Former romance magazine editor speaks on how God arrested  him at  CCC

At 23, he had gotten to the pinnacle of his profession, editor; he had equaled the feat of the likes of Peter Pan Enahoro, who edited the Daily Times of the old in his 20s. A brilliant mind, a wordsmith, Kayode Ajala was on a roller coaster as he edited Hints Magazine until he was arrested by God and today, he is the Secretary of the Pastor in Council, which is the highest policy making body of the Church. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Working Committee on Media, P.R. and Publicity, CCC Worldwide. Newdawn’s Charles Okogene ran into him on Facebook after so many years and this short interview ensued.

kayode Ajala

What is happening now at Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide?

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide is moving on. Yes, there are conflicts here and there. There are also ongoing court cases but the good news is that inspite of all these, the Church is moving on. You would pardon me if I do not go into details of the conflicts and court cases, as I do not want to stand in contempt of court.

Any resolution of the crisis in the near future? I ask this because many have died trying to end it. 

Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa

Yes, we are all optimistic that the crisis would be resolved very soon. There are bound to be such disagreements but that does not take away the fact that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, bonded by our love for the largest white garment Church in the world, the Celestial Church of Christ, founded by our highly reverred father, Reverend Pastor S.B.J Oshoffa.

From the media to missionary, tell us how you got there?

Media to Missionary: Well, at a point in time, all happenings and developments in my personal life pushed me only in one direction and that direction was to drop everything in my hands at the feet of Jesus and embrace Christ.

I don’t know if you can imagine finding yourself in a life threatening situation from, which no single person or even group of individuals can rescue you. The kind of situation where. the naked reality hits you like a cyclone that only God can save you through our Lord Jesus Christ. That was the scary situation in, which I found myself and I took the only way out.

Kayode Ajala

I was divinely led to the Celestial Church of Christ where I had a life changing encounter with God. That, in a nutshell, is how I got here.

*For the benefit of the young ones, can you recount for us your sojourn in the media* *after your days at Ogun State University?*

I left Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in 1986. Did my youth service at the then University of Ife. I returned home to Abeokuta after Service in 1987 after service and had to grapple with the nightmare of unemployment. In those days, I would spend my mornings browsing through loads of newspapers searching for vacancies.

It was on one of those mornings while browsing through the newspapers that it occurred to me that I could write better newspaper articles than some of the ones I read in those newspapers. So, I gave it a shot. I wrote an article titled ” *Lamentation for Gari”* bemoaning the increase in the price of Gari, a staple food at that time. I sent the article to the National Concord Newspapers and couldn’t believe my eyes when the article was published as top of the day, the following week. That marked the beginning of my sojourn into journalism.
I continued to contribute articles to the National Concord for a few months and eventually got a job at *HINTS* *Magazine, which was just starting at that time. That was how I met the Publisher of the magazine, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who till today remains a major influence, mentor, brother and friend. At HINTS, my rise was meteoric as I went from Editorial Executive to Editor in four quick promotions within one year. I was barely 23 years old when I became the Editor of the magazine.

My sojourn in the media was one hell of a roller coaster ride. It was a lot of hardwork, fun and excitement. In the media, I met a lot of wonderful colleagues who remain very good friends till date. The likes of Dele Momodu, Mayor Akinpelu, Kunle Bakare, Femi Akintunde Johnson, Seye Kehinde, Moji Danisa, Gboyega Okegbenro, Lanre Ijaola, Ehi Braimah, Ekerete Udoh, Chidinma Agwu and so many other exceptional people.

Is it right to say you introduced Dr. Reuben Abati to Journalism who once ‘confessed’ at the NiteShift Coliseum that you ‘taught’ him to drink* *beer. How did all these happened and in what year?

– It would not be right to say that I introduced Reuben Abati to journalism. Reuben and I grew up in Abeokuta. The secondary school he attended was just a stone throw from mine. He was one of the brightest minds even at that time and went on to bag a PhD when some of our mates were still struggling with JAMB. So, it would not be right to say I introduced him to journalism.

Reuben must have been joking when he ‘confessed’ at the Niteshift Coliseum that I taught him to drink beer. No, I didn’t quite teach him but I was his forerunner in the art of beer guzzling. I had more experience in the game at that time. But that is no longer the case as my friend Reuben has since overtaken me in that pastime.

Why, then, did you abandoned journalism that made you a celebrity in the 1990s for evangelism. Any specific reason?

I didn’t abandon the media and I can’t abandon the media. It runs in my blood and it’s a profession that has done so much for me. Even now, I’m actively involved in the media department of the Church and I hold a very sensitive and strategic position in the media Committee of the Church. A part of me would die if I abandon journalism.

What is you take that Pastor Slyvanus Paul Tiwo is the true CC worldwide pastor to come?

My take is this. I wasn’t there when God told him that he is the true Pastor of the CCC worldwide. I would need to hear from God too before I know the truth of the claim. The only true Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide that I know is Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa and he has been the Pastor/Spiritual Head of the Church for the past 20 years. Under him the church has grown beyond everyone’s imagination and is still growing. The size of his followership is unprecedented. He is not a Shepherd of not just one parish who is claiming to be the true Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide. Thank you.