Celestial Church of Christ Makoko Parish, Lagos represent the model for other parishes of Celestial Church in Nigeria and beyond. The Parish stand as the first root of Celestial Church of Christ planted in Nigeria holding to the historical background of the Parish since 1951. The Pastor Founder was the first Shepherd of the parish. The parish still uphold the prefinalization of the Church ordinances with their strict instructions to follow the tents and doctrines of the Church in all ramification.
The Parish has the privilege to have senior clergies as their shepherd in a way to manage and sustain the taught of faith and determination of fact.
The Church Constitution patiently document the value of the Parish, the current shepherd of CCC Makoko Parish also falls among the circle of Senior Clergymen within the fold. M/S/E Olarinde is a product of CCC Elizabeth Road Parish, Now Eleyele Parish Ibadan in the year 1964; He became a Shepherd in 1972 and was under the tutelage of Superior Leader R.A. Cole at CCC Itire, Lagos State, with the instruction of then Senior. Evang A.A Bada. While he is a well known gentle, responsible man of God.
For 59 years and still counting, MSE Olarinde has constantly been committed to the assignment given to him through the divine instructions of God to be a shepherd, to preach about the salvation of God to mankind and to also promote all that concern God on earth. It will be inappropriate to ignore the personality of MSE Olarinde among Shepherds in Celestial Church of Christ.
Ever since his appointment as Shepherd in CCC National Headquarter Mokoko Parish, he has created an atmosphere of positive phenomenon among the worshippers. While he stood on the provision of the Church constitution as stated in section 116 of the Church constitution.
However, on the 3rd of January 2023, there was a rumor on some Celestial social media platforms that MSE Olarinde has announced his retirement as Shepherd and has the intention to return to his parish at Ikorodu. The news attracted a lot of controversies due to the fact that shepherds do not retire in Celestial Church of Christ while the person of MSE Olarinde would not have taken such decision without a wide consultations.
In a quick response to the news of retirement, on the 5th of January 2023, there was another rumor that MSE Olarinde had been appointed as Pastor's Representative while he must resume to his new office with immediate effect. Majority of Celestial Church members are skeptical of the news because the authority of the Church did not release any official statement for clarification of fact concerning the matter. However; it was confirmed that MSE Olarinde as been announced as a Pastor Representative through his Eminence Pastor EMF Oshoffa with letter of appointment effective from January 1, 2023.
Officially, the Church has (3) International Representatives namely; MSE Nayoaun, MSE Ajao & MSE Olarinde with the substitution of MSE Ajose(now late). But the introduction of Pastor's Representative created a debate on point of duties and responsibilities of office between a Pastor's Representative & International Representative on various whatapp groups by Celestial members.
MSE Olarinde had before now Shepherd CCC Mokoko Parish 1987 for (7) Months when he relieved then Most Senior Evangelist Are. The then Pastor Rev AA Bada directed then Snr Eavng Olarinde was asked to resumed duty on the 20th of October 1987 when Late Most Senior Evangelist Are was to accompany Rev AA Bada to the Northern Part of the country . The emergence of MSE Olarinde as shepherd of CCC Mokoko Parish for the past 2 years & 3 months witnessed a significant turnaround in term of spiritual uplifting and proper administration system.
After the tension that surrounded the Retirement/Pastor Representative story, MSE Olarinde are resumes duty as Pastor Representative to the Rev EMF Oshoffa The appointment of MSE Olarinde was a well deserved appointment due to his experience as shepherd who had worked in the (6) geo-political zones in the country and beyond; the assessment of MSE Olarinde document recorded parishes he had worked as shepherd at C.C.C. Cardoso Parish, Apapa, Lagos, 1973-1975; C.C.C. Imota Parish 1, Ogun State, 1975-1976; C.C.C. Mafoluku Parish 1, Oshodi, Lagos State, 1976-1982; C.C.C. Zaria Parish, Kaduna State, 1982-1984; CCC Osapa London Parish( as the 1st Shepherd, then at Late Omobe’s Official residence, Cameron Road, Ikoyi Lagos 1984; C.C.C. Gbagada Parish 1, Lagos state, 1984-1987; C.C.C. National Headquarters, Makoko, Lagos State, to relieve the then Shepherd in Charge, Most.Snr.Evang.M.O. Are (Then the State Evangelist), 1987-1988.
His journey in Shepherdship also required him been a District Evangelist, 1988-1991. C.C.C. Ore-Ofe Parish, Iponri, Ebute Metta , Lagos State; then he was promoted to the position of State Evangelist, 1991-1992, (The last for Bendel State, Nigeria.) State Evangelist, 1992-1993, (The first for Delta State, Nigeria.) C.C.C. Upper Edmonton Parish, London, UK, 1997-2000.
The commitment of MSE Olarinde on the assignment given to him convinced late Rev AA Bada to announced him as the Head of Diocese of United Kingdom/Northern Ireland in year 2000. After the demise of Late Rev AA Bada with the short period of Late Rev P.H Ajose; The Church authority proclaimed Rev EMF Oshoffa as the Pastor of the Church. In year 2002, Baba Olarinde was anointed as Superior. Evang while in March 2012, he was among the Seven (7) Pastor Rev. E.M.F. Oshoffa anointed as Venerable Superior Evangelists.
In September 2016; MSE Olarinde returned back to the country; he immediately resumed work as the General Superintendent of South South/South East, Nigeria, with the requirement of the Church Constitution on anointment as stated in section 188; the Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa anointed him as Assistant Most Superior Evangelists on the 17th of January 2018. After the completion of duty in the southern part of the country; MSE Olarinde was transferred to Ondo State to work as the General Superintendent in April 2018 to August 2020. The value of God purpose returned him back to CCC Makoko Parish National Headquarters in September 2020 after 33 years to his pervious seat as shepherd of the Celestial Church in Nigeria. His presence at CCC Makoko Parish reengineered the evangelism framework of the parish; On the 8th of April, 2022, he was anointed as Most Superior Evangelist; the most highly rank for clergy in the Church. With total clarification of fact; MSE Olarinde was officially appointed as Pastor Representative on the 1st of January 2023.
His wide experience as a shepherd in the fold; with his deep understanding of the scriptures as manifested a lot of souls for Christ within the world. MSE Olarinde understood the importance of God words in all ramification with his instinct on the basic ordinance of the Church. His new appointment stand as a well deserved position after many years and still counting on the preaching of God salvation to mankind.