Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is the leading Church in Nigeria fighting the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, the virus that has claimed many lives across the globe. And since February this year, the virus has been spreading across Nigeria. The Celestial Church is 100 per cent compliance with the government’s directives since day one, especially in Lagos and Ogun.
Even when the so-called big churches flouted government’s orders, the CCC was were one of the few churches in Nigeria that directed all its members to stay at home and keep social distancing.
Immediately Lagos state announced partial lockdown a few weeks back, the Pastor of CCC Worldwide, His Eminence Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Friday Bilehou Oshoffa, described COVID-19 as global pandemic and came out to state categorically that the Church was in total support of the government. He said he felt very disturbed by the developments triggered by the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
This is, therefore, a clarion call on all General Superintendents, Supervisors of Provinces, Circuit Heads and Shepherds-In-Charge of all parishes of the Celestial Church of Christ spread across the globe to ensure strict compliance to the measures put in place by governments in various countries to curtail the spread of the deadly virus”. He explained: “In line with the directives of the government, the following must be implemented to the letter with immediate effect: (1) Regular services, mid-week gatherings and night vigils that would attract 50 or more congregants are hereby suspended until further notice. (2) Dipping of hands into the sanctified water before entering the church sanctuary is suspended till further notice. (3) The ongoing anointment exercise at the Celestial City, Imeko, Ogun State, is temporarily suspended. A new date would be announced later.
4) The annual washing of feet programme at KLM 53 slated for the Easter period was also suspended.
5) The church workers retreat scheduled to take place at the Celestial City, Imeko, Ogun State in the last week of March 2020 was hereby postponed. A new date would be announced later.
6) Shepherds are to ensure that the bell is jingled for the bowing of heads at the appropriate times and hourly prayers for the church and country must be religiously observed.
7) Members of the CCC Worldwide are to observe hourly prayers in their homes in line with the rules and tenets of the church.
8) Members of the CCC are advised to uphold strict hygienic rules, ensure the regular use of sanitizers on their hands and avoid drinking from the same cup with others. Close contact with others in public places should also be avoided.
9) Each parish should set up a maximum of 21-member prayer team comprising all units in the parish during this period to pray for Nigeria and the World at large, regarding this COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Another thing the church has done was to have unanimous posters in front of their Church and that says why CCC leaders are in support of government directives since the outbreak of the virus. Around March, when government directed all churches in Ogun, Lagos to keep social distancing, some big Churches (mostly Pentecostal Churches) didn’t obey the directive. During this period, the Celestial CCC had ordered all its members to stay at home. And since then, the Church members have been more than co-operative.
Below is the poster at every branch of the Church to inform and educate members about the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak. And this has put them above other Churches in the fight against the unseen enemy known as COVID-19.
