Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa (1909–1985), originally a carpenter from Benin, founded the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in 1947 after a divine revelation while lost in a forest.

Oshoffa’s grandfather, Ojopola, had migrated from Abeokuta to settle in Dassa, Benin, where he tragically lost his children to slave traders, including Oshoffa.

Oshoffa, sold to an Ajase slave trader and later rescued, married Foun Alake, who was also of enslaved ancestry. Their son, Samuel Bilewu, was born in Porto-Novo, Benin, on October 11, 1909, into a Yoruba family with mixed religious beliefs.

Oshoffa’s early life was marked by personal loss, including the death of his siblings and the tragic passing of his father, Joseph Oshoffa, in 1939. His mother, Alake Iyafo, followed African traditional religions, while his father had converted to Christianity.

Samuel, instructed by an angel in 1947, founded the Celestial Church of Christ after experiencing divine healing and prophecy while lost in a forest for three months.

The church grew rapidly, gaining official recognition in Benin in 1965, and Oshoffa later moved to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1951, where the church spread across the country.

Oshoffa’s ministry was marked by numerous reported miracles, including the resurrection of his nephew, which solidified his following. His first wife, Felicia Yaman, was instrumental in launching the church and was considered a prophet herself.

In Nigeria, the church expanded significantly, particularly through the miracle of healing and prophecy. The church's name, "Celestial Church of Christ," was revealed through a divine trance experienced by an early follower, Alexander Yanga.

The church’s growth was accelerated by the oil boom of the 1970s and the cultural appeal of Yoruba language worship. However, Oshoffa’s sudden death in 1985, after a car accident, marked the end of an era for the Celestial Church, though its legacy continued to grow globally.