Prophet Israel Ogundipe, Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global, has said he joined the Celestial Church because of the love he experienced and the treatment of his family in his former church.
Speaking in an interview with The Nation, Prophet Ogundipe said he was born into Islam and later grew up in the Christ Apostolic Church, where his parents became Christians.
He said his family lived on proceeds from a small cassava farm and struggled to meet expectations in church activities that required money.
According to him, his parents stopped attending their former church after his mother was mocked over her inability to give offerings and change clothes regularly for services.
He said sermons in the church focused on giving, which affected his father, who read the Bible and disagreed with such teachings.
Ogundipe said his encounter with members of the Celestial Church changed his perception of white garment churches.
He said he joined them after they welcomed him, shared food with him and invited him to worship without demanding payment or enforcing dress requirements.
“They did not drive me away or rebuke me for not wearing their garment. They gave me a white garment without payment and even gave me money after the service,” he said.
He said he decided to remain in the Celestial Church because members wore similar clothing and social status was not visible.
He added that his decision led to opposition from his former church, where his parents were deacons.
Prophet Israel Ogundipe said he later moved into the church building and began fasting, after which he said he received the gift of prophecy.
He said his ministry grew from that point and has continued since then.
