By Eric Elezuo

The morning of Sunday, June 6, 2021 was particularly shattering for many adherents of the Christian faith, especially those of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). The overseer of the congregation, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, had passed away the night before, June 5, 2021 shortly after presiding over a meeting with Emmanuel TV Partners.

The message that heralded the unbelievable occurrence read:

“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7

“On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”

“God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.

“As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.

“Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.

“The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Emmanuel TV Family appreciate your love, prayers and concern at this time and request a time of privacy for the family.

Here are Prophet TB Joshua’s last words: “Watch and pray.”

“One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear.

The peace of the world was temporarily interrupted as it got ready for a glorious Sunday service. Prophet TB Joshua, the ebullient TV Evangelist, who carved a niche for himself in every area of life including, and especially giving, has died, and just one week to his 58th birthday.

If ever there was a man, other than Jesus Christ, who attracted so much controversy in the course of performing his duties across board, that man is Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known by all and sundry as TB Joshua. He was a man, who waded through popular dislikes, even among members of same profession to become a champion in propagating the Word of God. Among his superlatives was hosting congregants from over 50 nations of the world in a mega crusade in Jesus’ native home, Nazareth, in June 2019

Incidentally born on one of Nigeria’s most important dates, June 12, (1963), TB Joshua was a combination of so many talents ranging from shepherding flocks as a pastor, a prolific televangelist, a die-hard philanthropist and above all, an unrepentant lover of God. He was the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian organisation, which he nurtured from scratch to becoming a force to reckon with among religious organisations the world over. The ministry runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, and is transmitted globally.

For a man whose birth was foretold 100 years earlier, spent extra six months in his mother’s womb as well as escaped death when a quarry explosion near his house sent rocks through its roof just seven days after his birth, according to his official biography, it was obvious that TB Joshua was destined for greatness.

Prophet Joshua, who was known as “small pastor” because of his love for the Bible during his school days, attended St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School in Arigidi Akoko, from 1971 to 1977. Though he wasn’t opportune to complete one year of secondary school education, he attended evening school, which he combined with casual jobs and teaching of bible lessons. Joshua was destined to work in the Lord’s vineyard, and that explains why his attempt to join the military was thwarted as result of a train breakdown.

It is difficult to believe that Prophet TB Joshua became as popular as he was before death cut his journey short on June 5, 2021 considering the avalanche of persecution he had to endure right from the onset of his ministerial calling. Most of these persecutions, unfortunately were from his colleagues in evangelism and ministration. They accused him of not being genuine, saying his style of ministration is suspicious and fake. It is also on record that most of his critics constantly visit his church discreetly for spiritual assistance. However, the man who was variously described as the ‘Oprah of evangelism’ continued to wax stronger in his God given calling. He was known across Africa, Europe, the Orients and Latin America and had an overwhelming social media presence; 3,500,000 fans on Facebook; over 1,000,000 YouTube subscribers and is the world’s most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before his passing.

TB’s church, simply referred to as The Synagogue, and headquartered at Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria, has remained a Mecca/meeting point of some sort for as many that require one solution or another to life issues. In fact, testimonies abound of what God was using him to do in his life time. The church is said to attract more “weekly attendees than the combined number of visitors to Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.” Not only that, it also provides popular services which have resulted in an enormous boost for local businesses and hoteliers. He constantly helped Nigeria derive foreign revenue due to the influx of worshippers year in and year out. The church is practically “Nigeria’s biggest tourist attraction”. It is surprising to note therefore, that until his death, the ‘Man of God’ had only one branch of the church, located in Ghana.

Apart from ordinary people whose testimonies of healing and turnaround cannot be readily overemphasized, notable personalities cutting across celebrities, politicians, football stars among others found one form of succour or another after visiting the late Prophet.

Among celebrity visitations to The Synagogue were the wife of Ghanaian goal keeper, Richard Kingson, notable Ghanaian human rights lawyer, Kwabla Senanu, Ghanaian musician, Denise Williams, veteran Nigerian Nollywood Actress, Camilla Mberekpe, Jim Iyke, Kanu Nwankwo, Kenyan Olympic athlete, Mercy Cherono, Hamza Al-Mustapha among others. It was also known that politicians seeking public offices also make the place their home.

Many have said that Prophet Joshua was travelling shy, but he visited many places in his efforts to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and dished out philanthropic gestures. Among such places include Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, London, Korea and others where he held powerful soul winning and vision impacting crusades.

His giving ability was legendary, and he was involved in extensive humanitarian projects worldwide, using The Synagogue. He was once said to have spent an estimated $20 million on charitable activities. His giving cuts across orphans, widows, elderly, physically challenged and destitute. There is also a rehabilitation programme for militants from Nigeria’s volatile Niger Delta region, repentant armed robbers and sex workers who came to the church for ‘deliverance’.

Humble to the core, he was known to join his team in most of the humanitarian journeys they undertook to less-privileged communities. Again, his June 12 birthday was celebrated by assisting less-privileged individuals in their societies by his large followers, every year.

TB Joshua and SCOAN contributed immensely to communities and individuals from within and outside Nigeria. In 2010 when the Haiti earthquake occurred, Joshua sent a team of medical personnel and humanitarian workers to the affected area, establishing a field hospital called ‘Clinique Emmanuel’.

Also in 2016, he provided over $500,000 worth of humanitarian aid to victims of earthquake in Ecuador. He additionally sent support to nations such as Philippines, India and Ghana in the wake of varying natural disasters. He was also a key supporter of sports, and is credited with discovering the duo of Sani Emmanuel and Ogenyi Onazi from his club, My Peoples FC.

He was at a time voted as among the most famous prophets. Joshua made prophesies that came to pass just as he said them. An isolated case was the Malaysian Airlines MH370 event in 2014.

Prophet Joshua’s exploits in ministration and care of the needy have not gone unnoticed. He received the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian government in 2008 and was voted the Yoruba man of the decade by Pan-Yoruba media outlet, Irohin-Odua. He had been called one of Africa’s 50 most influential people by Pan-African magazines, The Africa Report and New African Magazine.

Forbes, in 2011, reported that Prophet Joshua was Nigeria’s third-richest pastor, although the church denied the claim.

Prophet Joshua was married to Evelyn Joshua, and they are blessed with three children among whom are Serah and Promise. A prophetess, Evelyn is today the general overseer of SCOAN, stepping into the big shoes left by the Prophet.

While many saw him as controversial, the Prophet continued to wax stronger in the service of God and humanity. It’s two years since his death, yet his legacies remained evergreen. Even in death, his name continues to draw followers and philanthropic

May his soul continue to enjoy eternal!