TB JOSHUA; REMEMBERING EXIT OF A WORLD CHANGER

BY DARE ADEJUMO

The month of June is a significant month in the annal of Synagogue Church Of All Nations SCOAN. It is the birth and passing of its founder, Prophet TB Joshua that great world changer.

Its fifth day makes the second year of his glorious exit from earth and on the twelfth, the great man of God who cherished marking his birthdays would have been 60 years old.

Nations across the world would have been agog for an extraordinary Prophet of God whose footprints of wonderful deeds touching the lives of millions across the globe remain in the sand of time. TB Joshua came to revitalize the face of christianity and made the physiognomy of practical christian living as given by Jesus Christ already in abeyance real to mankind once again.
There’s no hide and seek in his life.

He was love personified. The humbliest human being I have ever come across. Firm and stern, even in his moment of severity, you would still find love encapsulated. You cannot offend him. He’s extra sensitive with propulsively radiating wisdom, unfathomable knowledge of life, charming and a paragon of magnetically illuminating character.

He was completely acidic to vanity, envy, jealousy. human comparison, imitation, vulgarity and wonton desires. He described them as one of those “foolish things” not to be entertained for a moment in one’s life.

TB Joshua was a divinely self made man. Here was a man with little elementary education. Yet with your degrees, prodigy of erudition and western exposures, you would be humbled by the self discovery of your personal hollowness or quasi emptiness when you sit to discuss or share a view with TB Joshua, a shying rustic village man.

TB Joshua was an attestation of God’s Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent and greatness that lies in simplicity.

I personally witnessed several cases of some other so-called men of God who out of ignorance and envy were once persecuting him but after receiving the touch of God in different dimensions including mere touching of EMMANUEL TV while praying came to weep before God for forgiveness.

Joshua would only say to them: ” I didn’t fire one single arrow back from all your arrows against me; otherwise you won’t be here today to talk. One thing we should always know is this: I did not choose myself to do God’s work. He in His wisdom just chose me and I know He is with me. God would never give anybody this kind of power He gave me if the person would use it for selfish purposes or against his perceived enemies. No!”

TB Joshua was a puzzle, an enigma. He was the light shining in darkness that many couldn’t comprehend. He looked too simple and ordinary having not been commissioned by the earthly papacy or religious authorities of the day and for him to be performing miracles of diverse kinds like breathing. This was clearly indescribable, incomprehensible, a mystery and shocker to the spiritual ignoramuses and empty flamboyant oratorical, motivational preachers with big congregations.

That great English thinker and philosopher John Locke once said: “New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed without any other reason but because they are not already common”.

In God’s adamantine and inscrutable will, TB Joshua came to the scene when the acts of Christianity seen in Jesus Christ and His early desciples and apostles as captured in the Bible were gradually becoming moonlight tales to this generation. Religious leaders had already metamorphosed to careerism and polarised with pervasive unhealthy cacophonous standards. It was obvious that these religious leaders no longer knew what they were doing then even till today in several quarters without any tangible impacts in the life atrophied worshippers!

That was the turning point.
There was no way TB Joshua could have had it easier. He faced satanic conspiracies and persecution galore, but the man remained focused with unmitigated perseverance, vision and mission of his divine assignments which he tenaciously upheld victoriously till the last.
He took his persecution joyfully and that vonspiracy against him at home launched to the outside world in God’s agenda and design for his mission on earth.

Hear him:
“I began discovering the good life when I was only 15 years. My objectives and motives were determined at once. I wanted what God wanted and I wanted it for the reason God wanted it”. That’s prophet TB Joshua for you. Till the end he carried his childhood with him. With malice to no one but love, charity and firmness to all in God’s righteousness.

To him love is pure. Take good care of your heart because that is your communicating point with God and must ever remain pure to know and flow with Him. You can never love God if you don’t love your neighbours and your neighbours include your perceived enemies, those not in the same faith with you, the poor and those in needs who you must give love unconditionally.

This Godly character often made TB Joshua be misrepresented by low spiritual human beings whenever they saw him attend to other people who were not Christian’s just as his Master, Jesus was accused of dining with Republicans and sinners which made the religious authorities persecuted Him.

The truth of humanity as once put by that foremost existentialist Italian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard is that history would always repeat itself because man would never learn from history. Many never discovered Joshua not until he had departed! What a painful loss.

You can never find TB Joshua criticizing or talking about other men of God. He moved on quietly on his own even though he lamented the pervasive discrimination and disunity in christendom.

Several people from other churches who received healings and miracles in his church, Synagogue Church Of All Nations SCOAN wanted to come and do thanksgiving in his church but Joshua would not allow them. “Go back to you church and do your Thanksgiving and give your offering there. We are the same. God had already answered your prayers there before you came here” for you to see how selfless he was in all his dealings.

TB Joshua was more interested in the quality of your Christian life and character. He would ask you: ‘Do you hear from God? Do you listen to Him? Does He speak with you? Do you know how much you need Him? Do you have a relationship with Him? The God’s General believed that your highest achievement on earth was to hear from God.

To TB Joshua, Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God. If you don’t have that relationship with Him you have missed it and you are worshipping in vain. “How can you be worshipping God you don’t know?” He would spiritually jerked up his congregants to move away from spiritual docility, complacency and indolence.

TB Joshua was never an academic preacher. He spoke words of life that transformed lives of ardent and fervent seekers of God and salvation.

I remember a woman nurse I once encountered where she had come to treat a patient as she stood looking at EMMANUEL TV. On enquiries whether she knew of the television station, she said that she used to attend SCOAN. “I was a nurse and member of the church’s medical team. Then the church was not rich, just managing to survive.

it was what happened during the man of God’s birthday that made me stop going and besides I had relocated to a farther distance. We all on our own contributed money to give TB Joshua as a present. When we got there to present it, the man just asked us to put all the money in one sack. He asked us to choose some people among us to take the whole money to the disabled people’s home at Oko Baba.

He instructed that one of us should just dip his or her hand in the sack and be distributing the money to them one by one with whatever the hand could gather at once like that to the less privileged living there and nothing should be left in the sack. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked that the man could take everything there like that not minding that the church itself was very poor”. This woman completely missed the beauty of life and essence of humanity the prophet symbolized.

HB Joshua believed your giving is only meaningful when you give what you cherished most. He would never give in half measures.

He was extraordinarily generous and at home in humility with all categories of people as a friend however commonised other people may look at them. Every human being is unique and important to TB Joshua and must be treated with dignity.

TB Joshua was never a burden to anyone but carried all human burdens that crossed his paths. He was the only man of God holding crusade abroad without asking for any donations or collecting offering from worshippers.

He would rather go there with loads of charity works for people and the country.

There was a time in Cameroon when the airwave was jammed with announcements that TB Joshua would be coming to hold a crusade in Yaounde asking for people to donate money.

This was a scam because the scammers were capitalizing on Joshua’s popularity and the perceived pressure of the country’s request for his crusade program in Cameroon.

TB Joshua in holy anger countered the announcements saying: ” That cannot be my TB Joshua of Synagogue Church Of All Nations SCOAN. I have no plan to go to Cameroon. God has not directed me to go there.

Have you ever seen my pictures or envelopes asking for donation of money from anyone or anywhere? Please disregard this announcement. When God gives you an assignment He would also send to you what you would need through His chosen vessels”.

This is a symbolic message for you to differentiate the chalk from the cheese in the religiously distorted world. He never allowed himself for a moment to be carried away by anything.

The lofty principles and legacies of TB Joshua remain enduring and a high watershed in Christendom. The joy today is that SCOAN is in the capable hand of a down-to-earth and visionary successor, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, a woman who had gone through the spiritual mills and rigorous discipline of TB Joshua the spiritual mentor extraordinaire who strongly believed that life’s biggest decision is what you do with Jesus.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H

“With the announcement of the crusade in Spain, people have been trooping in from different parts of Europe like Germany, France, Norway, UK, Portugal, and some South American countries like Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guyana among others for the crusade” said Segun Olanipekun one of the Coordinators of the crusade in Madrid.

Hotels such as LCB group, Fuenlabrada, B&B hotel, Raddison Blu, Prado, Madrid Principe Pio, Madrid and NH hotel are currently already overbooked.

The hospitality industries are already experiencing an unusual pressure of services with many more still scampering for booking.

The two-day SCOAN Crusade by Pastor Evelyn TB Joshua will hold at Pabelion Fermando Martin, Fuenibrada Madrid, Spain.

Speaking on the crusade, Pastor Evelyn TB Joshua stated that the Spain crusade would be holding by God’s grace as scheduled and for the glory of God.

Her words: “This is the Lord’s doing and we will continue to give Him all honour, adoration and praise for His marvelous deeds.

This is not about Evelyn but SCOAN where God reigns and His mighty hand is visibly in charge and Prophet TB Joshua has remained the General Overseer”.

According to her, there has been a deluge of invitations from several countries all over the world for Crusade of which Prophet TB Joshua to the glory of God was able to attend to some of them before his passing into glory.

“We have continued to receive invitations upon invitations from nations and friends of the Ministry who believe in the God of TB Joshua and know that his spirit is alive as his Master Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is alive for He never said ‘good bye’ as He continues in the divine task of blessing, healing, deliverance and salvation for those who trust and look up to Him.

“It is in the veins of these invitations that we have chosen in grace to be in Spain and as soon as God gives us more grace it shall be turn by turn for other countries”, the church leader leading the crusade, Evelyn Joshua further stated.

Clearly, the expectations on this crusade are very high as many all over the world have remained dumbfounded at the great miracles still happening in SCOAN after the passing of the God’s General, a personification of love whose Christ’s spiritual prowess and philanthropic activities touched the lives of many.

SCOAN OPENS FIRST BRANCH IN NIGERIA IN A GIANT STRIDE

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The multimillion edifice, sited in Akure, the Ondo State capital along Ilesha-Owo Express Way opposite NNPC Mega Station, the sprawling sprawling structure on more than five hectares of land is capable of accommodating over 6,000 worshippers with its overflow canopiess.

Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN who was represented by his Deputy Governor to commission the branch, His Excellency Lucky Ayedatiwa described the new SCOAN branch in Akure as “a giant stride of the church under the leadership of Pastor Evelyn Joshua with tremendous grace for the upliftment of the people of Ondo State in particular who will benefit more of God’s blessings as people from this environment won’t have to be travelling to Lagos for worship because the spirit of God is one and is here”.

He commended the vision of the SCOAN and congratulated its leadership Pastor Mrs Joshua for her perseverance in holding forth and reinforcing the legacy of the founder in keeping the saints together after the passing of the founder, Prophet TB Joshua.

He also commended SCOAN members world over for their laudable efforts and commitment in opening its branch in Ondo State.

According to the Deputy Governor, the importance of church could not be overemphasized in individual life and nation building. “The moral character mouldings, love, peace and unity preached by the church are cardinal principles of true nation building” he stated adding that “with this new branch here many lives will be turned around”.

Pastor Mrs Evelyn TB Joshua, SCOAN worldwide leader in her address said the opening of Akure branch was out of the divine command to expand for the fulfillment of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s mission on earth. “We are doing this today by God’s authority and permission of the Holy Spirit to meet the expanding dream of the Ministry by spreading Christ’s message and evangelism” she stated, adding that “Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has further brought salvation, healing, deliverance and God’s abundant blessings to your domains and it has come to stay with regular church activities”.

She expressed gratitude to members and partners all over the world for their steadfastness and efforts for the glory of God.

Other prominent personalities in attendance include His Royal Highness Oba Isa Olanipekun, the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, HRM, Deji of Akure Oba Aladetoyinbo, represented by a Senior High Chief, SHC Anthony Falowo HRH Engr. Dr. Franklyn Akakuru Dabrinze, Izoagba ancient kingdom in Imo state and host of others from different walks of life.

In a tumultuous joyful rejoicing and celebration by the the people of the state most especially Akure environment for the sitting of a branch in Akure, the atmosphere was electrifying with glorious songs of praises and worship.

A retired soldier, Ajibola Oladiran in his excitement said “I am very happy to witness this opening of SCOAN church in Akure because I am in love with the church and it has always been our prayers for a branch to be located here. We really thank God in Akure for this”.

Mrs Olabiwonwu Patricia, a retired teacher in her ecstacy stated: ” it is a great day here to have a SCOAN branch. This joy has come to stay. No mountain can remove it. We are grateful to God and Mommy Evelyn Joshua who God has used for this grace”.

Mrs Bidemi Francis, a school bursar has this to say: “we are excited and rejoicing because God has blessed us specially by opening this branch as we will begin to experience God’s wonders in our lives which we are all praying and yearning for”.
Mrs Victoria Opaje, a retiree in her seventies in her rejoicing said; “I am still alive by the grace of God through TB Joshua. God did wonders in my life through him. I know a great thing has graciously landed in Akure with this branch. This is why I am here dancing, praising God for today’s opening of Akure SCOAN branch.

Indeed a great thing has landed in Akure with lots of hope and expectation from the premises of the newly opened SCOAN branch filled to the brim even on a working day.
This Akure branch has been in existence for 22 years functioning as a viewing centre without an official pastor in charge. It was abandoned since eleven years ago before it is now rebuilt and modernised with a permanent Evangelist who will function in full capacity as a branch of Lagos SCOAN headquarters.