Three prominent pastors of The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has been announced dead on the first day of 2025.
Evangelist Oladotun Elusanmi, Shepherd Olumuyiwa Michael, and Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Johnson Olajuwon were confirmed dead by the church’s media head in a statement posted on its website.
Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala, the Secretary of the Pastor in Council and Head of Media and Publicity for CCC worldwide, shared the announcement, expressing that their deaths have left the church in mourning.
“The passing of Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist (Prophet) Johnson Olajuwon (JJ) has been confirmed. He was, until his death, the prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ, Saint S.B.J. Oshoffa Cathedral, International Headquarters, Ketu. His sudden death has shocked many, especially since he had read the second lesson during the cross-over service and appeared full of life until his passing early on January 1, 2025.”
In a Facebook post, Shepherd Olatosho Oshoffa of CCC International Headquarters, Ketu, described Olajuwon as a devoted, loyal, and honest servant of God.
The CCC Christ Testimony Parish in Ikorodu announced Michael’s death on its Facebook page at around 11 a.m. on January 1, while Elusanmi’s death was confirmed through the Instagram account ‘Celestialgeneration’ on the same day.
Ajala urged the public not to overemphasize the deaths, explaining that death is a natural part of life that occurs at the appointed time for everyone.
“Death is a necessary end, and it comes at the right time for each person. People die every day, and when three individuals from a large church like Celestial pass away on the same day, it should not be treated as anything extraordinary. Everyone has their time to come and their time to go. The Bible tells us there is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to laugh and a time to cry.”
He also cautioned against attaching superstitious meanings to the deaths, urging Christians to remember that death is part of life’s cycle. “When Christians start treating these occurrences as mysterious, it makes me question if we are truly following Christ. We all have our time to depart.”
