On the first day of 2025, three well-known clerics unexpectedly departed away, according to the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).
The head of the church’s media reported the deaths of evangelist Oladotun Elusanmi, Shepherd Olumuyiwa Michael, and Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Johnson Olajuwon.
Michael was the Shepherd In-Charge of Christ Testimony Parish in Ikorodu till his death, and Elusanmi was the Shepherd at Orisun Ayo Parish in Ilupeju.
Olajuwon served as the prophet at the International Headquarters, Ketu, Saint S.B.J. Oshoffa Cathedral, and the Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos State.
The Celestial community is in mourning as a result of their passing, and members have taken to social media to share their sorrows.
On the official website of the church, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala, the Head of Media and Publicity for CCC worldwide and the Secretary of the Pastor in Council, announced Olajuwon’s passing.
“Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist (Prophet) Johnson Olajuwon (JJ) passed away. Prior to his passing, he served as the prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ, located in the International Headquarters in Ketu at Saint S.B.J. Oshoffa Cathedral.
“He read the second lesson at the cross-over service and was full of life until his death early on the first day of the new year, 2025, which has left many in shock at the suddenness of his passing.”
Olatosho Oshoffa, the Shepherd of CCC International Headquarters, Ketu, characterized Olajuwon as a devoted, faithful, and honest servant of God in a post posted on his Facebook page.
Around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the CCC Christ Testimony Parish in Ikorodu posted an announcement on its Facebook page about Michael’s passing, and the same day, the Instagram account “Celestialgeneration” posted an announcement on Elusanmi’s passing.
Ajala says that everyone dies at the right time and cautions against making a big deal out of the deaths.
“Death is a necessary end, and it will come at the right time for everyone,” he declared. Every day, people pass away. I don’t understand why people are making such a huge deal out of three deaths that happen to occur on the same day in a church the size of Celestial.
Everybody has their arrival and departure times. According to the Bible, there are times for laughter and tears, as well as times for birth and death.
Therefore, I start to question if we are really disciples of Christ when Christians start to see these things as mysterious. People shouldn’t give their deaths superstitious significance. Everybody has their time to go.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured them that the Celestial headquarters would support them.
“The leadership of the church commiserates with the families. As a church, we will continue to pray against sudden death. Even when people don’t die, we pray against sudden death.
The church is in mourning. We are deeply pained by this loss. But at the same time, people should not attach any superstitious meaning to it,” he added.
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