Senate Observes One Minute Silence In Memory and Honour Of TB Joshua

 

The Nigeria Senate on Tuesday held a minute silence in honour of the memory of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, also sent a condolence message to the family of the Prophet who went to meet with the Lord on Saturday the 5^th of June.

Coming under Order 43 of the Senate Rules, the Deputy Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, drew the attention of his colleagues to the call to glory of Prophet T. B. Joshua.

He said: “I bring to the attention of the Senate, with heavy heart, the death of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, prominent philanthropist and founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) on June 5, 2021 at the age of 57;

“The Late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was born on June 13, 1963 in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State;

“He received his early education at St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School in Arigidi Akoko, Nigeria, between 1971 and 1977;

“The late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was a man of humble beginning who rose to build the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a ministry renowned for charity; with membership from across Nigeria, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world.”

Senator Boroffice eulogized Prophet T. B. Joshua saying, “He epitomised the true Nigerian spirit, he was religious tolerant, welcoming to all ethnic inclinations and believed in the unity of Nigeria;

“The late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was an illustrious son of Ondo State who contributed his quota to the advancement of Ondo State, sponsored electrification projects in communities, installed transformers and largely provided succor to the needy in the society;

“The late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was renowned for his humanitarian services in key areas like community support, scholarships, disaster relief, education, sports and support for migrants and deportees;

“For many years, late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua sponsored feeding programmes for widows, orphans, physically challenged and less privileged people without discriminations;

“His commitment to peace and stability of this country was quite mind-boggling as he committed huge resources to live changing rehabilitation programmes for former Niger Delta militants;

“He was a major promoter of sports development in Nigeria, established the Emmanuel Soccer Academy and my People FC for the purpose of helping young talented footballers and some of the young footballers have made Nigeria proud in international competitions;

“He was a great ambassador of Nigeria as he sponsored a combined team of medical personnel and humanitarian workers to Haiti aftermath of the Haiti earthquake in 2010;

“Furthermore, late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua extended humanitarian aid to Ecuador and rebuilt school in Ecuador after the Ecuador earthquake in 2016;

“The late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua significantly promoted tourism in Nigeria as thousands of religious tourists from Africa and other continents fly into Nigeria to attend his church’s weekly services;

“He was a consummate and compassionate Nigerian who supported community development in great measures and paid his dues in Nation building;

“In recognition of his altruistic contributions to National development, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua with Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2008;

“His death is great loss to Ondo North Senatorial District in particular and Ondo State and Nigeria in general;

“Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua lived a selfless and impactful life, and left a legacy of service and sacrifice.”

In his remarks, the Senate President said, “Let me condole the family of T. B. Joshua, and also say that our country and Nigerian Leaders across all levels need prayers.

“We need the intervention of God while we continue to do our work and perform our functions and duties.

“The prayers from everyone will be very important and we continue to ask for that because this nation and the people believe in God, and we believe that God can help us in anyway that is possible to overcome the numerous challenges our country is passing through.”

Jesus Has to Rise Within You

 

In one of his short, but very deep teachings, Prophet TB Joshua of SCOAN, Lagos Nigeria said, "What you give may attract people but the manner you give it may attract God". In other words, if our giving only attracts people, making the world our friends then we are enemies of God (James 4:4) but if it attracts God we are children of God. So our daily ordinary giving is a test of being dead or alive in Christ, a test of whether Jesus is still dead in us or has risen. Jesus is about all the possibilities within us, all the peace and godly living, and all the eternal life. We also read in Daniel chapter 1 how the King of Babylon tried to change everything about Daniel and his friends, including their names, their food, their devotion to their God. But Daniel knew how to follow his guide Jesus whose Spirit was living in him. Jesus has to rise in each of us before we can stop going astray and live right.

Apostle Paul in Romans Chapter 8 emphasizes being alive in Christ Jesus. He says, "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit", (kindly read verses 5-6). The mind of the flesh is death but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. We are controlled by the Spirit if we have the Spirit of Christ living in us. Furthermore, the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, that is living in us, will also give life to our mortal bodies. The whole essence is that Jesus, existing in every mortal soul, has to rise in each soul to give life, otherwise that body is dead. It's not about being a good man or a good woman. Have you risen with Christ?

The existing world situation is evil, corrupt, unjust, uneven, fearful, but Jesus in you should rise and join His army to fight this evil. It's not about being a good person. Jesus has not been considered a good man but He is the Righteousness and the Integrity of God. He comes to oppose the existing darkness, to eradicate the establishment of injustice and evil world. He comes to show the Way, the Truth, the Life. He is the Way, the Life and the Truth. One of Pilate's many insights questions posed to Jesus is, "What is Truth?", (John 18:38). Yet He was still crucified. We need to know the Truth to be set free from sin power over us. Therefore Jesus has to rise within you so that whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it", (Isaiah 30:21).  Emmanuel

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Looking Forward With Prophet TB Joshua for a Quick SCOAN Reopening

 

As we progress in the calendar year in this New Year, our expectations and hope for a better year become higher because of our faith in Christ Jesus who has called us to follow Him. Moreover, we expect a fresh beginning every day, and a new fellowship opportunity to increase our faith, despite that the heaviness of the past year 2020 is real. Many have suffered losses of family and jobs, lack of fellowship in isolation, loss of finances and health, and gave up their dreams in their isolation especially because of covid-19. The fellowship we take for guaranteed in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), our Arena of Liberty, is becoming a prayer point as we want to be there again. Of course, our God offers hope in our struggle and help at our worst and hardest moments. Hence as we look forward into the unknown future, we can also look into God’s Word and find hope for the unexpected days ahead. In particular, Church reopening in some form has to be considered without delay and the form is what God shall tell our Prophet TB Joshua. The SCOAN has not surrendered either to the noisy mod crowd or to any covid-19, which are only mere challenges as the prophet himself knows, (James 1:2). We thank God for the New Anointing Water and the Ministry of “Distance Not a Barrier”. This is amazing and may God continually renew His anointing on Prophet TB Joshua for greater leadership. We also notice the dilemma the Church finds itself these challenging days, between the carnal and secular world always looking for condemnation and the lukewarm congregation.  The modern Christians the prophets of God have to deal with today is a people accepting the Grace of Jesus but rejecting the Law and the Righteousness of Jesus, or the Jews who accept the Law but rejecting the Saviour.  

Jesus reassured His disciples in (John 14:3) when He said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”. This is a very weighty and strong hope for the downcast disciples as any are today. It’s a reminder that not only is there a day coming when Jesus will return for His children, but also the promise that He is preparing a heavenly home right now for all those who put their faith in Him for salvation. This gives the believers heart great help and hope as we look toward unexpected circumstances. No matter what comes our way or what struggles we encounter, one day we will reach our heavenly home and there will be no more pain or sorrow there. Therefore we shall not worry, “about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its trouble”, (Matthew 6:34).

It will be recalled however that in places where fellowship, schools, and institutions have reopened responsibility has been placed squarely on the shoulders of participants and other stakeholders. Closing institutions indefinitely is going to be more harmful to the society than its cause, covid-19. On this, we are so comfortable for the preparation of Prophet TB Joshua, both on prophetic ministry and provision of faith materials on the subject matter. Hence we encourage that people must be allowed into SCOAN freely to come and see that the Lord is good just as young prophets and the public need improved faith through challenging times like these.  Despite the challenges, we are “anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we let our requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

On this occasion, Prophet TB Joshua can be likened to John the Baptist in many ways. John the Baptist did not mingle himself with the elites in Jerusalem schools but separated himself to become a crying voice in the wilderness waiting on God. He came out preaching repentance and baptism, (Luke 3:1-19). The SCOAN is a Holy Spirit movement requiring all of us to wait for the voice of the Lord and a movement taking Prophet TB Joshua to solitary places to learn and hear from God. We have enough evidence to know that many angels and working in the ministry together with the Holy Spirit. The SCOAN population would not allow any anxiety to creep into their minds and hearts. Prophet TB Joshua taught us that desperation or anxiety is a silent distraction that seems to live everywhere we look. May the Lord Jesus continually bless our prophet and the Church in his charge!

Emmanuel.

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

MY PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA - PROPHET TB JOSHUA

 

“If not the condemnation and persecution, do you think I would be at the level I am today? I know the value of my trials. The value is so great; they have made the whole world to know me. It’s a free advert. You can see there is no signpost or signboard of The SCOAN since the beginning of this church. You are my advert; you are my signpost. The question people used to ask me - why is there no advert or signboard? You cannot find it anywhere. Why? Because God has blessed me with free adverts.

It takes the spirit of foolishness to hear something without going there to confirm. Everyone that God destined to be a leader, when they hear something - it may take time - but they will find a way to confirm what they hear. In the process of confirmation, they find out the truth. This ministry has been here for the past twenty years. If there is anyone out there who says he’s a man of wisdom and understanding and still not confirmed - it means something is wrong. Your confirmation brought you here. You are not just here; it’s what you heard in the past. In the process of confirming your information, you found yourself here. So, the free advert is so gracious. It’s a big blessing to me.

It was this free advert that brought about Emmanuel TV. I was on the Nigerian national television and local television. When the miracles were showing, because of me, your former President said they should remove the miracles. They stopped miracle programmes on your national and local television. The body that guides the television stations in Nigeria enacted a law that no miracle pastor should be shown. It was because of me, not because of anybody else. That brought about Emmanuel TV!

Let me tell you about the phone call I had with late President Yar’Adua. He is a great man. I received a phone call - ‘I will give you an honour, OFR’. This is a man who did not share the same faith with me - he is a Muslim man. People are unaware of this because I don’t put it on my name. When you see TB Joshua, you will not see OFR. I said I am honouring my nation - so I sent my wife to receive the award.

Sometimes when you are saying, ‘Northerner, Southerner, Easterner’ - the issue is not that. LOVE. Nigeria is one. This is a man from the Northern Part of Nigeria; he is a real Muslim man. We have never met; he never invited me for prayer. But he got to know and monitor all that is happening at The SCOAN. I could remember he said to me - after looking at the analysis of pilgrimage to this country from each port of entry in Nigeria - he realised I am the biggest source that attracts foreigners. This is the first time you are hearing this from me. Your oil could not attract such visitors - but anointing attracts visitors.

You talk of North, you talk of South, you talk of Christians, you talk of religious people, you talk of Muslims - LOVE is the greatest. Where is love? The Bible says love your neighbour as yourself. Your neighbour could be your enemy, could be a pagan, a religious man or a Muslim - the Bible says love them all! Love is the greatest. It means love is greater than everything you practice. The name of Jesus is LOVE.

Is it Muslims condemning me? Are they the ones speaking against me? Are they the ones saying you should not come here? Where there is love, you will come to me and I will go to you. You want to know what I am doing and I want to know what you are doing. Love permits us to do findings. That is the characteristic of love. Find out the truth and the truth will set you free!”

- Prophet TB Joshua (7th April 2013)

Church Reopening After Covid-19

The unfortunate interference of COVID-19 into public life has effectively shifted all public conversations around COVID-19. It has affected the way people gather to worship in mega Churches like the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN. Hence it is time to start thinking about what will happen when we reopen the church, as announced by state governors, even when COVID-19 is still circulating. We're not heading back to the way things used to be rather it is going to be a new chapter after what we've learned from the pandemic. Nevertheless, we're so comfortable with the leadership in SCOAN, Lagos Nigeria, where the Bishop, Prophet TB Joshua has said he is waiting for a divine order in reopening, when to reopen, how to reopen, how to meet government-set COVID-19 protocol and how to minister to people’s need.

The Church of Christ will continue to render unto Ceaser the things of Ceaser's and to God the things that belong to God. Observing the regulations set out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will be built into the reopening arrangement, with its extra demand on Church administration. There are no two authorities in this realm but from the beginning, it is the NCDC that seems not to accept that the Church has any authority. It seemingly believes it may close down worship places without formal notice or dialogue simply because it has a large portion of the social media. Today many citizens of different societies believe in God, and by extension believe their religious leaders, more than their governments.  There is a good story in (Matthew 17:24-27) when the people of Capernaum came up to Jesus asking for his tax. They came to Peter, and said, “Doth not your master pay tribute?” Peter answered, “Yes”. Peter went to Jesus and Jesus said to Peter, “... go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee”. This is what God will do in SCOAN. Even the tap water at the entrance of SCOAN premises will clean people of their entire ailment by the special grace of God. We only have to deflate people’s heightened expectations, making them work more on their faith and holiness to see Jesus the Healer.

As Prophet TB Joshua prepares his team for a harvest of souls, this fearful pandemic era, we believe that God shall guide him on what is more essential and what is less essential in canonical worship. If there was any way to advise the government or its agencies like NCDC, it is that government must work for and with her people rather than simply arresting and condemning perceived COVID-19 offenders. The government must work with their institutions and the Church of Christ, not in a political setting but as God’s resource centres for the respective nation. The Church, especially SCOAN, is doing great for the public, praying for them and rehabilitating them as needed. Emmanuel.

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Is David Lyon Being Punished For Associating With TB Joshua?

Mr David Lyon was sacked as governor-elect of Bayelsa State, barely 24 hours to his inauguration by the Nigeria Supreme Court.

The apex court led by Justice Mary Odili nullified the election of Mr Lyon because his deputy-governorship candidate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, was alleged to have committed perjury by “chameliously and fraudulently using different names as it suits him.” The court added that the said deputy did not approach lawful authorities to correct the multiple names on his certificates. For that reason, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Mr Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.

David Lyon who is been deprive of an election he won legitimately is a brethren in the vineyard of Christ. When Mr David Lyon came to The SCOAN to share his testimony, in Thanks-Given for what the Lord has done for him, Prophet TB Joshua implored Lyon that he wanted to see the Deputy-Governorship candidate, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo - because he was seeing an obstacle. However, the said deputy governorship candidate insisted that he would not come to The SCOAN because he is a Secretary-General to the Brotherhood of the cross and star, popularly know has Olumba Olumba.

After Degi-Eremienyo refused to come - despite several invitations from TB Joshua - the man of God declared that it was too early for Lyon to share his testimony and that the situation still required serious prayers. He was however given a public recognition by the Prophet during the SCOAN Live Sunday Service but, he was not allowed to share his testimony.

Nevertheless, the judgement from the supreme court came as a surprise to many. Especially since the issue is a technical issue and it has nothing to do with Mr Lyon candidature or his electoral victory - he scored the Majority vote. The people voted for him as their governor. How can the supreme court nullify the will of the majority? Why not instead sack the deputy-governorship candidate that is been alleged to have made us of multiple names. How can one justified an innocent man to suffer for the sin of another man and the will of the majority truncated?

Even the opposition governorship candidate that has now been sworn in as the governor has been confirmed, did not meet the constitutional requirement to be sworn in as a governor. And recently the said deputy-governorship candidate, Degi-Eremienyo was found to be pledging allegiance to the opposition candidate, Senator Duoye Diri, who has now been sworn in as the governor-elect of Bayelsa State. Creating more room for suspicion than meet the eyes - making it seems that it was a well planned moved to see that Mr Lyon the legitimate winner of the election was not sworn in.

However, this shocking episode did not come as a surprise to us. It was a well-expected event. Remember our warning specifically to those that have publicly associate with the Prophet. We warn them to be very careful. Because they have been marked for target by powerful forces that are after the fall of the Prophet. Those warnings are from credible intelligent security sources.

We warn that we are all a target. Since they cannot get the Prophet directly, these powerful establishments are after those around the Prophet. Public figures like politicians, public administrators, civil servant, pastors and others you can think of. Their image will be targeted and their reputation tarnished. There will be organised administrative injustice towards them and this they will do with the backings of the news media and paid journalist. All in a scheme targeted at the Prophet. Since they have tried countless time to bring the Prophet down and they have not succeeded they are now going after those around him.

Just as we will keep praying for God to give justice to Mr Lyon and the majority of the people of Bayelsa State that voted for him. This should serve as a lesson to us all believer. we should be careful with those we associate with. We should not be equally yoked with men whose integrity are questionable. We should also learn to seek guidance from the Prophet of God before we make some critical decisions.

We need to know that the world hates righteous men. They are after us. Because they know that when righteous men stay in the position of authority, evil cannot prevail. The devil is using his agents to target the righteous and we have to be prayerfully and watchful as we take our guide in the authority we have in Christ Jesus.

Always put it in mind that the enemies are still out there. The blood of the saints - the Martyrs of Faith are in their hands and they are doing everything within their power to bring the Prophet to a fall. Watch and pray for evil times are ahead.

Let him that has an ear hear!