15 Amazing Similar Facts About CCC Founder, Pa Bilewu Oshoffa And RCCG Founder, Pa Josiah Akindayomi – By Gracious Akintayo

It is no more surprise that; God uses the foolish things to compound the wise and qualify the unqualified, raising and using the unlettered for His great commission. 

It is not accidental that God raised and used two unlearned of the same generation, different nationality and tribe, also spiritual background and place with similar revelation message of the gospel but in different mode of worship to achieve the goal of preaching the Word, saving souls and proclaiming the Sonship authority of the Lord Jesus Christ as the KING Who was, is and to come. 

This is a proof that God’s work is not anybody’s work and  the race is not for the swift or for the wise, but in His wisdom, for as many as He chooses, He ordained and qualifies the unqualified. Because, His ways and thoughts are not like ours.

Here are 15 amazing similar facts about two great men and personalities from different nationalities but same backgrounds and same spiritual encounter, the founder of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide, Rev. S. B. J. Oshoffa and the founder of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Rev. Josiah Akindayomi with how their individual, but similar spiritual journey, encounter, revelation, mandate, vision, mission and commission with same purpose drive has impacted Christianity around the world and generation yet unborn to confirm that, the last gospel message to the world will begin from Nigeria.

It is therefore, not accidental; Nigeria’s map is divinely and strategically positioned at the throttle point of the African map as a major link to the continent of Africa and nations of the world. Also, not surprising, the largest and the biggest churches in the world today are shot from the remote area of Lagos in Nigeria, with Nigeria now having the highest number of missionaries, church planters and church branches scattered around the world spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The white missionaries imported Christianity to Nigeria and taught Nigerians how to read the Bible. But, today, Nigeria is globally acknowledged to be an exporter of spiritual awakening and revival of the gospel with impact on how to worship and how to understand the Bible to the nations of the world.

Pa Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi was born in 1909 in Nigeria. After an encounter with God in 1947, he started an independent prayer fellowship, the Glory of God Fellowship that later in 1952 metamorphosed into what is today the fastest growing Pentecostal church in the world, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).  

Pa Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa was also born in 1909 in Dahomey (now Benin Republic). After an encounter with God in 1947 he started his independent prayer fellowship at Porto Novo. He later moved to Nigeria in 1951 to continue with what is today has become the fastest growing indigenous white garment church in the world Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).

From childhood, the parents of both Akindayomi and Oshoffa respectively recognized their spiritual gifts and were involved in their upbringing.

Pa Akindayomi, was an illiterate carpenter key member of Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Nigeria for many years, before he heard the voice to be a minister of God; also Pa Oshoffa, was an illiterate carpenter and staunch member of Methodist Church in Port Novo, Dahomey for many years, before he heard the voice to be a minister.

The turning point of their callings was as a result of encounters they respectively had with God in unusual and dynamic ways.

Pa Akindayomi, at the age of 31 in Lagos, dreamt and woke up with a sore on his leg. Then heard a voice and without the use of medication, the sore was healed, while in Dahomey, Pa Oshoffa at age of 38, was lost in the forest for three months, where he heard the voice and encountered God.

Before their respective calling and encounter, they were both married with three wives and children, and God respectively promised to give them a new church that will spread throughout the whole world.

As an itinerant preacher, Akindayomi wandered the roads of Western Nigeria in all-white garments, ringing a bell and winning converts with healing message, also Oshoffa wandered the villages of Porto Novo with a bell preaching and winning converts through healing message.

Pa Akindayomi started RCCG in the swampy area of Cemetery Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos while Pa Oshoffa started CCC in Porto Novo and later came to the bushy environment of Makoko area in Yaba, Lagos. Both churches started within the same locality as new denominations unknown to each other’s existence and becoming a monumental brand of Christianity with worshippers and followers spreading across the globe.

Despite differences in mode of worship, both churches’ doctrine believes in Trinity of God; the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; the Bible, as infallible Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of the world with the Holy Spirit as the gift of God.

The name of the two churches and their interpretations were inspired with a prophetic vision of redemption and reminding men of glory in Christ. While an interpreter has to be invited in Port Novo to spell out and write the name, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) as revealed to Oshoffa, at the same period Akindayomi had similar situation of inviting an interpreter to spell out and the name of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as revealed to him. (Note the similarity in the name and acronyms).

CCC adopted “HALLELUYAH”, as their greetings and identity slogan. RCCG imbibed “Somebody shout HALLELUYAH” style as their theme slogan.

RCCG built Redemption City at Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, CCC built Celestial City at Imeko, both in Ogun State.

Rev. SBJ Oshoffa and Rev. J.O Akindayomi are great spiritual colossuses, heroes of faith, pathfinders and successful visionaries with footprints of legacies to the Christian’s world and the global Church at large.

Respectively, Pa Akindayomi passed on in 1980 at the age of 70 and Pa Oshoffa said his last prayer in 1985 at the age of 75.

The RCCG national headquarters is situated at 1-9, Redemption Way, (formerly Cemetery Street), Ebute Metta, CCC national headquarters is situated at Church Street, Makoko, Yaba.

Both men are from humble backgrounds and worked hard but had remarkable life changing encounters with life lasting relationships, fellowship and covenant with God.

They are both generational blessing and heritage to Christian world with spiritual impacts, footprints and legacies that outlived them.

First published in Providence News in August, 2018 and rewritten in June 2023