Every first Sunday in June, the Celestial Church of Christ, worldwide, celebrates juvenile harvest. Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, looks beyond the children tasking themselves on their spiritual uplift
Children from Isokan Ifemimo Sowapo Parish, Bariga, Lagos.
All over the world, the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) celebrates the annual juvenile thanksgiving harvest every first Sunday in June. In fact, it is in the constitution of the church.
And so, last Sunday was a special day for children of the church founded by the late Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa. Although the order of service for that day usually would not change, all the activities would be carried out by children.
Usually, each parish comes up with its own theme, which would also be used for their adult harvest later in the year.
The general theme for this years’ juvenile harvest was ‘Harvest of Divine Expansion’.
At the Isokan Ifemimo Sowapo Parish, Bariga, Lagos, activities to mark the 36th edition began on Friday, when the preliminary stage of the numerous games held. Also, on Saturday, there was photo session for the children who came in traditional outfits.
Other activities that got the children busy include junior and senior bible quiz, gele (scarf) tying competition, drama and dancing competition.
At the thanksgiving service on Sunday, 11-year-old Joshua Dodo kicked off the service by thanking the Almighty for another juvenile harvest. He also prayed for forgiveness of sins and sanctification of all.
In his sermon titled ‘Obedience is Key’, Matthew Afolabi, with Iyanuoluwa Ogungbemiro as the Yoruba interpreter, stated that obedience is one of the ingredients of divine expansion. He called on all children to imbibe the culture of obedience, so they can always “stand right” with God.
Other activities at the event were presentation of gifts, recitation of memory verses, choreography, recitation of Psalms, while a special anthem was presented by the choristers of the Sunday school.
Highpoint of the event was thanksgiving by the congregation and the shepherd.
According to the Shepherd-in-Charge, Evang. Michael Sholaja, “This is a dedicated service for children in CCC all over the world to appear before God with grateful heart. We have nothing else to give God as children than to thank Him and be obedient. We believe God will enlarge our coast.”
He prayed the God of harvest to grant all their intentions.
Similarly, at the Genesis Model Parish, Egbeda, the children took over the service procession for the Sunday event.
Since it was a special day, the children came in new soutanes, many of which were made just for the event.
From the praise and worship session, ushering and technical group, to the preaching and sanctification of the day, the children showed that they were actually in tune with the doctorines of the church.
The preacher of the day, 11-year-old Paul Martins, titled his sermon ‘Securing your child in an insecure world’. While calling on the children to be physically and spiritually alert, he urged them to take their education seriously, so that they can be equipped to take up leadership roles in the future.
He charged them to always listen to their parents and adults for direction in life.
Martins called on parents to ensure they give their children and wards right and adequate training in the way of the Lord, so that they will not depart from it as they grow.
Special prayer session was also held for peace to return to Nigeria, and especially for the return of the girls abducted from Government Secondary school, Chibok, in Borno State, North East Nigeria.
The youngster called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do all he can to get the girls reunited with their parents as quickly as possible.
Other activities for the day include drama presentation, choreography, bible recitation and special song for the harvest.
At CCC worldwide, children are called “fruits”. So, those looking unto God for the fruits of the womb normally use the opportunity of the juvenile harvest to give to the children, while praying that soon, their own children would also be among those that will celebrate the harvest.
All the children received goodie bags containing exotic gifts from parents.
