Tag: SCOAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family and members of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) on the passing of their father and founder, Pastor Temitope Balogun, popularly known as TB Joshua.

The president’s condolence message was conveyed by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

According to Buhari, the renowned televangelist will be missed by his followers all over the world not only for his spiritual contributions, but for touching many lives through philanthropic gestures.

The president urged Joshua’s followers to take solace in the knowledge that life is not measured and defined by chronological longevity but by enduring legacies and lives touched positively.

He also condoled with the government and people of Ondo and prayed that God Almighty would accept the soul of the departed pastor.

Some Nigerians on Sunday described the late Prophet Temitope Joshua as a great philanthropist, humble and devoted minister of God, who came, saw and conquered during his lifetime.

They said that Joshua would be greatly missed by his followers and and those seeking miracles to their challenges from all over the world.

Mrs Yemisi Bankole, a teacher, said the late prophet did an extraordinary work on earth and was a true man of God, who served God with great humility.

Bankole said she believed it was Joshua’s time to rest and be with his creator.

“Thank you for the service you rendered to us worldwide. Indeed, God’s timing is unpredictable.

“This is a hard pill to swallow. It is hard to believe this news about your death. Anyway, the will of the lord must be respected,” she said.

Also, Mrs Elizabeth Collins, described the late Joshua as a holy servant of God, who came, saw and conquered.

“This servant of God knew his father and truly love him eternally.

“I am sad and glad at the same time. Sad because we lost a true prophet and glad because I believed heaven has gain an angel,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Obinna Ikechukwu, a banker, told NAN that the news about the death of the prophet was very hard to believe.

“Shock is an understatement. I had the wish to see you live, I have grown spiritually listening to Emmanuel TV.

“Thank God for your life and may God be with your family,” he said.

Mrs Caroline Neon , a businesswoman, said that the late clergyman was such a great philanthropist that touched so many lives.

Neon said that so many people that lived around Ikotun axis could testify to his generousity and how they benefitted from him while alive.

Mr Anthony Ebele said that Joshua was a blessing to so many lives positively because he was giving scholarships to pupils from primary to tertiary level.

Ebele said he really impacted and supported communities around his church.

“I don’t know how his beneficiaries will cope, his death will be a challenge to those impacted by him.

“My deep condolences to his family and church members,” Ebele said.

Mr Kazeem Akinwale, a commercial bus driver, said that he did not believe the news that T.B. Joshua had died.

Akinwale said ” I thought God used to speak to him and perform miracles, how come he did not see it coming.

“This very difficult to believe. T.B. Joshua dead? How will this prophet die when the world needs him most.
“Anyway, may his soul rest in peace,” he said.

Miss Tope Aina said that with the sudden death of the prophet, it means God his calling home his generals one by one.

Aina said that the coming of Jesus Christ was closer than people could imagine, adding that the earth was mourning and heaven would be rejoicing.

“Unlike many others, T.B. Joshua was one of the pastors that reached out to the poor regularly.
“It is really sad to read and hear about his death this morning,” she said.

Mrs Titilayo Mustapha, a business woman, also described the sudden demise of Joshua as a great loss to the Christian body.

Mustapha said that a lot of people seeking miracles would be greatly affected by his death.

“This is a very sad day for the Christian community. Pastor T.B. Joshua was a very powerful and respected man of God, who touched many lives through his ministry.

“I don’t know him personally but my friends told me how wonderful and supportive he was to many of his followers.

“His church is like a city on its own, always open to all. Many people find refuge in his ministry.

“I am very sad. How will his followers and those seeking miracles to their challenges will cope without him now. What will all the people that depend on him for help do. This is a huge loss to the country,” she said.

Prophet Temitope Joshua, who was born on June 12, 1963 in Ondo State was the most popular Nigerian Charismatic Pastor, philanthropist, and televangelist.

“Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.’’ were some of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua’s last memorable words, when he spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting on Saturday.

Joshua, Nigerian pastor, televangelist, philanthropist, leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) passed on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the age of 57.

The actual cause of death had yet to be made known.

Popularly known as Prophet TB Joshua, he was one of the most controversial and “enigmatic’’ Nigerian pastors of our time, especially with his preaching style and records of miracle performances.

Joshua, who was born on June 12, 1963 in Ondo State, Nigeria, reportedly stayed 15 months in his mother’s womb before he was given birth to.

According to the SCOAN website, Joshua attended the St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School (Ikare-Akoko, Nigeria, 1971-1977).

He had only one year of secondary education before he left to work in a poultry farm.

While in school, he was known as ‘small pastor’ because of his love for the scriptures and gift to predict things that would happen in his community; he was also said to have been the leader of ‘Scripture Union’ while in school.

He had taught children at evening classes and done some menial jobs before he had a revelation to set up a ministry while on a 40-day fast.

In 1987, TB Joshua founded the Synagogue, Church of All Nations under the bridge that links Ejigbo and Egbe in Lagos State with just few members.

The church later grew to have large number of members within and outside Nigeria, Africa and Latin America.

He later established the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos which has wide viewership especially as it is on cable TV.

TB Joshua was a known philanthropist and noted for helping the needy and sponsoring persons.

‘My People FC’, a football club he started in 2009, was part of his efforts to help the youth and two members of the team, Sani Emmanuel and Ogenyi Onazi, played for Nigeria Golden Eaglets in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Also, three players of the club were sponsored abroad to play professional football for Sweden.

The WBO International Light Middleweight boxing champion King, Davidson Emenogu, had said that Joshua financially supported him throughout his career .

A man of many clouts, Forbes in 2011 wrote that Joshua was the third-richest pastor in Nigeria with estimated net worth of between $10 million and $15 million.

He was so popular that the Wikipedia documented his social media presence to be massive with no fewer than 3.5 million fans on Facebook.

“His YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, has over one million YouTube subscribers.

“He was the world’s most viewed Christian ministry on the platform before it was suspended.

“He was described as the “Oprah of Evangelism” and “YouTube’s most popular Pastor”.

Like many influential men, TB Joshua was not without controversies.

On Sept, 12, 2014, a guesthouse collapsed in the SCOAN’s premises in Lagos, killing no fewer than 115 people.

Speculations continued to trail the circumstances that led to the collapse, with the former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, alleging that “Nigeria’s intelligence agencies ‘blew up’ the building’’.

Also, his relationship with other clerics was not smooth and it was publicly criticised.

The public also questioned the miracles that occurred in his church.

Yet, TB Joshua, was unperturbed and in a 2006 book, “The Mirror”, he said: “Whatever I am today is a product of the conviction that victory through Christ Jesus is victory indeed” ; “The rest is history.”

Nevertheless, Joshua made impact in education, healthcare, peace and reconciliation, among others.

A Forbes blogger said that it was estimated that Joshua spent $20 million on “education, healthcare and rehabilitation programmes for former Niger Delta militants”

He was receptive to repentant persons who cut across all walks of life including rehabilitation of repentant militants, armed robbers and sex workers who came to the church for ‘deliverance’.

The SCOAN has a scholarship programme that sponsors many students in the primary, secondary and even tertiary institutions.

In 2012, it was widely reported that Joshua sponsored a Nigerian student doing a PhD in the U.K.

His humanitarian relief involvement was outstanding as Joshua supported efforts in the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and April 2016 in Ecuador, where he gave humanitarian aid worth over $500,000.

In Ecuador, he funded the rebuilding of a rural school destroyed during the earthquake.

Joshua had sent a team of medical personnel and humanitarian workers to the affected area in Haiti and also instituted a field hospital called ‘Clinique Emmanuel’.

He also supported several groups of Nigerian returnees to settle back into the country, following their attempt to travel illegally to Europe.

One of his most significant reconciliatory efforts was his involvement in the meeting of the family of the late President of Liberia, Samuel Doe, with the former warlord Yormie Johnson, who was responsible for Doe’s death.

The Nigerian government in recognition of his humanitarian activities, gave him a National Honour, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2008.

The United Nations also gave him a letter of appreciation.

The Arewa Youth Forum, predominantly Muslim organisation, recognised him as Ambassador of Peace and ZAKA, Israel’s primary rescue and recovery voluntary service, gave him an ‘award of excellence’ .

Until his death on Saturday after one of his evening services, Joshua was married to Evelyn Joshua and had three children.

Prophet TB Joshua’s last words in public were : “Watch and pray.” “One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear”.

Mr Kunle Olowoopejo, the Executive Chairman, Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos, described TB Joshua as a complete definition of what humanity should be.

According to him, he was generous and no matter your colour, ethnic, tribe, language or religion you may belong to, his hands of fellowship has no bound and that’s why both young and old keep echoing “Alaanu Mekunnu lo.”

According to the Synagogue church, Prophet TB Joshua left legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom of which will continue to live on for generations yet unborn.

Worshippers at The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) were on Sunday thrown into deep mourning over the sudden death of Founder of the church, Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua.

Joshua, popularly known as Prophet T.B Joshua, died on Saturday at the age of 57, as announced on the church’s website .

Residents and members who gathered at the church premises on Sunday expressed shock over the sudden demise of the prophet.

Some of the worshippers had come to church enthusiastically looking forward to the prophet’s ministrations and counselling, only to hear the untimely sad news.

It was an atmosphere of despair and uncertainty as the members who had come for service and counseling unaware of the death, were seen in tears at the gate of the church.

Most of the members and residents felt their hope of miracles were shattered and openly cried to God to wake and bring back to life the popular televangelist whom they called “Daddy”.

Mr Celestine Okwuosa, a Faithful, said that the pastor preached on death at the mountain on Saturday and made comments on his passing, and afterwards passed on.

Okwuosa, said that he believed the pastor had the premonition of his demise before the time.

According to him, the world will miss him dearly and church members will miss him for his great deeds.

“Going to three years now, there has not been church service in the church auditorium.

“But the pastor only books people online and take them to the mountain for prayers and other programmes due to the lockdown,” he said.

Mrs Bola Adeniran, a resident of the area, who had yet to come to terms with the reality of the situation, said that the pastor could not have died but was resting.

Adeniran who listed so many things that the pastor had done for the benefit of the people.

She said the electricity transformer that served the area was given to the community by the late T.B Joshua.

“There were sets of less privileged persons that he gave money every week to sustain their wellbeing.

“We, all the people of the area , are in disbelief over the news and we are praying for God to revive him to continue his good works,” she said.

The entrance gate to the church, though barricaded by security operatives, accommodated thousands of sympathisers who occupied every available space to mourn the pastor.

All the flags adorning the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos State have been lowered at half mast.

This is as sympathizers throng the church on the news of the death of Prophet T. B. Joshua.

Sympathizers and followers of the prophet were seen crying around the church premises.

The usual church service did not hold in the church.

Security men at the premises prevented worshippers from entering the premises.