Cele: Maforikan succeeds Jesse

BY BISI ERETAN

DEPUTY Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) World-wide, Superior Evangelist Paul Surulere Maforikan, has been appointed the new Spiritual Head of the church.

His endorsement on Wednesday after an extra-ordinary general meeting of the Council of Superiors of CCC Worldwide followed the demise on Tuesday of the former Spiritual Head, Reverend Pastor Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse.

There had been speculations in the past three weeks of the true state of health of Jesse, who was only recently flown abroad for medical check-up and on return was said to be convalescing at the home of another Senior Pastor at the Egbeda area of Lagos where he died.

A terse statement issued after the meeting of the council of superiors said:

· whereas the position of Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ, World-wide has been made vacant by the demise of our beloved Reverend Pastor Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse, who was called to the great beyond.

· And, because of the prevailing circumstances in the Celestial fold world-wide, the seat of the Pastor cannot be left vacant for too long.

· It is hereby resolved that the incumbent Deputy Pastor, Superior Evangelist, Prophet (Dr.) Paul Surulere Maforikan is hereby declared the Pastor, Spiritual Head, Celestial Church of Christ World-wide.