Below is the account by Hamed Olufemi, one of the founding coordinators, concerning the conception and establishment of the Celestial Church of Christ Students’ Parish at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
In 1994, during the six-month strike action embarked upon by ASUU and the subsequent closure of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) due to the June 12, 1993 crisis, I found myself as a fresh undergraduate student at OAU. During this period, I worshipped with student members of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). It was there that I was encouraged to start a student movement upon my return to OAU.
To seek divine guidance, we embarked on a three-day special fasting and prayer session, during which the Lord revealed His will and plans for university campuses. However, I was still unsure about how to proceed. The Lord then confirmed my calling in several ways:
One mildly rainy night in Angola Hall, Room J2, someone woke me from my sleep. He introduced himself as Segun Ojo and mentioned the elder from CBF. Instantly, I recognized him as the one I had been waiting for. From that moment, we began praying and working together.
Despite these confirmations, I was still hesitant. I remember praying, feeling fearful and unsure, much like Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:7. I sought to join other fellowships to learn, moving from fellowship to fellowship until I finally settled with the Victory Student Fellowship, now Kingsword Fellowship. Through many words of knowledge given in this fellowship, it became clear that God had a special mission for someone with the anointing and calling of a leader.
Additionally, a brother named Taiwo Akinyemi, now in the US, dreamt that God was sending me on an errand, but I was refusing. He conveyed that God said He would deal with me. This was around April during the second semester in 1995, following a challenging first semester. God then spoke to me through Haggai 1:4-11. I repented of my reluctance, and we began fellowshipping in April 1995.
I began receiving spiritual revelations concerning the Students’ Parish in 1994/1995, even before I gained admission to OAU. These revelations initially brought confusion and doubt. One night, while sleeping in the church with my friend Demola Bolaji, I had a vivid dream. A winged angel of the Lord appeared and revealed several things about the Students’ Parish and God’s plans for other campuses. The angel made it clear that there would be hindrances, but I should not be afraid or discouraged and should follow the appointed path. I woke up terrified and sweating, but Demola, who had also awakened, confirmed what the Lord had just revealed. We then prayed and went back to sleep.
After settling down at OAU, I experienced a profound spiritual encounter. As I was resting on my bed after the day’s activities, I was suddenly taken up in spirit. I heard a voice say, “NOW IS THE TIME THE LORD HAS APPOINTED,” and I was instructed to meet someone the Lord would show me. Initially, I resisted getting up, but my spirit was greatly disturbed, and I eventually left my bed. Trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I went to Angola Hall and was led to Room 2 in J Block. There, I asked the occupants if there was anyone named Femi. Before they could respond, I noticed someone who looked angelic in his sleep and asked again if he was Femi. They confirmed there were two people named Femi, but I was already convinced he was the one I was meant to meet.
I woke him up, and he looked me straight in the eyes and said he had been waiting for me. We introduced ourselves, shared the visions God had given us, and began praying, fasting, and holding night vigils together.
The first service of the Students’ Parish took place on Friday, April 14, 1995. Brother Segun conducted the service, and Brother Femi delivered the sermon. Others who later joined us included Brother Michael Bejide, Sister Dupe Solola, and Brother Ayoola Ogunyemi.
Special thanks and glory to God, and to Snr Evang. S.B. Falade, the then District Evangelist of Ife District ‘A,’ who provided us with the first spiritual items for worship on campus (Table, seven-fold Altar, Altar cloths, etc.). We also extend our gratitude to our first Staff Adviser, Prof. J.A. Alao, who served meritoriously until his death on November 15, 1998, at the age of 62.
The Celestial Church of Christ Students’ Parish (CCCS OAU) at Obafemi Awolowo University continues to grow from strength to strength, both spiritually and numerically. Each academic session sees new students joining the fellowship, including those who were not originally members of the Celestial Church. Many of these new members have embraced the faith through their involvement with CCCS OAU.
A significant milestone in our early years was attending the 50th Anniversary of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide in September 1997. During the Youth Day of the celebration, our choir had the honor of presenting songs at the Celestial City Conference Centre in Imeko City. The performance was highly acclaimed, taking place in the presence of the late Pastor Alexander Abiodun Bada, the then Pastor of CCC Worldwide.
However, the journey back from Imeko to Ile Ife was fraught with challenges. Our vehicle broke down several times, forcing us to spend Sunday night on the road. We resumed our journey on Monday, despite it being the period of the 1st Semester Examinations for the 1996/97 academic session. Some of us had exams scheduled for that Monday morning, but in a remarkable turn of events, our exams were postponed. Some were moved to the afternoon, while others were rescheduled for the following day. This incident remains one of the major testimonies in the history of CCCS OAU, showcasing the grace and timing of God.
Through these early challenges and triumphs, the Celestial Church of Christ Students’ Parish at OAU has continued to thrive, fostering spiritual growth and a strong sense of community among its members.
Finding a permanent place of worship for the Students’ Parish was a significant challenge. According to Celestial Church doctrine, the altar should not be moved once it has been laid. However, due to the lack of a permanent venue, we had to move the altar from one location to another under the grace of Jehovah Almighty.
In 1997, we used the Squash Court as our worship place, but we were eventually denied continued use of the space. In 1998, we moved to the Agric Foyer for our services. However, a lecturer, who was the Head of the Soil Science Department, regularly came to his office on Sundays with the intent of evicting us from the venue. When this persecution became unbearable, we moved to the Volleyball Court at the Sports Centre in June 1998. We held services there until December 1998. Our last official service for the 1997/98 academic session took place on December 20, 1998, under a torrential downpour, leaving all attendees soaked as there was no shelter.
In January 1999, before the commencement of the 1998/99 academic session, we secured a rented building at the former Old Buka on campus. This became our new worship center, and we paid a monthly rental fee. This development provided us with a stable and convenient place to hold all our weekly activities, greatly encouraging the new students of the 1998/99 academic session to participate without discouragement.
In our efforts to spread the gospel of Christ within OAU and beyond, we attended vigils and crusades at various Celestial Church parishes in Osun State and other states in Nigeria. We ministered through sermons, songs, and drama based on invitations. In 1998, we ministered at a night vigil at CCC Edunabon Parish. Despite the success of the event, we had to trek back to campus from Edunabon on Saturday morning due to a lack of transportation.
In February 1999, we were invited to minister at a crusade at CCC Osogbo 1, Ayetoro, Osogbo. This crusade was organized by the parish of one of our members, Brother Ayoola Akinola, of CCC Jerusalem Parish, Akesan, Lagos. In September 1999, we also ministered in songs at CCC Army Barracks Road, Mokola, Ibadan, during their Adult Harvest Day, which was a glorious event.
CCCS OAU held its first major program, a Praise Night called “Hallelujah Night,” on February 4, 2000. This was the first event of its kind in the history of student parishes in Nigeria. The program was a resounding success, showcasing the glory of Jehovah Almighty on OAU campus. The event attracted Celestial Church of Christ members from across Nigeria.
Among the guest artistes who performed were Evang. Akin Adebayo (Imoleayo), the late Evang. Olubukola Olomola (Baba Ara), the CCC Central Choir under the leadership of the late Baba Adetiran as Director of Music, Sister Funmi Dominic, Sister Oyindamola Adejumo (daughter of the late Yoruba actor Baba Sala), and the Children and Youth Choreography group of CCC Apete Parish, Ibadan (some of whom later joined CCCS OAU as students).
Hallelujah Night became the talk of the town on campus, within Ile Ife, and in the Celestial Church fold in Nigeria. The program significantly increased student membership in CCCS OAU, attracting both Celestial and non-Celestial students, as it ministered to their souls.
Through perseverance and divine guidance, the Celestial Church of Christ Students’ Parish at OAU has continued to thrive, fostering spiritual growth and a strong sense of community among its members.
The first transition program for the new Executive Council of the Students’ Parish took place in April 2000. This event, known as the Choice Program, ushered in the new executive council following the tenure of the founding coordinators. The immediate Executive Council of CCCS OAU, following the graduation of the founding coordinators, was led by Brother Sola Oguntoke as the first chosen Coordinator. Additionally, a 7-member Council of Elders (COE), headed by Brother Remi Odubanjo, was established to provide guidance and support.
In 2001, shortly after the inauguration of a new executive council led by Brother Samson Taiwo, the rented building at Old Buka, which served as CCCS OAU’s place of worship, was destroyed by fire. This unfortunate incident resulted in the loss of most of the fellowship materials, service items, and VHS video cassettes of the first Hallelujah Night.
In response to this crisis, the executive council, with the help of the Students’ Parish members, erected a temporary structure on the burnt site to continue their worship activities. This temporary worship place was used until the OAU school management decided to cease all commercial and religious activities at Old Buka, intending to repurpose the area for its original planned use.
All religious organizations on campus were instructed to relocate to the Religion Ground. Consequently, the subsequent leadership of the Students’ Parish applied for land allocation at the Religion Ground from the Physical Planning Unit of OAU. This request was granted in 2010, and the foundation of the Students’ Parish building was laid in 2011.
To foster effective relationships among alumni, the fellowship began organizing reunion programs. During the 2010 Reunion Program, it was decided to formally organize the CCCS OAU Alumni body. The CCCS OAU Alumni organization was officially inaugurated on Saturday, December 18, 2010, at the Awo Hall Café on campus. The alumni body was divided into zones within Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where CCCS alumni resided.
In Nigeria, the alumni were split into the Southwest and Northern regions. Brother Segun Kolawole was appointed as the Southwest Coordinator, and Brother Tokunbo Ogunbajo was designated as the Northern Region Coordinator. Brother Samson Taiwo was tasked with coordinating the alumni in the United Kingdom.
The alumni network of CCCS OAU saw significant expansion beyond Nigeria, starting with the reconstitution of the Europe Alumni in October 2015. Brother Segun Kolawole reached out to Brother Gbenga Oyeniyi to begin coordinating activities for CCCS OAU alumni in Europe. The appointment of Brother Gbenga Oyeniyi as the Europe Alumni Coordinator was ratified by the founding coordinators.
The North America Region of the alumni network was established in January 2017, following the relocation of several alumni members to the United States and Canada. Brother Segun Kolawole contacted Brother Tosin Bademosi, who had relocated to the US, and asked him to coordinate the North America Region, encompassing both the US and Canada. Brother Tosin Bademosi’s appointment as the North America Alumni Coordinator was also approved by the founding coordinators. That same year, the North America alumni contributed significantly to the success of the 2017 CCCS OAU Alumni Reunion.
To reveal the glory of God on OAU campus.
To build a loving and supporting Christian community.
The CCCS OAU constitution can be downloaded here. It is a formal document that outlines the foundational principles, governance structure, and operational guidelines of the CCCS OAU fellowship. The constitution ensures order, unity, and accountability within the church body while providing organizational clarity.
