The Chairman, Lagos State Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Monday, said that the Cherubim and Seraphim Church must re-emphasise holiness, prophetic witness, and contextual worship, while shedding practices that confuse rather than clarify the gospel from now on as it celebrates 100 years.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Cherubim and Seraphim at 100: Critical Assessment of its Mandate, Impact, and Future Trajectory’ as part of activities marking Cherubim and Seraphim Church at 100, Adegbite said that the future and the impact of the church going forward after celebrating 100 years will depend on whether it remains faithful to its divine mandate while courageously engaging a changing world.
He noted that every authentic move of God begins with a divine mandate.
“For Israel, it was to be a holy nation. For the early church, it was to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. For the C&S, the mandate given through Orimolade and Captain Abiodun was threefold: holiness, healing, and contextual worship.
“Holiness: The white garment of the C&S was never just a uniform; it was a theological statement. It symbolised purity of heart and life. Like the seraphim in Isaiah 6 crying “Holy, holy, holy,” the C&S was called to model holiness in Nigeria.
“Healing: At a time when colonial medicine could not address African realities, Orimolade emphasised the healing power of God through prayer, fasting, and anointing. His first miracle was the healing of a girl, Christina Abiodun Akinsowon, from a long-term trance in which she could neither speak nor hear.
“Contextual Worship: The C&S taught us that Christianity is not foreign to Africa. With Yoruba hymns, African drumming, open-air services, and prophetic prayer, it affirmed that Africans could worship God in spirit and in truth without abandoning their cultural identity.”
Adegbite stated that the mandate was both liberative and prophetic, carving out space for people to worship God in forms that resonated with their worldview while remaining faithful to biblical principles.
“The Cherubim and Seraphim Church at 100 is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and African Christian resilience. Its mandate of holiness, healing, and contextual worship has borne much fruit, inspired generations and shaping global Christianity. Yet, like every living tradition, it must reform to remain relevant,” he said.
He enjoined the church to invest in theological education that would help systematise C&S doctrine, providing intellectual depth and apologetic strength against criticism. “Seminaries and Bible schools must be empowered,” he said.
He noted that the next century belongs to the digital generation. “To thrive, the C&S must embrace technology — streaming services, podcasts, youth-focused media, and creative evangelism.
“The diaspora presence offers opportunity: C&S can be a bridge between African spirituality and global Christianity, showcasing African liturgy on the world stage.
“Nigeria bleeds from corruption, poverty, and injustice. A renewed C&S must speak prophetically to society, embodying Isaiah’s vision: “Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8),” he said.
