Reverend Pastor Prophet Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa
Birth and Early Life
Date of Birth: May 18, 1909
Place of Birth: Porto-Novo, French Dahomey (now Benin Republic)
Parents:
Father: Oshoffa (a carpenter and a devout Methodist Christian of Egba origin from Abeokuta, Nigeria)
Mother: Alake Iyafo, who was from Imeko- afon, Ogun State.
Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa was born into a Christian home and was raised in the Methodist faith. His father, who longed for a male child after many years of waiting, dedicated him to the service of God even before his birth — a promise that would later influence his spiritual destiny.
Education and Early Career
Oshoffa had formal education in French and English, and he initially worked as a carpenter and trader. He lived a quiet and industrious life in Dahomey, known for his honesty and craftsmanship.
The Founding Vision (1947)
The defining moment of Oshoffa’s life occurred on 23 May 1947, after an extraordinary spiritual experience during an eclipse of the sun while he was in the forest near Porto-Novo.
He had gone there to look for ebony wood but reportedly became lost in the wilderness for three months. During that period of isolation, he claimed to have received a divine revelation and spiritual anointing directly from God.
According to his testimony:
He heard a heavenly voice commissioning him to preach repentance and salvation.
He received gifts of healing, prophecy, and spiritual discernment.
He was instructed to found a new church, which would later become the Celestial Church of Christ (Église du Christianisme Céleste).
When he eventually returned to civilization, many were astonished by his survival and the spiritual power that began to manifest in him — including miraculous healings and prophecies.
Establishment of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC)
Date of Founding: September 29, 1947
Place: Porto-Novo, Benin Republic
Oshoffa began preaching, and people from different Christian and traditional backgrounds began to follow him after witnessing healings, visions, and deliverances.
In 1951, the church was officially named “Celestial Church of Christ.”
The church expanded rapidly in Dahomey and neighboring countries, especially Nigeria, where Oshoffa relocated permanently in 1976 after facing religious persecution in Benin.
Growth and Spread in Nigeria
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the church gained thousands of followers almost immediately. The movement resonated with Nigerians because it combined:
Christian teachings,
African spirituality, and
Prophetic worship patterns.
The church emphasized holiness, divine healing, visions, angelic worship, and strict moral codes.
Key milestones:
First Nigerian Parish: Makoko, Lagos (founded by Sup. Evang. Alexander Bada in 1951; recognized by Oshoffa in 1976).
Headquarters in Nigeria: Imeko, Ogun State — now the international headquarters and site of the church’s annual pilgrimage.
Doctrines and Practices Introduced by Oshoffa
Oshoffa received spiritual revelations that shaped the church’s doctrines, such as:
Wearing white garments (Sutana) symbolizing purity.
Worship on Sundays, but also with strong emphasis on spiritual consultation and visions.
Use of holy water, incense, candles, and biblical symbolism in prayer.
Barefoot worship, following the biblical example of Moses on holy ground.
No use of alcohol, tobacco, or charms.
Strong belief in angelic communication, prophetic visions, and miracles.
Leadership Style and Personality
Oshoffa was known as a humble, spiritual, and deeply charismatic leader.
He emphasized love, peace, and purity among members.
He was regarded as a Prophet, Healer, and Teacher, and was often called Papa Oshoffa or Papa CCC.
He lived simply despite the large following he commanded.
Death
Date of Death: September 10, 1985
Place: Lagos, Nigeria
Cause: Injuries sustained in a car accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Burial: Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria — now the church’s international holy city.
After his death, leadership succession led to internal divisions within the church, but his spiritual legacy endures across continents.
Legacy
Today, the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has millions of members worldwide — in Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Oshoffa is revered by members as the divinely chosen founder, and his birthday and the church’s founding day are marked with major celebrations annually.
His vision created one of the most significant African Independent Churches, blending Christian theology with African spirituality and prophetic ministry.
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Summary
Aspect Details
Full Name Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa
Born May 18, 1909 – Porto-Novo, Benin Republic
Died September 10, 1985 – Lagos, Nigeria
Profession Carpenter, Prophet, Founder of CCC
Founded Church September 29, 1947
Headquarters Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria
Key Traits Visionary, Prophetic, Healer, Charismatic
Legacy Founder of one of Africa’s largest independent Christian churches
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
Reality TV star Phyna has offered words of encouragement to fellow Big Brother Naija winner Imisi amid a family feud between the latter and her mother.
In an X post on Monday, Phyna wrote,”To Imisi, @imisiofficial and to anyone walking through the same fire… I’m praying for your strength.
“My own experience broke me, but I’m slowly rising.
“And I’m rooting for you with everything in me, don’t handle it like I did, build strong and focus on you baby girl.”
The post comes against the backdrop of a family dispute in which Imisi’s mother accused her daughter of hatred and revealed the poor condition of the home where she currently lives, despite Imisi winning N150 million after her Big Brother victory.
Imisi replied in Yoruba,”This is why Aunty Debola said you should not show your face to the world. I can’t be saying all that now, you are in the midst of people. Just overlook everything and leave social media.
“Don’t worry, I will send you money to rent a new house. I am tired of all this drama. I am still recovering from the stress of Big Brother.
“Should I be facing another stress now? Please forgive me, I am your daughter.”
Recall Imisi’s mother has publicly expressed frustration on social media, saying she does not need her daughter’s money after being sidelined following the win.
She also blamed Imisi for recounting her childhood experiences, which she claims involve untrue allegations of parental neglect and sexual assault.
In a video, she showed the old house she currently resides in, saying she is content with her situation, a revelation that sparked online controversy.
In 2023, after Phyna’s BBNaija win, her father, Felix Otabor, revealed in an interview that he was distressed by his daughter’s actions following her BBNaija win.
Otabor said Phyna had asked him to stop working as a hearse driver and requested that he sell his cars, promising to improve the family’s life.
He said he later struggled financially after selling the vehicles, losing his business momentum and community position, and has not seen his daughter since her victory.
He described feeling sidelined while she enjoyed her wealth.
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has opened up about her marriage to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
It was reports that the embattled wife revealed why their seven-year relationship remained faithful despite his polygamous lifestyle.
In a reply to a comment on her Instagram page, Daniels said that during their years together, Nwoko never slept with other women outside their home because she held him well in the other room.
She wrote: “Yes i think he loved me but a toxic one! Because tell me why a polygamous man forgot what it meant to be in polygamy, except for the media.
“Just because it boosted his ego of being seen with multiple women which is easy by me because anyone that sees a man as an odogwu sees the wife as what? He basically had to beg that he share days at ours and other days with his other wives because they begged for his attention.
“Y’all should pls forget this yeye social media comparison because my ex man never slept outside one day in our 7 years of marriage. You know why? Because as a delta babe, I hold am well for the other room ladies use your skills that’s all men want actually!”
