By Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi
The Celestial Church of Christ has denied media reports that it abandoned Evangelist Steve Pelemoh aka Brobro in the time of his ailment.
The church made its reaction known in a press statement signed by
Sup. Evang. Kayode Ajala, M.P.I.C and head of the CCC Media Worldwide.
Recall that the CCC had been accused in the media that it didn’t support Brobro to foot his medical bills.
But in the statement, Ajala stated all the funds which the church had given to support the ace singer. He also listed the supports given to Brobro by CCC organizations and Chorister bands both in Nigeria and Abroad.
Read the statement below:
Evangelist Steve Pelemoh aka Brobro
In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. So that your giving may be in secret. Then your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4).
What this powerful scripture implies is that those who give in order to receive accolades from others have already received their reward (Matthew 6:2). God will reward those who give in secret.
It is for this reason that the present administration of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide under the able leadership of our father in the Lord, His Eminence, Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa, has chosen to be silent on the church’s countless philanthropic and benevolent acts to ailing/needy members and non-members of the church alike. We do not want to be like the hypocrites in the Bible who love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. (Matthew 6:5).
However, since the video of ailing Celestial music icon, the respected Evangelist Steve Pelemoh aka Brobro went viral a few days back, we have been inundated with calls loaded with condemnations directed at Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa and the entire administration of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide. Many have erroneously been made to believe that ailing Evangelist Steve Pelemoh was abandoned by the Church in his trying period. We are therefore compelled to straighten the records and correct the erroneous impression being created in this particular case.
That video gone viral of the ailing celestial music icon, Brobro, which was recorded during a visit by another gospel artiste, Harmony, is an indictment on the children and caregivers of the celestial music icon and not on the Celestial Church of Christ and its leadership. Showing Brobro to the world in such a poor state suggests that he is not properly cared for and that help has not been forthcoming. This is not true!
From the beginning of his travails, the Pastor and Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, His Eminence, Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa, had not only shown concern and empathy but had also reached out to the ailing icon and his family with succour in terms of financial assistance. Twice, E.M.F. has given N1,000, 000 (One Million Naira), that’s N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) altogether, from his personal purse to support the medical treatment of the ailing music star. His Eminence also recently instructed the Church’s financial department to pay the sum of N2,600,000 (Two Million and Six Hundred Thousand Naira) directly to the Hospital Arena, here in Lagos, to settle Brobro’s accumulated medical bills. And this was promptly done.
We have it on good authority that VSE Gabriel Jerry, Chairman of the C.C.C. Welfare Committee, personally handed over the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to Seyi (Brobro’s daughter) as medical support from the C.C.C. Welfare Committee. This donation was handed over to Seyi in the presence of her husband who accompanied her to see VSE Gabriel Jerry to collect the money.
Members of the Pastor in Council (M.P.I.C.), C.C.C. Worldwide, also raised the sum of N840,000 (Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira) as medical support for the ailing musician. This money was paid into Evangelist Steve Pelemoh’s First Bank account on 10th June, 2022, by Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala, the Secretary of the Council. It was received and acknowledged and a letter of appreciation written by Seyi (Brobro’s) daughter was sent to the Pastor in Council.
The Central Choir, U.S.A. Diocese also put together the sum of N1,400,000 (One Million and Four Hundred Thousand Naira) as medical support for Brobro. This sum was taken to Cotonou while Brobro was being treated there by LSSES Lore Aisida, who ensured that the money was put to good use by offsetting the outstanding hospital bills in Cotonou, renting an apartment in Cotonou (paid four months rent for him to stay there as an out-patient), bought a bed frame, 2 mattresses, pillows and bedspread, bought two standing fans, bought a cooking gas, bought plastic tables and chairs, paid for the services of a nurse/professional caregiver, paid for three months supply of drugs and paid for the services of a qualified doctor to take care of him and dress his wound for three months.
Also, in 2022, Celestial Church of Christ, Edward Street Parish, London, U.K, sent the sum of 500 pounds sterling to the family as medical support.
Music colleagues, shepherds, sisters, brothers and well wishers of the ailing celestial music icon in the U.K. Celestial Family also raised the sum of One Thousand and Seven Hundred Pounds Sterling and N750,000 which they sent to the family as medical support for the ailing star, just a few weeks ago.
The True Celestial Group (T.C.G.), a Whatsapp Platform Group, we were also made to understand, raised about N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) all in aid of Brobro. Questions certainly need to be answered on whether all these donations were judiciously spent.
We could go on and on but let’s leave it at the foregoing. The big question now is, why would anyone go public, deriding and condemning the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide and its leadership, for being insensitive to the plight of Evangelist Steve Pelemoh aka Brobro? Just why?
The foregoing notwithstanding, the church authority would wish to make a strong appeal to all our members who are pained by the unjust condemnation of the Church and its leaders in this matter. This is not the time to start asking questions, throwing brick-bats and finding faults. This is the time to continue with our support and intensify our prayers for our passionately loved and revered music icon, Evangelist Steve Pelemoh aka Brobro.
We commend the Agbala Gabriel Charity Foundation for the amazing works of philanthropy that the organisation is doing in the body of Christ. We welcome them wholeheartedly as they join in the task to keep our very dear Brobro alive. On our part, the Celestial Church of Christ would not relent in dispensing our goodwill and prayers until our dearly loved Brobro regains his health.
May the Lord crown our efforts with success. Amen.