A scan conducted in Luanda because the facilities in Benguela were not good enough, seemed to prove the skeptics right and Yobo was said to be out for the rest of the tournament.

Yobo then went missing from the Nigerian squad and officials said that he had returned to his English club Everton to seek permission to go to a specialist in France.

Against Zambia in the quarter-finals Yobo was suddenly back on the bench and although he did not play, he is being considered for Nigeria’s semi-final against Ghana in Luanda on Thursday, especially as his replacement Onyekachi Apam was red-carded against Zambia.

Nothing more was said about Yobo’s return until Wednesday afternoon, when a Nigerian church-goer said that the Everton defender had not been to Europe at all.

According to Emeka Igwe, Yobo was actually visiting a church called The Synagogue Church of All Nations.

Housed in a poor suburb in Lagos, the church is not without its controversy.

For years it has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors from throughout Africa who have traveled to Nigeria searching for miracles.

Among them was South African Springbok rugby player Jaco van der Westhuizen, who had been told by doctors that his rugby-playing days were over after rupturing his posterior cruciate ligament.

In desperation the rugby player flew to Lagos where, he said, his knee injury was miraculously healed by the founder of the church, pastor TB Joshua, through prayer.

Another sportsperson who turned to The Synagogue was Nigerian coach Shaidu Amodu, whose side was last year facing elimination from the World Cup.

With just one game to go the Super Eagles were trailing Tunisia by three points and had to travel to Kenya for their final game. The North Africans played their last game in Mozambique.

Amodu, who is a Muslim, said that nobody believed that Nigeria could qualify for the championship.

“At that time, the journey of the Super Eagles to 2010 was on a cliff hanger, as some would call it, and it was only a miracle that would make it work. Some even said it wont work,” but Amodu said that after intervention from Joshua the team qualified as they beat Kenya and the Tunisians lost.

Joshua was also involved with the Nigerian under-17 side that came second at last year’s under-17 world championships and with the Ghanaian under-20 side that won the World Youth Cup.

It is hardly surprising then, that Yobo turned to the church in Lagos when his Africa Cup of Nations campaign was in doubt.

Igwe, who is not a regular church-goer, said that when he went to the church, he saw Yobo arriving at the same time. “I waited to see what would happen. Sometime later, I saw Yobo walking out, a huge smile on his face. I was taken aback as he neared and it became all the clearer – he was no longer limping, but walking freely. “

Igwe said that Yobo was accompanied by two members of the Nigerian under-17 side who play for a club belonging to the church, My People FC.

He said that even if some people were claiming that Yobo had received treatment in Europe, he had not done so, instead going to a church in Lagos last Friday.

Igwe said he believed that Yobo will hold a press conference later to tell the world how he had been healed.

When confronted by the allegations that Yobo had gone to church in Lagos and not for treatment in Europe as had originally been claimed, an official of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), who asked not to be named, said it was true.

“I am very surprised that the story is out. Yobo told me what had happened, so I can confirm that he went to Lagos.”

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/306176,sports-medicine-african-style–feature,sports-medicine-african-style–feature.html

http://www.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=27206

                                            T.B. Joshua

Prophet T.B. Joshua opened the message which he titled, ‘Your Love For Christ’ with the question that Jesus asked Peter in John 21:15. Three times He asked Peter, “Do you love Me more than this?” before giving Peter the commission to shepherd His sheep. The prophet then explained that human love is but a shadow of God’s love. Nothing can compare with the power of these words spoken from the heart. He said that the words, “I love you”, spoken from the heart can change destiny, make a king abdicate his throne and a poor man become a prince. Love is greater than all because God is love and God is greater than all. God is without peer, equal or equivalent. If a man loves God truly, he is under obligation to love his fellow man. God loves strangers, widows, orphans among others; so man must love his fellow man. God is concerned about justice and righteousness so man must be concerned about the just treatment of his neighbour.

As for The SCOAN, the apostolic ministry and the giving ministry are interrelated; what comes from one goes to the other. When you are a father to the needy, Jesus will answer you when you call His name. When you sympathise with the oppressed and exploited, God’s goodness will continue towards you. God’s love is revealed in our prosperity, protection from sickness and continued mercy. Where there is no love, there is neither mercy nor grace.

The man of God explained that The SCOAN started from the giving ministry. He said that it is the giving ministry that services ministry. He stated that what comes from the church goes to the ministry of giving to help the needy and to raise the standard of living. All proceeds from them should be given to the needy for God’s blessing to continue towards us. He said that to service your life and your ministry is to love the strangers, the widows, the orphans and the needy. He advised the congregation and viewers that ministry is a divine call from above and that if you are not sent by God, it could be a dangerous mission.

DO NOT DWELL IN THE PAST
In a dynamic start to the second Sunday service, Wise Man John Chi gave a message entitled ‘Do Not Dwell In The Past’. In the message, the wise man challenged Christians regarding disobedience and unfaithfulness.

He advised them to change their old ways of life to fit into the divine arrangement. He asked them to change their lives and see the future as if it were already there. Don’t hold fast to the confession of failure, he advised his listeners. Never allow the present circumstances to determine your direction. Do not build your future around your past or present circumstances. It is dangerous to look back unless to glorify Jesus. Jesus is a tomorrow thinker. The day you take a decision about your life is the day your life will change. Focus on the future, he advised.

EMMANUEL TV FRIENDS AND PARTNERS SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR RECOVERING ADDICTS IN WASHINGTON, USA
A video showed the Emmanuel TV Team visiting Mountain Ministries Ranch in Kelso, Washington, USA, a drug and alcohol addiction recovery programme.
The documentary showed the carefully thought out donations of educational and cleaning materials as well as basic essentials such as towels, blankets, thick socks and work gloves that would make a big difference to the running of the centre and the lives of those undergoing the rehabilitation programme. No one was left out as the male and female facilities as well as the school benefited from the resources. A cash gift of $2,000 was also presented to the centre’s founder who excitedly explained how they planned to use the money to clean the septic tanks.

EMMANUEL TV PARTNERS DONATE TO THE ELDERLY IN CHIPINGE, ZIMBABWE
Another video clip documented the journey of Emmanuel TV Partners from Harare, Zimbabwe all the way to a community of elderly people in Chipinge with a trailer full of maize meal. Upon arrival, the team presented the maize meal to the elderly who received it with joy and gratitude, surprised at this unexpected demonstration of love from people they had never met.

EMMANUEL TV PARTNERS IN PUMULA, BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE
The charity didn’t stop there as a further video clip showed the humanitarian outreach of Emmanuel TV Partners in Pumula, Bulawayo where gifts of blankets and bags of maize meal were given to the elderly and needy.

ANOINTING WATER HEALS MEDICAL DOCTOR
A very striking testimony was given by Dr Benjamin Mosimanegape of South Africa. Benjamin, the head of Public Health, University of Limpopo, South Africa had a ‘twisted neck’ and could not eat or walk well.

As he was about to go for a vertebrocranial operation, a student of his advised him to seek the face of God for healing at The SCOAN which he had seen on Emmanuel TV.

Following the advice, Dr Benjamin Mosimanegape travelled to The SCOAN and received the Anointing Water.

After praying and ministering the Anointing Water, his condition immediately improved.That night, he dreamt and saw Prophet T.B. Joshua and also the damaged parts of his body. Suddenly, he saw a flah of light and the prophet told him that he had been given a new spinal cord and brain. That was how he regained his health and did away with his neck collar.      Testifying excitedly, he explained how his health had been completely restored and he could now eat, sleep and walk well.

A WOMAN DELIVERED FROM EATING SANDSTONE, CHALK & PAPER

A lady (27) told the congregation about her addiction to eating sandstone, chalk and paper for 19 years.

Hunadi Busakwe took chalk from her teachers to eat, ate paper at home and dug sandstones from the mountains for the same purpose. She had been to many places for deliverance without success and in a desperate bid to overcome this worrying addiction, she had travelled from South Africa to The SCOAN.

The prophet instructed Mr Benjamin Mosimanegape to deliver her in the name of Jesus, using the Anointing Water. Benjamin sprayed the Anointing Water into her mouth as he shouted the name Jesus and both of them fell down.

When she got up, Handi Busakwe lost the urge for indulging in chalk, sandstone and paper. Tasting what had once been her food after the deliverance, she quickly spat out the mouthful she had taken, saying that the inviting taste was no more. It tasted like chocolate before but now the taste had become sour. Handi was offered a plate of fried rice and chicken and quickly set to it!

LET THERE BE LIGHT!
During the time of prayer, Prophet T.B. Joshua encouraged the congregation and viewers worldwide to agree with God’s Word so that the light of God would shine in every darkness in their lives. As all began to declare, “Let there be light,” whatever that was not planted by God in their lives was uprooted and commanded to leave.

TIMELY ADVICE TO NIGERIANS
Before the end of service, Prophet T.B. Joshua gave timely advice to his nation, Nigeria, on the current situation in the nation. In his words, life must be treated with reverence for it is God Almighty who determines the beginning and end of life.

 How did the ministry start?

Well, I want to start by saying that no one in the world is born with great knowledge. You become what you are; you discover what you know. But if I begin to tell you the genesis of the ministry, we won’t leave here today. Discovery is for forward lookers. So, no one is born with great knowledge.

TB Joshua

I was in a trance for three consecutive days, then I saw a hand that pointed a Bible to my heart and the Bible entered my heart and my former heart seemed to immerse with the Bible immediately. Then the awareness came and I saw the apostles and prophets of old with someone whose head I could not see because He was tall to the heaven and suspended, which I believe was our Lord Jesus Christ sitting in their midst. I also saw myself in their midst. After a while, I saw a hand of the same tall man, I could not behold His face, which was glittering with an unimaginable light, tall to the high heavens and suspended in the air. But other apostles I could see their faces, particularly Apostles Peter and Paul, Prophets Moses, Elijah and others. Their names were boldly written on their chests.

I heard a voice saying, “I am your God; I am giving you a divine commission to go and carry out the work of the Heavenly Father”. At the same time, the same hand of the tall man gave me a small cross and a big Bible, bigger than the one that entered my heart with a promise that as I keep pressing in His time and name, I would be given a bigger cross but if I fail the opposite would occur. I also heard a voice of the same tall man, I could not see His head, saying, I am the Lord your God who was and who is – Jesus Christ, giving orders to all the apostles and prophets. The same voice said to me, “I would show you the wonderful ways I would reveal myself through you, in teaching, preaching, miracles, signs and wonders for the salvation of souls”.

Since then, I have been receiving in my vision, every year according to my faithfulness to God, a bigger cross that means to me more responsibilities.

What was on your mind when you started the ministry?

That is one important area. For instance, I have been alone here (in the prayer mountain) for the last five hours. I dreamt of a place like this – a swampy area, neglected, where people or government will not dream of coming. I come here, sit here, read and meditate. Above all, I know that I am a product of grace, not the works of righteousness which I have done. I am weak; I am nobody, without formal education. What I want to say is that God has manifested His strength in my weakness. It can also be explained that I am like a dog without teeth. When you have a house and you keep without teeth as a guard, each time the enemy comes, it will bark and then the owner will come out to do the work.

Sometimes, your miracles look like magic…

When it comes to power, God Himself is the power. God often uses foolish things to confound the wise. That is why people like me will ever be grateful to God. In terms of knowledge, education and name, I am nowhere – a neglected stone. I think that is why the persecution was too much. Everything about me is nothing, nothing. But I think no man should boast.

When you were young, did you have any idea that you will one day go into pastoral work?

Then, when I was very young, one thing I knew then and that still happens to me now, is that there is an invisible chain, invisible padlock. What I want to touch, I can’t touch; what I want to say is not what I am saying. Where I want to go is not where I am going. What I want to wear is not what I am wearing. It is like there is a restriction. That has been my experience right form when I was young. That is why you will never find or see me accusing or condemning somebody. I have always restored anyone who has done any wrong in a gentle way, instead of condemning the fellow, because I know it is not by my power that I am doing the right thing.

An invisible padlock

So, I will say the work of righteousness is not my work; it is my faith in His work. The work of healing is not my work, but by faith, healing is done. The work of deliverance, great and mighty deliverance is not my work, but is my faith in Him. It is not the works of righteousness which I have done, but according to His grace. I am a product of His grace.

What’s the difference between Joshua as a person and Joshua as a prophet?

You have two natures in one person – the human and divine nature. Take our Lord Jesus for instance, for his human nature – he was a descendant of David, and for His divine nature – he was raised from the dead by the power of God.

As for TB Joshua, I am a descendant of my family in Arigidi-Akoko in Ondo State, Nigeria – but as for the divine nature, the power of God affects my life to give peace to people, deliverance to people and healing to people. Apart from the power of God, nobody would have noticed me or known where I am. So, it is the power of God that brings the difference, the challenges and an uncommon persecution. Uncommon blessing attracts uncommon persecution. Common blessing attracts common persecution. Uncommon progress attracts uncommon attacks.

Is the Ikotun Headquarters the only branch in Nigeria?

No, we have branches in Akure, Port Harcourt, Jos, Kogi and outside the country also. When you get to the church there, you will see at least 30 different countries represented. There are here to take the ministry back to their countries.

You are on satellite with Emmanuel TV, which is quite expensive. Where is the funding coming from?

Money. Something unbelievers can have should not be a problem to a child of God. Dubious and unrighteous people, they have money. How much more a man of God? So, what are you talking about? Unbelievers, they have money and throw it about. So, let’s talk about something unique. Money is not a unique thing. It is common. You see, everybody talking about money, money, money. Anybody can have money – but let’s talk of what anybody or everybody cannot have. Even the cathedral, anybody can have it. Even satan can build a big mansion; it is a question of money.

It is like you are a prophet without honour at home and among your people.

Even Jesus Christ was not popular among His people. Even till today among some Jews. We thank God for that, because if Jesus had been restricted to only His people in Palestine and Jersualem, how will people like you and me know about Christ and the Kingdom of God today, not to talk of preaching the gospel and becoming a pastor or prophet.

And even here in Nigeria, most of the popular pastors at home anchor their popularity at home on their fame abroad.

Are you also planning to go to the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road to establish a camp ground, as it is the fashion today?

Right from my youth, I have learnt not to go with the crowd. If we are in the same business of selling shoes for instance, if you are selling in Tejuosho (Yaba) market, I won’t go there. I will find another market to sell my own. That way, we are spreading. This swamp, which is our prayer mountain, is our camp.

When you also look at the missionary works outside the country, you will see all the men of God going to Europe and America. I have decided to face the Asian continent. That way, we are fulfilling the mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ to take the gospel to the end of the earth and make disciples of all nations.

What is the motivation for your help to the old and the aged?

My help is not only to the old people, but to the lonely, the weak and the poor in society. The Bible says charity and faith in Jesus Christ go together. When you say you have Jesus by faith, without the work of charity, it is nothing. This does not mean however that charity alone is enough to bring us to salvation, but it forms the basis for judging our level of kindness – because looking the other way when your brother is in trouble is equal to rejecting Christ Himself.

Supporting the aged ones

Then, going to the issue of aged people, in this part of our world, it seems it has become a crime to be old and aged. Even many of those who are well to do in our society, the will build a house and put their old and aged in the backyard, as if they are no more useful. But we want to tell the world that it is not a crime to be old and aged. It is time to show appreciation to God for using them to bring us into this world.

The time they cannot work again is the time we should take it upon ourselves to take care for them, like babies. The life they gave us when we were newly born, it is time to give them back now they are old. It is not the time we should isolate them, put them in isolation.

Rejection and isolation are also deadly and incurable diseases like AIDs. We are even praying for God to give us the grace to build a beautiful resort where we can bring them together and properly take care of them, give them medical attention and those who have not travelled before, we fly them outside the country for them to enjoy the best of pleasure, before they die.

For how long have you been planning this?

We have been on this for the past 10 years. It is not just now. These people have been lonely and isolated for a long time, and that has killed many of them. It is not just now that we jump into it, we have been showing that love that Christ gave to us.

I want to tell you that our position in Christ Jesus is enhanced each time we help our fellow brothers.

What has been the reaction of these people and their relations to the program?

Some of them – in fact, many of them, don’t even know me. They only see me on the television screen.

Apart from the aged, do you have programmes for other categories of the needy?

Yes, not only the aged – the Lord is also using us to cater for other categories of people. We have a program for the dwarfs and the destitute. We have also given scholarships to many university students. I don’t know any of these people, and we are not doing it to receive ‘thank-you’ from them.

How did you locate these people?

I believe many of them are not in Lagos. You people live in Lagos, and put your old people in the village.

People say you appear to them in their dream. Can you clarify this?

When I am not God… God can also use you. Don’t be surprised that people can dream and see you.  If God can use the pool of Bethesda, He can use anyone. He uses horses and camels. God can use anything. And I want to tell you that everyone is created with a gift, and each gift is meant to meet a need. It is your gift that God will use to bless others through you. So tomorrow, God can use you to appear to other people, and to pray for them.

How much is the church investing in this care of the aged project?

For the past nine years, we started the whole thing with about 1.5million but it has gradually gone up to N6million per month. But I must tell you, my brothers, that I don’t have enough to live a flamboyant life because of all these.  I even have some students that I gave scholarship to in Ghana, and many other universities in Nigeria.

A privilege to give

It is a rare privilege to do this. We may think we are helping them. No, we are not helping them. Our position in Christ Jesus is enhanced each time we help our fellow brothers. It is a real privilege to be in a position to give. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 25:45, that whatsoever you do or fail to do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. In other words, Jesus has no farm where He expects you to help Him or an office where he expects you to carry files. He said my farm and office are your fellow brothers.

A lot of churches are getting into the business of establishing universities. Are you thinking along that line?

What God has commissioned me to do here is to care for these people – the destitute, the needy and the poor. So that church here can have a theology school. That is all. I should not dabble into the issue of university. Theology, from primary school to university – that is my calling. I should not dabble into science or law. Anyone that wants to study law or science should go to University of Lagos!

SOURCE: The Week Magazine – Vol. 26 No. 26

Disgusting, sickening, revolting – whatever name you may give to a refuse dump, sadly for some, it has become the only means of survival.
Such was the case for Mrs. Philomena Sunday and her nine children from Warri, Delta State, whose situation following the tragic death of her husband and breadwinner deteriorated to such extent that her source of livelihood depended solely upon the waste of others. Looking at the circumstances surrounding this family, one can easily deduce that theirs was an extreme case of poverty, and as TB Joshua put it, ‘their poverty had become a curse’. His words: “Such poverty is not just poverty but has become a curse and only Jesus can remove that curse”.
Narrating her horrific tale recently, during her very first visit to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, she explained that no sooner had her husband died than she was thrown into the waiting hands of poverty. With no means of livelihood, coupled with abandonment by her in-laws, living became a nightmare for her and her nine children as they were gradually forced to beg for their daily bread. The crushing effects of hunger soon set in. And when they could no longer cope with the starvation, the young family resorted to scavenging through dustbins in search of food remnants. “We go to dustbins to get food. Even the clothes we wear, we pick them all from the dustbin and wash them,” said Philomena, “sometimes, if we don’t make it early to the dust bin, we don’t have anything to eat at all. We pick bread, groundnuts, yam, everything we can find to eat.”
It was on one of her many trips to the refuse site that she met a woman who proved to be the catalyst of change in her fortunes. Apparently, the woman had observed Philomena’s frequent patronage of the refuse dump and decided to put this on record without her knowledge. “She asked what I was doing at the dustbin every day, with these children, picking food, and I answered: ‘My sister, things have been very difficult, and even when I go to people to beg, they usually disappoint me.’ ”
During one of their visits to the rubbish dump, the woman approached Philomena and asked if she knew about The SCOAN to which she answered, ‘no’. She then encouraged her not to worry and handed her the recorded tape of her and the children feeding from the dustbin. She urged her to go with the tape to The SCOAN, believing that she would be assisted.
Acting upon the advice of the woman, Philomena, and her children went to The SCOAN on October 11th 2009, where she gave an account in the Sunday service of the kind of living conditions she and her children had had to contend with since the death of her husband. The tape was then played to the public, confirming the truth of her unbelievable tale. It was a pitiful sight as Philomena and her children were seen on scavenging trips to the refuse dump as she and her children rummaged through mountains of refuse, searching for food, disused clothes, shoes and all, as well as empty cans, which they sold for N50 apiece, to buy food.

In confirmation of what Philomena had said, her eldest daughter Abumare Faith told her own version of the story. She explained how she had rushed to live with a man who promised to marry and take care of her. Unbeknown to Faith, however, the man she found was himself an unemployed person. She became a teenage mother, bore him two children and thus the cycle of poverty increased. “Even the clothes I am putting on now are from the dustbin,” she said tearfully. “But suddenly, my mother came one day to tell us that one woman told her about Synagogue… I know that as we are here now, our story would turn around.”
The story of Anthonia Abumere, the second daughter of the family was no different. She too got lured into a relationship she believed would blossom into marriage and help save the family from their wretched plight. Unfortunately, her union turned out to be one with a man who suffered with bouts of mental illness manifesting in aggressive behaviour. She too became a teenager mother and the family’s problem went progressively from bad to worse.
“I did not know that the man had a mental problem which, whenever it occurred, made him misbehave and caused people to run from him,” narrated Anthonia. “Last June, his condition deteriorated,” she went on, “ he beat me and my baby and sometimes he would kick us out,” cried Antonia, with a huge scar from a stitch that marked her pretty face, holding her equally lovely infant baby.
Turning to the family as he preached to his congregation, Prophet Joshua noticed little Esther, her delicate face smudged by hot tears: “Wow! What a beautiful girl,” he exclaimed. “If you don’t help this one now, she would turn out to be like her sister who married a mad man,” said the prophet, shaking his head, solemnly.
“All over the world, people like this are everywhere. Find them, restore them, help them,” TB Joshua admonished. “We must do whatever we can to restore this family and make them part of our families and counsel them; we must not allow these children to be destroyed.”

Thereafter, he made a cash donation of N500,000 to the family in addition to 10 bags of rice and his trademark gift of the Holy Bible, promising further assistance to help sponsor the children’s education and secure adequate accommodation for them. Other cash gifts and donations started pouring in from the congregation, as well as from viewers of Emmanuel TV, worldwide, who had been following the live telecast of the Synagogue Sunday service.
Expressing her gratitude for the goodness of God in her life, Philomena said: “Pastor, I have something to tell you. I thank you for removing me from poverty today. I thank you for the good thing that you have done for me. You will live long; you will live long; you will live long”. Smiling, TB Joshua responded: “Look opposite is the case now. I am to thank you for receiving the gift. Thank you for receiving this gift. You will live long; you will live long; you will live long”.
In fulfilment of the promise to provide Philomena and her children with accommodation, TB Joshua sent an Emmanuel TV Team to her hometown in Delta State to rent and furnish a suitable apartment for the family.
Sometime later, a reinvigorated Philomena and family came back to The SCOAN to share their testimony with the world. “I thank God today that my past is over. We no longer pick from the dustbin. We can now eat from the dining table.”
Out of the monetary gift, Philomena has set up a successful tailoring business to comfortably provide for her whole family’s needs. Dignity restored, stigma removed, survival secured… a new day has dawned.

In the second part of the message, the prophet dwelt on our relationship with Jesus. According to him, Jesus said to Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter replied, “You know I love You Lord”. Jesus said, “If you love Me, feed My lambs”. In the nation, we need to apply love, the greatest sacrifice, by shifting ground, by compromise. In the prophet’s words, Jesus asked Peter one of the most significant, penetrating and, in fact, the most dangerous questions ever asked, “Do you love me?” Jesus asked Peter three times and Peter replied positively three times. Jesus responded by giving Peter a responsibility- keep My lambs, shepherd My sheep and feed My sheep. This means, he explained, before we can be responsible to Jesus, it must be because of our love for Him. Whatsoever you do or fail to do to the least of your fellow brothers, that you do unto Jesus. This means if you dupe your fellow brother, then you dupe Jesus. If you care for your fellow brothers, then you care for Jesus. Jesus did not ask Peter if he was a gifted speaker or had the ability to speak fluently, flawlessly or eloquently. He never asked him about his Bible or seminary knowledge either. All these are important but they are not the issue. The essential quality you need is found in Jesus’ question, “Do you love Me?”
Whatsoever you do to the needy, that you do unto Jesus. What is your relationship with Jesus? The prophet asked. Speaking further, he said he did not know how one could prosper in life without these qualities in the ministry of the Gospel and that of charity. Whether educated or not, a farmer or professor, there is hope in loving Jesus. He therefore advised the congregation to stop complaining about their backgrounds or other disadvantages.  Jesus repeated the question so that the concept would be crystal clear. Jesus wanted us to know that love is the centre. Christianity is a relationship; you cannot have Christianity without love. A person who does not love cannot be entrusted with the power to deliver, heal or bless.
HIGH COURT JUDGE GIVES IN GHANA
The prophet capped his message with a video clip of a high court judge in Ghana who shelved his social status and travelled far to the Volta Region of Ghana by the dusty roads and by river to give to the needy and elders in Chindere, Ghana. Justice John Ajet-Nasam and other Emmanuel TV Partners brought rice and other food to the elders in the Volta Region for the people in the community.

GOD IS ON TOP OF THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA
Concluding his message with the situation in Nigeria, the prophet asserted that the national protest and strike in Nigeria was over as God Himself was on top of it. He reminded his listeners that the lesson the nation can learn out of this is that anything can happen. Therefore, in everything, we should remember God.

BROKEN FOCUS IS THE REAL REASON MEN FAIL
In a brief message during the second service, Wise Man Harry reiterated that broken focus is the real reason that many people fail. He quoted Philippians. 3:13-14 to back up his case. According to him, you cannot look in different directions at the same time. He told his listeners that as Christians, God has disconnected them from their past and given birth to their future. He advised them to chart a clear objective in life and follow the direction of their calling in order to make a difference in their worlds.

PROPHECY ENDS BARRENNESS
A video clip showed Wise Man Harry giving prophecy to a couple. Speaking to the man, the wise man told him that he could see a manhood problem in him and secondly, after he had finished urinating and pulled up his trousers,  urine would still come out  afterwards and stain his trousers. The problem of manhood, according to the prophecy, had caused fighting between the couple. At the end of the prophecy, prayed for Mr Asekome and he received his deliverance, in Jesus’ name. Coming into the open to confirm the prophecy, Mr Asekome said he had had the problem of poor erection for years because of staphylococcus. The couple had consequently been barren and gone to places in search of a solution. They came to The SCOAN as part of their efforts to end the barrenness. Meeting at home as a couple after the prophecy and deliverance, the family of Asekome received the good news at the end of the same month, that Mrs. Asekome was pregnant. Unable to hide their joy after many years of barrenness, the couple encouraged those watching them who might have similar problems to hold on to their hope and continue to trust in God.

ANOINTING WATER PUTS END TO BARRENNESS

David  and Franca from Ghana gave a testimony about the Anointing Water. David’s problem was low sperm count which caused the couple to be barren for years in spite of their yearnings and efforts to bear children. However, after watching Emmanuel TV in their home, the couple journeyed to The SCOAN in their continued efforts to end the barrenness. They received the Anointing Water in The SCOAN and went back to their home in Ghana where they prayed with the Anointing Water and ministered it to themselves. After a month, Franca became pregnant. Confirming the testimony as told by her husband, Franca, in unison with her husband, thanked the Lord for being so merciful to them.

ANOINTING STICKER SAVES MAN’S LIFE
Mr Austin Jerry Okoro, a Nigerian resident in South Africa, was privileged to receive the Anointing Sticker from a relative. As providence would have it, he stuck the Anointing Sticker to the windshield of his car. In June, Mr Okoro was involved in a very serious accident with the car. The accident made the car fly over a brick wall and hit a tree, causing it to be smashed, dented and so disfigured that it gave the immediate impression of having lost the lives of all its passengers in the accident.  All those who were alerted by the scene never thought there would be a survivor in the accident. Fortunately Mr Okoro, the owner and sole traveller in the car, did not even have a scratch on him due to the accident. Surprised and confused, his sympathisers advised him to go to a doctor for a medical check up in case he had an internal injury. When he was taken to a hospital for that, it was confirmed that he hardly sustained any injury in the accident. According to him, Jesus saved his life  through the medium of the Anointing Sticker he received from The SCOAN. He consequently advised his listeners to watch Emmanuel TV, letting them know that God can use any medium to heal, bless and deliver them.

MASS PRAYER FREES PEOPLE FROM DEMONIC BONDAGE
In the mass prayer collectively led by the wise men, they focused on the various areas of life where people have problems and cited relevant portions in the Bible to prove that demons are the causes of the problems people experience. They therefore prayed fervently with the congregation and Emmanuel TV viewers worldwide to command satan out of their lives for them to live according to the will of God in their destiny. In course of the mass prayer, many vomited out the poisonous substances freeing them from the sicknesses in which they were held in bondage for a long time. Assured that every participant in the mass prayer had been dislodged from the grip of satan, Wise Man Racine said the grace.

We have received thousands of phone calls and emails complaining of people such as Eric and Shaleen falsely using the name of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Prophet T.B. Joshua to gather people together for huge meetings. These thousands of people cried out to us that they had been deceived by these people as they expected to meet official representatives of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations in each meeting but they left disappointed.

People of Zimbabwe, we have no branch of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in Zimbabwe. Do not be deceived.

This is a message from the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua:
There is no branch of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in Zimbabwe and the Anointing Water is not for sale.

Rob not My church and do its name no harm.

This is a message for the Emmanuel TV Partners and people of conscience to rally together and see the authorities in charge of religious affairs so that the people in question will stop deceiving the people of Zimbabwe.

By Nosa Osazuwa

The nation of Nigeria was in a state of limbo, a standstill going into Sunday 15th January 2012, as talks between the Federal Government and labour unions in an attempt to come to a consensus on the issue of fuel subsidies and protests, ended in an unsatisfactory deadlock.

The discussions on Saturday evening which lasted for hours in order to resolve the petrol price crisis which had caused a nationwide strike for five days was inconclusive as both sides acknowledged that they had been unable to come to a place of compromise. Talks were postponed again ‘till Sunday night, leaving Nigerians unsure of what the coming week might hold – whether continued protests nationwide or a compromise from the president and the government, or something else.

TB Joshua

On Sunday morning, while Nigerians were worrying about what the outcome of the crisis might be, many still afraid to venture out of the safety of their homes, Pastor TB Joshua, of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, addressed the issue directly during his sermon, broadcast live via his TV station, Emmanuel TV.

He said that Nigeria had prayed and hoped. But that one thing that was yet to be done was to apply love. He quoted, 1 Corinthians 13:13 – There are only 3 things – faith, hope and love. The greatest is love. “Since the greatest thing is love, we need to make the greatest sacrifice. Our president is the person who should make the greatest sacrifice. The other participants will follow”, TB Joshua asserted.

Addressing the nation, he said: “My message to the nation, to you Nigeria – is compromise. Love is compromise – to give chance for peace in the interests of the nation. To compromise means we must shift ground.”

He further said: “We should not give the impression of embarrassing the president and the other participants in the crisis. To achieve this easily, our president must rely more on politicians than on technocrats”.

Towards the end of his sermon, TB Joshua once again reassured his nation of Nigeria, saying:

“The nation Nigeria and people of Nigeria – the issue of the crisis, put it behind you. You say that you are not going on Monday, that you think you’ll be restricted. No. I think God is on top. God is in control.”

Later on Sunday night, the Nigerian government sent mixed messages. Many Nigerians sat glued to their television sets, awaiting a message from the president yet none came. Talks were postponed again and Nigerians went to bed unsure of what the morrow might bring forth.

The tables turned on Monday 16th January 2012, when early in the morning, the news was released nationwide that a consensus had been reached and an agreement had finally been made.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said in an address to the nation that petrol prices would be reduced to 97 naira a litre. That is a reduction of about 35 percent but it still remains higher than the 65 naira per litre Nigerians paid before the government ended the fuel subsidy at the beginning of the year. That is, he had come to a place of compromise.

“The Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations … the government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol,” said Goodluck Jonathan in a televised address Monday morning.

In response, labour unions promptly agreed to suspend mass protests to allow further negotiations with the government.

The questions that might spring to many minds are, was it all just a co-incidence or did the president listen to the counsel from TB Joshua and act according to it? Did TB Joshua send a message to the president, giving him God’s opinion on the crises at hand?

It doesn’t take Albert Einstein to see the connection between TB Joshua’s words and the action taken later that day by the President and the Federal Government.

TB Joshua is a renowned minister known world over, particularly for his prophetic ministry and his humanitarian services. Most recently, it was said that he had accurately predicted the street protests in Nigeria, stating in October 2011 that he could see people protesting from street to street, from state to state. He mentioned that the people that really make this economy work, the grassroots would soon be on the street and that the nation would come to a standstill as the big men would wonder how they could do the job by themselves.

One might ask, if the president and Nigerians had listened to this prophecy at the time it was given and sought advice on how to handle the crisis, we might not have lost the billions of naira that the catastrophe cost our nation. Perhaps our president should learn from the leaders and kings of old, who always sought God’s opinion from a prophet regarding the matters of the nation.

SOURCE http://www.zimeye.org/?p=44244

He emphasised that the lesson we can learn from this is that in this world, anything can happen. He said: “What we have experienced last week, we have never experienced in this country. Therefore, in everything remember God. When you are eating, when you are sitting, remember God”.

Trailer Of Rice Set For Yobe, Northern Nigeria

Two trailers filled with rice approximated to be roughly 4,000 bags were sent to the states of Yobe, Plateau, Borno, Niger and Abuja, alongside a cash gift of N1,000,000 to various less privileged communities there. T.B. Joshua sent a simple message with each gift: “We should love our neighbours as ourselves; we are sons and daughters of love; we should let love lead.”

In Yobe State, the gifts were sent to a centre of skill acquisition for the blind, leprous and physically challenged in the troubled city of Damaturu. The North-Eastern city has been a hub of violence in recent months, with recurrent bomb blasts and gun fights on the streets causing many residents to flee for safety. Hajiya Nafisa, a local resident shed tears upon seeing the gift, expressing hope that it would result in peace in her community. “All of us with disabilities express our gratitude. We are praying that God Almighty will give us peace in our country, Nigeria. Whoever you may be, we are one and the same and we should live together in unity without causing problems to each other.”

One Of The Two Trailers Of Rice On Its Way To Borno, Northern Nigeria

Emir Ali Kaka, head of the crippled community in Damaturu advised those present, “We, the beneficiaries of this gift should receive it in peace and live in peace without fighting one another and causing trouble in the name of religion.” “If we continue to receive this kind of gift, by the grace of God, there will be a reduction in poverty and hunger in our country,” opined Mohammed, a secretary of the blind community in Yobe. “I encourage everyone to continue assisting people, without thinking whether the person is Christian or Muslim. We are all Nigerians; please, do not let us have these negative thoughts towards our fellow brothers.”

In Plateau State, the two trailers arrived amidst much rushing and rejoicing in a local community for the less privileged. Jos, Plateau’s capital is known for violent riots and ethnic tensions and as such has received a lot of media attention. “Look at the way we have all gathered here today,” marvelled Abdulahi Mohammed Abdul, the General Secretary of the less privileged community. “Nobody is afraid of coming here. Both Muslims and Christians are doing things together because of the peace this gift from TB Joshua has brought to us.”

“This shows that there is love among us,” added Abubakar Abdulrahman, a local chief in the area. “The person who sent these gifts is a Christian, yet without discrimination, both Muslims and Christians are beneficiaries of these gifts. I call on the privileged in society and charitable organisations to emulate T.B. Joshua and Emmanuel TV so that there will be peace in society,” he added, speaking in the local dialect of Hausa.

Hadiza Kasimu, a physically challenged indigene of Nasarawa, believed such acts would form the framework for peace in the area. “We thank God for this beautiful day and for bringing us together in love, joy, peace and unity. We should stop fighting each other in the name of religion. In the light of gifts like this, we should stop fighting and embrace one another.” Lt. Umar Lawal, an army personnel who lost his left arm in service and was reduced to begging on the streets, was speechless. “If there is a word that is better than thank you, I would say it. There are a lot of us who live here without food, shelter or hope – nobody cares to know how we live.  Today, I know somebody cares about me; somebody knows how I feel with my disability; somebody is praying for me.”

Trailers packed with rice also reached the volatile capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, arriving at the Molai General Hospital for the Lepers. As the rice was offloaded, one of the blind beneficiaries emotionally spoke. “As I am touching this rice as a blind person, I want to show the entire world that T.B. Joshua has imparted love and peace. We are facing many security challenges in this state, but with such a gift we hope this will bring more love to the people in our state, especially those living with disabilities and the less privileged.”

 Al Waje, the secretary of the organisation admired that the gift originated from someone he had never met or previously known. “He has sent these gifts to us because of God, not for any other reason. He has never seen us and we do not know him. Without even looking for the assistance of this man, he has come to us.”

 Lagos State was not left out of the festive benevolence as the sum of N4,000,000 was given to the Ilupeju Old People’s Association along with another trailer load of rice. A less privileged community in Agege named ‘Gidan Kwano’ also received N300,000 and 500 bags of rice, as did the Oko Baba Destitute home in Ebute-Metta.

TB Joshua - Let Love Lead

As T.B. Joshua says, we should love our neighbours as ourselves. Our neighbour can be our friend, our enemy, those who do not share the same faith with you – we should love them all. It is said that actions speak louder than words. This unconditional demonstration of love spoke volumes to Nigeria and the world. So, the question is, what is the best way to celebrate? Like the Bible says in Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in”

This principle runs through life from top to bottom, what you make happen for others, God will make happen to you. In the words of T.B. Joshua, “You will begin to succeed with your life when the hurts and problems of others begin to matter to you. When you become a solution to someone else’s problem, who knows you may discover who you are thereby.”

TB Joshua - Love In Action

Is this not the best celebration?

The prophet stated that the lives of believers in both the Old Testament and New Testament testify that being faithful to God does not eliminate adversity but may actually be a sign of being faithful to God. He then urged the congregation not to use the weapon of the enemy to defend themselves but realise that when our faith is tested, our endurance has a chance to grow.

ICE CUBE AND MINT SWEETS ADDICTION A THING OF THE PAST

It has become a common occurrence at The SCOAN to hear testimonies from those that have been delivered from one addiction or another. Marinela Simente

This Sunday, Marinela Simente, from Cameroon gave an astonishing testimony of deliverance from addiction to eating ice cubes and mint sweets. She told the congregation and the world watching on Emmanuel TV that before her deliverance, she only had an appetite for these items and as a result, suffered from anaemia. After watching Emmanuel TV and seeing the deliverance of others with the same type of problem, she decided to come down to The SCOAN herself for deliverance. Whilst giving her testimony, the video of her deliverance on the night of the candlelight service was played. During the candlelight service on the 31^st December 2011, Prophet T.B. Joshua used the candle as the medium for deliverance. Holding the burning candle in reverence to God during the service, one of the visitors from South Africa came forward at the prophet’s request to pray for Marinela and deliver her from her addiction. At that name, Jesus Christ, she was freed from her bondage and no longer craved mint sweets or ice cubes.

YOUNG GIRL DELIVERED BY OWN MOTHER FROM HAIR EATING ADDICTION

Ruth, a young girl from Nigeria and her mother came forward expressing a desire to be free from an addiction of eating her own hair. Ruth

The mother explained that her daughter used to be very brilliant and the best in her class but when this problem began, she starting having a dull brain and her classmates were now far ahead of her in school. Prophet T.B. Joshua instructed the mother to pray for her in Jesus’ name. Prophet T.B. Joshua instructed the mother to pray for her in Jesus’ name.

There was no movement, no shaking, nothing to indicate that deliverance was going on but after the prayer, Prophet T.B. Joshua declared her free. He then asked her to eat her hair and she almost vomited it onto the floor saying it was no longer ‘sweet tasting’ in her mouth.Mrs Obiageli
Mrs Obiageli testifed that after receiving the Anointing Water and praying with it, she was promoted to Director of the NYSC (National Youth Service Council).

Hon. Tebite from Ughelli, Delta, Nigeria alongside his colleagues gave a testimony of how he contested and won the election as the House of Assembly Leader in Delta after praying with the Anointing Water.

Mr & Mrs Obuari Goodhead, with child in hand, described how they had suffered from barrenness for 5 years but after administering the Anointing Water, their problem was over and they became pregnant with the child in their arms.Mr & Mrs Obuari Goodhead, with child in hand

The second service began with theinspiring message by Wise Man Daniel titled, APPRECIATE GOD FOR HIS CORRECTION. WiseMan Daniel

The wise man reminded the congregation and viewers that God Almighty gives everyone plenty of evidence to believe Him and that we should therefore never doubt God’s desire or ability to help us. Using 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he revealed that even though Paul’s challenges were so great, the apostle knew that the thorns in his flesh were to keep him from becoming proud or conceited. He saw his challenges as a reason for believing God just as he saw his good times as a reason for believing God. He was encouraged that God loved him enough to correct him. Wise Man Daniel then encouraged us to see our own challenges as a way of God correcting us, remembering that our situation is not like others’. Others’ challenges are meant to destroy them but ours, as Christians are meant for the glory of God. He concluded by reminding all that in our spiritual walk with the Lord, there are good and hard times alike. In both good and hard times alike, Jesus Christ must be honoured.

LOVE IN ACTION

When it comes to giving, Prophet T.B. Joshua says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. During this holiday season and throughout the year, he encourages the viewers and partners of Emmanuel TV to look around and see those that are in need. He leads by example not only by instructing others to give but by showing them how to give in sincerity, simplicity and cheerfulness.

In response to his example, many Emmanuel TV Partners were challenged to go and do the same in their own countries. One of them, Mrs Christaline from Namibia gave account of how she was able to set up a charity feeding 450 orphan children and how she planned to build a centre to care for 1,500 orphans around the nation, taking care of their accommodation, feeding, health and schooling. While she was speaking, the video footage of her acts of giving was shown.  Mrs Christaline

Also challenged by Matthew 5:43, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, Mr John Chibwe from Zimbabwe explained how he held a meeting for the physically challenged where hundreds attended from all over Zimbabwe. Mr John Chibwe

The video showed a trailer of maize meal being unloaded and distributed among the crowd and brand new wheelchairs being unpacked and presented to many physically challenged. The joy and smiles on their faces that followed were enough of a blessing for the gift that was given.

The final person to tell her story was Mrs Josephine from Namibia, founder of the Mount Sinai Centre, an centre for children afflicted by HIV, reporting to the viewers that she had indeed handed over the centre to the prophet and was now receiving a salary from the man of God to care for the HIV positive mothers and children. Mrs Joshphine

In the short span of a few weeks, Prophet T.B. Joshua had donated to her organisation $50,000 which was providing life-saving supplies for hundreds in Namibia. At the close of the service, the prophet gave $10,000 to each of the three charity founders to assist them in their work and promised to send the same amount each week to support the children and needy individuals they were caring for.

Another video was played for the congregation and the viewers of Emmanuel TV showing a news report on giving in the United States. Emmanuel TV Partners and representatives in the USA, with donations sent by T.B. Joshua, visited and presented much needed supplies and a cash gift to a family resource centre caring for children with special needs in Kennewick, Washington, USA. A national news station, NBC, was present at the centre to do a live report, commenting that the roles had been reversed and that this time, a church in Africa were supporting the USA.

The service drew to a close as Prophet T.B. Joshua led the congregation and viewers worldwide in powerful prayer, inspiring them to dream again. These were his words:  “I don’t care where you are or how big a mess your life has been – begin to dream again! I prophesy to your life. God has positioned you in this New Year. God has positioned you for breakthrough in this New Year. Prayer Time

God has positioned you in this New Year for victory, for healing, in the name of Jesus! God has positioned you to achieve your destiny, in the name of Jesus! Your limitations are your opportunities! Your mess is your opportunity, in this New Year, in the name of Jesus. Dream again!”