Samuel Biléhou Joseph Oschoffa
| Samuel Oshoffa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 May 1909 Porto-Novo, Benin |
| Died | 1985 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Resting place | Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria 7°29′00″N 2°53′00″E |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Occupation | carpenter |
| Known for | Founder of the Celestial Church of Christ |
| Spouse(s) | Felicia Yaman and 13 |
| Parents |
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Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa (1909–1985) was the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ after reportedly resurrecting people from the dead. He founded the church in 1947 after being lost for three months near Porto-Novo in Benin. The church now has its main offices in Bénin and Nigeria. Five percent, or 400,000, of the 8,000,000 people of Benin are Celestial Christians. Oshoffa was reported to have had 14 wives and 54 children when he died in 1985 although some say these figures are high.
Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa (Oju ki s’ofa) was born into a Yoruba family of mixed religion. His father was a Muslim but had become a Methodist, whilst his mother followed traditional religions and objected to Christianity. His mother left him when he was only three months old to return to imeko where her husband lived. His father was a carpenter (a fact which was later thought important to a person who later reported receiving visits from Jesus Christ). He was born May 19, 1909 in Porto-Novo, which is now the capital of Benin but was then the new capital of the French colony > His family was also involved with the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. Felicia Yaman was Oshoffa's first wife, and she was involved with the launch of the new church. She was said to be able to prophesy conflict and was invited to many of Oshoffa's meetings.
Oshoffa was working in the ebony trade in 1947 when he was instructed to found the new church. He reported that he had been searching in the forests to find the correct type of tree. He said he lost his way and had to live off the land for three months. When he emerged he was empowered with the gifts of healing and prophecy.
His first act of healing was reportedly the resurrection of his nephew. As a result, his elder sister, Elizabeth, was the first convert. The nephew was to become recognised as the first prophet of the new church. Over the next few years, several other people were reportedly brought back from the dead by Oshoffa. Between 1947 and 1951, the church grew in the country of Benin. In 1976, it was relocated to Nigeria because Oshoffa was in a minor conflict with the government of Benin. This was timely as he was just about to be arrested. Very soon after arriving in Nigeria, Oshoffa cured a mad woman, although many people doubted this account. Oshoffa held a public meeting in Yaba, Lagos, where those gathered reported his ability to prophecy. In the same year he again claimed a resurrection.
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