Celestial Church of Christ: Pastor Ediemou Blin Jacob dies at 80, leaving a final wish

Pastor Ediemou Blin Jacob, a leading figure in the Celestial Church of Christ in Côte d’Ivoire, died at Clinique Farah in Abidjan during the night of October 18–19, 2026. Born on November 5, 1945, he would have turned 81 the following month. In the weeks before his death, he had pursued reconciliation with fellow church members, including Justin Ackah Kouamé, and received Beninese President Patrice Talon in September as part of efforts to bring the church’s different factions closer together.