THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE

 

Wise Man Christopher

Wise Man Christopher, with his usual fervour, issued his message which he titled, ‘The Weapons Of Our Warfare’ to the congregation and cited many portions of the Bible to make his case clear. In his words, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual through God in pulling down every demonic stronghold. The Word, he clarified, is not on the written page of the Bible but in the lips of the believers.  As Christians, you need to fill your mind and heart with the Word to speak it.  In Matthew 4 : 1-11, Jesus gave Christians  the battle plan when He spoke directly to the devil in the wilderness. You need to learn the value of God’s Word on your lips to confront the devil victoriously. In Ephesians 6:17, the Bible tells us that those who overcome satan will be required to use the power of the spoken Word. David, in 1 Samuel 17:45 – 50 used the Word of God in his heart as a weapon to defeat Goliath. David’s first victory was therefore in the choice of the right weapon, which was the Word of God on his lips. As Christians, Jesus has given us the Word of God as a special weapon that no power of satan can withstand. Whatever your giant or mountain, you, as a Christian, can address it with the Word of God and achieve total victory. Prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit is the most formidable weapon, the wise man concluded his message.

WOMAN EFFECTUALLY DELIVERED FROM EATING HER HAIR

A week after her deliverance, Mrs Josephine Eseme Jimmy, standing beside her husband, happily gave thanks to God for her deliverance as, according to her, the urge to eat her hair had completely disappeared.  Josephine came to The SCOAN the previous Sunday for deliverance from addiction to eating her hair, including those on her head, armpits and private parts.  She said the addiction took form after she heard a voice ordering her to eat her hair. The unusual behaviour was cultivated before her marriage and had continued since then for a length of 23 years. After her confession, Josephine was delivered in the mighty name of Jesus by Prophet T.B. Joshua who told her that she was free and would not eat her hair anymore. She said that in her dream two days after the deliverance, the demon appeared to her to lure her to the old act but immediately, the man of God also appeared and the demon ran in fear. The man of God then held her and she woke from sleep. That was the end of her addiction to eating her hair.  The couple thanked the prophet one more time for being used by Jesus to bring about her deliverance. In reaction, the prophet once more established the difference between authority and power. In his words, knowing facts about Jesus does not change your relationship with Him. He however added that your reward for a relationship with Jesus is power.

SPIRITUAL HUSBAND’S HOLD RELEASED IN JESUS’ NAME

A video clip on the events of the previous Sunday service showed Wise Man Daniel as he laid hands on the congregants. A woman among them,Mrs Alberta Boakye from Ghana reacted by manifesting the spiritual husband in her.

The spirit, speaking through her, said Alberta was his wife who disobeyed her to marry an earthly husband. The spirit added that it had destroyed the husband’s ministry for that reason. The spirit also said their second child could not learn because of the punishment by the spiritual husband. She was then delivered after prayer from Wise Man Daniel. Standing by her pastor husband as she gave her testimony, Alberta revealed that she sensed the spiritual husband in her life at the age of 16 when it used to have sex with her in her dreams. The spirit had been a thorn in their marriage of ten years, causing her to inflict emotional pain on her husband all the time. Under the influence of the spirit, she became the husband and took delight in issuing orders to her husband and beating him. She was however relieved to be free after her deliverance.

In response to the prophet, Pastor Nicholas the husband chronicled all the shameful treatment his wife inflicted on him under the influence of the spiritual husband. She would wake up and ask her husband in the dead of night to clean the house and wash the dishes. When she knew it was fasting time for her husband, she would deliberately set food before him to break the fast unjustifiably. Either she would meet the husband in the church to fight and embarrass him or prevent him by force from going to church after he was ready. On such occasions, the pastor whose church had branches in other countries, would call his fellow pastors in the church to ask them to carry on as he was still ‘waiting on God’. He lost his congregation to other churches and the branches closed because of the wife’s abnormal behaviour.  A king of the community who attended his church withdrew his membership because of the wife’s behaviour. After praying for the deliverance of the pastor, Prophet T.B. Joshua assured him that he would assist him to reactivate his ministry and re-open the branches. Asked to comment on her husband’s confession, Alberta, in unmistakable remorse said, ‘I feel bad and sad’ and bemoaned satan for all that her husband had suffered in her hands. Prophet T.B. Joshua ended the episode by explaining that it was the evil spirit inside the wife that was responsible and now that she was delivered, her husband should not remind her of the past.

MAN DELIVERED FROM THE SPIRIT OF MASTURBATION

Mr Solomon Ogheneovo

A man from Delta, Nigeria, Solomon Ogheneovo by name, told the congregation of himself as a victim of the spirit of masturbation for 24 years. He thought that getting married would stop the embarrassing act but in fact, it continued. Even after marriage, he masturbated at least every day. After unsuccessful efforts, which included fasting and prayer, on his part to stop it, he finally decided to seek the face of the Lord in The SCOAN. After receiving the Anointing Water, he gathered his family and they prayed with it. That prayer, according to him, marked the end of his masturbation. He thanked God for using the prophet to bring an end to this torment in his life.

ANOINTING WATER RESTORES MENSTRUATION

Mrs Mercy Anthony

Mrs Mercy Anthony told listeners how she regained her menstruation which ceased for seven years, completely unresponsive to her efforts to reactivate it.  She said a good Samaritan gave her a virtually empty bottle of the Anointing Water which she topped with water, prayed with and ministered on herself. Following that, her menstruation miraculously reappeared. She ended her testimony by advising all her listeners to trust God who has an answer to whatever problems they might have.

ANOINTING WATER RESTORES MEMORY AND FETCHES PROMOTION

Rahamat Yusuf Suleiman had an accident in April which, among other injuries, affected her memory. This affected her reading and preparation for her promotion examination in her workplace. The result was that she failed the examination and was denied promotion. After efforts elsewhere to find a cure had failed, she sent a friend to The SCOAN for the Anointing Water.

  On receiving the Anointing Water, she prayed with it and sprayed it on herself, particularly her forehead. Soon after, to her amazement, she vomited an earthworm. The Anointing Water gave her total healing and following her prayer with it before going for another promotion examination in her workplace, she found the questions the same as the ones she had read, making her pass the examination with ease. As she gave her testimony, Rahamat displayed her promotion letter which was the outcome of her success in the examination.  Rahamat advised her listeners to go to the Lord always for a solution to their problems.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE AGED, DISABLED AND CHILDREN WORLDWIDE

The Emmanuel TV Team and Partners as usual filled trailers with gifts of rice, flour and other food items and transported them to the elderly and physically challenged both within Nigeria and internationally.

Yobe rice trailer 2

Yobe rice trailer 1

Borno rice trailer 1

Two of the many states in Nigeria that were visited by The Emmanuel TV Team were Yobe and Borno in the far north of the country. The team set off with two trailers each filled to capacity with rice and flour, in addition to cash gifts. The venue for the meeting with the Emmanuel TV  Team was General Hospital Leprosy Centre, Maiduguri. People gathered from all around Borno State to attend the meeting.

Borno rice trailer 2

The team sent by T.B. Joshua presented the community leaders with cash gifts and the bags of rice were distributed among everyone, regardless of race, faith or background. The Bible teaches us that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. In the same vein, various gifts were also dispatched to the needy and elderly people in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. In the Asian continent, Lahore, Pakistan was also visited with bags of rice, flour and other gift items.

FINANCIAL AID TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS

In the course of the service, five visually impaired students from the University of Jos were led to the platform where they narrated their financial problems as students, one after another.

Yakubu, a student of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, was the first to bare his mind about his financial needs as a student and concluded that he needed the sum of N92,000.00 to pay his school fees and solve other problems as a student.  The rest, in turn, also spoke, explaining that as students, even the money to release their results was hard to come by. Upon listening to their complaint, the prophet directed that their needs be met. Consequently, a total sum of N284,300.00 and bags of rice were disbursed among them.

MASS PRAYER FREES ALL

T.B Joshua

Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit, Prophet T.B. Joshua led the congregation and viewers worldwide in a powerful time of mass prayer. Many vomited the poisons long buried in their systems, thus receiving their freedom. The prophet prayed for the total release of his listeners in many areas of their lives, including their finances, businesses, marital lives among others. He also prayed for the restoration of their destinies and health. In the course of the mass prayer, the prophet issued prophecies to some people who, in reaction came forward to confirm the prophecies. Confirming that the entire congregation had been delivered and was free, the prophet proceeded to say the grace and bring the service to a close.

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WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

After the songs of praise and worship by which the day’s service commenced were over, Wise Man Daniel proceeded to give the message entitled, ‘Trusting In Christ’s Suffering’ by which he reminded the congregation that Christ died on the Cross to provide our needs which he said were healing, deliverance, blessing among others. He cited 1st Peter 2:21-24 as his proof text. Dwelling on the significance of Palm Sunday, he averred that that the Lord’s instruction regarding the donkey was characteristically not vague. Jesus is a Man of vision who says what He means and means what He says. His was instruction in boldness, certainty, righteousness and power. His rebuke was for our peace. His death was miserable and His disciples must be ready to bear His cross. By His suffering there is assurance of life for us.

ANOINTING WATER STOPS ISSUE OF BLOOD
After the prophet’s usual introductory remarks about the new Anointing Water, there was a surge of congregants wishing to testify to the instrumentality of the Anointing Water. The first person to enjoy the opportunity of giving a testimony was Mrs Elizabeth Aghachiebonam of Ebonyi State, though resident in Abuja. Her problem, according to her, was the issue of blood for two years. She recounted the trouble her husband had taken to find a solution for her in hospitals and churches without hitting any success. The problem started as internal heat and generated pain all over her body making her pass through sleepless nights. While people would be sleeping at night, she would see herself restless and reeling in pain. Coming to The SCOAN on the Thursday preceding the Sunday of testimony, she said she received the Anointing Water immediately on arrival and administered it on herself in compliance with the instruction. As soon as she applied it, the bleeding stopped. She happily told the congregation that she had started enjoying her nightly sleep and comfort of body following the staunching of the blood. She seized the opportunity to advise her listeners to have faith in the Lord, their Creator who is always there for them in times of need.

ANOINTING WATER OBVIATES OPERATION
The next testimony was given by the Akhere family. Mrs Akhere had been told by her doctor that she would require operation to deliver her baby because of her tight cervix. She therefore visited The SCOAN to seek the face of the Lord. She received the Anointing Water and administered it on herself in prayer for safe delivery. After this, she delivered her baby safely without operation. They named their baby Harry after Wise Man Harry. They profusely thanked God with whom, they recognized, nothing is impossible.

ANOINTING WATER AND GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE
The omnipresent nature of God was demonstrated with the Anointing Water in many parts of the world. The video clips revealed the work of the Anointing Water in other countries of which Greece was one. The clip showed a woman, Shaze Qualli who for twelve years depended on crutches for movement. The Anointing Water dispelled all the darkness in her and delivered her from all pain and infirmity. Another man who depended on crutches for movement was also delivered in the same way. There were many who, hitherto in the throes of contrary spirits, fell down under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and were delivered with the administration of the Anointing Water.

A similar feat was revealed in Ghana where a woman who had not been able to walk for years was declared free by an evangelist spraying the Anointing Water on her and she responded immediately by standing up to walk. A young man was also freed from evil spirits and he thanked God having been delivered through the medium of the Anointing Water. Mr John, a sergeant in the Ghanaian army, had for five years been incapacitated because of an injury he sustained in an accident. Spraying the new Anointing Water on him, an evangelist declared him free and he resumed walking immediately.

ANOINTING WATER RESTORES HEAD TO SHAPE
While the congregation was engrossed watching these miracles from other countries, an evangelist in The SCOAN had seen a young man in the church arranged in the prayer line because of a development in his head which made the head assume a very abnormal shape. The evangelist proceeded to spray the new Anointing Water on the head and, soon after, pus began to ooze from the head miraculously. In no time the head regained its normal shape after all the pus had come out. This was possibly the greatest miracle of the day as the evacuation of the pus left no mark or scar on the head after restoring the head to shape.

MARITAL UNDERSTANDING ACHIEVED
The next was the reconciliation of Mr and Mrs Elizabeth Aghachiebonam as hinted in the previous service. The next paragraph entitled MISUNDERSTANDING WORDS OF PROPHECY was their story in a nutshell at the end of service the week before. But to the glory of God, the couple reappeared on the platform this Sunday to thank God for their successful reconciliation and for the grace of understanding and appreciating each other the more as a couple. The very striking element of the reconciliation was the dream, Stella, the wife had in which she was told by Prophet T. B. Joshua to remove the ring and bangle on her hand. Contrary to her thinking that she never had those ornaments on her body to remove, the prophet proceeded beyond her skin into her bone to dislodge those ornaments which were an attestation to her union with a spiritual husband. The removal of these ornaments by the prophet marked a turning point in her marital relationship with IK, her earthly husband. The prophet once more appeared to her in a second dream and advised her to relate well to her husband and make ‘forgiveness’ a watchword in their marriage as there is no perfect person or relationship on earth. By the time she wanted to react to the prophet in the dream, he had vanished having laid a formidable spiritual foundation for the marriage. In his reaction, Mr Ikechukwu thanked the prophet for the effectual reconciliation. He added that they had been to the Mountain to pray in the effort to restore peace and love to their marriage. He once more thanked God and the man of God for the restored peace in their marriage.

MISUNDERSTANDING WORDS OF PROPHECY
The next video clip was among other reasons activated to correct the culpable presumptions among the congregants regarding the import of prophecies issued to them. In the said repartee between Wise Man Christopher and Mrs Ezekwelome,the latter corrected the wise man erroneously about her marital status. When Wise Man Christopher cautioned her to be careful about disappointments, the lady misinterpreted the expression and promptly told the wise man that she was already married. Making himself clearer, the wise man told her that he knew that. He was, on the contrary, simply warning her about the possible collapse of the marriage if care was not taken. Luckily for the wise man, her husband was around to add that he had sent her home the previous week because of her perceived misdemeanour. Defending herself on the last score, Mrs Ezekwelolome, a non working housewife, deprecated the repression she suffered in the hands of her husband who additionally habitually made her account for every kobo she received from him. She strongly felt that her views and wishes to engage in some private business deserved consideration by her husband. In his defence, the husband stated that apart from taking full charge of her education, he had sponsored her trips to France, Egypt and the United States of America. Her recent wish to go to Dubai for business in gold would put the entire family at risk apart from rendering him the sole caretaker of the children. Speaking on behalf of the womenfolk, about four women in the congregation expressed support for the husband and praised him for his consideration for the welfare of the entire family while advising the wife to be contented with the contributions of the husband to her well-being. The prophet, while inviting them to a reconciliation meeting, expressed the view that a marriage where both participants saw themselves as equally gifted in sophistication and intelligence and neither was ready to bow to the other was indeed a difficult one to manage but with God all things are possible.

MAN DELIVERED FROM IMPOTENCE
Mr Ameni Shabani of Congo DRC mounted the platform to confirm his deliverance from impotence last Sunday during the service. He had lost his wife to a houseboy because of his inability to dose sexual gratification to her. He lost his sexual virility when he was made to drink some concoction and wash himself with the water. He said his wife accused her of not finding time for her but added that he spent all his time looking for money for his wife in order to make the home comfortable. Both his wife and the houseboy took advantage of his loss of virility to redefine their relationship and started a sexual intimacy resulting in the loss of the wife to the houseboy. Mr Shabani added that his eloped wife later told him that only one of the two children they had together was his. It was for that reason he decided to leave both children for her till when he hoped to establish his paternity by DNA. Both ex-wife and houseboy now live together in South Africa. In answering the prophet’s question, Shabani stated that it was painful to lose his wife to a houseboy but in his state of loss of manhood then, there was nothing he could do. He was however happy for his deliverance which has put him in a position to consider getting married again. He expressed the hope of coming to The SCOAN after marriage on ‘a thank you mission’ with his new wife. He thanked God and the man of God for his restoration.

INTREPID JOURNEY TO SEE PROPHET
The next testimony was given by a young man, Mr Jeff Katanga from Zambia who came all the way from Zambia crossing not less than seven countries in a very long, tortuous and dangerous journey to Nigeria. The young man in question lost both parents recently in quick succession and found himself the caretaker of his siblings. The only hope for him in the present situation when he suddenly became the father of his siblings was Prophet T. B. Joshua. He saw the prophet as the only man who could offer him and his siblings financial help, going by what he had gleaned from Emmanuel TV. It was for that reason that he borrowed money from a widow and travelled from Zambia through Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Chad and Cameroon to Nigeria. He particularly had challenges in Sudan which was half way between his country and Nigeria because of the civil war there. He was encouraged in his state of penury and physical exhaustion by the fact that if he could get to the Prophet, his condition would change for the better. He spent a total of thirty days on the way before getting to Nigeria on 19th January 2011. Unlike what many would do, he never wanted to shout to the man of God for help but decided to remain prayerful and fasting till God would reveal him to the prophet. He had decided not to be led by his situation because, as he learnt from Emmanuel TV, in every situation God is saying something. He deliberately took refuge in the vicinity of the church till God would reveal him in his plight to the prophet. Truly, when the prophet became aware of him, he welcomed him with the words, ‘You are in your Father’s house’ and promised him that when he would go back, he would enjoy a flight in contradistinction to the risky manner in which he had travelled to Nigeria. In response to the question on what he would have done supposing he never saw the prophet on arrival, he said he would have nigerianized rather than repeat that ordeal back to Zambia. The man of God praised him for his faith, courage and dogged will to succeed in life assuring him that he could see a bright future for him. The man of God however made it clear that his warm reception of the young man should not serve as an incentive for other young men to embark on such risky journeys. Assuring the congregation of prompt resumption of prophetic worship at 10 am the following day, he piloted the service to a close.

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GOD’S WORD WORKS WONDERS

TO HIS POWER NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
In a spirited sermon to awaken the congregation to the power of God,

Prophet T. B. Joshua reminded the Church of the greatness of God and His ready disposition to forgive sins, however grievous some of these sins may be. In his words God is capable of doing anything and also forgiving any sin. To His power nothing is impossible. Breaking in on the choral music which had been reverberating all over the Church and to which the congregation responded in unison with elegant steps, Prophet T. B. Joshua enthusiastically spoke on the forgiving spirit of God with copious illustrations. In his words, the past is forgiven. We have seen a sinner’s character healed, the drunkard becoming sober, the harlot becoming chastened and the liar becoming truthful. “What then is the fear?” he asked the congregation. He spiritedly reminded his listeners that if they trust in God, that trust will save them. Trusting in the suffering of Christ is enough to save us, deliver us and make us whole. He concluded the sermon by advising the congregation to remain in trust.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Wise Man John Chi introduced his message with a series of questions. How do we achieve a desired goal? Who wants to be saved? What must I do to be saved? He aptly referred the congregation to Acts 16: 29-32 which provided the answer to his questions: Believe in the Lord and you will be saved. According to him, God has promised salvation for whoever shall trust His Son. Race, age brackets, academic qualifications, wealth or any other attribute cannot save us outside Christ. If you are willing to be saved, Jesus is willing. Jesus brings hope and succour to those who trust Him. He is the bread to the hungry and road map to the lost. Whatever you are, you need Christ to be saved. God has a role to play in your salvation just as you too have a role to play. It takes your willingness and God’s ability to bring about your salvation.
Our hearts and minds must be reset to agree with God’s plan for our lives. You must get rid of those things that derail you from God. You cannot experience peace under the dominion of satan. Satan is sin. Another name for satan is sin.

Quoting Psalm 51:7 as a reference text the Wise Man admonished the congregation on the need to be cleansed of sins. According to him King David saw the need to be cleansed. Wash me with water whiter than snow and remove all impurity. David knew he would not have place in God’s kingdom unless he was washed from sins. In his sins, David could not see anything other than the fruit of sin: failure in the family, in the battle field etc. Unless you are cleansed of your sins, your blessing will receive challenges. The attitude of repentance and faith in your heart keeps you closer to God. Mistakes are correctable. If you make a mistake, don’t run from God; run to Him. Because David ran to God in spite of his sins, he remains one of the greatest Kings in Israel today. Your Father in Heaven has anticipated your sins and prepared for you. You have not committed an unpardonable sin. Our lives are in God’s hand and we cannot please Him without a thorough reformation of heart and life. God requires a heart that does not bear grudges. Doubts and unbelief put us on the wrong track. Jesus loves you just as He does any of His children. Jesus is able to forgive all our sins, he concluded.

THE SPIRIT OF APOSTLE PAUL HAS ARRIVED IN MACEDONIA
Wise Man, Harry and his wonderful performances in Macedonia attracted his comments. The prophet told the congregation that the crusade in Macedonia attracted a large turn out of participants. It was so wonderful and even comparable to those spiritually hosted by the prophet himself in Indonesia and Singapore. It had to be extended to the following day i.e. Sunday and Monday. Wise Man, Harry also revealed to Prophet T. B. Joshua his vision to be in Macedonia especially close to Paul and Silas’s prison for tourists to see the wonders of God.
A clip on the wonderful works being performed by Wise Man, Harry surfaced on the screen and the congregation watched with rapt interest.

RECONCILIATION OF BROKEN HOMES

Mr and Mrs Ifah brought out their children and Mrs Ifah, the spokesperson accused their daughter, Judith of witchcraft before the entire congregation. She narrated how a baby of hers died mysteriously after a period of excessive stooling. She painted a picture of lack of peace in their family and of the sickness of her husband which had defied healing.

The daughter, Judith Ifah confessed to being a witch and added that it was the result of the fruit juice which she accepted from one of her classmates. She said she told her mother the dream she had after taking the juice and her mother prayed for her. She revealed that the giver of the juice asked her to bring their baby to the coven and that was the cause of the baby’s death. She said that she ate the baby. She also revealed how she was advised to use a rope to tie her father to his bed and cause his health to deteriorate. All these feats would attract to her a second position in the witchcraft world.
In reaction, Prophet T.B. Joshua advised parents to bring up their children in the way of the Lord to have peace. The child in question was left in the hands of satan because of the parents’ carelessness. The prophet pronounced Judith a witch or demon possessed as presented by the parents.

He then asked the parents to lay hands on her and ask every unclean spirit to leave her. That was how Judith was delivered. The prophet however warned both parents not to call her a witch after the deliverances.

INTERNET VICTIM
A lady by name Memory, from Zimbabwe but living in South Africa confessed how she was hoodwinked promises of monetary offers on the internet. She was taught incantations which she mastered but none of the promises materialised. Instead, her marital home became bedevilled with problems to such an extent that she used the police to eject her husband from the home. She then pleaded with the man of God for deliverance. At the exclamation of the name, Jesus by one of the evangelists she fell down and was delivered.

ACCUSATION OF WITCHCRAFT

One Emmanuel Chijoke and his relations all of the Abraham family from Enugu complained about the problems of setback and deaths in their family attributing all this to their mother.
The genesis of the accusation was a crusade in Abuja at which one of Emmanuel’s cousins was a participant and where he was told by a man of God there that their mother was the brain behind all the woes in the family. The said man of God was then invited to Enugu where he confirmed his earlier vision that their mother was a witch and that only her head and shoulders was human; the chest down to the feet was vulture in appearance. Surprisingly to the family, their mother could not refute the accusation by the man of God. She complained that at that time, her eyes, ears and mouth were muffled and she could not talk.

She then challenged the family to take her to anywhere and they would realise that she is not a witch. This was the reason they came to the SCOAN.

In his verdict, the man of God pronounced the woman witchcraft negative and ordered the children to kneel down to her in apology.

FOOT ULCER HEALED
Before the prayer line, the participants of which were zoomed on the screen,

a lady, 20 year old Miss Sulman who was healed of foot ulcer came to give testimony and also made to show herself to those in the prayer line to reassure them of their healing.<img src=”http://thetbjoshuafanclub.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/10-10-10-g-4.jpg?w=200&#8243; alt=”" title=”10-10-10 [G] (4)” width=”200″ height=”300″ class=”aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1990″ />

HIV AIDS TESTIMONIES
Three men and three women who were healed of HIV AIDS came to give their testimonies. Among them who spoke was 27 year old Mrs Motunrayo Sowemimo,
who was tested positive with Hiv aids type one in the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja.

After the prayer line where she was declared free, she said she became stronger and ate with more relish.

She went back to the same hospital for another test but thanks to God, she was Hiv negative this time.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFICIARIES
Miss Oduwole Olayinka, a youth worker in the church who came bagged 1st class (Electrical/Electronics), University of Lagos also got a scholarship award from the Church to do a Master degree in one of the best universities in the world. She consequently applied for admission and was offered same in three good universities in the United Kingdom. These were the Universities of Southampton, Edinburgh and that of Surrey.
She picked the University of Southampton as the best and the Church paid a total sum of £13,900 as her fees. Later and in consonance with the man of God’s crave for the best, the University College, London, offered her admission. Without hesitation, she changed her mind and picked the latest offer. A total sum of £18,245 was paid as fees for her to start classes on the 11th of October 2010.
The man of God seized the opportunity to advise the congregation to always look for the needy to help rather than waiting at home for the needy to come to them. In this way, according to the prophet, they would not be helping the wrong people.

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ALL THINGS BECOME NEW

On Sunday morning the 22nd of March 2010, people flocked to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, some came for healing at the prayerline, some came for the first time, others came to their usual seat being members of the renowned Church (whose service is broadcast live every week on their TV station, Emmanuel TV) to see the mighty power of God working in the Spirit.

The service began at 9am with worship and praise, cultivating an atmosphere of faith in the huge auditorium. At 10am sharp, Evangelist Evelyn Joshua (T.B. Joshua’s wife) came out to give a message titled, ‘Walking In His Grace’. She spoke boldly telling us that, “The peace of conscience we derive from walking with the Lord, produces internal joy.” And that, “Rebuilding us requires our attention, commitment, our desire and obedience to God’s Word.” She also reminded us that “No one can succeed alone”. After around 40 minutes of preaching Evangelist Evelyn concluded by saying, “As long as we keep walking in His grace we will not be without the Father, without the Helper”.

The choir picked up again, then T.B. Joshua himself came out. After commending the message, he brought out the new anointing water and from the crowd’s reaction – something they have all been waiting for. He brought out three packaged waters in different coloured containers, orange – for fruit of the womb, green – for healing and deliverance and purple for blessing and prosperity. He explained that God can use any medium to express Himself and described the anointing water as a means to set one apart for God’s attention. As he was talking a queue formed of those who had testimonies to share after using the anointing water.

Broken Bone Healed

First up was Corporal Sugir Kabir Amos, from Anambra State, Nigeria who had broken both legs two years earlier in a motor accident. He explained that after the accident, he was operated on, twice – showing us photographs of when he was hospitalised and finally discharged with a walking frame.

We watched the video of him coming to The SCOAN with the same walking frame, slowly moving along with it, limiting him greatly. Next he was in the prayerline where Prophet T.B. Joshua prayed for him and administered the anointing water. One minute he was sitting pleading for healing, the next minute he was standing, then walking, rejoicing at God’s mighty power that healed him in moments. Jesus Christ continues to show Himself strong in the lives of those who put their trust in Him.

Next up were a couple Mr & Mrs Okorie from Ebonyi state, Nigeria. The lady had, had the problem of ovarian cyst and multiple fibroid. She explained that when she had told the doctors that she wanted to operate – they asked her ‘why now?’ She said because the cyst was so large that people always asked if she was pregnant. A painful question for a lady who had been told by doctors that due to her condition she was unable to conceive.

Healed of ovarian cyst and multiple fibroids

After moving back and forth from hospital to hospital and after being operated on and then referred. She got frustrated and gave up hope for medical assistance. Then she watched Emmanuel TV where she saw men and woman of different nationalities who once faced similar problems as herself, now standing with their new baby giving testimony after using the anointing water given to them by T.B. Joshua. She immediately set out for the following service day with one aim in mind – to get some of the anointing water for herself. She came and received the anointing water for the fruit of the womb. One week later, her check up was due at the hospital. To the doctor’s and her great surprise, the medical report showed that the large cyst and multiple fibroids were gone! Not only that but she was pregnant! God can surely use any means to reach the needs of His people. What is impossible to man, is possible for God Almighty who is the same yesterday, today and for ever.

Many other testimonies followed and due to the large crowd it became obvious that using such means as the anointing water many lives could benefit from the saving, healing and delivering grace within. God continues to use everything He’s created. A pamphlet also went round to explain the use of the anointing water.

After the faith building testimonies, T.B. Joshua moved directly to the prayerline where many sick people were waiting for prayer. Among them was Pastor Rowland Ekwerike who had come all the way from Indianapolis, USA. He had lost the ability to speak clearly – as a minister of the Gospel this posed a great obstacle. T.B. Joshua poured the anointing water into his mouth and moments later he began preaching powerfully to the congregation! Just as Jesus Christ used Paul and anything that came into contact with him – to heal all manners of sicknesses and diseases. As it was, so it is. Jesus’ power is not stopped just because He is no longer visibly in our midst. His power and effectiveness are even greater today because He can be present in all places at all times by His Spirit.

After the prayerline there was a mass prayer session where more people were healed and set free both inside and outside of the auditorium where an over flow crowd was gathered.

The first service came to a close at 2.30pm and the second service soon followed where many prophecies and more instant testimonies were given. After this for those who remained, T.B. Joshua distributed the new anointing water. Some even at the mere receiving of the carton began to shake, roll and manifest – God chooses grace rather than works. He does as He wills and can use any medium to express Himself. Blessed, refreshed and made new was the mood that people left the auditorium satisfied and confident that as Christians, no matter the situation, Jesus Christ can see them through, after having so many cases to strengthen their faith. God keeps giving us reasons to praise His Holy name. Keep watching Emmanuel TV for rebroadcasts of the service as T.B. Joshua says, “Better is not good enough; the best is yet to come!”

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Everything Big Starts Little…

In his own words, Prophet TB Joshua describes his early years, and the belief that inspired him to do what no one has ever done and go where no one has ever gone in order to achieve what no one has ever achieved. It is an inspirational, challenging and reflective read, which clearly illustrates the principle of life that there is a time for everything and life is in stages… What time are you in?

“I found myself in a family background that irritated me. In those early years of my life, I knew I would be blamed for what I gave my attention to – so I took a different direction in order to achieve a different solution.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one small step...

Before this time, I was a member of the Anglican Church and participated actively in many church activities. On three different occasions, I was appointed the chairman of Children’s Harvest/ Thanksgiving ceremony. During my elementary education at St. Stephen Anglican Primary School, Agbalaku, Arigidi, I was leader of the student Christian fellowship.

I taught my colleagues the Scriptures without formal Bible training. In my dreams, I was always taught the Scriptures; that gave me an edge over other student colleagues, even my teacher. I was the smallest in the class but led the prayer during the school devotions. My teacher, Mrs Margaret Tolani Adejumo, and my colleagues usually called me ‘small pastor’.

I recognised early enough that victory obtained through Christ was a time past victory. I mean, it is victory assured. Rather than despair and blame my situation on family background, I began to be proud of my situation in order to feel Christ’s victory over me.

I became content with my situation, knowing that my situation is redeemable through Christ and that the redemption was a time-past one. I mean, redemption assured. Then I began to take God at His Word in order to have His way. Nobody is too good or too bad to qualify for His grace.

Remember, it was possible for me to sit somewhere and begin to make excuses for my situation. I never did.

Whatever I am today is a product of that conviction that victory through Christ is victory indeed. The rest is history.

Today, many people blame their situation on family background. Some would say, “I am poor because everyone in my family is poor.” If you make excuses for being poor, your poverty cannot be excused. Remember, you are responsible for what you give your attention to; so it is unnecessary to blame your situation on anyone.

Today, it is common for people to blame their failure on their family background, whereas they attribute their success to their personal effort.

If you attribute your success to your personal effort, you should also accept the blame for your failure. When we make excuses for our wrongdoing, such misdeeds would not be excused.

God has a time for everything... - TB Joshua

God has a time for everything: A time to grow, a time to face realities of life, a time to overcome and a time to show the proceeds of victory. Ecclesiastes 3:1. I want to let you know that this record is not in anyway intended to show off – I mean, it is not a way of saying, “I have arrived”, but my own way of glorifying God for what He is doing in our lives. It is my own way of giving testimony to the goodness of God in my life. First, to show my total dependence on God and second, to encourage the weak that there is hope; Jesus is the hope.

Life is a warfare, and in a war there are many battles to be won.

Each time God leads us through a battle, it is in our own interest to testify to His goodness, as a way of thanksgiving for not allowing our adversaries to triumph over us. If God had not overcome for us, there would be no need to show this record, just as there would be no need for this story.”

SOURCE: The Official SCOAN Website

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Confessions Of Desperate Women…

The case of Mr Dickson, a man healed after 14 years of insanity, caused quite a stir in the Nigerian media. The Sun reported his remarkable recovery and the following reconciliation with his family, after prayer from Pastor TB Joshua. An inspiring and amazing read…

Most times, pain is deep and personal. For years, a young woman Ngozi kept hers under wrap. She buried it in a carefree lifestyle in the red light spots of Spain.

But after a long while, the problem and pain began to eat and tug at her heart. She needed to find a solution to a frightening nightmare and constant pain in the pit of her stomach.

Restless and sleepless
Whenever she tried to rest or sleep, masquerades chased her around with whips. Nearly driven mad by the nightmare and persistent pain, she flew into the country and headed to Synagogue, The Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos. She only went for prayers and deliverance from the nightmare and pain.

Ambling casually through the Church crowd, the General Overseer of the Church, Prophet T.B Joshua, stopped in front of her and pointedly said: “You can run but can’t hide. You can lie to ordinary mortals but not the Holy Spirit. You are a murderer and a prostitute. That’s the cause of your problem, the man of God said, tapping her shoulder with his right hand.

Singing like a canary
In response, Ngozi fell to the ground and rolled over as though struck by a powerful blow or thunder. A Church Warden and a pastor attended to her. When she fully recovered, she got up and began to confess: “It is me sir. My mother is a witch. She caused my problem. My sister is also a witch. So, we took her (sister) into the bush and killed her. I gave people money to kill my mother but they failed. I came down from Spain and tried to kill her by myself. I beat her and beat her. I broke a bottle and stabbed her in the eye. She still didn’t die. She is blind in that eye.

After an earful, Pastor Joshua cut her short and declared loud and clear: “Your sister is innocent and your mother is not a witch. Go and bring her from your village. Bring her here and beg her to forgive you. If you don’t, the curse she has put on you will pass from one generation to another in your family.

On bended knees
Bothered by the consequence, Ngozi dashed off to her village in Anambra State. She went on bended knees and convinced her mother to come with her to the Synagogue. Here was the woman she had blanked out for years. Ever a loving and forgiving mother, she agreed to go with her wicked daughter.

Ngozi’s father, Joseph, willingly agreed to come along. They arrived the Synagogue on Saturday night, August 9, 2008. The following day, Sunday, before a large congregation, Ngozi went on bended knees again, weeping and remorsefully begged her mother for forgiveness. Her father, Pa Joseph also went on his knees before his wife who had now lost her right eye. He owned up for being the mastermind of his children’s mistrust and hatred of their mother.

Ngozi begs for forgiveness from her mother.... reconciled in Jesus' Name.

“It is all my fault. I caused every thing. When my children – Ngozi in Spain, one boy in Belgium, another in America – complained, saying things were tough for them, I consulted a juju man who told me my wife and one of my daughters were behind it. The man said they were witches. I called Ngozi and others and told them. That is how it started”, he confessed.

Re-united
After the confessions, Pa Joseph said: “I’m truly sorry and regret all that happened. Husband, wife and daughter hugged and forgave one another. Members of the congregation wept and rejoiced with them. Prophet Joshua also begged Mama for forgiveness. He wondered what could take away the pain, stigma and rejection she suffered over the years. After hugging her, he gave her N200,000 cash gift.

Chain reaction
The confession and re-union triggered off a chain reaction in the Church. Prophet Joshua sermonized on it, and urged members of the Church who at one time or another labeled their relations witch or wizard to come out, confess it, ask for forgiveness and be prayed for. A large number surged forward.

A middle-aged woman, Mrs. Theresa Dickson Oke, came out and told the Church how she made her husband roam the streets and market places for 14 years.

Mr Dickson, mad for 14 years...

Touched by the tale, Prophet Joshua prayed for her and ordered her to go and bring her mad husband to the church. According to her, a family quarrel made her to contact a juju man who gave her a charm and told her to make a wish. At the height of their quarrel, she wished and willed her husband to go mad.

Good life
In the beginning, her husband, Dickson Oke was an amiable young man working with a construction giant, Strabag at Ibadan. He married Theresa in his younger days and when he had nothing to his name. Then, he was a loving husband and father. He was a father of two when he went to Yugoslavia for studies.

When he returned, they had two more children. Things began looking up for them and he got promoted to commercial manager. He had a company house, cook, cleaner, gardener, car and driver. “We were comfortable and happy where we were living at Ibadan but his attitude towards me suddenly changed”, Theresa revealed.

Another woman
The relationship between Theresa and Dickson nose-dived when another woman moved in. Dickson, according to her, didn’t see anything good in her anymore. “We began quarreling frequently. He used to beat me a lot, and wouldn’t even let me come near his bed”, she recalled.

Sunday Sun learnt that the other woman in Dickson’s life was a product of an office romance with a typist who worked under him. Theresa was further miffed when he took a particular liking to the woman, sent her to school and bought her a car.

Revenge
In comparison, hell had no fury like her anger. Out of righteous indignation and desperation, Theresa went to a local medicine man who helped her to strike Dickson mad. The man left his cosy job and home and took to the streets like the biblical king Nebuchadnezzar. Sunday Sun gathered that he began picking pieces of papers and rummaging in garbage heaps. He later found his way to his village – Uzebu Okaigben Owohimi in Edo State. In subsequent years, he lived under a tree and became a common face in market places and surrounding bush there. Looking back now, Theresa said, “I didnít know he would actually go mad. I only wanted him to love me more and treat me well.”

Undoing the spell
Told she would go mad as well if she looked the man in the face, Theresa took her children and fled to Lagos, not able to go home again. When Prophet Joshua ordered her to go and bring her husband to Synagogue, she almost went mad with anxiety: would she not go mad on seeing him as the medicine man said? How would a violent mad man react? How would she deal with the situation emotionally? And what about the children? More questions buzzed in her head than answers.

Resolute on the matter, Prophet Joshua raised a five-man team to accompany Theresa. When they got to the village, and after a long search in market places and bushes, they found him. Unkempt, dirty, wearing an old torn T-shirt, raggedy brown trousers, mismatched rubber slippers, wielding a machete and looking dangerous, Dickson declined to follow the team. But after a lot of cajoling, he let go of his machete, gathered his belongings – dirty castoff clothes – in a Ghana Must Go bag and entered a Danfo bus that conveyed the team to Lagos.

Deliverance, re-union
As though hypnotized, Sunday Sun learnt that Dickson remained calm on the way. On arrival in Lagos, Dickson’s first daughter, Amy, 27, brought her siblings: Roseline, 25, Billy 22 and Gloria, 20, and two grand children to welcome their father and grand-father. Seeing their father in that pitiable condition, the children threw themselves at him and wept uncontrollably. On Saturday morning, August 16, 2008, Prophet Joshua laid hand on him and prayed.

Shortly after, and as the Church’s video clip of the episode reveals, Dickson, for the first time in 14 years, demanded to be allowed to take a bath, change his clothes, brush his teeth, shave and clean up. But he was told to wait.

Delivered! Mr Dickson With TB Joshua

The following day, Sunday, August 17, 2008, he was presented to the church’s congregation. Half way through the service, Dickson was taken to the church hostel and given a thorough bath and rub-down. About an hour later, he came back to the church a different man.

New life
He was now dressed in cream-coloured suit, clean shirt, tie and black shoes. Grinning ear to ear like a movie star and politician, Dickson openly re-united with Theresa and their children. People rushed out to hug and kiss him. Even Prophet Joshua did the same. The man later spoke and thanked Prophet Joshua for giving him a new life. It was broadcast live on Emmanuel TV. Those who know Dickson, Sunday Sun learnt, kept phoning in. Some said they thought he had long died and been buried.

New life in Christ Jesus...

SOURCE: The Sun News, Nigeria

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‘Why I Didn’t Attend College’ – TB Joshua

Another enlightening interview with Prophet TB Joshua, where he talks more on his early life and education, as well as his passion for compassion…

Looking at the growth of your church across the world today, would you say you ever thought that you could take evangelism to this level when you started Synagogue’s ministry?
Since it is a vision from God – a vision from God always materialises. You may not understand how it happens. There is always a driving force which no one can resist. When that vision comes, which is God’s purpose, and when that purpose manifests in our lives, it changes our actions and our location. Those who have vision concentrate on their aims and their goal.

But in between your vision and the purpose of God, kindly tell us how you were able to weather the storm in those times when your church was facing series of criticisms from some sections of the Christian fold?
The vision is from God, like I told you. He is the one that plans the future. That is how we know people of God.

Are you telling us that you don’t feel it, particularly when some prominent clergymen were kicking against you and your church? What informed your calmness and your refusal to reply your critics?
Well, in the book of Psalm 91, when you continue reading from verse 15, it says, “I would see you through.” That does not mean you would not encounter trials, like persecution – but God promised to see you through. Therefore, anything that is close to Jesus receives attack, even if it is a pen.

Okay, can you tell us about yourself. Who is Prophet TB Joshua?
(Laughs) The man TB Joshua is a man like you. If there is any difference, it is the grace of God and that grace is not worked for. The word ‘grace’ means after we must have done everything humanly possible, we must leave the issue with God. That is grace.

Several great men of God like you have told the stories of their divine calling. Can you share yours with us?
I have told you I am a man, just like you. Except for the grace of God, I would be nobody – and that grace is the opposite of merit – human labour, education or human wisdom. Your papers are marked when you go to school, but you can’t mark the character. In the case of God, after you must have done everything humanly possible, you have to leave it for God. You have no choice than to leave the issue for God to mark it. That is grace. So, let no man boast.

Remember, I asked about the story of your calling…
I think I have answered that TB Joshua is just a man like you. If there is any difference, it is just the grace, and that grace, one should not boast of it.

Your church has been dolling out millions of naira to the aged, widows and several less privileged people in the society. What is the motivation behind this?
The Bible says ‘Watch and pray’. When the Bible says ‘watch’ – this is where charity comes in. So, the acts of charity and righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus go together.

The Synagogue Church Of All Nations has been able to break the barrier of colour across the world by bringing white and black people together. How did you do it?
It is Christ. Don’t say ‘Synagogue’ please – the church is all about Jesus. Synagogue is just a name. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. What Jesus gave us is not limited to certain areas. The Bible says, if you can believe, all things are possible. The capacity in our Lord Jesus Christ is not restricted by time and distance.

If you say everything is all about Jesus, you have been able to perform several unprecedented miracles and set up committees that reconciled sworn enemies in Liberia, particularly Samuel Doe’s family. Does that mean Jesus loves only Prophet TB Joshua to have been able to do all these?
It is not man’s business at all. The way and manner Jesus executes His plans in our lives differs. Some prophets use their talents for their immediate localities while others are endowed to move round the globe. Don’t also forget that some also operate within their nations. The book of Corinthians says some were given different gifts like prophecy, deliverance power, healing etc. – while some have all. It is just by His grace and no one should boast.

From the way you preach and teach, you sound as if you were a lecturer before you took up a pastoral job. What is your academic background?
(Laughs) Lecturer? No. Well, I have a primary school certificate. That is all. That is where I stopped. Whatever you see me doing now, may be like an enlightened person, it is by the grace of God.

You mean you never attended secondary school or university?
Eh! University? That is too much. I tried to get admission into form one in those days after completing primary school. I attended almost ten secondary schools in an attempt to get admission into secondary school in Lagos State. I had to sit at home on my own for extramural lectures without a teacher for many years before I was able to sit for GCE. But all efforts to secure secondary school admission failed. I have my papers which I cannot boast was on merit. The grade I made on merit was my primary school certificate.

What were you doing after acquiring your primary school certificate? Did you attend any Bible or Pastoral college?
After my primary school education, I started gathering little children by visiting parents to ask if they wanted somebody to care for their kids by teaching them the Bible. I have never attended any seminary school or Bible college in my life.

So, that was how you started evangelism. But at least, you must have been part of a church before you started your own ministry?
I was a member of the Anglican Church before I founded The Synagogue. In fact, I was made the Chairman of the Children’s Harvest committee twice or thrice in my village. When I came to Lagos, I never attended any church.

You have been prophesying for several countries and all your prophecies came to pass. I remember you did call for prayers before Bhutto was assassinated in Pakistan. But does your silence on prophecy concerning Nigeria mean God has not been revealing to you things about this country?
It is in our record book. Come to our church on Sunday and you would be given a record of prophecies about your country. If you are not backed up by heaven, you cannot just see things on your own. Prophecy is not just a mere thing like that.

How do you spend your leisure periods?
As Mr TB Joshua or Prophet TB Joshua? Because I think you have been talking to Prophet TB Joshua.

Well, both if you don’t mind?
The way Prophet TB Joshua unwinds? I have no life of my own. The only life I have is for Christ. Christ is my joy and everything. The life I live is not my own, but in Jesus Christ.

Does that mean that you spend 24 hours meditating about the Word of God without any relaxation moment?
I am a full time pastor. Since I am not into part time evangelism, all my life – i live for Christ. That is me for you. Even during my birthday, I don’t understand what people are doing by celebrating. I don’t know, because I am not involved. It is all about Jesus.

SOURCE: National Outlook – Vol. 1 No. 33

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In From The Cold…

Prophet T.B. Joshua re-unites a young girl abandoned in 1996 at the age of nine over witchcraft allegations with her mother

Oghenefejiro Iworo, a female Urhobo cultural music dancer from Ugheli, Delta was only nine years old in 1996 when she was abandoned by Esther, her mother. Her reason for taking such drastic action against her child was because the little girl was alleged to have belonged to the evil world of witches and wizards.

Wild accusations of witchcraft...

Esther claimed that she consulted a witch doctor in Ughelli who confirmed that her daughter was a witch and was responsible for the hardship and misfortunes she had encountered in life, including separation from her husband.

The witch doctor had taken the little girl to her shrine in Eku, tortured her by using a sharp knife to inflict deep cuts on her cheeks. The blood extracted from the deep cuts was then given to the girl to drink before she allegedly confessed that she was a witch.

The witch doctor then warned her mother that unless she disowned her daughter, she would use her power as a witch to kill her. She therefore advised her to take the girl to Badare Wegereva, her mother-in-law whom she alleged to have initiated Oghenefejiro into witchcraft.

Esther who believed what the witch doctor told her about her daughter was angry with her. She, therefore, did not hesitate to take her to her mother-in-law at the Ugheli market where she was trading, called her a witch and left the girl with her. Badare was dumbfounded as she could not understand why her daughter-in-law could publicly call her a witch and even accuse her of initiating Oghenefejiro into the witchcraft world.

Afraid that the little girl could actually be a witch as her mother claimed, Badare equally rejected her and took her to her maternal great grand mother who was in her 80s. Although the aged woman accepted her great grand daughter, she could not take care of her.

The little girl had no option than to become a street urchin. She roamed the streets begging for alms and later joined street kids who taught her how to smoke cigarette and having illicit affairs with men. No matter how Oghenefejiro tried to struggle for survival in life, the stigmatisation and abandonment by her mother continued to haunt her.

However, she later joined an Urhobo cultural dancing group but still lived a wayward lifestyle. It was in the process that she was impregnated by Dafe Iworo, a butcher from Ekakpame, Delta State who married her. Already, Oghenefejiro has given birth to a baby boy.

Unknown to Oghenefejiro’s mother, her decision to disown her own daughter 12 years ago had become a curse to her. Despite the fact that she left Ughelli for Lagos in search of greener pastures, Esther who is a caterer continued to have nightmares as she could not even fend for herself.

She, therefore, decided to seek divine intervention by going to the Synagogue Church of All Nations where T.B Joshua told her that she was suffering from a generational curse because she accused her daughter falsely of being a witch.

He told her that the curse would continue to haunt her until she is reunited with her daughter and begged her for forgiveness over the stigmatisation she was subjected to because of the accusation.

He also told her that the generational curse started from Micheal Akatakpo, her 60 year-old father who was an idol worshipper. Esther admitted that her father had similarly called her a wicth when she was nine years old. She, therefore, had to travel to Ughelli with pastors from the Synagogue Church of All Nations where they searched for her daughter until she was found. She also brought her father to the church where Joshua delivered them from the generational curse.

Joshua said it has become common for some parents to abandon their children in the streets over the allegation that they are witches. He wondered why a mother should subject her own child to such a traumatic experience. “It is rather unfortunate that a mother who carried a child in her womb for nine months or more, laboured to bring her forth, would later stigmatise the child as a witch and throw her away from her home into the street,” he said.

Worried by the trend, Stepping Stones, a UK registered charitable organisation is working in conjunction with the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network, CRARN, to transform the lives of children who have been stigmatised as witches and wizards.

Gary Foxcroft, programme director, Stepping Stones Nigeria, said their aims are to tackle the problems of ignorance and superstitious belief in child-witchcraft as well as eradicate the torture of children stigmatised as witches.

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‘My Invisible Chain’ – TB Joshua

Another interview Pastor TB Joshua granted The Week Magazine of Nigeria…

Prophet Temitope Joshua of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, explains the source of his strength and vision, and his care for the aged and needy, to The Week team of Clement Okitikpi (MD), Oluwasegun Abifarin (Editor) and Emeka Ngwei.

'My Invisible Chain...' - TB Joshua

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.

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.

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.

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?
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.

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

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Prophetic Birth: A Wednesday Wonder

In a touching story, Africa News reports the incredible miracle behind Mrs Joy Everbright’s safe delivery, following a prophetic revelation from TB Joshua…

It was an eruption of euphoria in Delta State, Nigeria, as a baby girl was born amidst supernatural circumstances…

Mrs Joy Everbright testifying with her new baby!

In the midst of the large crowd at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations on Sunday June 7th 2009, Pastor TB Joshua spotted Joy out with a pinpoint prophetic revelation. “There is a woman here – you are due. This is 11 months. Come out. You have been booked for operation. This is a baby girl.” Evidently shocked, Joy rushed forward. TB Joshua then prayed with her, telling her directly: “You will deliver your baby on Wednesday.”

The next week, Joy returned to the church to share her remarkable testimony. She had safely delivered her baby girl on Wednesday at 9:30am, precisely as the pastor had said. A medical doctor from the Bahamas who was present during the service confirmed, “This is indeed a miracle”, stating that an operation was the only medical option available in such a circumstance. What baffled the crowd most was the pastor’s prediction of the exact day of the baby’s birth, a declaration evidently made under divine influence.

Joshua used the occasion to explain the function of a pastor, saying: “Pastors are sent to utter the deep things of God for the conviction of sin, and for edification and comfort.” He further lamented “ministries of empty talk”, stating that many pastors don’t dabble into the area of prophecy today for fear that it will expose their lack of authenticity and authority. He reminded the congregation of the biblical standard in Deuteronomy 18:22 – “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.”

In the same service which was broadcast live on Emmanuel TV, a couple from South Africa shared a similar testimony. Barren for 10 years due to a low sperm count and inverted womb, Mr Pieter and Mrs Gene Van Zyl joyfully explained how prayer from Pastor Joshua had wrought an incredible miracle. Now several months pregnant, Gene spoke of how the pastor had told them two years earlier that she would conceive, and admonished them to hold fast to God and His promises. “God can definitely do it for you” she encouraged the excited crowd, now that the promise had become a reality.

Pastor TB Joshua has garnered a reputation for his prophetic prowess on both a personal and international level. Recently, he is said to have prophesied the death of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyn, the tragic plane crash in New York on Feb 13 and the release of Ingrid Betancourt from the Colombian jungle last year. The President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills, has publically acknowledged Joshua’s prophetic ministry, stating he had accurately revealed to him details of his three-round election victory.

Concluding his sermon, Pastor Joshua said: “The prophecies of the prophets of old became signs. Each sign said: ‘These men are from God; their message is true; believe their words.’ ”

SOURCE: Africa News

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