The Northern region of Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, with the Hausa-Fulani and Kanuri ethnic groups being the dominant populations. Despite this, there have been significant Christian communities living in the North for over 60 years, intermingling and coexisting with their Muslim neighbors.
Unfortunately, there have been numerous controversial incidents in various parts of the North where Christians have been targeted, attacked and killed. Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed and stolen during these attacks. Despite these challenges, the Christian community in the North remains steadfast in their faith and continues to advocate for the salvation of God, undeterred by the violence and persecution they face.
Celestial Church of Christ has also fallen victim to these attacks with extremists targeting and killing innocent citizens in the name of defending their faith. However, in the face of adversity, many churches have chosen to rebuild their places of worship, with the goal of upholding the evangelization mission of Jesus Christ. This resilience and determination to spread the message of peace and love in the midst of turmoil is a testament to the unwavering faith and strength of the Christian community in the North.
It is a well-known fact that out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, Celestial Church of Christ has established a strong presence in the southwest, which is a Yoruba-dominated area. This affiliation dates back to the first visit of the Pastor Founder Rev Prophet SBJ Oshoffa in the late 1950s. While the church continues to thrive in Nigeria, the parishes in the North have faced challenges, including attacks, with no clear plan for rebuilding and continuity.
As our church strives to expand its reach, some parishes have taken it upon themselves to fund the construction of worship centers independently without any financial assistance from the Pastor’s Office. Unfortunately, the Church’s leadership has not allocated funds for the construction of community parishes. This lack of support has left many parishes in the northern part of the country struggling to spread the teachings of God as instructed.
It Is imperative that the Pastor’s Office develop a framework to provide assistance for maintenance not only to parishes in the northern states but also to the majority of parishes that are unable to afford the necessary resources to fulfill their mission of spreading salvation to humanity. This support is crucial for the growth and sustainability of the Celestial Church of Christ across all regions of the country.
