Last week, we published the first part of Celica Church Of Christ founder, Prophet Emmanuel Adeonigbagbe’s interview. The extremely warm and compassionate man of God who is largely respected for his honesty, forthrightness and incredible knowledge of the word of God, shared with City People’ Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) the circumstances that led to his leaving the Celestial Church of Christ to start his own ministry called Celica Church of Christ in Ibadan. He also opened up on his closeness to late Reverend Oshoffa and how the Celica Church of Christ has been able to increase in size and congregation, with branches springing up within and outside the shores of Nigeria. He also talked about the church’s Prophet’s Anniversary coming up on 30th of August 2020. Here is the concluding part of the interview. Enjoy.
What sort of opposition did you experience within the Celestial Church Community? Did they embrace Celica Church of Christ from the start?
There was a lot of opposition. A lot of people insinuated that I broke away from CCC. Many of them never embraced Celica Church of Christ from the beginning and even till now; they never wanted to be associated with the church maybe they felt the church was coming as opposition to CCC. I believe they were trying to fight for God. Other White Garment and Spiritual Churches had been in existence before the coming of the CCC, Cherubim & Seraphim Church, Church of the Lord Aladura and Christ Apostolic Church and they were not disturbing each other.
Some people also left the church when the church started in the first few years, maybe they were afraid to leave their comfort zone but everyone who has ever stepped into the church knows the power of God and the Holy Spirit resides there.
Several top echelon 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 up. I answered with the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5 vs. 38-39 “For if our purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail; But if it is from God the church will continue to move forward since the establishment of the church is by divine order. I was also strengthened by the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ 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.” Many of them did not understand a spiritual process had taken place. That it was a spiritual call that took me out of the Celestial Church. This call was further buttressed for me by the appearance of the three Anointed Prophets before me. We (four of us) went round the church auditorium seven times. These three persons 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 me their assignments on earth was complete and they passed the spiritual baton to me.
It was only a few years after the establishment of the church that some CCC parishes started identifying openly with us by inviting us to their concerts & harvests and also coming to our concerts & harvests. There were some who could discern spiritually that Celica Church of Christ was descended from God and not a man-made idea. The then Oyo State Evangelist Baba Shobowale and his wife both of blessed memory came to meet me in 1992 to ask me about the establishment of the church. I narrated a few visions about the church and they were convinced about the call.
I also recall that in 2000 I was given an Award of Merit by the then Oyo State Evangelist, Baba Paul Maforikan.
A lot of people knew my closeness to Papa Oshoffa.
Papa Oshoffa before his demise had known that a new church was coming due to a series of visions shown to me and some of which I revealed to him. In one of the visions, Papa Oshoffa appeared to me. He showed him 21 louvres of glass of which 18 had been broken. He told me to try and join the louvres together again because I had the patience to do it. There is a mystery behind the 21 louvres but I will not say beyond this. In another vision, he led me outside to a path and showed me a river. There were many people inside the river, it was polluted and dirty. Papa Oshoffa said he had allowed people into the river exclusively given to him by God and that they had polluted it. He thus led me 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 to me in Yoruba, ‘Odo kan, Orisun kan.’ which translates as One River, One Source. In another vision Papa Oshoffa gave me as a gift, a Bible, a bell and a purple cloth these items have spiritual meanings.
The Lord Jesus Christ told me that during the time of Rev. SBJ Oshoffa this song was always sung for him “Jesu ti joba (2ce) bi aiye fe bi aiye ko, Jesu ti joba” translated as Jesus is Lord whether people acknowledge it or not, Jesus is Lord but that during my own time this song will always be sung, “Kabiyesi, Hosanna O, Eyin Jesu Kristi, Oba aiku, Egbe ga, Eyin Jesu O, Eyin Jesu Kristi, Oba Aiku translated as His Divine Majesty, praise the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of eternal life, glorify him, praise him, the King of eternal life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one manifesting his power through me. If I had no direct call I will still be in the Celestial fold.
Sir, despite the increasing number of religious houses in Nigeria the country still does not appear to be moving forward, what do you think the problem is?
There are four wives who are disturbing society. These four wives are money, position, power and fame. Everyone wants to marry them without minding the consequences. These four wives are the ones ruling the household instead of the husband. It’s so unfortunate that some of our religious leaders are also caught in the trap of the four wives.
As religious leaders, we must not shy away from the responsibility given to us by God. We have been appointed as watchmen. Religious leaders must speak out against the social injustice, social inequality, nepotism, unequal distribution of societal wealth, neglect of the masses, corrupt political leadership and other ills which disturb the society. We must always be like Samuel, Peter and Paul whom the spoils of office did not buy. We must not be like Gehazi and Judas Iscariot whom the spoils of office destroyed.
As religious leaders, we should say the truth without fear or favour to those in power.
Religious leaders should be a light for the nation as our Lord Jesus Christ was a light for the world. Our call in the Lord’s vineyard should be paramount above all things.
Nigeria and indeed the world at large is going through very difficult times right now. People are dying, the living are crying of hunger and there’s fear everywhere in the land, what do you see happening in the country within the next few months?
A revolution is coming; not a physical one but a spiritual revolution by the Lord. The Lord has been telling me this for the past 10 years. It is better the leaders in all sectors and countries get their acts together and address all issues squarely. The resources which God has endowed us with are enough to take care of our needs. In the Bible, the Lord Almighty took care of the Israelites for 40 years without them getting weary. They only had problems when they became disobedient to the directives of God.
It is time for all leaders to sit up including religious leaders. Everyone must put national interest above self-interest. This is what can put an end to the crisis currently in the world.
What about the educational system in Nigeria, what’s your take on it?
The educational system in Nigeria has collapsed gradually and there is so much decay in the system when compared to other countries even within Africa. The curriculum used in higher institutions is outdated. People are not doing research like before. Majority of the graduates are not employed after graduation. Why? It is a result of our faulty educational system which is not in tune with the current realities. Entrepreneurship was introduced of recent to the curriculum which is good for our development.
Moreover, network marketing should be included in the school curriculum. It is good for the development of our economy. The directors/owners of blue-chip companies and super entrepreneurs went abroad to study “network marketing as a course in higher institution. The network marketing coupled with advance technology is what the advanced countries are using now for development purposes. Jobs are being done through the internet nowadays. Network marketing is a separate course in the higher institutions abroad which is not in ours. l will want the government to look into this area for us to develop financially, economically and spiritually and meet up with the technologically advanced countries of the world.
What is your position on the current situation in Nigeria?
The problem has always been that political leaders have never appreciated the power of the spiritual realm. They have never trusted in the power of God and seek his guidance in all their affairs. They only believe in academic knowledge in seeking solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the country hence the crisis we face each day. You see the messages from God are usually sent to the individuals, institutions, government or nations concerned. We, however, discover most times the messages from the Lord are not strictly adhered and this disobedience by those in authority breeds chaos and disasters which is avoidable. God still speaks from his throne but it is people who fail to listen.
We have been sending a series of messages to the world since the church was established in 1992. Each year there are prophecies to the world on what will happen and 2020 has not been any different. God revealed many things to us and we passed them to the social media and to the people concerned both in Nigeria and globally. From our predictions this year, God revealed what will happen.
God has given us the spiritual solution to the pandemic before it even started and we have followed the instructions of God. The Lord revealed that a crisis will emanate from China which will affect the whole world.
During our prophet’s week anniversary in 1992, God told me there should not be a presidential election until 1996, that if we had an election before 1996, there wouldn’t be peace for 10 years in Nigeria. That is the genesis of the political crisis and problems we are still facing till date in the nation.
The Lord Almighty also said we should form a spiritual council made up purely of prophets from both Islamic and Christian faith. Let the prophets of God who are in spirit and steadfast in truth be members of the council.
They should be 12 each from both faiths; they will pray on the policies of Government and seek God’s directions on it. This should be replicated at the State and Local government levels respectively. Nigeria’s ship is sinking who will save it from capsizing. The technicalities have been sent to the federal government since 1992. The spiritual council is the answer.
Lastly, sir, what is your message to Nigerians?
We should all turn back to the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul. Nigeria as a nation needs to commune with God to seek his forgiveness over the innocent blood being shed daily, the injustice and wickedness perpetrated by the high and mighty and thereafter seek divine guidance in piloting our affairs.
We should be ready to be our brother’s keeper. We must go back to our source which is God Almighty.
