On September 2, 1947, exactly seventy-seven years ago, something important happened in the history of African Christianity. The Celestial Church of Christ was formed by a carpenter named Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa, who was born in Dahomey, which is today in Benin (CCC). With time, this church would emerge as one of the most significant and widely distributed African-founded congregations, especially in Nigeria and the African diaspora.
Following his survival of a perilous wilderness expedition, Oshoffa is reported to have gotten a spiritual epiphany that served as the impetus for the establishment of the CCC. On September 10, 1985, thirty-eight years after founding the church, Oshoffa passed away tragically in an automobile accident that claimed the lives of all those inside.
Although his passing signaled the end of an era for the CCC, the faith’s millions of believers around the globe ensure that his influence endures. Oshoffa was interred at the Celestial City in Imeko, Nigeria, a town with great spiritual significance for churchgoers.
The Celestial City is the spiritual home of the church and a destination for believers who come to honor their founder and take part in yearly religious celebrations. The Celestial Church of Christ is an essential component of the religious legacy of the continent because of Oshoffa’s vision and spiritual guidance, which have had a lasting impact on the development of African Christianity.
