By Eric Elezuo
The youths of Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Celestial Church of Christ have called on churches, both Pentecostal and orthodox to embrace unity and tolerance of one another in the quest to run the Christian race towards making heaven in the end.
The youths of the two strong Christian organisations, better referred to as white garment churches, made the call during a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, organized by the Proprietress of Esther Ajayi Foundation and Founder, Love of Christ Generation Church (C&S), based in London, England, Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi.
Addressing the conference, two youths that represented each of the organisations, Brother Qudus Patrick of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Sister Kehinde Akande of the Celestial Church of Christ, took time to intimate the audience on the need for unity among Christian groups, saying emphatically that white garment churches need not be discriminated against because they also believe in Jesus Christ and the bible, which is the Word of God.
“We understand that there are negative connotations against us. We want to make people, especially our fellow Christians, understand that we are also Christians. We believe, confess and profess Jesus Christ, just as we believe in the Word of God, the Bible,” Brother Patrick said.
In her address, Kehinde Akande, informed the audience that tolerating other sections of Christendom, will foster unity and living in one accord. She stated that the purpose of the entire Christian group is the one and the same, so long as they call on Christ and practice the doctrines of the bible, adding that the purpose is to make heaven at the end of the stay on earth.
“There is the need for all Christians to exist in one accord and live in unity without casting aspersions on another. Just because we wear white garment does not make us any different from the rest of Christendom. Our purpose is one and the same,” she said.
Akande added that come July 28, 2018, the world will see the difference in practicing Christianity when the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Celestial Church of Christ will come together as one to celebrate this year’s The Comforter at United Palace, Broadway, New York, United States of America. There, she stressed, God will experience in His omnipotence as powerful praises and worship among others will feature.
Supporting the duo as speakers were Odekunle Michael, Babaniji Oluwamayowa, Michael Oduyebo, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi (the Convener), Adetutu Ogunleye, Ayo Osho and Dr. Fatunloye, who is the music director.
Speaker after speaker, the youths who came all the way from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and from across Nigeria, harped on the unity of churches in Christendom, and called on those who have one negative thought or another about white garment churches to have a change of heart as there is no difference between the Christians that wear regular cloths and those that wear white garments. They condemned the situation where privileges are denied white garment church goers just because they are white garment church goers and nothing more.
Speaking on the forthcoming The Comforter 2018 annual celebration, the Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, London, and Convener of the meeting, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, stated that the essence of the celebration involving the two strong sects, is to disabuse the mind of the people as regards white garment churches, especially ‘those who are hypocritical about us’, stating emphatically that ‘the body of Christ is one, not divided’ according to 1 Corinthians 12:1 to end. She maintained that white garment churches are bible believing churches and should not be discriminated against while intimating that the reason behind holding the first edition in UK and the second edition in USA before bringing it down to the ‘root’, Nigeria, lies in the fact that the first two countries have what it takes to create the necessary awareness, moreover, UK happens to be the residence of the organizer and home country of the parent church.
She further informed that while the 2019 edition will be held in Nigeria, the 2020 edition will be held in Brazil.
Reverend Mother Ajayi also outlined the programmes that will take centre stage at the USA event to include performances from a mass choir comprising worshippers from both the C&S and CCC, power packed ministrations from notable artists such as Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, Lanre Teriba, Kirk Franklin among many others.
The woman, who is gloriously known as a giver, also stated that drama ministrations will also feature just as the presence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adegboye Alao, Mobina Oshoffa and many other influential personalities, who will be making valuable presentations, will spice up the gathering.
In addition, there will be distribution of the bibles and other great gifts to as many that will attend the celebration.
Reverend Mother Ajayi also stated emphatically that the basic idea of bring the C&S and CCC sects together is to create a positive impression in the minds of the people, and that on no account will the two churches merge to become one. This is simply because, according to her, both were founded on separate visions and callings, and so the possibility of merging is zero.
“C&S remains C&S and Cele remains Cele,” she concluded.
