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| Participants from Sokoto State at the 2015 Conference |
We need not say much that the youth and young ones are very crucial in any organisation, like our great Church. But can we really say that we have placed high priority and care on those who will take charge of the Church in the future?
The Celestial Church of Christ Annual Youth Conference, #CCCAYC2016 will begin this Thursday 25th and last till the early hours of Sunday 28th August, 2016. The conference which is the brainchild of Senior Evangelist, S.O Odeyemi, an octogenarian and a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka is the 18th edition. The conference throughout these years has created hope that Celestial Church of Christ has a bright future as the youth of the Church from various factions within the Church are brought under one umbrella without rancor, which depicts a unified Church, under the authority of Christ.
Rather than supporting this noble project of preparing the youth in the Church for tomorrow's challenge, the various factions in the Church created rival youth organisations in an attempt to compete and mitigate against the impact of the only neutral group known in the Church, thereby creating more division in the Church.
During these 4 days annual programme at Oshoffa Miracle Fortress, in Ifo, Ogun State, these young ones are tutored under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to become practicing Christians, have knowledge about the tenets and doctrines of the Church and how to become good and responsible citizens, as a result will equip them to face future challenges. Also, they have the golden opportunity to interacts with their peers from other parts of the country.
Rather than supporting this noble project of preparing the youth in the Church for tomorrow's challenge, the various factions in the Church created rival youth organisations in an attempt to compete and mitigate against the impact of the only neutral group known in the Church, thereby creating more division in the Church. If the creation of competing youth organisation isn't nipped in the bud, we may as well say the future of the Church is not in safe hands. This is not the issue of our usually God forbid 'Jah!'. This is the bitter truth.
It is shameful to hear that Professor Odeyemi, a pensioner is the major donor funding the conference yearly. It is worrisome to note that none of the factions in the Church has ever supported this conference in any form, except in the days of Reverend Alexandra Bada as the Head of the Church.
It would had been better if these factions had allowed the Senior Evangelist Odeyemi's Youth Organisation to serve as a platform of convergence for all the youth in the Church, through which the process of unification can be pursued vigorously.
For almost two decades, the octogenarian with support from other spirited members and the meager fees paid by participants had been the only fund used in supporting the highly expensive annual event. It is shameful to hear that Professor Odeyemi, a pensioner is the major donor funding the conference yearly. It is also worrisome to note that none of the factions in the Church has ever supported this conference in any form, except in the days of Reverend Alexandra Bada as the Head of the Church.
Despite the financial and other various challenges the planning committee of the youth conference encounter while planning for and during the course of the conference, it is worthy to note that the conference has come to stay as the undisputed largest gathering of Celestial youth who are united by Christ.
Due to this, we respectfully appeal to all Celestians, especially factional leaders to support the Senior Evangelist Odeyemi led youth organisation financially and through other means without prejudice during the annual youth conference, so as to have a uniform platform where young ones in the Church can interact and worship Jehovah under an atmosphere of love. Through this we would be well assured that the future of the Church is in great hands.
