SEEING WHAT WAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE

The morning service started very early, as usual, and the congregation was addressed by Wise Man Christopher on the theme, “Follow Instruction in Righteousness”.

In his elaborations, he maintained that Jesus is the Word by whom God speaks to us, which is why He remains the pillar of our faith and substance of our spiritual commitment. He said it is not enough to confess Christianity but to live it as expected of true Christians and that we have to run the race well, in Christ.
The wise man preached that Christianity is two sided – theory and practical. The knowledge of Christianity is not sufficient for man, but the practicing of what is known to be correct. In his opinion, when we abide by the Word and take Jesus Christ as our role model, we will be content, self-sufficient and satisfied. Our great belief in the Word will make us obtain the same results as the early disciples (Mark 9:23).

He said if we believe in Christ, we should have confidence in his ability to heal, “If you believe Jesus is the Saviour, you must have confidence in His ability to save”, he added.
In the word, the Wise man added, man must never doubt God’s ability to heal and save; there should not be room for doubt because we have a perfect evidence for faith. He maintained that light, blessing and good health can be obtained by man through absolute belief in the Word; we should know Christ and obey His instructions as clearly spelt out in the Word. This is because, “God has a role to play and man has his own role to play”.

He said God’s Word is a seed of divine life; Jesus is the Living Word and the Bread of Life. He added that “God’s Word will change you if you take it to heart”, and “A believing soul takes everything God says in truth and faith and puts the best construction on it”. He completed his sermon by 8:25am.

REV. (BARRISTER) ONWELU AND WIFE SHOWN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
     Prophet T.B Joshua appeared on the pulpit and the first comment he made centered on the woman (Mrs. Patricia Onwelu) who had in the previous week, complained on the occupational status of her husband. She had received a prophecy from T.B. Joshua that her husband was doing the work of God.
The woman had wanted the Prophet to intervene and make God’s opinion known to them whether the husband should continue the work of God or remain a practicing lawyer.

The couple came to the church, and the wife narrated the story in full, and that the husband (Rev. Chidi Onwelu) did not know whether to practice law or be a pastor, because the little money he was making as a lawyer was what he used to build a ‘prayer mountain’ where nobody went for prayers.

She narrated the dream he had, which had made him distance himself from her; and in the dream, it was made clear to the husband that “he was a disgrace”, though he often saw her as an impediment to his spiritual fulfillment.

The husband narrated his own story. He is from a family of lawyers and though a good reader, he had read books, some of which contradicted each other. He was forced to set ablaze one of such books and in the night of that day, he found himself in detention in his dream. Though he was to be assisted by someone who reminded him he should not be detained, he still found himself behind bars.

Prophet T.B Joshua listened patiently to the narrations, and he pledged to see the couple and tell them what God’s opinion was, on the issue.

MISS CHARITY OMERUAH AND MOTHER: DELIVERED FROM EVIL SPIRITS
Equally, the lady who in the previous week, was arrested by the Holy Spirit when she tried to seduce the prophet through an evil spirit and manipulation, appeared in the church with her mother. Miss Charity Omeruah narrated her story to the congregation, the evil powers she possessed which had made her destroy at least three spiritual ministries and ministers through lust and sexual temptations, while Prophet T.B Joshua was to be the fourth person! She said she had been sent from the demonic kingdom with a mission to kill Wise man Daniel and Prophet T.B Joshua as part of her plans, and that she had powers in her hand, private part and head which could be dispensed at will.

According to her, her eyes were used to confuse people and forcefully seduce them, the hands were poisonous, and her nakedness was often attractive. She had tried to bring darkness in the church by stopping electricity, which was not achieved. Darkness could have made it easier to pounce on Prophet T.B Joshua, tear off her dress, and force members of the congregation to sleep. She failed because Prophet T.B Joshua is a true man of God.
She complained that the Prophet of God stood against their interest in the world of darkness; he was a stumbling block to their full manifestation. She had gone out of the church in anger and returned in fury, and that when she tried to sit down, she was given the anointing sticker which she had collected angrily. But it was too hot to be handled. She had kept it in her hand bag but it was too hot to be put down; she felt fire all over her body, and started shouting.
Eventually set free from the demon which had tormented her, she had narrated that she was possessed by this evil spirit from childhood. The sticker drove away the snake living inside her.  She confessed that her mother, who used to be a powerful member of the demonic kingdom, was equally delivered at The SCOAN.
The video showing the mother, Mrs. Omeruah, when she was delivered, was also shown to the congregation. She had challenged Wise man Daniel in the video, calling herself the Queen of all Queens who could not be easily conquered, and who had destroyed people. She was eventually delivered.

Standing by the side of her daughter, Mrs. Omeruah, narrated her story to the congregation, saying she was staying in Gabon, and was amazed by what she saw of her daughter on Emmanuel TV, which reminded her of her own personal experience on February 12th, 2012 when she was delivered. She regretted that her other children also belonged to the demonic kingdom. Prophet T.B Joshua had given her N20,000 when she was first delivered, to travel back home. It was while she saw her daughter manifesting that she decided to return from Gabon to come again to The SCOAN to testify.

Her story made Prophet T.B Joshua to make some spiritually–charged comments. For instance, “If you are here to see what you have seen before, you are here to waste your time. You should see what you have never seen before”. While in The SCOAN, new experiences make people wonder. In Africa, the Prophet said, “Once you cannot do something you believe others cannot do it”, yet people are expected to always seek the face of God. He said, “Things can happen; let us be open for knowledge”, and that they should be good listeners. He added, “If you want a breakthrough when it comes to things of God, you can never see it because everyone lies to his neighbour. The only way to move forward is to go to God. The problem with us is, if I cannot do it, no one else can do it”. He said people have the mentality to accuse others of using the power of Satan, if they cannot perform certain miracles themselves.

He maintained that God has used “Just a paper” (Anointing Sticker) to bring deliverance to people and that God can indeed use any medium to do his work. He also said that we don’t fight flesh and blood but spirit beings.
He also spoke on the fact that God’s power works through His Word by His Spirit, but the Word should become an integral part of your being, that the process of salvation can only be fully attained when the word is an integral part of the self. Preaching or sermonizing, according to him, should be brief, pointed and relevant and not the act of showing off. Between ten and twenty minutes should be sufficient for a serious sermon he said, and that prayer and Bible reading go together.

HON. KOMBOWEL FRIDAY; PROPHECY ON A CROWN TO BE WORN
Hon. Kombowel Friday is the present Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
A past video was shown showing him being prayed for and prophesied to by Prophet T.B Joshua. That was in November 2011. The Prophet had told him that he had seen him escape gunshots and was crowned, while he should assist the family of his mother.

In his testimony, he had told the congregation that he had originally come to The SCOAN over consistent night attacks, and limitations. He said he was able to have a child after twelve years of marriage, and had wanted to be relieved of the troubles he was facing.

He later became Chief whip of the Assembly (Bayelsa House of Assembly), and when the former governor of the state wanted him to be part of his Kitchen Cabinet, he was nearly attacked by some people (though he escaped being hurt), which confirmed what Prophet T.B Joshua had earlier prophesied. He wondered what would also make him wear a crown being not of a royal home. But within a short time, he was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly (he brought his photographs to the Church, wearing the regalia of office, showing the political crown). He was decorated on 20th February, 2012.

The Prophet appreciated the Speaker’s acknowledgement of God, and reminded the congregation what the President of Ghana, Prof. Atta Mills, did immediately he became president – he had come to thank God at The SCOAN.

MR. ANTHONY OSHOGWE: DELIVERED FROM PILE AND HEARING DIFFICULTY THROUGH ANOINTING WATER.
Mr. Anthony Oshogwe came to the church with his wife to thank God for his deliverance from the plagues of acute pile and hearing problem through the anointing water. He said in 1988, 1992 and 2003, he underwent operations for his pile, and had the fourth in 2009. His first deliverance came through Emmanuel T.V when he placed his hands on the screen, as Prophet T.B Joshua was praying for the viewers. Like a man who experienced electric shock, he was surprised that his pile disappeared forever.

As for his hearing problem, he had come to the church on December 4th, 2011. He is also blessed to have a wife, Felicia, who is a prayer warrior. When the Anointing Water was given to him at the church, he prayed with his family, and administered it, and slept like a child. The hearing pains also disappeared. Any other pain that had come his way, he ministered the Anointing Water and it disappeared. His wife also confirmed this, and that they had married for 29 years. She had introduced him to Emmanuel TV in Akure (Ondo state), and the ear problem disappeared.

SIMON AND FAMILY – DELIVERED FROM POVERTY AND FAMILY CURSE
Mr. Simon came with his sister to thank God in the church for relieving them of the pains of poverty and helplessness caused by a family curse.
According to him, he had come to the church on August 25th, 2011 and had the grace to receive the Anointing water. The family is made up of eleven members and they all shared one room until the father died. That was in Bonny, Rivers State.
With the water, they all prayed and anointed themselves. They asked God to raise men of substance from within the family. Today, at least three of them have good buildings and with thriving business.
The sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Good luck, also came to the church attested to the claims of the brother. According to her, the family had been condemned by the dilapidated house they lived in. The coming of her brother to The SCOAN saved the family, as the members did not experience the benefits of good education and jobs. Today business is thriving well for the members.
Prophet T.B Joshua used this evidence again to inform the congregation that there were hundreds of people with concrete claims as to what the anointing water did for them.

MISS SELINA DAUSI: DELIVERED FROM 30 YEARS OF ICE CUBES CONSUMPTION

 

The second service started with the deliverance program at the emergency section (prayer line) in which many national and international visitors were attended to by the wise men. People were delivered from the

 

 

 

 

stronghold of evil forces. One of these was Miss Selina Dausi, a South African, who was delivered from 30 years of ice cube consumption. Others were delivered from the spirits of anger, poverty, disease, childlessness, spiritual marriages and joblessness. Many also received their healings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEGUN ONABANJO: DELIVERED FROM SPIRIT OF ANGER.
The session in the church started with the confessions of Mr. Segun Onabanjo who was delivered from the spirit of anger, lasting 20 years. Onabanjo’s anger was uncontrollable; he always wanted to see blood when angry, and often out of control. His mother had moved out of Nigeria because of this, especially when he broke the collar bone of his sister. He had wanted to run away when he confronted Wise Man Harry – The fire was too much for him. He received his deliverance.

 

 

 

 

 

GIFT CHIBO – DELIVERED FROM SPIRIT OF ANGER
Gift Chibo, an anger–propelled, Abuja – based Nigerian young lady was also delivered through Wise Man Harry. She had purposely come to The SCOAN to get deliverance because her spirit of anger had made her turn candles upside – down and burn things, also cursing people and invoking demons to attack such persons.

She had experienced a lot of disappointments in marriage plans and working places and even after her deliverance, she had wanted evidence to proof that she had manifested the evil spirit before. She glorified God for delivering her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NKECHI TOBY: DELIVERED FROM SPIRITUAL HUSBAND
Mrs. Nkechi Toby, from Delta State received her deliverance through Wise Man Harry from a spiritual husband.
The spiritual husband had threatened to eliminate her if she came to The SCOAN, yet she had come for deliverance.  She was happy to be delivered through the fire of the Holy Spirit. She had felt light now, unlike before, when she felt heavy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After songs were rendered, Prophet T.B Joshua came out and ministered words of prophecy to many present while the wise men led the congregation in a powerful time of prayer.
A young man was delivered from the spirit of stealing. He had stolen someN300,000 from another state and rushed to Lagos to invest some in business. He was delivered. He had told his story of failures in life, especially inability to attend school. He was to do some business after which he would use the proceeds to further his education.

There were other prophecies made by the man of God and the Wise men. Prayers were centered on spirits trying to stop the destiny of people from being achieved. The Anointing stickers were distributed to people and everyone left for home, content and confessing that the way out for them had come!

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‘MY INVISIBLE CHAIN’ – TB JOSHUA

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.

 How did the ministry start?

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

TB Joshua

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

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

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

What was on your mind when you started the ministry?

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

Sometimes, your miracles look like magic…

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

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

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

An invisible padlock

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

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

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

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

Is the Ikotun Headquarters the only branch in Nigeria?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supporting the aged ones

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

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

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

For how long have you been planning this?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How did you locate these people?

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

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

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

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

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

A privilege to give

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

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

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

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

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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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“We Should Look For Love…” – T.B. Joshua Interview

Another intriguing interview with Pastor TB Joshua, as published in the prestigious Guardian newspaper of Nigeria…

Prophet T.B. Joshua is founder and General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations and Emmanuel TV, International Ministries through which many have received salvation, healing and deliverance. In this interview with OBIRE ONAKEMU, he spoke on religious conflicts in Nigeria, corruption and unemployment among other issues.

How can Prophet T.B Joshua be described?
WELL, I am a human being just like you. If there is any difference, it is the righteousness of God, pure grace. God chooses Grace rather than works.

What do you think should be the right prayers of Nigerians?
Their prayers should be those that are in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are two prayers. One is the prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit and the other is prayer that springs up from needs. The fact that you are in need of bread from God, you pray: Lord, give me bread; that is one prayer. Another prayer is the one for the salvation of our souls; that whether you give me bread or not, he is my God. This is a prayer in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Whether he heals me or not, he is my Healer; whether he redeems me or not, he is my Redeemer; whether he delivers me or not, He is my Deliverer. That is the prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What do you have to say of religious conflicts in this nation?
Well, I don’t see religious conflict. What I see is love. We are to look for love: the love of neighbour and the love of God. PDP (Nigerian political party) could consist of different religions and still believe in harmony. We haven’t learnt that they fight in the senate because of religion. They do things in common and live in harmony even though they all have and believe in different religious ideas. In the National Assembly, in both the House of Senate and the House of Representatives, they fight over different issues and never on religious issues. And so, for somebody to say, there is a religious crisis, I think, there is more to that. The problem we have is not religious crisis, it is love that is lost. We should look for love. It is good to love: a love that is beyond religion, beyond hatred, beyond geographical location.

Nigeria is a secular state but by its actions, the federal government is portraying it as an Islamic country. What do you have to say concerning this?
Well, I don’t see it the way you look at it. It is the same love that I’m talking about that is lost. When there is love we have one Nigeria. But we pretend to love. That is why we can have different religions in PDP, different religions in the Action Congress (AC) and different religions in other political parties. We pretend to love, that is why the senate would never hear a conflict over religion. So, we pretend to love. But that love, the love we have, is conditional. What we really need is unconditional love.

Where do you think we should place falling moral values in the Nigerian socio-political life?
The philosophy of our Lord Jesus Christ says: “Love your neighbour as yourself” Love is the greatest vessel. A Christian is known by his love. A child of God is known by his love. A true believer is known by his love. A true pastor is known by his love. Whatever name you call yourself: whether a cleric or pastor, is mere claim until that name is tested in the real situation. And it is love that can make us pass tests, trials and tribulations. When you love, you will see beyond whatever trials that you are facing. God will manifest His strength in your weakness. And when God manifests his strength in your weakness, it is no longer you that is facing the trials but God.

So, how would you advise Nigerian leaders to handle their service to the country?
When you talk of offering services to our nation, we should see our nation as more important than any other structure or person. Whatever we do today, we should work for good name, not for silver and gold. When you work for good name, you would always be just and you would be a good reporter to the superior. To be a good reporter to the superior is to be his watchdog and report everything that would affect the ministry, the company or the nation to the superior. And if you report the need for change and nothing is done, you have the right to resign. And that is how it is! Also, they should know that they cannot do it alone. They need people, good people. The President needs good people – informed people, inspired people – to achieve success. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew this and that is why he had twelve disciples.

Do you think political offices should be made less attractive?
As I said earlier, what we should work for is good name, not riches. Everyone has weaknesses. But we believe that the Lord, Jesus Christ, manifests His strength in our weaknesses.

What do you think is the solution to corruption in this country?
Corruption is as old as Nigeria’s Independence; it is as old as Nigeria. So, when one talks of corruption, our minds always go to politicians. But go to the market, what market women bought at N500 you would be very surprised that they sell at N5, 000. If such market women become ministers, what do you think they would do with public funds? At every level of our society, corruption should be looked into. We focus on politicians, but we should look from primary schools to secondary schools to market women and to other places. And that is the only way out. When we go out every morning to work for good name, we live above corruption, since corruption is an enemy to good name.

Equally, do you see unemployment as one of Nigeria’s biggest problems?
Unemployment is in everywhere. I was once telling my ministry here that our mineral resources should not be exchanged for dollars, pounds, silver or gold. When we take our mineral resources to places like the United States of America, it should be in exchange for their technologies. And secondly, our children must know that education can only help to succeed but it is not success itself. They need God in every aspect of life.

2011 is fast approaching, would you advise Christian leaders to go into partisan politics?
There is politics in the power of the Holy Ghost. If they go into politics in the power of the Holy Ghost, they would administer their politics in the power of God. God would be their guide. But the politics we see today is the politics of might and power. Politics of might and power is not politics for men of God.

Final message to Nigerians
I would say to Nigerians that whatever we are facing now is not meant to destroy the nation. It is meant to strengthen us. So, we should watch the way we talk and the way we react. The way we handle our situation matters. We should look beyond our situation. What we are facing now, super countries had once had the same situation and they overcame it. Ours should also be seen. What is happening is not a new thing. So, I’m advising Nigerians not to lose hope. We are getting it and we shall surely be there tomorrow. If we are not there today, we shall be there tomorrow!

There is also the need to embrace righteousness. Righteousness exalts a nation while sin brings reproach. If only we embrace righteousness, God will manifest his strength in our weakness. So, we should also not put everything on our leaders. And President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, I pray for his speedy recovery. Nothing is impossible with the Lord; with God all things are possible! As for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, love is the greatest!

SOURCE: The Guardian

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MY STOPPING INTERVAL

A touching tale penned by TB Joshua recounting experiences in his early life that served to prepare him for the task ahead.

In our spiritual walk with the Lord, we have good times and hard times. When the going is good, we say we are in good times. When the going is tough, we say we are experiencing hard times. Remember, life itself is a mission. While we are on the go, we need to stop between steps, to re-focus on the Word and the Will of God.

While we are on the go, I mean, while we are on the mission, we need to sometimes stop at intervals to assess our progress and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead.

Certain challenges on our way usually make us stop awhile – I mean, for a moment. When you stop awhile, you are not down. What are these challenges? They could come in the form of sickness, failure, setback, imprisonment, poverty. For instance, if I receive a sack letter from my very lucrative job, there is a natural tendency for me to cry and lament, if I do not view the situation from the maturity that comes from faith. It takes faith to realise that the situation is a mere stopping interval – a short break between two events.

I do not need to go very far to cite or give an example of what I am saying because my experience in life is enough to illustrate this philosophy or principle of life. As we said earlier, many things could cause one to stop between steps. I could still remember vividly when I sat for and passed the entrance examination into the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

I was invited for the interview and I had to board the train from Lagos to Kaduna. Behold, on our journey the train developed some serious faults that kept us in the bush in Jebba for six horrible days with little or no provision. Remember, I was going for an interview that was billed to hold the following day. I was on the railway line in Jebba while the interview was going on in Kaduna and there was nothing I could do to help the situation as I lacked the means to arrange for an alternative way of transporting myself to the venue of the interview, so I missed the whole thing.

This was how the ambition to enlist into the military was aborted by what was obviously an act of fate. Who knows what would have happened if I had successfully attended that interview. I actually felt very bitter I had missed another chance of making it in life.

With a very heavy heart I went to the village to complain to my mother of how so many opportunities had slipped by. Little would I have reasoned that it was one of those stops between steps in my spiritual walk with God until my mother did her best to calm me down, saying: “My son, do not mind the seeming appearance of things as of today. If I am ever confident of any child, you are that child. Do not be afraid of what the future holds for you, because I know if anyone is destined to fail, you are not the one. So, be patient and you would see what God would do in your life. I am so sure of your future breakthrough, considering the strength of the predictions and prophecies about you even before you were born. I cannot forget so easily what I experienced when I was pregnant with you, and I know God cannot lie. My son, whatever you may be going through today, just take it as a temporary setback, meant to prepare you for the challenges ahead. Don’t forget your name is “Temitope” and, by the grace of God, the whole world shall have the cause to thank God for your sake.”

After this encounter with my mother, I began to look at whatever came my way with a more mature mind whose focus was on God alone. I mean, the maturity that comes from faith in the finished works of our Lord Jesus Christ. My case was already settled in Heaven. Here I am today in your midst; I can boast of what God is doing for us. Hallelujah! You are all witnesses.

In my spiritual walk with God I have experienced both good and hard times.

Who knows what would have happened if those temporary stops did not come at intervals. Consider how my education suffered epileptic fits; today I am in school, the next day I am out. Remember, when God is executing His plan in our lives, He also designs and arranges events which continue to unfold until His purpose is revealed. The ups and downs in my education were part of the events that revealed the purpose of God in my life. Remember, the man who is poor is not the man that has no money, but one without a dream. They are suffering that have no dream. They are poor that have no dream.

Before I knew it, I had gone around six different colleges in less than one year. I enrolled for the examinations of JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board) four times and on each occasion it was either I forgot my acknowledgement card and other necessary documents or there was an accident on the way to the exam venues. People who saw what was happening to me simply attributed my predicament to either sin or non-seriousness on my part. But those with the maturity that comes from faith, like my mother, saw it as mere stopping intervals or natural stops in my spiritual walk with God.

In James 4:7, we are told to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. If we examine carefully our attitudes toward certain situations, we would see how much we willingly submit ourselves to the devil each time we view things with the maturity that comes from the experience rather than of faith. The maturity that comes from experience is based on what is seen, what is heard and what circumstances look like. When your maturity is derived from circumstantial factors other than faith, your level of maturity would continue to fluctuate rather than being stable. This is why I am enabled to maintain a balance and stable approach to the challenges that come my way every day. I am not moved by what people say or do concerning my relationship with God. I submit myself to His direct will which is good and perfect with no evil in it.

Sometimes, God uses foolish things to strengthen our desire for Him.

In Luke 22:32, Jesus said to Peter, “I pray that your faith would not fail”. This means, all men make mistakes but people of God get back up. Certainly we would fall, but with Jesus supporting our position, we would soon get back up.

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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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‘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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TB. Joshua’s encounter with M.K.O. Abiola… Remembering June 12th

June 12th will ever be printed in the minds of so many Nigerians as the day that politics and democracy was beaten by rivalry, jealousy and opinion. It’s all about a man, known as M.K.O. Abiola who won the election hands down, but never spent one day as the president.

In 1992, M.K.O. met a strange man who prophesied this very occurrence. Below is an article taken from the publication ‘Faith Cometh’ that gives full details of how this encounter took place…

M.K.O. Abiola - the man who won the election but never ruled

It is often said that when God talks, the wise listen. God often uses men as instruments of His wisdom. Why is this a lesson that many learn only in retrospect? If we could live our lives over again, what warnings would we heed? What advice would we ignore? An encounter with a true prophet of God can change the course of the history of one’s life forever.

What you are about to read is the narration of an encounter between the late Chief MKO Abiola and Prophet T.B. Joshua, as narrated by journalist turned businessman, Otunba Andy Anibor.

F. C: Welcome to Faith Cometh. Can we talk to you sir?
A.A: My name is Chief Andy Anibor. I am the Bobagunwa of Ilaro and a businessman.

F.C: What is your relation with the Synagogue via the prophet?
A.A: In 1992 when I was working with the Guardian Newspaper as Chief Correspondent, I was the one sent by the office to cover the launch of a vessel bought by the late business mogul Chief M.K.O Abiola in faraway Germany. When we returned to Nigeria, a relationship had begun and developed and he asked me to resign my position with The Guardian to become his (Abiola’s) Protocol Officer.

During that period, I had the opportunity of meeting the man of God and that was in 1992 when the church was still at its old site. I told him that I wanted him to meet my boss Chief Abiola who was contesting the presidential election. At about 8pm on that day, I and the man of God drove to the Chief’s house on Abiola Crescent, Ikeja. The man of God, within ten minutes of the meeting, told Abiola that he was going to win the election but he was never going to be the President of Nigeria.

Immediately, Chief called me aside and told me that this man was not an ordinary man, he asked me how I knew him and where he is from. I told him that the Prophet is from The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations. He said: “Where is Synagogue?” I told him that Synagogue is in Lagos, and he asked what he could do now? I told him to give the prophet money; maybe he could turn away the evil that would make his ascension to the exalted office of president, impossible.

I came back to the man of God and told him that Chief says I should give him money. There was always enough money on me. I counted fifty thousand naira, but the prophet refused saying he had told Chief what was going to happen and that the only thing he could do to salvage the situation was for him to come to the church.

I went back to the Chief and told him the message from the man of God and Chief said: ‘‘Yes, he is a man of God, he should make me win instead of telling me to come to his church, he knows I am a Muslim’’. He there and then told me that I should desist from seeing the man of God again and that he is too powerful for my kind of person, I should stay away from the Synagogue and that is how I abandoned my friend for several years.

F.C: Prophet T.B. Joshua has been painted negatively in the press before the public so that one would think that everyone would keep their distance and here you are saying he is your friend. What informs this stance?
A.A: Well at that time, my contact with the man of God was an act of God. He is very humane. We used to drive in my car to Oyingbo with the food in my car booth. It was a ‘gazing watch’ for passers-by who must have thought: ‘Ah, what is wrong with this duo?’ Here were people in their respective places of work and we prefer to share food to the destitute. We also used to go to motherless babies homes at Makoko, he would feed the children and for hours he would be in their midst. So, I came to like him until that event between him and Chief Abiola and the instruction to stay away.

F.C: Were you surprised that he turned down the offer of fifty thousand naira even when it was obvious that he could do a lot with that sum in 1992/93?
A.A: Before he rejected the offer, I knew he was not money conscious because I used to see a lot of money in his office. I knew it was not all about money. I knew he was not going to take it because he gives out more than that to those who seek his assistance. So, he not taking the money was not a shock to me.

F.C: Looking back, do you not feel guilty for jettisoning your friend because your boss dreaded the truth?
A.A: The man pays my bills and I thought he was actually going to be the president. I did not want to believe the man of God, not with the money, the connection national and international and the backing of the military and one man is saying he is not going to be there? I said to myself this man has only one vote, so I tried to follow the man that has been spending money, I thought we will win. Yes we did win fare and square, but the election was annulled.

F.C: Why didn’t you run back to the prophet?
A.A: I remembered him quickly but it was too late because Chief had been arrested, so I had to run to my uncle Chief Kokori and told him that we have to help this man. He asked: ‘‘If we have to help this man what of those who betrayed him?’’ It is the cumulative events of that period that gave birth to June 12 struggle, NUPENG strike and other things that shook Abacha. At that time, I became angered that the man of God refused to help us after all I would have been living inside Aso Rock. So I did not want to come and see him again until recently.

F.C: There were more prominent men of God who told Abiola that it was Eldorado and here was T.B. Joshua just coming up and he is saying the contrary. What can you say of Prophet T.B. Joshua?
A.A: In fact, when you take a man to a big man’s house, you expect him to say what the big man wants to hear and here was a young prophet who looked deeply into the big man’s eyes and told him point blank that he was going to win but that he will never rule. We were all alone in the late Kudirat’s apartment when he told him the message face to face. After that encounter, before the ugly events that unfolded later, Chief always taunted me saying: “Where is that your friend”, and I would say that I no longer go there, so I do not know much about him. I did not believe the prophet’s prediction because with Abiola’s weight and connection in society, nobody would have given the prophet’s prediction a second thought because it has never been heard of in the annals of political history in Nigeria that a candidate wins an election and he is denied his mandate and here is a man, a year before the election, predicting that there would be annulment.

I think that was why Chief warned me saying: ‘‘You know, you are a small boy and these people are more than you. This man of God is not an ordinary man. He told me that when he shook his hand, he knew the prophet is not an ordinary man and that I should distance myself from the man of God if I wanted to stay with him but that if I wanted to go, I could go. I wanted to stay with Chief so I stayed away from the prophet.

F.C: After the annulment was there anytime Chief Abiola in retrospect mentioned T.B. Joshua to you?
A.A: After the annulment, a lot of prophets and pastors were coming and were trying to make him believe that the situation would change. I was all over the place busy looking for spiritual people who could work on Babaginda’s mind to de-annul the election. Let me be frank, I was also scared of reminding him that there was a man who stood out against what others said because I was feeling that in his annoyance, he could say I should go and bring the man, alleging that he caused his failure, so I couldn’t brace up myself to tell him of the prophet. But I think he still remembered because he once complained that he is not comfortable with these people because they were the ones who told him that he would become the president and now they are telling him that Babagida will die tomorrow. A few days later, security men picked him up and he never came back alive.

F.C: Do you think over confidence and not religion informed Abiola’s decision not to honour the prophet’s simple instruction?
A.A: Indeed he had on one occasion boasted that I should not mind the prophet, that either through the right means or through the back door he will be sworn in as the president. I think it is both factors but his confidence in his ability to twist things to his taste overwhelmed his judgement.

F.C: T.B. Joshua is your friend and the friend of so many people. Why do you think people hold him high, now?
A.A: There are so many factors responsible for this. I spoke about his humility, his lifestyle, for which many would mistake him for an ordinary man. Secondly, his magnanimity to those in need. Let me tell you that as I left service on Sunday, a friend called me all the way from London informing me that he just watched on the screen the church programme where according to him the prophet was giving out cash gifts to widows/widowers, dwarfs and after that the fellow said that unlike his pastor who cruises past beggars who lined the church path on service days but I told him that he has not just started the doling out of gifts, it is a thing he’s been practicing over fifteen years now though at that time it was on a small scale, I mean financially. T.B. Joshua is a rare breed. In this era where pastors are amassing wealth for themselves and their families, going into ventures that are outside the confines of the sanctuary, here is a man who is sharing his wealth with the less privileged. Once in a lifetime, such fellows grace the earth and they are always true prophets of God.

F.C: You still remember some of those pastors and prophets who prophesied falsehood, if per chance your path crosses theirs, what would you tell them?
A.A: I know so many of them who will see me and take a duck because they knew then that they were after the man’s money and told a lie against the Holy Spirit of God. If I am opportune to talk with any of them, I will point out one thing to them now, how they let themselves down and will warn them to shun crowd prophesies. T.B. Joshua was not a big pastor then, I mean compared with some big names at that time and yet he stood on the truth. See how God vindicated him as a true prophet of God.

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