Choristers of the Celestial Church of Christ, El Morijah parish, had ecstatic bliss etched on their faces as they clinched the $2000 grand prize at the just concluded Oshoffa Juvenile Choir Competition.

The Lagos parish humbled nine other parishes at the grand finale of the competition held at the Agip Hall of MUSON Centre.

Also,Ijaye Olifi and Ibara parish emerged the second and first runner-ups, winning N500,000 ,and N250,000 respectively.

Before the grand finale that saw 10 parishes from Nigeria and Benin Republic slug it out with one another, 37 parishes were edged out after 47 parishes started the race.

Speaking with journalists on what inspired the contest, Leader of True Word in Season, sponsor of the event, Brother Demola Bolaji, said: “This is a way to create a standard, a way to lay a foundation upon which those who have a vision can build upon. I didn’t decide to do this. I had the intention of writing a book. I went to pray and I saw Papa (Oshoffa). He said, ‘Imole, translate the Yoruba Hymn book of the church to the proper English…for your celebration of my 40th anniversary. He said ‘make sure you celebrate me very well for the 40th anniversary. Make Tosin Ajayi the chairman of the anniversary. In his days, he gave us a juvenile Bible quiz on the last Saturday of every May of every year. For the elders, he established (music competition) . People came from Ajase (Benin Republic) and other parts of Africa to Nigeria.It has not been done for the juvenile.”

He added: “As a Christian, it is important to be obedient to the voice of God, according to Deuteronomy 28, it says, “And it shall come pass if you will diligently attend to the voice of the LORD your God. I taught everyone how to hear the voice of God, because I said, without that, there is nothing in Christianity.

“It is a way to bring the children together and give them a vision, a focus, first, to their lives, and to bring them up in the way of God. God has given three things, and we only added one to make us never to be poor in life. Your gift, talent and skill and we only added education to it.”

On why the competition is important, gospel musician and musicologist, Seyi Solagbade, said:“We looked at the quality and the originality in those children because the programme was meant to redirect and shape them for future purposes.

“The Christendom, not only in the Celestial Church of Christ, has been mixed up with all sorts of people in the name of music. They infuse all nonsense to make sense before the people and we accept it. I believe we need to start changing the narrative for the purpose of putting our children on the right path.”

Commenting, the only living Board of Trustee member since the days of the founder of the church, Most Superior Evangelist Samson Banjo, described the performances of the 10 parishes as enthralling, stating that youths were crucial to the continued existence of any institution.

The nonagenarian said: “You see, when I came today, I said I would leave here at 3:00pm. I told my houseboy to cook so I could eat dinner at 6:00pm. But I’m still here at this time of the night. I’m already filled. I want to plead with the organisers to allow me to give N100,000 to the parish that came fourth. I also have a N50,000 gift for the lead singer of the winning choir. I’m impressed tonight. Any institution without youths is a dying one.”

Also present were a son of the founder of the church, Assistant Most Superior Evangelist Ebenezer Oshoffa, wives of SBJ Oshoffa, CCC Makoko National Headquarters, Shepherd Venerable Superior Evangelist Afis Kiki, among other clerics.

The choir competition rounds off the first phase of the six-month long celebration of the 40th remembrance of the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Rev.SBJ Oshoffa.

Earlier, CCC National Headquarters, Makoko, Lagos had won the $1500 prize money for Bible quiz. This is even as a 116-day testimony season kicked off on May 18 to principally give a platform to all that experienced miracles of God through Oshoffa to share their stories.