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 in their quest to reach heaven.
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, Lagos State, organized by the Founder of Esther Ajayi Foundation and Founder, Love of Christ Generation Church (C&S), 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.
Patrick and Akande said 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.
Patrick said: “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 and all that are written in it.”
In her address, 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 one 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 Celebrate The Comforter at United Palace, Broadway, New York, United States of America.
There, she stressed, God will be experienced 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, Ola Ajayi and Dr. A. Fatunloye, who is the Music Director.
These 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 said as youths, they are coming together to discuss these issues so that the next generation will not continue with the wrong pre-conceived ideas.
Speaking on the forthcoming Celebrate The Comforter 2018 Annual convention, Convener of the meeting, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, stated that the essence of the celebration involving the two strong sects is to disabuse the minds of the people as regards white garment churches, especially “those who are hypocritical about us”, adding 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, was to ensure that this celebration of Christ gets the maximum world attention.
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 US 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 and Kirk Franklin.
The anointed woman of God and philanthropist 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; His Eminence, Prophet (Dr.) Adegboye Alao; Rev. Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa; and many other influential personalities will spice up the gathering.
In addition, there will be distribution of the Comforter Bibles and other great gifts to all attendees, while all proceeds will go to charitable causes across the globe.
Reverend Mother Ajayi also stated emphatically that the basic idea of bringing 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 added.
Adetutu Ogunleye Ayo Osho Babaniji Oluwamayowa Brother Qudus Patrick Celestial Church of Christ Cherubim and Seraphim Commander Ebenezer Obey Esther Ajayi Foundation Kirk Franklin Lanre Teriba Love of Christ Generation Church Michael Oduyebo Odekunle Michael Ola Ajayi and Dr. A. Fatunloye Olusegun Obasanjo Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi Sir Shina Peters Sister Kehinde Akande