Prophet TB Joshua with the mayor of Jordan Valley, Idan Grimbaum in Israel
Today’s
piece is a departure from my usual articles. The above quote taken from
the Holy Book is a clear indication of where I am going, moving away
from my usual secular writings.
I have decided to write in this vein in
view of the surprising announcement by the General Overseer of The
Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun
Joshua, to his congregation last Sunday that he would relocate his ministry from his country of birth to Israel,
the home of Christianity. He said he had held meetings with three
prominent Israeli mayors of Jerusalem, Tiberias and the Jordan valley
and he had been offered land in an area around the biblical site of the
Sea of Galilee to organise meetings for international pilgrims.
And why is Prophet Joshua contemplating
moving from his most familiar environment? One of the reasons he gave
was persecution. “This is the most persecuted ministry in the world. Who
are the people persecuting the ministry? My people, Africa,” he said.
Indeed, he is not too far wrong on the
persecution. It is as old as his ministry but in all these, he has come
out stronger. There have been institutional persecutions and persecution
from people who were supposed to have the same calling – religious
leaders. I recall that as far back as 1995, the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stormed his fledgling ministry then, and
invited him to their headquarters. Pray, what has a man professing
Christ whose fame was on the ascendancy got to do with drugs? Of course,
nothing incriminating was found in the ministry. Years later, the NDLEA
visit was found to be not unconnected with the conspiracy to do him in
over his growing popularity which was making some ‘Ministers of God’ and
‘General Overseers’ uncomfortable. Also years later, the chairman of
the same NDLEA became a convert to T.B. Joshua’s ministry and never
missed a service or the weekly teachings in The Synagogue.
We all know how and where the ministry
started – in an unmapped, unchartered area of Ikotun-Ebgbe, Alimosho
local government area of Lagos State. ‘Old site’ as the place is called
is a tourist attraction today. Apart from the spiritual element where
most who come for religious tourism can commune and be at peace with
their Maker, it is also a tourism wonder with mechanized facilities. You
can even take a boat cruise in the areas as the waters of that areas
have been dredged. The foreigners who come for religious experience
hardly ever want to leave the country without a visit to that wonder in
the swamp of Egbe.
It was from there that a new worship
center opened on Irefin Street, off Ikotun Road. It was another humble
beginning. The church was without covering on its sides. The only
protection then from the elements was the corrugated iron sheet on the
roof. The floor was simply that – the floor. The chairs were long wooden
benches. Bu the ministry kept growing, due to the spirituality
displayed by Prophet Joshua. The crowd kept coming. They all came for
the same thing – healing from their infirmities. They were not
disappointed.
The G.O. was unassuming and could be
seen in those days washing and cleaning the gutters and generally
keeping the surroundings of the church clean. The Synagogue was a home
for everybody, both the high and low in the society. He is a man attuned
to giving. Despite the difficulty of building a ministry, supplicants
who came for one thing or the other never went back without something in
their pocket. That has continued till today. He does not need to know
you. Widows and orphans have always enjoyed is generous nature. Apart
from money, food items have been given out. His philanthropy didn’t end
there; houses have bene given out, people have been set up in business.
He donated items worth millions to Haiti during its earthquake disaster.
He has intervened similarly in other parts of the world. To my
knowledge, he is the first Nigerian religious leader to have intervened
in a disaster zone at such a high level. I may be wrong, though. But
that’ just by the way.
Persecution was there. Other men of God
did not see him as one of them. They demonized him. The said it was
magic that he was weaving. That he had strange powers and the power
would not last. He was ostracized, not being a member of the Pentecostal
Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) nor that of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN).
That is what brought about the quote
above. For over 20 years, save for the blot occasioned by the collapse
of one of the church buildings, SCOAN has grown from strength to
strength. It has international recognition. The United Nations had once
written to the GO to commend him. The President of the United States had
written to acknowledge him. He is as popular in Korea as he is in
Nigeria. South Africa like a second home, as is most parts of Africa.
World leaders have visited Nigeria to see T.B. Joshua for healing. If
the ministry is not of God, shouldn’t it have folded up?
But in Nigeria, the biblical quote also
comes to mind – a prophet is never popular at home. In one particular
year, the acrimony was such that he and another Man of God were invited
to the police headquarters to ensure that peace reigned. Foreigners kept
trooping into the country, looking for healing and balms for their
spiritual yearnings.
Now, he seems tired of the entire
persecution. He wants to leave to a place where he feels he would be
received with open arms. But he should not be allowed to leave. His
ministry has helped to further project the image of the country
positively. The local economy has gained tremendously with his presence
in the country. If he is allowed to leave, he would be followed to
wherever he is by those desirous of his services. That is income loss
for the country. Hotels and others who make brisk businesses would be in
loss. Jobs would be lost as businesses would no longer boom. In all
these, those that would be majorly affected would be the hordes of
Nigerian who daily besiege the church for one help or the other, either
for cure for their infirmities or in their request for succor. They
would be left like sheep without shepherds. Whatever it takes, the
Federal Government should ensure that he does not leave the country. It
is thus heartening when Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, who incidentally has the tourism agency under his portfolio,
said Prophet Joshua should reconsider his decision, adding that he
should dialogue with the appropriate authorities on whatever challenges
he is facing.
“That will be very unfortunate in the
sense that if he does move out, it will affect tourism in Nigeria.
Pastor Joshua is an important person; he must bear with us. This is his
country. If he moves out and goes to South Africa, for example, the
revenue will go to South Africa. It is better that Pastor Joshua sits
down with the relevant authority and resolve whatever problem he has”.
The minister has said it all and he
should be rightly concerned. But he should not leave it a that; he
should find a way to dialogue with the GO on steps to take to ensure he
does not relocate. More so, it is his ministry that stands to lose in
the event of Prophet Joshua’s relocation. The earlier this is done, the
better for the country and all concerned.
Bolaji Tunji is a seasoned Nigerian
journalist and currently the executive director of The Sun Newspaper
where this article was first published.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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