God’s Intervention in the Affairs of Men

In the Old Testament, we read that Prophet Jeremiah was called to prophetic ministry by God. He was called to give a prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction that would occur by invaders from the north. This was because Israel had been unfaithful to the laws of the covenant and had forsaken God by worshipping false gods. Jeremiah condemned people burning their children as offerings to idols. In his prophecies, Jeremiah was guided by God to proclaim that the nation of Judah would be faced with famine, plundered and taken captive by foreigners who would exile them to a foreign land, etc. Like today, Jeremiah's ministry prompted plots against him. Whilst Jeremiah was prophesying the coming destruction, several other prophets were prophesying peace. His prophecies came to fulfilment but the prophet suffered great persecutions.

For over 12 years prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has been warning about the entire world coming economic downturn to the extent that individuals may be richer than a whole nation. The fulfilment of that prophecy may have just started.  We don’t know the proportion of the population that have listened to him, or that had listened and are taking appropriate steps to protect themselves and asset. What we do know is that what the prophet has been saying repeatedly has come to reality. The global coronavirus pandemic is the vehicle conveying the herald of the coming “economic pandemic”. There are a few lessons to learn but we first need to appreciate God for giving us a prophet at this time that can speak correctly to individuals, to groups of people, to nations or the entire world. I have always found Prophet TB Joshua a man that has separated himself from frivolous activities that are just self-entertaining but devoting himself to total service to God and humanity.

At this stage a few points must be made about this Coronavirus, also tagged COVID-19, that has covered the entire globe, has ruined economies, shutdown Church cathedrals living only empty pews, killing across races and ages. Prophet TB Joshua has said a lot on this COVID-19 and has been praying. The virus has moved to the community transmission level whereby it can get to everyone easily. It has defied any medication, only trials and errors treatment, and so on. It would take a long while getting a vaccine and hence the public should be ready to accommodate this virus for a while.

The second point to know is the coincidence with the prophecy of “A Year of Humility”, also prophesied by Prophet TB Joshua. The prophecy we recall came with conditions that are, “Turning to God in Repentance”. If the world had heeded the prophet and repented maybe by March 27, 2020, the rains would have washed the virus away. Everyone can listen to the prophecy over and again. It was conditional on our needed “changed attitude to the Living God”. Hence for the prophecy of humility to take its effect on a journey from Egypt to the Promised Land meant for about only 40 days may take 40 years, unless this generation is ready for God.

Our prayer points are many. We want God to keep talking to us and we don’t want our cathedrals filled with only empty pews. This generation can best be described as “Eye-service-Generation”, nearly everyone in it. Most of the popular pastors and church leaders are busy giving motivational speeches and entertaining the crowds like the days of Jeremiah. The humility regime, prophesied by TB Joshua, is going to start in the Church and amongst the Christians, in a long process. The world is already on its platform, un-repented, whilst the church is in disarray and disunity. Hence we pray for the move of the Holy Spirit for God’s quick intervention in the affairs of men.

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

Pastor TB Joshua Reveals How He Gets Money for His Ministry

Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua has revealed his position regarding asking for monetary offerings through his popular Christian television channel Emmanuel TV.

Although Joshua was not physically present during the broadcast of Sunday 3rd Mary 2020, his ministers responded to a question posed by a viewer about how the cleric raises funds as he is never heard preaching on the subject of tithes and offerings.

The cleric described giving offerings as “Scriptural” but emphasised that people should give as “God prompts their conscience”.

“They may not be many but people of conscience are giving – I mean, the right people are giving genuinely, for the salvation of their soul—and their giving is blessed of God,” he conceded.

“Wrong people have to be reminded many times before they can give because it is not from their heart,” he explained, clarifying that wrong people referred to “dubious” or “corrupt” individuals who “who got their money, their things from the wrong source.”

He elucidated that such people would give “to be seen, to be heard and to be praised here”, adding that if they later hit hard times, they would often write letters to the church reminding them of the money they had previously given.

He described that such people misguidedly felt their offerings were a form of “bargaining with God to get what they want” or a way of manipulating Him “to give approval to their selfish motives.”

“Giving is like serving. Both should be done with joy – without being reminded, because you don’t need to be reminded to do that which gives you joy,” he continued, adding that believers should ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in giving, receiving and asking.

“The force behind the money given determines the kind of money it is,” Joshua thoughtfully expanded. “When we inherit stolen wealth, we would live under a stolen future, thereby mortgaging our future. Remember, what comes from God goes to Him.”

The cleric stated he was “very careful” when it came to receiving offerings from congregants. “If I receive something from you, the source and the manner you give will determine whether it’s a blessing or a curse that I receive from you,” he posited.

Relating the question to the current situation in which churches have been shut worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, Joshua explained such a period “demands conscience”.

“If you give something from your heart, it will bless you that gives it and also bless the person or ministry that receives it,” the cleric concluded in the interactive program, citing Apostle Paul’s admonishment in 2 Corinthians to give as “each one proposes in his heart, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver”.

Joshua has gained a reputation for not focusing on money during his sermons, asking for offerings during his broadcasts or selling merchandise during his large overseas crusades.

With nearly 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, he is also one of the platform’s largest users who doesn’t monetise his videos with the placement of third-party advertisements.

During the global lockdown, his ministry has engaged in extensive humanitarian programs, assisting vulnerable citizens most affected by the economic impact of the crisis in nations spanning Europe, Africa, South America and USA.

Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist…

Uproar Over TB Joshua’s Prayer Mountain Visit

I was mildly surprised recently to read a barrage of vitriolic tweets aimed towards none other than the amiable Pastor of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), TB Joshua. I use the term ‘mildly’ because I know he’s a controversial character whose actions usually tend to provoke strong reactions from both scales of the religious spectrum. However, the subject for this particular session of ‘online dragging’ by sharp-tongued critics were difficult to muster. Pictures and video had surfaced of the prominent cleric during a four-day prayer session at an “undisclosed prayer mountain”, in which he offered supplications regarding the world crisis, leaders, doctors, pastors and the coronavirus pandemic.

What baffles me is how the vicious scrutiny these ‘records’ received were so utterly disproportionate to their contents and the constructive message they conveyed. The main grouse of the ‘keyboard warriors’ was the fact that a cameraman followed the cleric for his prayers and such records were subsequently presented to the public. But such an argument is an almost audacious display of ignorance. It’s pertinent to point out that TB Joshua is the founder of a massive media organisation called Emmanuel TV, which commands considerable worldwide viewership.

As an Emmanuel TV viewer myself, I can attest that one of Joshua’s regular programs is a session called ‘prayer for viewers’ in which he offers a variety of prayers for his listeners, the efficacy of which is seen in the multitudinous testimonies that follow. Why then should the fact that the cleric prayed publicly for his viewers – as is his customary practice – elicit such a strange backlash? It is entirely reasonable for a ‘man of people’ of TB Joshua’s stature to inform his viewers regarding his movements and offer reassuring prayers at such a time of uncertainty and fear.

Let me equally point out that ‘the man in the Synagogue’ has an almost giddy reputation for maintaining impeccable records of his life and ministry. The documentary of his life is itself an eye-opener. When the young cleric in several open-air huts surrounded by mostly children declared the beginning of his church in 1989 – a time when his name registered zero recognition – a camera was there to record The SCOAN’s birth. What prompted such a gallant conviction if not a vision of Divine origins?

The records faithfully written in the Bible serve as the basis and inspiration for the faith of millions of believers. The technological advancements of the 21st century have simply enabled an ‘upgrade’ in the manner in which records are kept – a secret TB Joshua has clearly unlocked and championed. Pushing religious inclinations aside, all lovers of technology would agree that the quality of Emmanuel TV’s broadcasting trumps every other local channel in Nigeria. Joshua has tapped into the extraordinary potential of media and social media to reach people with his message and mission. Instead of asking why the cleric would engage in such a broadcast, the question should rather be why wouldn’t he record the prayer for his 1.7million YouTube subscribers and four million Facebook followers?

Another set of moaners on this trending topic arbitrarily quoted the Scripture in Matthew 6 that calls on believers to pray in a secret place rather than the Pharisees who prayed “to be seen by others”. This argument also falls flat under minimal scrutiny. TB Joshua was at ‘the mountain for four days – at least 96 hours – and Emmanuel TV viewers will know he has visited such hallowed grounds for pilgrimage on numerous occasions without any attendant ‘noise’. So, why would anyone use a 15-minute clip to draw sweeping conclusions on the actions and motives of a man who sacrificed fleshly comforts in the wilderness for the purpose of prayer at a time of global crisis? Surely all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations, desire the end to this pandemic and its associated repercussions and thus agree with the premise of his prayers?

Finally, I dare any diligent believer to watch TB Joshua’s sermons and deny that the man is not thoroughly grounded in God’s Word with remarkable spiritual maturity! The substance of TB Joshua’s teachings clearly flows from a heart deeply engaged with God. Simply put, TB Joshua is a man of prayer; what we saw in the viral photographs was the public overflow of private commitment – recorded and shown for the glory of God and shame of the devil.

Tawia Acheampong, Accra, Ghana