CCC Worldwide, PraiseVille clarify ministry-parish dichotomy

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide and PraiseVille Celestial have finally put to rest the confusion following the publication of an event flyer by the official media handle of the church, CCC Media.

The confusion was generated by the age long anxiety of all CCC members worldwide to start holding Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving event regardless of the grading; whether as a parish or ministry.

In the flyer, PraiseVille Celestial Showers, a part of the CCC family and located at No. 302A, along Muritala Mohammed Way, Yaba, in Lagos publicised events lined up to celebrate its anniversary.

A debate ensued when CCC Media shared the flyer on its platform on why it has to be so as the said church is not a parish but a ministry. And allegedly ministries are not allowed to hold the popular event.

In a press release made available to the newsmen, and signed by CCC Worldwide’s head of mediia, Superior Evangelist Dr Kayode Ajala, neither spiritual head nor Pastor-in-Council approved that ministries should hold harvest event by that singular act.

“Our attention has been drawn to the raging controversy ignited by our recent release titled ‘Updates: C.C.C. Adult Harvest Thanksgiving September/October 2022, which highlighted the Annual Adult Harvest and Thanksgiving of PraiseVille, headed by Superior Evangelist Kunle Hamilton.

“There are many insinuations, assertions and outright misinterpretations that our release is an endorsement and approval that ministries in the Celestial Church of Christ can now hold annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service.

“We wish to make it clear that neither His Eminence, Reverend EMF Oshoffa, nor Pastor-in-Council, CCC W/W has approved that ministries in the CCC can hold annual Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations,” he added.

Ajala also stated that there was nowhere in the flyer that PraiseVille was indicated to be a ministry or a parish.

“Nowhere in the PraiseVille Harvest flyer published by the CCC Media was it indicated that PraiseVille is a ministry and not a full fledged parish of the Celestial Church of Christ,” he wrote.

The CCC Worldwide’s head of media then appealed to members to allow the issue to rest and took full responsibility for the confusion.

“We take full responsibility for the error of publishing the PraiseVille flyer and apologise for the uproar it has generated so far.

“Ministries are not full-fledged parishes and cannot hold annual Adult Thanksgiving Celebration in the Celestial Church of Christ,” Ajala submitted.

In a swift response to this development, Superior Evangelist Dr Kunle Hamilton, Shepherd, CCC PraiseVille, confirmed that his church is a ministry and not a parish.

“Thank you for the clarification, my brother, Sup. Evang. Kayode Ajala. We move. God bless His Eminence, Pastor EMF Oshoffa as he continues to straighten things up for us all in this great Church. Halleluyah!

“Let me also clarify further. CCC PraiseVille is a ministry that is focused on the salvation and Christian growth of our members, all of whom are groomed to be better Celestians in their different parishes.

The shepherd also revealed that CCC PraiseVille doesn’t do bazaar sales nor sell oil.

According to him, the church doesn’t also sell soap, perfume, honey or candles.

“We don’t host harvest revivals like parishes do. Instead we take the undiluted Word of God to the Helpless and the Homeless. And we give gifts to those who come to fellowship with us, especially once a year for our Thanksgiving, which is strictly a HARVEST OF THE WORD and not annual parish harvest as others know it,” an unperturbed Dr Hamilton explained.

In a related development, Revrd Oshoffa has touched down on the American soil on Wednesday with his loving wife, Mother Celestial Celine Oshoffa and Superior Evangelist Oshoffa, in continuation of his working visitation.