…as SCOAN organises posthumous 60th birthday
By: Okosun Dennis
If not for the cold hands of death, he would have been 60 years old today, 12th June, 2023, but with submission to the Almighty God, the man in the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua has gone to rest, living an indelible imprints in the sands of time.
Almost three years after his demise, the family led by his wife, Prophetess Evelyn Joshua, the children, members of the church gathered at the church auditorium at Ikotun Egbe to mark his 60th posthumous birthday.
Prophet TB Joshua died on the 5th June, 2021, a man of God reputed for his ability to give, identified with people of different races, religions without tribal boundaries across the world.
It was a celebration of life as ‘who is who’ both in the political and business sphere, entertainment industry, media – traditional and online platforms, religious circle were in attendance to remember the man whose cherished passion was his love for giving to the needy, less privileged both home and abroad.
Describing the late Prophet TB Joshua as “a pathfinder and a gift to mankind,” Pastor Joshua Iginla added that “he was a prophet who took the bullet for so many of us.”
Iginla, a Nigerian pastor, televangelist, and prosperity gospel preacher, averred that the late man in the SCOAN “was hated but gave love and I am glad my generation witnessed his presence. He was a gift from heaven” he reiterated.
With pilgrims across the globe – Ghana, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Australia, India, United Kingdom, Russia and Ukraine, Namibia coming to celebrate TB Joshua, they eulogized him for his tenacity and dexterity which stood him out despite the avalanche of criticisms.
Kinnack Emmanuel from the United States of America said she came to give tribute to the prophet because the prophet brought light to his life.
She explained, “I received Jesus from Emmanuel TV, the prophet was more than a prophet, he was also a teacher, coach, pastor and a friend of everybody. Emmanuel TV transformed me from darkness to light; and made me know what given is all about. I saw the glory of God through his ministration before he departed.”
In his tribute, Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, a Nigerian flautist noted that, June 12 is an important day in his calendar. “We celebrate a very humane human being, who taught me humility. He is part of our lives and we miss him greatly.”
To Prophet Joshua Ogedegbe, applauded those who hate the late TB Joshua so much as such expression embolden them more to crave for him. “Those who hate TB Joshua so much, we thanked them because they are not comparable to those that love him too much. We love him passionately and we can die for the cause. Through him, we have seen Prophetess Evelyn Joshua moving the church from glory to glory.”
A delegation from Zambia remarked, “I came as a novice and didn’t know how to pray. I am what I am today because of the late TB Joshua. I am one of his fruit that he is going to present to God.
However, in a solo ministration by James Ayeni in song sang about the good deeds of Prophet TB Joshua. “When Elijah call, fire falls and when Joshua called, Jericho fell; let your glory fill this place and let your glory flow”.
Also present at the 60th birthday anniversary were the Islamic Organisation of Nigeria, Epe Lagos, who brought a message of of hope and unity. They espoused his love for humanity adding that he used his Christian religion to propagate unity in diversity, cohesion and never discriminated against others irrespective of their affiliation and religious beliefs.
“When he was alive, he identified with us as Moslems. We’ve always and would continue to identify with the late Prophet TB Joshua’s family hence we are presenting this gift as a mark of our solidarity and respect to his family.”
A team from Poland in their tribute described TB Joshua as a “man that changed our lives, nation and world forever. He was a gift to our generation and generation yet unborn.”
There were various opera performances led by an 11 years old girl, Esther and Classical thanksgiving ministrations; drama presentation by SCOAN Youths titled: “Light”, which was climaxed by a guest artiste “Divine music” led by Johnson Adumadeyin.
Others were choreography; Children’s presentation, all pouring encomiums and exhorting the late servant of God, late Prophet TB Joshua and the woman in charge of SCOAN, Prophetess Evelyn Joshua, wife of the late man of God.
The late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was born on 12th June 1963, in a village in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, to the family of Pa Kolawole Balogun and Madam Folarin Aisha Adesiji Balogun.
Temitope continued to face fierce adversity from poverty, dropping out of college after college until he made a bid for the military, which also failed.
However, he discovered his true purpose in life after a 40-day, 40-night fast backed with fervent prayers. From that experience emerged The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in 1989, with eight members led by Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua.