In Celestial Church of Christ, one of the key requirements for spiritual growth is the Anointment Exercise, as mandated by the Pastor Founder Rev. SBJ Oshoffa in sections 198 to 199 of the Church Constitution.
Undoubtedly, the Anointment Exercise brings about significant spiritual transformation. However, it could also serve as a substantial source of income for the Church, if managed with integrity, accountability, transparency, and openness. The registered Board of Trustees, who previously oversaw the Church’s finances, successfully generated billions of naira from the Anointment Exercise and monthly returns. These funds were instrumental in the realization of Rev. Pastor SBJ Oshoffa’s dream of constructing the Basilica in Imeko, Ogun State, a vision that came to fruition after 35 years.
ANOINTMENT EXERCISE AT PASTOR’S RESIDENCE:
The 2025 Anointment exercise will forever be remembered in the annals of our church’s history. The aftermath of mismanagement, disorganization, and chaos was the topic of conversation among all members of the Church who witnessed the uncontrollable situation at the World Headquarters in Imeko, Ogun State during the exercise, which lasted for one month.
One of the first points of contention during the 2025 Anointment exercise was the abandonment of doctrinal practices in the Church since the exercise was moved from Ajase, Benin Republic to Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria in 1981. Rev Pastor EMF Oshoffa chooses to conduct the anointing of members at his private residence in Imeko, deviating from the traditional practice at Mercyland. This decision led to a surge of people attempting to gain access to the Pastor’s house, leaving thousands of individuals waiting outside in the sun without proper assistance from the church authorities.
CASH-OUT POLICY:
Another concerning issue that arose was the cash-out policy in the 2025 Anointment Exercise, where it was rumoured that those in charge of the anointment process were prioritizing accrediting members for the exercise for personal gain. The leader of the Church was reportedly focused on his own financial gain through the cash-out, while his associates were also exploiting the flawed system to benefit financially during the one-month exercise.
STAMPEDING AT IMKEO:
Despite the factionalization within the Church, various Pastor’s continue to see an increase in membership through Parish establishment and the application of anointment. The mainstream has been a major beneficiary of this disunity. Despite economic hardships in Nigeria, the number of members participating in the anointment exercise remains high. Members often use the collection of ranks to oppress fellow members within their local parishes, while shepherds who invest their savings into ranks use this as a way to establish seniority among their colleagues. The primary objectives of the exercise as lost her significant values to negligence and abuse of spiritual upliftment.
The unfortunate events that took place on 8th April and 10th April 2025, in front of the Pastor’s house were a complete embarrassment to the leadership of the Church. These actions serve as a clear indication that there are underlying issues within our Church administration.
Video clips circulating online show female members publicly displaying their desperation for anointment inside the Basilica for hours. Thousands of members forcefully broke down the Pastor’s gate in an attempt to gain access to his compound for the collection of anointment. This chaotic scene on 10th April 2025 resembles the fall of the walls of Jericho, as members destroyed the Pastor’s fence and gate.
If the Ogun Government were to obtain some of these video clips depicting the stampeding, the Church could potentially face sanctions for violating human safety regulations. It is imperative that proper arrangements be made in the future to ensure the safety and well-being of all members during important activities such as the Anointment Exercise. The Church leadership must address these issues promptly to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
