TB Joshua – “Follow In The Light Of Love”

Sunday 12th September 2010 proved to be a day of freedom, light and liberty for the thousands who attended The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria, a testimony mirrored also by the millions who were watching the service live and direct on Emmanuel TV.

With repentant armed robbers being financially supported, broken homes and families joyously reunited, the sick and afflicted miraculously healed, prophetic revelations striking the root of people’s problems and powerful prayer bringing out a multitude of unclean spirits, to say the service was action-packed is an under-statement. To coin the words of Prophet T.B. Joshua, “The Book of Acts is not mere history – it is the pattern of what Jesus Christ wants His church to be today.” The words of our Saviour in John 14:12 spring to mind: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Blessed are our eyes for seeing such wonders in this day and generation! This is practical Christianity.

Prophet TB Joshua - Love brought us into being. We are love's products.

Wise Man Racine - Your confession must be absolutely based upon the Word of God

After an inspirational message from Wise Man Racine, titled ‘The Confession Of God’s Word’, Prophet T.B. Joshua gave a short word of encouragement on the virtues of love. “We are love’s products. We are sons and daughters of love. Therefore, let love lead – follow in the light of love,” he exhorted the congregation. He denounced the hypocritical attitude of those who are ready to show love for selfish reasons when they are seeking a job or political appointment, but change their attitude when they come to church to condemn and criticise at whim. “Without love, our meeting here today is nothing,” he added, drawing the people’s attention to Romans 13:9, which states: “The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ”

A man of action who believes in the principle of leading by example, Prophet T.B. Joshua went on to practically demonstrate such love – not just in word and tongue but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). For the past few months, various armed robbers and social miscreants have been staying in The SCOAN for rehabilitation and reformation, following their deliverance from the spirit that pushed them to steal, kill and destroy. Among them was Samuel, an armed robber whose past misconduct was beyond ordinary. Samuel possessed the spirit of a snake and armed robbery, his body full of evil powers to the extent that he could disappear at will and re-appear inside a banks ‘Strong Room’ to loot the contents.

He explained that before his deliverance, he had no atom of sympathy or empathy for human beings, and had “wasted many souls”, the money made from his robbery only channelled into seeking more evil powers. He told the rapt audience that when the Spirit of God arrested him during the deliverance, he saw the demons appear to him, saying that since he had chosen to leave them, they would remove their equipment from his body. And from that moment, Samuel’s life has never been the same! He has lived in The SCOAN for some months, daily spending time in prayer and being taught God’s Word and ways. According to Samuel, he never had any concept of God before as he saw the evil spirits who possessed him as ‘his god’. Samuel received the sum of N200,000 to start a new life in Christ, alongside three other reformed robbers, who were given the same amount.

David Brown - Delivered from the spirit of robbery!

Among the other robbers was David Brown, an indigene of Rivers State who schooled in Kingston University, United Kingdom, and came out with a First Class Degree in Architecture. However, the obviously intelligent young man has literally lived in the prison for the last 15 years, having been incarcerated eight times for crimes he had no consciousness of committing. After being cursed by his aunt that ‘the prison would be his home’, a strange spirit would overpower David and lead him inside a stranger’s house where he would sit down until the owner returned to meet him there and raise the alarm. Incriminated by a bunch of keys always found in his possession, David would be beaten, taken to the police cell and then to prison. Within weeks of his release, the spirit would take control again, and the cycle of imprisonment would continue, to the point where David actually preferred prison to the outside world.

However, after his remarkable deliverance, David testified that although temptation still comes, he has strength to rebuke and resist the evil spirit, standing firm on God’s Word. He also received the sum of N200, 000, as the entire congregation worshipped God for the four young men whose lives were totally transformed through their coming to The SCOAN. Not only were they delivered from the evil spirits, they were fed and clothed by the ministry, filled with God’s Word and financially supported to start a new life on the foundation of faith. The evidence of Jesus Christ is lives changed!

The Ezuagba Family at The SCOAN

After the robber’s testimonies, it was time for the reconciliation of homes that had been broken owing to various allegations and strange experiences within the family. First came the case of the Izuagba family. Mrs Cornelia Izuagba accused her son Elochukwu of being a ritualist, killing his sister and planning to use her for a ritual. The genesis of the problem was the downfall of his business, after which Cornelia, affectionately referred to by the prophet as ‘Mama’ began seeing him moving with the wrong set of people who were known to have dipped their hands into ritualism. When her son brought some yam as a gift to her, that night she received a strange attack in the dream which also affected her health, leading her to conclude that he was attempting to use her for a ritual. The rumour had since spread throughout the entire community, Elochukwu being labelled a murderer.

T.B. Joshua resolved the case by praising the stance of Mama against the immoral friends in the life of her son, saying that to have such a mother was a blessing as she was ready to fight any evil in her children’s lives. He clarified that Elochukwu was not a ritualist and had no hand in the death of his sister, but truly he was moving with the wrong type of people. It was a touching moment as Mr. Izuagba embraced his mother and promised not to be involved in such ungodly entanglements again. Three more families were also reconciled as God’s truth dispelled the chaos caused by satan’s lies.

God has written us into a revolutionary and unprecedented story of reconciliation, in which hostilities are broken and enemies become friends!

Unable to walk for six long years - restricted to a wheelchair

Prof receives the Anointing Water in Jesus' Name!

The man of God continued by introducing the new ‘Anointing Water’, followed by a practical proof of God’s power working through it. A Professor from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon had come to The SCOAN restricted to a wheelchair for six long years. Sitting amidst the sick and afflicted in the overflow congregation, he was wheeled forward by evangelists to the church entrance where the new Anointing Water for healing and deliverance was ministered to him. It was an incredible moment as the Prof rose to his feet for the first time in six years and began to walk. To His power, nothing is impossible!

Walking out of the wheelchair - to God be the glory!

It was time for the prayer-line, as literally thousands from across Nigeria, Africa and the whole world came to receive a touch from heaven. Those with both physical and spiritual problems were in the line, and as the Wise Men prayed, the lighting of God flowed through them to bring healing, deliverance and freedom! Demons were cast out, sicknesses were healed, needs were met and problems were solved – all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Deliverance during Mass Prayer at The SCOAN

The Mass Prayer in the second service was another powerful time of prayer as the Holy Spirit exposed all unclean spirits amidst the people. One of those exposed was a cultist who had already donated his own son to the cult. Prophecy then revealed another man in the congregation who had murdered his uncle and had been tormented by the spirit of death ever since. More prophetic revelations ensued as the root causes of people’s problems were uncovered and the solution immediately provided. At the end of the day, the worshipers went home and the viewers at home switched off their television with a resounding conviction: ‘Jesus is alive – He never said goodbye!’ Glory be to God!

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Confessions Of Robbery Kingpins At The SCOAN

With the recent spate of armed robbers confessing and being rehabilitated at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, their stories of restitution have attracted interest among the media. Here is an article from Nigeria’s most popular newspaper, The Sun, narrating the experiences of some armed robbers who were delivered after the prayers of Prophet TB Joshua…

Members of a church in Lagos State are still wondering how 25 armed robbers, who sat in their midst, got up and reeled out the gory, chilling details of their deadly, dirty past.

One of them even hid his gun in the church’s flower garden and concealed some live bullets in his trousers. He came to wile away time in the church before going out for operation.

“I rob in traffic. So, I came to wait for it to start before I go out,” he said.

As the service progressed, the General Overseer of The Synagogue Church of all Nations, Pastor T.B. Joshua, openly said that some armed robbers were in the church. He urged them to come out for prayers and deliverance before it was too late. Silence greeted his pronouncement. No one moved. He went on preaching and between that still requested for the armed robbers to come out.

Mild drama
The pastor soon walked up to a man – a seemingly quiet-looking fellow and said: “Stand up.” The man gingerly stood and followed him to the podium. The pastor, in his characteristic manner, stretched his hand towards the man and uttered a silent prayer. Perhaps knocked down by the force of the prayer, the man collapsed in a heap and lay lifeless for minutes.

The pastor ordered him to stand up and asked him what he had hidden in his trousers pocket. Somewhat tongue-tied, the man mumbled incoherently and brought some live bullets.

Wild emotions
With that shocking display, the church members went wild with emotions. Some wanted to pounce on the man. Some wanted to call the police. Others not too numbed by shock, prayed loudly for the man’s repentance and salvation. But the pastor acted swiftly. He calmed everyone before the man found his voice. He was led by a church warden to where he hid a sawed-off gun in the church’s flower garden. Television cameras focused on him as the service was broadcast live on the church’s Emmanuel TV.
“I wait at a corner, target big cars, knock on their windows, show my gun and the person will stop and open. I take money and handsets. Na so I live in Lagos,” he said partly in Pigeon English.

The man went on and confessed how he randomly robbed for years on major streets of Lagos. Some owners of jeeps and other luxury cars at Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ikeja, Surulere, Festac, Ikotun and Maryland may have fallen victim to him.

Large turnout
As though on cue, the confession made other bandits to come out for deliverance. By last Sunday, 25 mean-looking, self-confessed armed robbers from different parts of the country literally besieged the church. Sunday Sun learnt they want deliverance and rehabilitation. Some of them spoke exclusively to Sunday Sun.

Prince of thieves
This short but deadly terror is from the northern part of the country. He once ruled the underworld there with a 25-man gang. His words: “I have been in it since 2001. I got into it when my father died; he was a church minister. That time I had a demo gospel CD. I wanted to come out with it but no one helped me. I became angry and went to Jos. The man I met there trained me. When he died during one operation, I took over. That was how I got guns and recruited my boys.

Recruitment
We select the people we recruit. I used to go to bars and nightclubs and search for hard boys. I buy them drinks and cigarettes. I befriend them, make them to like and trust me before I introduce them to it. We take oath at a very powerful juju man’s place. We also buy protection, that is, charm against bad luck and police bullets.

Bad early life
I used to go to school but I stopped in JSSII. I was following bad boys, smoking hemp and drinking. But my father and mother didn’t know. I lied to them that I had part-time job in a factory. All were lies.

Operations
It all depends on where we want to rob. All of us don’t always go out at the same time. We go out in batches of four and five.
Another thing is, all us of don’t travel together. We go in bits, in twos. We meet at graveyards. The place is normally lonely. So, we plan our operations there. After going out, we go there and bury our guns in graves with corpses. But if we want to go into a new town, we usually hide our guns inside bags of rice, maize or garri. So with that method, the police didn’t catch us.

Black night
One night we wanted to rob a big place. All of us came together to plan it. We smoked, took hard drug and drank to ‘cook’ ourselves well. But on our way there, a torchlight flashed. Before I could tell my boys what to do, gunfire started. All my boys perished that night. Good boys – all of them, well-trained good shooters died.

Bullet touched me here and there but I vanished. When they were shooting at us, I touched something – a powerful charm one Baba gave me. I later found myself in a thick forest.

The voice
While in the forest, walking about confused, I heard a voice. I think it must be God. He told me: “Have you forgotten that you are a gifted singer? Use your voice and earn a living. If you rob again, you will die.” I became afraid for the first time in my life.
I left the forest and went to my father’s friend and told him everything. He took me into his bedroom, put on the television and I saw what Pastor T.B Joshua was doing on Emmanuel TV. That’s how I came here. I’m now a new man. May God and people I’ve wronged forgive me…(sobbing).

The field marshal
In the underworld, he acts and operates like a Field Marshal. He leads and directs the operations of his 17-man gang. For 12 years, the gangling 31-year-old gangster reigned.

Hear him: “Well, I have been in it for 12 years. I had 17 boys working with me. Three of them are dead and four are in prison now. We started as friends in school. We formed a cult. The cult united us as brothers. We mixed our blood, drank and swore not to betray each other. That is why we were successful for years.

“I have a family. But I don’t like my father and mother. They drove me into this. They used to tell me that my mates were doing better than me. So, I left home. I began staying with bad boys. I have done all kinds of things. Last year, I was even in jail. Anyway, that is past now.

“While we robbed, I never thought of tomorrow. The money I made went just like that. I gave them to friends. After buying guns and bullets, every thing went to women and drinks.

Hope
I want to establish as shoe making shop. I’m now a born again. When I leave here, I’ll go and bring my boys for deliverance. Crime doesn’t pay. I regret now

By Jossy Idam
Sunday, November 29, 2009

SOURCE: The Sun

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It Is Critical That Leaders Watch Emmanuel TV – Chiluba

Zambia’s Former President Frederick Chiluba was in The SCOAN on Sunday 22nd November 2009. Here is a news report on his visit, and what he said during a live interview with Emmanuel TV after the service…

FORMER president Frederick Chiluba has called on leaders to seek God’s wisdom as they govern people.

In an interview after attending a church service last Sunday at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, Nigeria, Chiluba said leaders who depended on God led their nations peacefully.

His first trip outside Zambia since he was acquitted of varying allegations of corruption, Chiluba returned to the SCOAN almost nine years after his first visit as Zambia’s Republican president.

Chiluba in The SCOAN

The former president, who has been the subject of intense scrutiny throughout his post-presidential era, was a guest of Pastor TB Joshua of the Emmanuel TV fame last Sunday.

When asked by an Emmanuel TV reporter his experience of the service, which included the deliverance and rehabilitation of several armed robbers as well as a thanksgiving service for the MVP of the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup, Sani Emmanuel, Chiluba was full of praises to God for Prophet Joshua and Emmanuel TV, which he said he watched daily.

Describing the service as ‘highly inspiring’ and ‘motivating’, Chiluba hoped that leaders would do well to seek God’s wisdom in governance.

“If you read the book of Kings in the Bible, kings that depended on God guided their nations peacefully and successfully. God never changes. When we depend on Him… we will do extremely well,” he said.

Chiluba said since declaring Zambia a Christian nation at the start of his presidency, the country had moved steadily forward.

He also extolled the virtues of Emmanuel TV, TB Joshua’s Christian television station that is growing increasing popularity throughout Zambia and indeed Africa.

“It is really inspiring, not only for ordinary people but even for great leaders. I have been watching Emmanuel TV on a daily basis and my wife and I not only enjoy it, we are taught great lessons. We learn, we are inspired, we are motivated and we keep believing the Lord is truly with us; He is always present.”

He further admonished other leaders to follow in his stead by watching Emmanuel TV and inculcating the Godly principles taught there.

“For leaders, it is critical that they watch Emmanuel TV. They learn a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom. God’s wisdom is the only wisdom. And it helps you guide and lead people extremely well with the knowledge you receive because every utterance from the prophet is based on the Bible, it’s scripture-based.”

Chiluba and his wife Regina were witness to the celebration surrounding two members of Pastor Joshua’s football club, My People FC, who were part of Nigeria’s cadet team, the Golden Eaglets, during their recent campaign in the U-17 World Cup. Sani Emmanuel, the MVP of the tournament, was brought up by Joshua and is an altar boy in the SCOAN.

Frederick Chiluba With My People FC's Sani Emmanuel And Ogenyi Onazi

“This is a beauty to behold,” said Chiluba. “This is the way you build youngsters, the way you draw them away from whatever life of suffering or what they may be going through, and you build and mould them into very responsible citizens. “

Prophet TB Joshua, noted for his charitable works and prophetic prowess, also rehabilitated several armed robbers in the service, an act that won commendation from Chiluba.

“Truly and honestly for me, that is the Gospel at work, they ex-armed robbers are bound to change a lot of people, and we welcome those young men. But remember, that could never have happened if this man of God was not highly anointed; so anointed so that he could be able to speak peace and love to those lost souls and they came in.”

Both Chiluba and Regina were unanimous in their message to viewers: “Don’t miss a single day without watching Emmanuel TV.”

It would be recalled that John Atta Mills, the President of Ghana was in The Synagogue in January this year, testifying to the accurate prophetic message Joshua had given him before his ascension to power.

SOURCE: Post News, Zambia

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SCATTERED! Living Amidst Refuse And Rubbish For Over Three Years

A stirring tale of glorious hope shining amidst the dark chasms of despair, of seperation and shame transfromed to unity and peace, of loneliness and homelessness replaced with life and love. Because God was involved…

Beyond the burdening, burgeoning bondage of homelessness, Mr Kefa Olatunji Taiwo had strayed slowly into the hazardous realms of hopelessness. At 60 years old, his family had scattered, any shred of dignity or self-worth left battered – his life in total tatters. Living in a bedraggled and dishevelled excuse for a shed, scantily assorted from stray aluminium and rotting wood, he had dwelt and dealt in the refuse grounds of Lagos, Nigeria for over three agonising years, surrounded by the repulsive stench of decay and debris, and the degrading stigma of a lunatic-like existence. Suicidal tendencies crept increasingly closer…

Living amidst the rubbish...

He suddenly halted before him, sensing something strange.“You are the one I am chasing.” Kefa looked up, astounded, dumbfounded. “Where is your family? Everybody is scattered in your home – and you are sleeping under the bridge, as an elderly man.” Extraodinary. His life-story unfurling uncannily from a man he had never encountered, a man he had never explained his predicament to. “You are getting old, an old man sleeping outside – and the family are scattered. Do you know where your problem comes from? This is what your mummy was telling you. The little money you had, you were going out – sometimes in the night you will not come home. You would take girlfriends. The little you had – you spent it just like that. This has destroyed you, destroyed your career.” How did he know? Whom had he told? “Something happened to you before this thing started. You met a mad woman – you never knew she’s a mad woman, and you slept with the woman. This is where the problem comes from. Today, when you sleep you see animals.” “Exactly, sir”

When Mr Taiwo walked dejectedly into The Synagogue, Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday 30th August, unbeknown to him was the unfolding of a divine design to break the chains of poverty and restore the bonds of unity within his crises-fraught family. The prophecy took him by surprise. It was so sudden, so direct, so precise. Pastor TB Joshua narrated his life to him, a brief 30 seconds of breath-taking revelation, a concise uncovering. As he was led through the beautiful sanctuary, a flame of hope licked within his veins. Could it be a way out had actually come?

Just imagine, just consider... what do you have to give?

The following week he stood again before the vast SCOAN auditorium, clips of his ‘home’ broadcast to the world live on Emmanuel TV. Evangelists had accompanied Taiwo to establish the veracity of the prophecy. The crowd gasped, beholding a dank wasteland with pigs scavenging among the filth, dirty infected water up to the knees, slime and grime at every turn. And a human being lived there, slept there, ate there, amidst the clutter and litter of decomposing garbage and gunk. “I’m useless,” the former furniture maker told the evangelists. “I just have to go and hide myself here when it is night. This is a shameful place, but I have no alternative – that’s why I have to stay here, living here as a mad man,” he said, explaining how local hoodlums had burnt his only property to ashes, forcing homelessness upon him.

Accompanied by his estranged wife and 11 children, all suffering a similar fate, Mr Taiwo watched on in reflective silence. “I believe if this man is helped, he will not go back to his past life – because he has tasted suffering and hardship,” said TB Joshua, addressing the whole congregation. “And I know if blessing comes now, he will be able to maintain it. Sometimes God uses foolish things. Don’t be surprised that among these children may be the president of tomorrow. Remember the past history, remember the heroes – many of them were raised from this kind of humble background,” he explained. “The first step is to get accommodation for the family, so we can bring the family together and let them live as one. To liberate these children, we must give them scholarships. And those who want to learn a skill – we will give them that opportunity.” The pastor, famed for his unrivalled and unbridled philanthropic works, explained that if the youths were left to themselves, they would probably end up in armed robbery or prostitution out of frustrations irrationalising influence. “Give them N300,000 and five bags of rice.”

Join TB Joshua - Let's Make Poverty History

Tears of shock and joy escaped from beneficiaries and congregants alike. Never before had Kefa seen or touched such money. “I didn’t expect this. Thank you, sir,” he quibbled, words failing to form his heart-felt expressions of gratitude. “This is what we are born for, this is what we are to live for, this is what we are to die for,” smiled the prophet, ascribing all glory to God.

“Someone out there is waiting for you for a lifetime,” Joshua counselled the enthralled audience and viewers worldwide. “You cannot afford to fail them; failing them is failing God. Remember, God is speaking to you through them, saying: ‘They are fatherless, so that you can be their father.’ ‘They are lonely, so that you can be their companion.’ ‘They are in want, so that you can be their benefactor.’ ”

SOURCE: All Voices

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Hope Awakens For Forsaken

More news on the touching charitable works at The SCOAN.

“Works of charity and righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus go together. If one is missed, you miss all” – TB Joshua

Brutally murdered by villainous armed robbers, Mr Tokunbo departed the world in a truly cruel fashion, leaving his young wife and two children abandoned, stranded and haplessly homeless. For months, she wandered aimlessly, begging just to feed herself and her two malnourished infants, hope dwindling to the point of utter despair. Clutching nothing but a picture of her husband’s bludgeoned corpse, she walked forlornly into The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations on Sunday 24th August 2009, having heard touching tales of Pastor TB Joshua’s largesse. She received more than bargained for…

“There is a woman here. You are a widow. Your husband was viciously murdered by armed robbers – the picture is with you now. Come out!” TB Joshua’s voice boomed out amidst the vast auditorium, prophetic messages flowing forth in an unbridled torrent. Mrs Tokunbo gasped. This was her first time in The SCOAN, and she had not shown the photo to a single soul within the church premises. God had found her. He knew her pains, her suffering, her agonies. Fumbling to find the gruesome pictures, she nervously stood up and walked out – out of her hopelessness, out of her heartache.

Mrs Tokunbo displays the pictures of her husband's corpse

A week later, standing before The SCOAN arena, she explained her dire situation. “My husband was killed by armed robbers. Now, I have no house to live in, no food to eat, no work to do. My children are begging on the streets. I don’t know what to do, I’m just desperate…” “It is a rare privilege to help her,” said Pastor Joshua, proceeding to generously bless the widow with N200 000 and 3 bags of rice. Lost for words, Tokunbo burst into tears. “The end has not come – the best is yet to come,” encouraged the pastor, assuring that her two children would receive scholarships to continue their education. “May the Lord, when He comes, find us watching and waiting,” TB Joshua exhorted the congregants. “We look for the coming of the kingdom.”

N200,000 and 3 Bags of rice - Giving offers us the opportunity to reshape our destiny

Mrs Tokunbo was not alone in receiving assistance that Sunday in a service watched worldwide by viewers on Emmanuel TV. Rosemary Ajibade, who lost her husband in a fatal accident subsequently to be forced out of her house and left to sleep on the street, and Bunmi Ogunyemi who, alongside her twin sons, were subject to untold hardship following the death of her husband four years earlier, both received the rich sum of N200 000 and three bags of rice, with a promise of continued support. “It’s a relationship forever,” explained the prophet. “Nothing is too small to share with your neighbour. We are one another’s strength. As you have an account for your business, have an account for the fatherless,” he enjoined the faithful, many in tears at the touching tales of the widows.

Students were not left out as Adejuwon Seun Victor of Osun State College of Technology and Osuji Felix Chimeze, who recently gained admission to Imo State Polytechnic both received N100 000 for their school fees, and 3 bags of rice. “It’s a big surprise,” said Adejuwon, who explained the amount he needed was just N53 000, the deadline to pay four days later. “I promise I will be serious in my studies, and I will do all I can to help the less privileged.” “He is part of the family,” smiled the prophet. “Giving offers us the opportunity to reshape our destiny. When you give, you are reshaping your destiny,” he said.

SOURCE: All Voices

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