1.
Constitution.
The 'CONSTITUTION' of Celestial Church of Christ is an authoritative book that tells us about how 'Cele' and a lot of the things (doctrine) associated with 'Cele' came to be.

To me, I see the book more of a detailed corporate dairy telling us on a step by step basis, what came up, when and how.
Narrated events include eye witness details, responses and even expressions of utter disbelief, shock and surprise by those directly involved in those events and sometimes, third parties.

The miracles that God wrought through the hands of the founder, S.B.J. Oshoffa of blessed memory, were not out-of place, impossible, or to be perceived as make-believe especially if you read about the various shocking events and miracles involving the Apostles as narrated in the book of ACTS in the Bible.

If you believe the book of ACTS, then you should have reasons to believe miracles narrated in the Celestial Church 'CONSTITUTION'.

I have a physical copy of the book which I have read from back to back.
You can find an online version of the 'CONSTITUTION' here: http://www.celestialchurch.com/aboutus/reference/constitu.htm

TRUTH 2.
Doctrine.
The use of candles, sutana, alter, incense, etc may be regarded by other Christian bodies as being archaic (belonging to OLD Testament) but I can authoritatively and proudly tell anyone that 'CELE' is but a
church of the future and truly an earthly picture of what obtains in Heaven.
Were it not so, the book of REVELATION (which tells of things to come and also describes Heaven) would not have mentioned the 7-stand alter/lampstand, 'Sutana' (white garment), use of candles/lamps etc all of which 'Cele' uses.

TRUTH 3.
'Cele' is bad!
That is a song several people are singing today but you and I know that it is not 'Cele' that is truly bad but corrupt Prophets and Shepherds in the fold, who have taken an undue advantage of the helpless members just as the two sons of ELI did to the worshipers at the Temple in the days of boy-Samuel whom God raised up to take their positions and indeed, the position of the Levites clan before God was lost forever owing to that fact.
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing OCCULTIC about our mode/way of worship as outlined in the ORDER OF SERVICE which we follow.

TRUTH 4.
Leadership problems.
When 'PAPA' was alive, all went well but since he died, there have being all manner of administrative problems, anarchy and general chaos in the polity of the church.
The CONSTITUTION states that the successor to the Founder will be CHOSEN / APPOINTED by GOD but surprisingly 'Cele' ( a spiritual church) decided to drag itself in the mud by entering into an embarrassing leadership tussle leading to unending lawsuits and the emergence and parade of more than 200 self acclaimed, man-appointed
'PASTORs'.
As far as the people involved are concerned, the CONSTITUTION is not in their favor and would rather appoint themselves as Pastors rather than wait for God to choose who leads 'Cele'.
The book (constitution) says that whomever God chooses through the ranks, even if he is merely a 'Brother' which is the lowest rank (not a Leader or Evangelist), the church must obey and follow him.
But see what the church has turned to today?

TRUTH 5.
Finance.
'Cele' as far as I am concerned is the largest christian denomination competing favorably with the Catholic church population-wise, anywhere on the globe.
Take any small community in Lagos for instance, you will find not less than 3 parishes within an area. Most Pentecostal churches don't have these sort of spread.
In spite of our massive congregational size, 'Cele' as a body has no school (not even Nursery school), hospital, social facility, or any facility whatsoever to our credit.
Whatever facility you find working or operational in 'Cele' is simply by someone's solo effort.
The 'IMEKO CATHEDRAL' that 'PAPA' started is still there, unfinished.
Where are all the tithes, contributions, levies and more importantly anointment levies being sunk into. Where do they disappear to?
When will 'Cele' grow up to have powerful projects such as Hospitals and Universities?

THE ANSWER
When the Head is bad, the Body is likewise ill.
All the wrong perceptions, wrong assumptions and general bad image that 'Cele' has are as a result of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES not following the due process of counting on GOD, the owner of the church, to put His own man at the helm of affairs of the church.
If that man were allowed to take the mantle of leadership, the church will suddenly transform from its terrible dis-honorable state, to a state of Heavenly splendor and glory which God has purposed for it.

The coming of that God-chosen man and the reality of his being allowed to take control of the church partly lies on our collective shoulders as members, to stand up for truth and godly justice (not lawsuits in the courts) in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the church.
We should stop standing in the way of God or trying to help Him do His job by applying our crude human wisdom in the administration of Celestial Church of Christ!

Here is the truth about 'Cele':

The church itself as a religious entity is okay.
The use of white garment, white candles, perfumes, the alter, holy water and incense and even walking barefooted (ONLY within the church or whenever one is in the 'Sutana' ) are all based in the bible.

Some of these things are cited in the old testament while the rest are mentioned in the new testament especially the book of Revelation.

Either way, they are all from the bible.
I know some Christians don't have the old testament in their holy book but if the old testament was no longer useful because Jesus came, He wouldn't have mentioned that He had not come to destroy the law (old testament) but rather to fulfill it.

In any case, I don't see any colors being purer or holier than white. Likewise, if the other things were not holy, they would not have been mentioned in the bible at all.

The problem however, is that owing to the immense spiritual powers and gifts descended on the church and its members especially during the life of the late Pastor and founder, S.B.J. Oshoffa of blessed memory, a lot of half baked converts in the church started using those powers to perpetrate evil.

This is quite evident with the hoard of fake prophets within the Celestial church fold who are actually wolves in sheep's clothing. The Lord knows these evil people and He is doing something about them.

Fake prophets and shepherds in 'Cele' do not therefore mean that the church itself is fake or bad.
I am a Celestian and I know what I am talking about.

The main problem about 'Cele' today is the leadership cum followership.

Most leaders proclaim themselves 'Pastor's because of the huge financial gains they will be open to by way of access to the treasury of the church.
This is because anointment is 'Cele' is paid for by members wishing to move to higher ranks and as such the amount of money the authorities rake in every year through the anointment exercise is mind blowing.
Access to that 'easy money' is what is causing the various models of anarchy in the ranks of the celestial church authorities. Cele was meant to have and continue to have one general Pastor all over the world but at some point earlier this year, we recorded more than 200 self acclaimed 'Pastor's!

Also, the evils that some of the followers (ordinary members) perpetrate in their neighborhoods or in public through their day to day activities have made non-members to see 'cele' as a bad church.
Most members forget that the white garment they wear portray them as ambassadors for Christ but I am personally embarrassed when I see a member in white insulting or even cursing a conductor in a public bus.
Celestians, where is our godliness?

Inspite of all these however, some members and indeed certain 'Cele' parishes have distinguished themselves as focused spiritual entities and have not joined in any evils or soiled their spiritual whiteness.

If you have had a bad experience with 'cele', I would say it was a personal thing, not general.

Should you would want to find out more about the real Celestial church of Christ, the details, the history, the full undiluted truth; email me for the documents and a copy of the constitution. Email address: successprayers@gmail.com
Helpline: +234-9011617876

Are you in confusion about which way your life is facing?

Inquire from GOD which way of success and prosperity to really go as you get solutions to your problems.

Are you facing any of the under-listed problems?

* Social problems
* Late marriage
* Spiritual problems
* Career problems
* Childlessness
* Physical problems
* Enemy attacks
* Depression
* Etc, etc

ASK GOD FOR A WAY OUT at: http://success-prayers..com/
Get answers in your email box.

God will answer you!

SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRIES
LAGOS NIGERIA
+234-819-156-2198

Are you facing any of the under-listed problems?

* Social problems
* Late marriage
* Spiritual problems
* Career problems
* Childlessness
* Physical problems
* Enemy attacks
* Depression
* Etc, etc

Let us pray with you over your situation.
You shall have a joyous turn-around for good!

MAKE A PRAYER REQUEST at: http://success-prayers..com/

God shall answer you!

SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRIES
LAGOS NIGERIA
+234-819-156-2198

Are you in confusion about which way your life is facing?

Inquire from GOD which way of success and prosperity to really go as you get solutions to your problems.

Are you facing any of the under-listed problems?

* Social problems
* Late marriage
* Spiritual problems
* Career problems
* Childlessness
* Physical problems
* Enemy attacks
* Depression etc

ASK GOD FOR A WAY OUT at: http://success-prayers..com/
Get answers in your email box.

God will answer you!

SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRIES
LAGOS NIGERIA
+234-819-156-2198

It is amazing that several months after my last post on this thread, various types of reactions have flooded my mailbox.

In all of these, however, one thing has remained clear; the public is appreciative of the fact that they are at-least able to get an insider glimpse into the enigma called 'Cele'

One thing I promised you in my last post on this issue is to call a spade a spade.
If there are issues not yet touched or not clearly highlighted, I will not only through a spot light on it but will actually apply a FLOODLIGHT so we can all understand what exactly is going on in 'Cele.'

In one of the reaction mails I got, someone asked if 'Cele was a true church judging by the leadership problems the church is faced with.

For the benefit of the general public, I decided to paste a copy of my reply to that question here.
Please, see below:

Honestly (on neutral grounds), the ongoing leadership problems in the
Celestial church are basically a temporary political storm which has no bearing
with the spiritual endowment, legality and mission of the said church.

A very simple test of logical reasoning will show that 25 years after
the Founder (S.B.J. Oshoffa of blessed memory) died, the church has
remained 'One CELE' despite all the noise and leadership tussle .
Anywhere you go the world over, walking bare footed in the garment
'Sutana', mode of worship, service periods, annual celebration of
harvest thanksgiving service, use of white candles, incense burning and chanting Halleluyah have remained
the same.
Frankly speaking, no single tenet, doctrine or mode of worship has
changed ever since despite the massive number of parishes and factions that have emerged,
home and abroad.

You see, once a 'Cele' parish or faction changes any of the generic
properties of the native 'Cele' church, then it no longer remains 'Cele' but
another denomination altogether.

No matter what happens, if any worshiper, parish or faction decides to
put on shoes while on 'Sutana' then the whole world immediately tells,
"This is not Cele!"

'Cele' is not a church anyone or group will stand advocacy for. It is
able to stand for and defend itself.

The leadership problems should not have occurred had the board of
trustees not tempered with the succession clause in the Celestial
Church of Christ Constitution that states that the successor after the founder will be
spiritually appointed by God and may be a young man from any of the low ranks.
But men being what they are, became supposedly more intelligent than
God and felt His methods were too sluggish and perhaps stupid, so they amended it to say
the successor could be appointed by the trustee on the order of Rank Seniority
and/or merit.

That action heralded the witnessing of over 200 candidates aspiring to
(and getting to) a single pastoral office which consequently had to be
divided into tiny fragments to accommodate the vast number of
ambitious Pastors!

In summary, Cele is a tightly integrated and highly unified church.
Even if a million Pastors assume the pastoral seat at once and compete
for space, church returns and Supremacy; Celestians all over the world
will always greet one another 'Halleluyah' and sing the same song
'Jeri-Mo-Yamah!'

-- End of reply --

Reader comments, questions, criticisms and reactions are welcome.
Kindly forward a mail to me at successprayers@gmail.com

Remain blessed,
Chris Matthew
(Evangelist, Celestial Church of Christ)
+234-702-801-8256
SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRY
http://success-prayers..com/

Are you going through hard and difficult times?

Are you having problems socially, spiritually, financially, academically or is your love-life in turmoil and confusion?

God will help you if you turn to Him.

There is nothing impossible for God to do through prayers,

Let us pray with you on your situation.

Submit a prayer request online at: http://success-prayers..com/

Hotline: +234-702-801-8256
Email: successprayers@gmail.com

SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRIES
LAGOS NIGERIA

Are you going through hard and difficult times?

Are you having problems socially, spiritually, financially, academically or is your love life in turmoil and confusion?

God will help you if you turn to Him.

Is any of these your challenge?

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other problems

There is nothing impossible for God to do through prayers,

Let us pray with you on your situation.

Submit a prayer request: http://success-prayers..com/

Hotline: +234-702-801-8256

If you are in dire need of help spiritually, financially, emotionally or you feel your situation is way too terrible, talk with someone who will help you.

Speak with God, tell Him about your situation.
He will help you.

Submit a prayer request at http://success-prayers..com/

Jehovah God will listen to you.
He cares.

Have you found yourself in a terrible situation?

Are you in need of help from GOD?
Do you need the favor of God or you need God to bless your endeavors?

Call for prayers online at: http://success-prayers..com/

or

Call +234-819-156-2198

God will answer you!

A Helping Hand for You
If you are in dire need of help spiritually, emotionally or you feel your situation is way too terrible, talk with someone who will help you.

Speak with God, tell Him about your situation.
He will help you.

Submit a prayer request at http://success-prayers..com/

God will listen to you.
He cares.
+234-702-801-8256

Seek God's help over your life's challenges through prayers.

Challenges such as:

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other unlisted problems

Nothing is impossible for God to do
Let us pray with you over those problems weighing you down.

Submit a prayer request with us
http://success-prayers..com
SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRY
Mail: successprayers@gmail.com
Hot-line: 07028018256

Good praying habits go a long way, indeed

Are you going through hard and difficult times?

Are you having problems socially, spiritually, financially, academically or is your love live in turmoil and confusion?

God will help you if you turn to Him.

There is nothing impossible for God to do through prayers,

Let us pray with you on your situation.

Submit a prayer request: http://success-prayers..com/

Hotline: +234-702-801-8256

Neat Toyota Sienna for sale.

Automatic transmission, 4 cylinder engine, excellent condition.

Price: N1.1M

View picture and full specs at http://www.nigerianautoguide.com/

Are you finding it difficult securing your dream job?

Are you having nightmares in any of these areas?

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other unlisted problems

Nothing is impossible for God to do
Let us pray with you over those problems weighing you down.

Submit a prayer request with us
http://success-prayers..com
SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRY
Mail: successprayers@gmail.com
Hot-line: 07028018256

Would you want to find your perfect spouse stress-free?

Are you having nightmares in any of these areas?

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other unlisted problems

Nothing is impossible for God to do
Let us pray with you over those problems weighing you down.

Submit a prayer request with us
http://success-prayers..com
SUCCESS PRAYER MINISTRY
Mail: successprayers@gmail.com
Hot-line: 07028018256

Hi Yommyuk,

Don't you feel the volume of your biblical quotes in this thread is overshadowing whatever message you are trying to pass across to members of the online community?

Do not forget that not so many people will have the time and space to read through all those quotes to be able to find your 'message'.

In any case, I feel your message here (whatever it is) is likely to be more of a personal sermon as you have not told us you are an authority on 'Cele' issues.

Let us not misguide the public.

If you have an illness that is terminal or serious, call on the Lord to forgive your sins and heal you.

Nothing is too difficult for God to do.

Let us pray with you.

Make a prayer request at: http://success-prayers..com/

Here is the truth about 'Cele':

The church itself as a religious entity is okay.
The use of white garment, white candles, perfumes, the alter, holy water and incense and even walking barefooted (ONLY within the church or whenever one is in the 'Sutana' ) are all based in the bible.

Some of these things are cited in the old testament while the rest are mentioned in the new testament especially the book of Revelation.

Either way, they are all from the bible.
I know some christians don't have the old testament in their holy book but if the old testament was no longer useful because Jesus came, He wouldn't have mentioned that He had not come to destroy the law (old testament) but rather to fulfill it.

In any case, I don't see any colors being purer or holier than white. Likewise, if the other things were not holy, they would not have been mentioned in the bible at all.

The problem however, is that owing to the immense spiritual powers and gifts descended on the church and its members especially during the life of the late Pastor and founder, S.B.J. Oshoffa of blessed memory, a lot of half baked converts in the church started using those powers to perpetrate evil.

This is quite evident with the hoard of fake prophets within the Celestial church fold who are actually wolves in sheep's clothing. The Lord knows these evil people and He is doing something about them.

Fake prophets and shepherds in 'Cele' do not therefore mean that the church itself is fake or bad.
I am a Celestian and I know what I am talking about.

The main problem about 'Cele' today is the leadership cum followership.

Most leaders proclaim themselves 'Pastor's because of the huge financial gains they will be open to by way of access to the treasury of the church.
This is because anointment is 'Cele' is paid for by members wishing to move to higher ranks and as such the amount of money the authorities rake in every year through the anointment exercise is mind blowing.
Access to that 'easy money' is what is causing the various models of anarchy in the ranks of the celestial church authorities. Cele was meant to have and continue to have one general Pastor all over the world but at some point earlier this year, we recorded more than 200 self acclaimed 'Pastor's!

Also, the evils that some of the followers (ordinary members) perpetrate in their neighborhoods or in public through their day to day activities have made non-members to see 'cele' as a bad church.
Most members forget that the white garment they wear portray them as ambassadors for Christ but I am personally embarrassed when I see a member in white insulting or even cursing a conductor in a public bus.
Celestians, where is our godliness?

Inspite of all these however, some members and indeed certain 'Cele' parishes have distinguished themselves as focused spiritual entities and have not joined in any evils or soiled their spiritual whiteness.

If you have had a bad experience with 'cele', I would say it was a personal thing, not general.
If you would want to find out more about the real Celestial church of Christ, the details, the history, the full undiluted truth; email me for the documents and a copy of the constitution. Email address: successprayers@gmail.com

Anyone who has ever attended a church in Nigeria would be familiar with the phrase; 'Your life will never remain the same'.

This popular phrase is a member of several other concocted phrases which are members of the 'Dangerous prayers' family.

For the simple minded christian, it is always easier to quickly say 'Amen' to it than to try and understand its meanings both implied and direct.

Any student of the English language would agree that it is a phrase that is both vague (empty) and ambiguous (could have other meanings).

There are three reasons any discerning christian should check well before answering an 'Amen' to any prayers said with such a phrase.

REASON 1
It carries other meanings.
Given the scenario that a young man whom God has done so well for being wealthy and happily married with children has come to the church to offer praises and thanksgiving to God as a show of appreciation; then the Pastor comes forward to bless such a man with additional prayers and he says to the rich man 'your life will never remain the same!'

Well, that would mean the Pastor is asking that the man's present situation should change, but to what?
Since the young man is already rich, healthy and happily married with children; therefore, the Pastor is simply requesting the opposite (which is adversity) for the rich young man!
Correct me if I'm wrong.

REASON 2
It is an incomplete prayer key.
Two things I have discovered about prayers, answers to prayers and miracles is that
(1.) You must ask for help
(2.) You must indicate the type of help you need.

In all the places and situations in which Jesus and his disciples performed miracles as narrated in the bible, each of the beneficiaries (the people who were healed) asked for help either verbally or by indicating and exercising their faith through action. The story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus's cloak is an example.

Also, merely asking Jesus to help was not enough as in most cases, when He was asked for help, He would ask, 'What may I do for you?'.

HE already knew what sort of help these people needed but He only wanted them to fulfill the biblical injunction that: 'Salvation is by confession and confession by mouth'.

It is expected that a christian should speak-up through prayer (asking for help) and be concise ( indicating type of help needed)

Hence when a Pastor prays for change and does not indicate the type of change, the equation is unbalanced and there could be more problems as the agents of darkness could hijack the situation to their evil advantage.

This is the reason asking too many things in a single prayer is not always good because in the end, the focus of the prayer is lost and it becomes more of mere jabbing and a merry-go-round prayer.

Some one who continually asks, 'Lord, I need a wife' will get a faster answer than someone who is asking for 30 things in a single prayer session. Reason? The first man has a focus, he is concise but the other man does not really know what he wants.

REASON 3
Ever wondered why ministers from more than 70% of various christian denominations in Nigeria are shouting this common phrase ('Your life will not remain the same')?

First, asides the two reasons given above, it will appear that they have generally adopted it as some form of faith slogan in the christiandom just as 'Eko o ni baje' has become a song in Lagos.

A lot of Pastors just join the chorus and sing along with the rest without questioning the rationale and implications of some of these traditions they have either imported or downloaded from other religious systems.

It has become more of a fashion to speak or minister 'in the fashion of XYZ'.
Young Pastors who have just joined the ministry simply buy tapes and vidoes of other ministers who have being in the field longer and simply mimic their moves and styles. Why?

If God has called someone truly, he wouldn't need to follow the patterns of Pastor ZOOM before he will become a successful or celebrated minister.
This sort of 'follow follow' syndrome could easily give away fake Ministers who are out to deceive the people.

Take the case of Moses in the bible, he wasn't a good orator and Aaron usually fronted for him, speaking and ministering to the people on Moses's behalf yet Moses was the one celebrated.
It is the same thing even now. It is not until a minister follows the crowd before he can be celebrated. In fact, the more unique a Minister in his methods, the higher the celebration he is likely to get.

In conclusion,
make sure you truly understand what your Pastor is requesting on your behalf next time you are before him for prayers before you say your 'AMEN.'

Really, it is more of personal relationship with God and of-course faith to believe in those messages or visions received.

The book of Job says that God speaks to us in various ways and dreams are part of such ways.

Everyone has ways God speaks to them.

Re: Nairaland Christian E-Fellowship
« #31 on: August 11, 2008, 05:04 PM »

Quote from: ima1 on August 11, 2008, 04:57 PM
wow thanks for coming up with this idea, proves no one can say they did not have the opportunity to serve God, i am happy to be part of it, n thanks to Gamine for todays word, hope this would become a daily bible reading thing, especially for me because i don't read the bible much, if i could come online and get a dose of the bible then its a great thing.

I pray it happens, sister. That is my desire and much more.

And talking about prayers, do you realize that prayer requests can also be submitted online?

Just as physical direct prayers can be effective, online prayer requests are just as powerful.

The same God works His miracles all over irrespective of boundaries, media color or race.

Submit a prayer request at http://success-prayers..com/
See for yourself.

Certainly, this is a question that would amaze anyone who has ever designed a thing or planned an event.

Every man-made object we see around us or use, has a design.
If there is a design, certainly, there is a designer.

If you have ever used a car or entered into an airplane, ship or a new car you will certainly appreciate the elegance and importance of designs. There would never be a design if there never was a designer.

Now, if these things made by man amaze anyone for whatever reasons, wouldn't we agree that man himself must have been made (designed) by a designer?

Look at the similarity between the human brain and the computer, the human eyes and the camera and several other things around us. These are all enough proofs that somewhere out there, there is a supreme designer and indeed a creator who creates all things visible and otherwise, little or great earthly or heavenly.

If you still doubt the existence of God (the grand creator), answer this question: Did you design and create yourself?

Would you want to find your perfect spouse stress-free?

Are you having nightmares in any of these areas?

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other unlisted problems

Nothing is impossible for God to do
Let us pray with you over those problems weighing you down.

Submit a prayer request with us
http://success-prayers..com

Mail: successprayers@gmail.com
Hot-line: 07028018256

Are you in deep spiritual problems?

Are you having nightmares in any of these areas?

* Childlessness
* Visa application approval problems
* No spouse
* No job
* No Money
* No Shelter
* No promotion
* No happiness
* Critically or terminally ill
* Demonic attack
* Marine Spirit possessed
* Legal issues
* Other unlisted problems

Nothing is impossible for God to do
Let us pray with you over those problems weighing you down.

Submit a prayer request with us
http://success-prayers..com/

Mail: successprayers@gmail.com
Hot-line: 07028018256
or