A HISTORY OF GENESIS GLOBAL PARISH OF THE CELESTIAL CHURCH

OF CHRIST IN OGUN STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Prophet Oladele Israel Ogundipe is the founder of Genesis Global of the Celestial Church

of Christ. “Prophet Dele”, as he is fondly called, is the shepherd in charge of Genesis

Global, a ministry within the commission of the Celestial Church of Christ. He has been

tagged the founder of the model type of celestial church with some urban appeal. The order

of service, the atmosphere, the music and the posh looking church interior and exterior pass

off the feel of being in a model Pentecostal church. His style of preaching and belief is far

from the typical Cele Church1.

He is a prophet by calling, a seasoned and anointed teacher of the word. He is known for

his undiluted and life applicable teaching and preaching of God’s words. He is the presiding

shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Model Parish located at Alakuko area of

Lagos. He is not only a prophet who believes in the potency of the word, he is a life coach

who challenges people to succeed in every sphere of life. He has dynamic gifting to

combine his calling as a prophet, coach and teacher. He has been a Cele pastor now for

Seventeen years and he set up his Genesis Model Parish Eight years ago to be different. He

always insists that he belongs to the white garment church to add value to what he met. So,

in his church he does a lot of things different that is why his prophetic ministry has touched

so many lives.
 Coming from a very poor family background2 Israel Oladele Ogundipe has been able

to build a modern Christian assembly that appeals to the young and upwardly mobile.

Genesis global has over Ten thousand registered members from Nigeria and around the

world.

Genesis Global Celestial Church of Christ was established in 2002 by the founder after he

got a revelation in a trance where he sought the face of God, fasting and praying for Seven

days. He came out after the trance filled with the power to prophecy and perform miracles.

The gifts of prophecy and miracles were exactly what led to the massive church growth.

The Celestial Church of Christ had a relatively small representation in the sixties in

Nigeria. Very little attention was paid to the sect. This was probably because of the might

of the big mission churches which completely eclipsed the feeble efforts to introduce the

C.C.C into Nigeria. However, the decade 1970-80 witnessed a phenomenal growth in the

Celestial Church in Nigeria. Within ten years, the sect had reached virtually every local

government area of the Yoruba-speaking regions of Nigeria from its main base at Ogun

State. This study is undertaken to critically examine. A History of Genesis Global Parish

of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alagbado, Ogun State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Although there exists a plethora of literature on History of Celestial Church of

Christ, very little exists on History of Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global Parish

situated at Ogun state. Most works have to rely much on oral tradition, even though some

relevant literature had to be consulted in order to broaden our understanding of the theme.
 Consequently, there is no literature on the History of Genesis Global Parish of the

Celestial Church of Christ, Alagbado Ogun State. Similarly, there are also no documented

materials as regards the origin, growth and development as well as contribution of Celestial

Church of Genesis Global Parish to the development of the church. However, much of the

history and origin of the Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global Parish is in pamphlet

form. This work therefore aims to examine the origin and development as well as the

contribution of Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global Parish to Nigeria, it seeks to

examine the evolution behind the church; the initial challenges faced by the church, the

reaction of the people of Ogun State to the establishment of the church amongst others.

The work also examines how Genesis Global Parish Ogun State was able to handle these

challenges.

However, there are also works on the Celestial Church in Nigeria generally, some

of the work discuss the formation and administration of the church under Pa Oshoffa is

regarded as the founder of the Cele Church.

1.3 Aims and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to examine A History of the Genesis Global Parish of the

Celestial Church of Christ in Ogun State. The specific objectives are;

1. To trace the origin and development of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

Parish, Ogun State.

2. To trace the expansion and development of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis

Global Parish, Ogun State.

 3. To investigate the contribution of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

Parish to the community.

4. To the prospects of the Church.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The study would be significant to policy makers and policy implementers, as they would

make use of the findings and recommendations of this study on A History of Celestial

Church of Christ, Global Parish, Ogun State. This study may constitute a basis for

researchers interested in the History of Celestial Church of Christ in general and Genesis

Global Parish in Ogun state in particular. The result of this research would add to the

scarcely available information on History of Celestial Church of Christ generally. This

study will form a strong foundation for future researchers who would like to pursue a study

in the area of History of Celestial Church of Christ.

1.5 Research Methodology

The study adopts the historical narrative and analytical approach. The materials for the

work are obtained from two main sources namely; primary and secondary source. Primary

source includes books, journals, articles, conference papers, workshop papers, library

materials and amongst others. The second method is oral interviews with individuals with

vast knowledge and experience in the History of Celestial Church of Christ, generally and

particularly by old/early members of the Genesis Global Parish. Oral interviews were

collected from members of Celestial Church of Christ Global Parish.

1.6 Literature Review

 There is little or no literature on History of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

Parish, Ogun State. Nevertheless, Asiwaju in his book titled terms of Church planting

within the south-west area. The impact of the Church in Nigeria cut across different sectors

ranging from; Education, Religion, Politics, Economy, Health and Public awareness, etc.

There is no doubt that the church has contributed immensely to National Development in

Nigeria.

From the above, it can be seen that there is no material on the Celestial Church of Christ,

Genesis Global Parish, Ogun State. This work does serve to fill the vacuum that exists in

the History of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global Parish, Ogun State.

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 CHAPTER TWO

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH

2.1 Origin of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

Genesis Global Celestial Church of God was founded in the year 2002 by Prophet

Oladele Israel Ogundipe as a result of receiving deep revelations in a trance where he

sought the face of the Lord in fasting and prayers for seven days. After which he was

empowered with the gift of prophecy which became a basic foundation for his ministry.

The founder Oladele Israel Ogundipe never had plans to do ministry, his dream was to

further his studies but during series of fellowship with people in his father’s house, the

founder was encouraged to start a church. In fact, He was given a plot of land to start the

church3.

However, as the news broke out that prophet Oladele Israel Ogundipe was starting

a church, some persons were not happy about it but to his greatest amazement on the first

day, the place was overwhelmed with people. The crowd was massive and many miracles

took place. This really encouraged him as a young man of age 27 to have such a good start.

In 2011, an incidence of missing person was reported to prophet Oladipe Israel Ogundipe

and God revealed how to locate the person and to the glory of God, the person was found

and people started coming to the church for spiritual blessing4. The ministry has overtime

experienced significant turning points which will be exhaustively narrated in chapter three

as the growth of the church.

2.2 Buildings of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

The church buildings are made up of different physical structures which includes a

very unique and vast capacity auditorium which is used for holding services. The modern

day architecture of the church is a site to behold, a dome shaped architecture will see to a

finished marble alter, with a running fountain, POP ceiling, a giant screen, TV, also a new

building has been purchased to start Genesis model school5, also the Celestial Church of

Christ Genesis Global Isheri Outreach Graceland located at Agric Estate, Along

Lasu/Iganda Road, Genesis B/Stop, Opposite Petrocam Petrol Station, Isheri, Lagos.

Beyond the physical structure, Israel Oladele Foundation these add to the glory of God in

the life of Prophet (Dr.) Israel Oladele Ogundipe6.

2.3 Vision of Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global

The driving force at Genesis Global Celestial Church of Christ is to empower

people, impact lives and cause a sudden transformation that is currently shaping into a form

of economic rejuvenation across the country. With this intention at heart, Genesis Global

has taken hold of the vision of the early church which is being championed by our dear

father Prophet (Dr.) Israel Oladele Ogundipe, the presiding Shepherd of Genesis Global

with his calling to usher into a new era of the prophetic and Godly excellence, revamp

certain doctrines. So, this new era would serve as a template to live a life of excellence,

using Jesus Christ’s teachings for this purpose 7.

The vision statement of the church is raising people of value and its mission

statement is to discover, equip, develop, release and maximize their God given potentials.

The core value of the church forms an acronym GRACE

G – Godliness

R – Righteousness

A – Accountability

C – Commitment

E – Excellence.

The vision statement of the Israel foundation is to be the best foundation that helps

the world to eradicate sickness, poverty and crimes while its mission statement is to

discover and empower hidden potentials and inherent qualities in orphans, less privileged,

and destitute. In his quest to end poverty and giving hopes to the hopeless, our father has

been empowering people by giving start-ups capital for businesses, grinding machines for

women. Making life comfortable for the less privileged which is a very rare gesture in

white garment churches and Christendom at large.

2.4 Membership of the Celestial Church of Christ

The centre beat of responsibility and main mandate of every ministry is according

to Acts 1:8b….and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth. As witness unto Christ in the church, we are called

as soul winners to win more souls.

Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global is a vibrant, multi-ethnic church, with

over 3,000 worshippers on Single Sunday service8. Genesis global has over Ten thousand

registered members from Nigeria and around the world7.

 Genesis Global is one of the fast growing Celestial parishes around the world. Our

phenomenal growth and success is built on strong leadership, our investment in the socio-

economic and spiritual needs of multi-cultural communities and our overall desire and

commitment to live our lives based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. This Celestial Church

is not barricaded with doctrines and dogma but absolute believe in the efficacy of the word

of God.

2.5 Administration of the Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global

A number of zones make up a district. Each zone is put in charge of a Zonal

Evangelist. A parish denotes an individual church congregation or branch. The leadership

of a parish is under an Oluso-agutan (Shepherd) and his deputy. The Shepherd-in-Charge

of a parish is seen as the Pastor’s representative in that parish, in the sense that if the Oluso-

agutan emerges from the Leader or Elder axis, his assistant will be chosen from the

Wollidah line and vice versa. The day to day smooth running of Global Genesis Parish is

affected by an elected thirty-three-member Parochial Committee and sometimes a

Committee of Elders.

The Parochial Committee constitutes the “local government” of the parish church.

It is empowered to deliberate on the general progress, spiritual, physical and financial

development of the parish. It could also apply disciplinary measures in minor cases

affecting its parish. Sterner disciplinary action and measures on erring members is the

absolute prerogative of the Pastor (Oluso-agutan). The Parochial Committee could make

recommendations and channel cases of indiscipline through the Zonal, District and State
headquarters to the Pastor-in-Council or the General Committee. In whatever situation,

disciplinary actions on such cases owe their final ratification to the Pastor (Oluso-agutan).

Any parish is financially supported by the tithe system and through several sources

of revenue. The local parish relies on weekly collections during services, harvest services,

bazaar sales, building and development funds, thanksgiving offerings, travel funds and

voluntary donations to mention a few. Two-thirds of such revenue accruing to the local

parish is ploughed back as “monthly returns” to the international headquarters. Every

individual parish owes a church obligation towards the pastoral seat. Such monthly returns

referred to as “Pastoral returns” or “Pastoral dues” are used to run the administrative

machinery. They are redistributed among the church workers as salaries, used to help the

needy both in the church and outside and also used to run the day to day administration of

the international headquarters. A fraction of the dues is kept aside for their upkeep.

The financial maintenance of Oschoffa during his life time and his family before

and after his death was claimed to have been conventionally introduced during his lifetime.

In 1984, he called a meeting of the top hierarchy and hinted on what the family deserves

or is entitled to after his demise. He ordered that within the time span of twenty five years

after his death, all his children under the age of twenty must be adequately catered for by

the church. The fact that this order is still strictly adhered to by the church authority is

another instance of the reutilization of Oschoffa’s charisma.

We have a wide variety of ministries and avenues through which our members can

serve9. This is to ensure that everyone uses his or her gift to serve God and excel .The

workforce aims at providing the best of service in the following departments:

 CHOIR

We express our love for God through different genres of music including CCC

hymnal, jazz, soul and pop, etc. In every service, we lead the church into the

presence of God through inspired praise and worship. Our passion is worship, we

are musical ensemble of singers, with a passion for God and music.

 USHERING

We make you feel loved, special and right at home in the sanctuary to ensure that

you have an awesome worship experience. Our goal and passion is to take care of

you and ensure that order reigns in the sanctuary.

 GREETERS

We are always excited to see and receive our guests at CCC Genesis Global and we

do our best to treat them as kings and queens. One of the friendliest groups of people

in church is the GREETERS team. They make you feel loved for fellowshipping

with them, they are the first to say ‘hello’ and also the first to say ‘have a great

week’ when you bare leaving the church premises.

 BENEVOLENCE

Every human desire to be loved and cared for, the church reaches out to meet the

need of its members such as the provision of food stuffs, clothes, and even

financially. This ministry also runs a monthly benevolence day for the less

privileged.

 COUNSELLING UNIT
 We are here to listen, talk and pray with you. We provide wise counsels to members

of the church individually or as a group. We provide the essential guidelines needed

in living a daily victorious Christian life.

 MAINTENANCE UNIT

We oversee the church facilities and ensure that they are in good condition. Our

duties range from maintenance of equipments and facilities both in and outside to

ensuring the cleanliness of the church auditorium and environment and also check

for health and safety measures before all services.

 PRAYER CHAMPION

This unit intercede for the members of the church, our community, our country and

everything / burden God lays in our heart to pray about. Thanks to our prayer chain,

there is always someone praying for you.

 JUNIOR CHURCH

Our passion is children. This unit teach the word of God in a child friendly method

and environment. The classes are structured according to the different age

categories.0-2, 3-7, 8-12, 9-13. All our teachers have great qualifications and

experiences and are regularly being trained to deliver quality services to the kids.

 MEDICAL

The medical team is made up of qualified medical personnel who are invaluable

during our outreach programs to the less privileged. They are also readily available

during our services to help in event of medical emergencies.

 MULTIMEDIA
 Lights, camera, action! The multimedia takes care of video coverage of all

programs in church and the television ministry.

 PUBLICATION TEAM

The publication team minister God’s word and message and other age of hope by

providing informational resource materials and church literature. We produce the

church magazines, family matters as well as tracts and other publicity materials.

We also have a photography sub team, which caters to event coverage, and other

photography needs.

 PROTOCOL

Protocol unit have a core mission to maintain law and order in the church. We also

see to the proper running of the pastor’s itinerary, seeing to our guest ministers and

ensuring the smooth running of all our events. This department is made up of

disciplined, trained and well-seasoned men and women (Military and Paramilitary

experience is a plus but not a prerequisite for service in the protocol department).

 SECURITY

The duties of this unit include protecting the church facilities, its employees and

members from theft, fire, vandalism or other criminal acts. Most security guards

patrol the premises (including parking areas and buildings), but some are assigned

to a station to monitor an area or be on call.

 SANCTUARY KEEPING FORCE

This department assists in cleaning up and is in charge of keeping church premises,

including the sanctuary in order and neat before and after services. It regularly
 organize and enforce the observation of sanitation regulations in the church. It

coordinates all janitors’ activities of the church.

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 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 The Growth and Spread of Genesis Global Celestial Church of God

A major turning point in this ministry as confessed by the Shepherd-in charge Prophet

(Dr.) Israel Oladele Ogundipe is the emergence and existence of Genesis School

Leadership. The school is run by the church with the aim of preparing future leaders who

can rule their world, family, business, environment and country; equipping them with

business development methodologies, secrets of success, entrepreneurial management and

self-reliance. An average students, both members and non-members, will be able to

discover and develop his/her self to stand conquer, and be unstoppable in life.

Another memorable turning point in the church is joining the league of radio and TV

station owners in the country. Also, the internet radio called Genesis online radio alongside

with an Online TV named Genesis TV online. The online radio commenced transmission

few years ago and it currently has over 4000 listeners across the globe, while the TV station

was berthed at the annual international convention: Bethel 2014 tagged “EL-SHADDAI”

organized by the church at its headquarters in Alagbado, Lagos.

We now have Genesis online radio and TV gospel music channels, lifestyle and

entertainment stations. They run for 24 hours a day with programmes, news and teachings

to keep listeners grooving. This ministry controls worshippers of about 3,000 just in a

single service and each services are filled with overwhelming testimonies from members

and people who other denominations 10.

3.2 Tribulations of the church

 The major tribulation facing the church is the wrong impression people especially

other denominations have concerning this church. The general perception about the

ritualistic, semi-diabolic, un-enlightened, crude, unexposed and vain set of the Christian

nation hence contradicting some teachings of the Bible11.

3.3 Genesis Global Parish Hierarchical Structure

The administration of the church is carried out with the help of the Holy Spirit by

the management executive team which is listed in ascending order of authority:

M/S/E Pro Israel Oladele Ogundipe - Shepherd-in Charge

S/E Sunday - Assistant Shepherd 1

Evangelist Jabin Williams - Assistant Shepherd 2

S/E Michael Gbeyejume - Church Administrator / Chairman

Evang. Daramola Samuel - Church Directorate

M/S/E Kayode Akinrogunde - Church Patron

M/C Tonia Benson - Church Matron

Evang. Lekan Odeniyi - Church Secretary

S/L/A. O Adeniji - Church Financial Secretary

S/L Babatunde Elijah - Member

Bro Tunde Igbekele - Member12.

3.4 Belief System in Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global

 We are the new phase of celestial church of Christ and we believe in the power of

God’s word to change lives and value the practical application of his word to make a

difference in who we are and what we do. Believing and obeying his message leads us in

the discovery of real life and a hope for eternity. We also believe in helping the less

privileged.

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