The Celestial Church of Christ has released a statement reacting to the
report of one of their pastors, Francis Taiwo, who chained his nine year
old son, Korede Taiwo, for weeks without food at the Key of Joy Parish,
Ajiwo at Ajibawo in Ado Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State.
In the statement released today July 25th, the leadership of the church
condemned the act, stating it will never support any act of child abuse.
Read the statement below…
Our attention has been drawn to media reports concerning the activities
of Prophet Francis Taiwo, Shepherd in Charge, Celestial Church of
Christ ( C.C.C ), Key of Joy Parish, Ajiwo at Ajibawo in Ado Odo/Ota
local government area of Ogun State.Prophet Francis Taiwo was reported to have chained his nine year old son
and starved him of food for months, after the boy was accused of
habitual stealing.
The nine year old boy was eventually rescued by men of the NSCDC who
stormed the church premises for that purpose. Latest reports indicate
that the culprit, Prophet Francis Taiwo was later arrested by the police
with the help of his church members.This report has drawn the ire of the public and our great church has
been receiving undeserved flaks therefrom. We are thus compelled to
issue this statement to correct whatever misconceptions must have been
created about the church, in the minds of the general public, by this
shameful and totally unacceptable incident.Let it be known that the Celestial Church of Christ does not condone
child abuse and violence of any form.
We recognise and place a high value on our youths and children as we
often acknowledge them as the salt of the earth and a vital part of the
future of any organisation, church or nation. Our belief is that
children therefore must be raised in an atmosphere of love, Christian
values and reasonable parental discipline.The fact that the said Prophet Francis Taiwo was arrested by the Police
with the help of his church members lends credence to the fact that our
church abhors child abuse, domestic violence and inhumanity of any form.We commend the NSCDC and the Nigerian Police for a job well done, and
wish to assure the general public that the Celestial Church of Christ is
already looking into the matter and would mete out appropriate
disciplinary actions on the culprits.Thank you and may the Lord be with you all.