I’m most maligned by fellow preachers –T.B. Joshua

Prophet T.B. Joshua is the founder and spiritual head of Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN). He is such enigmatic.

personality that people are often confused on who really he is. But regardless of opinions, the Synagogue leader is well known for prediction and prophecy. In this interview with SEGUN OTOKITI, he spoke on his experience of persecution and condemnation at the hands of fellow preachers of the word, the state of the nation, what to expect from the forthcoming general elections, among other issues.

You have at various times had to battle with accusations and condemnation over the form of your Christian faith, healing method, source of your healing power, relationship with female members of your church among others. What do you say of the accusations?

The various accusations I have faced have really helped my spiritual life. I believe if all have been praises, praises, without condemnation, that will not help me. The condemnation and rebuke makes me to be closer to God and keeps me seeking the face of God the more. It makes me pray the more, fast the more and do the things of God the more. I think it’s a blessing; I regard it as a blessing. At least everything has been well. I want to thank those who in the past God were used to condemning me. Sometimes God uses foolish things to express himself. What I mean by foolish things is condemnation.

God uses these condemnations to prepare us for the challenges ahead. God uses some trails to take us to a new level in life; sometimes using it to slow us down in life. At least we have many people who go to prison and come back becoming great in life. We have Joseph who left his father’s house, served as servant, went to jail and rose to the throne. All these challenges have not affected me negatively, rather it has improved me greatly.

Each time the condemnation comes, I know something great is about to happen. So it’s a blessing. I see those who have been condemning me as friends. I want to say to everyone that God is just not a beginner but a finisher. You need to look inward and check what you are doing today and ask if you will be able to do it tomorrow or do better? So you can begin to ask for more strength from God. It will be too soon for anyone to say “I have arrived “. No, the journey continues. I want to say to you: Thank you very much. In the book of Mathew 5, the Bible says “love your neighbour as yourself.” Our neighbour could be our enemies or those who do not share the same faith with us. We should love them all. We are all known by our love. If you have that kind of love you will not need to ask if someone is a Muslim or a Christian before you extend your love. No one can change anyone, we preach the gospel but God makes it work.

We are in a new year, what prophesies do you have for the nation?

it is too soon to tell people prophecies.

Christmas just passed, what does Christmas mean to you?

It’s love. We should love our neighbour, I have said it all. Love was born at Christmas .Faithfulness was born at Christmas. Kindness was born at Christmas. The fruit of the spirit was all born at Christmas. There is no way we can express Christmas than to say the love was born at Christmas. We should dedicate ourselves to the service of God, live and love our neighbours.

What are your expectations for the 2011 elections?

The only prayer I offer is that God should make April real, because there will be challenges that will threaten the April elections. Those challenges God has shown me .Many of these challenges are changeable and many are unchangeable. So I’m praying. It will be too early for me to begin to outline the challenges when I’m asking God to change many of them which I’m seeing. In the election there will be many challenges. I’m praying that April will be real so as to promote democracy in Nigeria.

People will like to know the challenges; can you tell us some of them?

Let me tell you the reason why I have been very careful. Before Nigeria was fifty last October, I had started calling on people to pray since July 1 that I was seeing fire and booming sounds. I related it on television and it was shown. I said I saw some people being arrested. I kept saying it, even when October 1 was two days away I repeated i. Nothing was done. Nobody came to ask me about what I said I saw. Again, I said I foresaw extension of election dates. In July I kept saying it but nobody asked me what I was saying. Eventually the date of the election was extended. When the issue of the late president Yar’ adua came up, I said “I’m seeing a coffin, a wooden frame, they put someone in it and it will cause the flag of Nigeria to be brought down.” I said the person to be affected is a leader. And nobody asked me what I meant. I can begin to tell you many others that were recorded and said publicly to the whole world. So if I now also come and begin to tell you the challenges that will threaten the April elections, of what effect will it be. You know what it is if you say something and no one is taking any notice of it. The prophesy was in most newspapers. But one thing which I will still repeat anywhere anyday is that I pray that the April election will be real. We should also pray against what will make the situation be like what is happening in Ivory Coast today, where there is imposition of leadership which is gradually degenerating into regional conflict. We should pray that whoever will be declared winner should be with a large margin.

President Jonathan once likened his coming to the throne to what happened between David and Saul ,that he was not expecting he would get there and now he is there. In the light of that, as a religious leader in Nigeria, do you approve of his contesting the elections. Do you think he his God’s appointed president for the country come 2011?

When you look at Nigeria as a whole you will discover there is no love in this country. Where there is no love it is very very difficult have God’s manifestation. Consider what happened in Nazareth in Jerusalem when Jesus went there, he thought he could do many miracles as he did in other places but he found himself doing few because there was no love. Back to what you are saying concerning the words of the president, if he said it is God’s doing, are you doubting the power of God.

From all you have said, can you tell Nigerians that this country is set to go as far as 2020 as one country?

You people are forcing me to say what I don’t want to say, Now write it down and quote me “let us pray for April to be real.” That is all. Because I foresee that going to court to contend results will interest people any longer. People will not show interest in it again. Let us pray against it. It is the court that will be able to sort things out but people at that time will not be interested in going to court. Let us pray that April will be real to avoid a situation where people will not agree or give any regard to court actions, thereby creating a clash of region against region.

How do you view the action of President Jonathan kneeling to be prayed for at the Holy Ghost service that held last December? Was he trying to be partisan by his visit?

One thing you must note is that that one stands does not mean his or her body is standing. So, the position we are when we pray for people does not mean anything. What matters is the divine nature. That should not be a source of disagreement. Sometimes you may be on your knees and in the spirit, you are proud. So the one inside is what matters. Whether one kneels down to pray or not is not as important as the spiritual state of one’s mind. When I say in the name of Jesus, it is not Mr. T.B. Joshua saying it but prophet T.B. Joshua. So we have two natures in the human body –human and divine. It is our divine nature that prays not our human. It is just like the case of closing your eyes when you pray; whether you close your eyes or not, we regard it as a traditional way of prayer.

Bowing down of head for prayer is also something traditional, not necessarily spiritual. The same thing with clapping of hands for Jesus. Physically you may not be clapping, but you may be doing so in the spirit. So, whatever position you decide to take when you pray is okay by me as long as you are in spirit with me.The fact that you stand or sit when praying does not make you inferior or superior, the position does not matter. It is the state of our mind that matters.

Your church has been involved in various charity programmes, while many see it as what the church should be doing for the society some others still say it is a strategy to draw more people to your church. What would you say to this?

Let me put it this way: Seventy percent of foreigners who arrive at the Muritala International Airport in Lagos are visitors to our church. If you move round the church now you will see people from different countries. We have various ministers from different countries presently here in the compound. By giving aid materials to the people of Haiti as we did during the natural disaster that befell them the last time, are you now saying we went to Haiti to ask them to be members of the church. This’s not possible. Again, because of what we are doing for the dwarfs, can we force them to come to church to come and be members? For the dwarfs in Nigeria, almost two hundred of them, we run a non-governmental organisation. We rent houses, give them accommodation and let them marry and have children. Same for the physically challenged. I want to say the moment you begin to feel what your neighbour feels, or feel the hurt of others, you will begin to succeed in life. So this is life of Christ. The wound of one is the wound of all. The Trouble of one is the trouble of all. When you look at the various political parties, you will find different religions and they all work together. When they get to their various places of worship, they begin to condemn themselves. The same thing happens in your various work places.

Can you tell us more on the recent attack on you by one of your members?

Well, the gun is still in the police station. We have recovered three guns. The story is in the newspapers. A brother came with a gun tucked inside his pants, he also had about three knives and acid. Well, we thank God. What will I say now? Even if they didn’t bring all these to the church, some people will still be out there saying ‘let us go and attack him.’ They have seen those who brought it and how they were arrested. They will now know that this man is very accessible but untouchable. So, I think I want to give the glory to God; that when I’m weak, then I am strong. God has been manifesting himself in my weakness. Like the Bible says; no one is perfect. All that is happening around me is beyond me, I don’t know how they happen. I’m just a human being just like you. I cannot stand to say that this is how it happened.

Posted: at 16-02-2011 02:27 AM (13 years ago) | Newbie

very correct

Posted: at 16-02-2011 03:07 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

look at the kind of a man that people are saying all this rubbish things about?. so forgiven,humble and with deep understanding of human irrational natures. thank you for not pronouncing courses on all the people that were talking about what do not know. the bible said that by their fruit we shall know them and you have proven the real man of GOD that you are. you have not even started. as for your fellow ministers that maligned you dont just mind them because they are envious.

Posted: at 16-02-2011 03:54 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

am i suppose to read all this?

Posted: at 16-02-2011 12:23 PM (13 years ago) | Hero

betrayal by those you trust and those you thought were by your side is part of christianity because even christ was betrayed by his treasurer and confidant in judas. if people do not talk about you then it means you are still in the same cadre with them. let people talk and let GOD keep blessing his people.

Posted: at 16-02-2011 01:55 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

i we talk and that is why the holy GOD is still blessing me amen

Posted: at 16-02-2011 02:07 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

For those from within Nigeria:
The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations Headquarters is located at:
1 Segun-Irefin Street, Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Nigeria.

If you would like to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, please call or email us and wait for confirmation before coming. Please note that the prayer line at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations takes place every Sunday. Registration for the prayer line takes place on Thursdays.

Call us:

+234 (0) 706 486 5517
+234 (0) 705 807 9083
+234 (0) 805 375 0556

Email us: [email protected]

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

For those from outside Nigeria:

Question: What is the procedure for visiting The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations?
Answer: If you would like to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, simply go to the Questionnaire, fill it out in detail and submit it. Make sure your complete details are included. Please note, you must wait to receive confirmation of your visit from us before making any travel arrangements/ flight bookings.
*All communication with The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations should be through the following email address: [email protected]. When planning your visit, we advise you to take into consideration that the prayer line at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations takes place every Sunday. Also, please note that any form of smoking or alcohol consumption is prohibited on the church premises.

Question: Will I need a Visa?
Answer:Yes. Unless you live in West Africa, you will need a visa to enter Nigeria. Visa applications are made through the Nigerian Embassy/ High Commission in your country and it is normally a simple procedure. We will send you an invitation letter which you will present to the embassy with your application form, passport, passport photo and the prescribed fee. Please contact us if you need more information.

Question: How will I get to the church?
Answer: Once you have confirmed your flight arrival times with us, we will arrange for church representatives to meet you at the airport and escort you to the church premises.

Question: What are the arrangements for food and accommodation?
Answer: The church has many rooms available for international visitors to stay. The accommodation ranges from dormitories to family rooms to private rooms - all with en-suite hot showers, toilets and air conditioning. There is a special dining room for international visitors where three full meals are served a day. Extra drinks, snacks and toiletries are also all available for purchase at the shop on the church premises.

Question: How long do visitors stay?
Answer: Our international visitors normally stay for 7 days (one week). During this time, you will have the opportunity to visit the Faith Resort Ground, attend the various services at the church, watch faith-building videos, listen to life changing testimonies, receive lectures from the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua
and much more all as the Holy Spirit directs.

Question: What is the climate like in Lagos, Nigeria and what clothes will I need to take?
Answer: Lagos is hot (high 20s to low 30s Centigrade) all year round with high humidity. For this reason, we recommend that you bring loose, cool and comfortable clothing.

Question: Is it safe to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria?
Answer: Yes, we take special care of all our international visitors. They are met at the airport by authorised church personnel and are then escorted to the church which is located on the outskirts of Lagos. The accommodation is on the church premises and visitors do not leave during their stay unless they are taken to the off-site prayer retreat centre.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Prophet T.B. Joshua developed the Faith Resort Ground (known as the 'Prayer Mountain') with its many beautiful waterways, islands, prayer huts, beaches, prayer grounds and Biblical statues. There you will encounter prayer warriors who pray for the ministry, the nations and for partners throughout the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week in accordance with I Thessalonians 5:16. Man's greatest privilege is to enjoy God's presence; the Faith Resort Ground is quiet place to meet with God in prayer (Mark 6:31).

Question: Can I email or phone home?
Answer: Yes, full internet and telephone facilities are available. Cash payments only (US Dollar, Pound Sterling, and Euro) are accepted.
If you would like to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, click on the below link and fill out the questionnaire.

Posted: at 16-02-2011 03:42 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

     

The vision of the Church is to see that the relationship and fellowship between God and man is restored. Christ’s mission is our mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Christ’s mission is to preach the message of salvation to all people of all nations, as it says in Mark 16:15, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…” Anyone can believe: whether educated or uneducated, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile. Anyone can believe. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

The essence of the true Church is Christ in you, the hope of Glory (2 Corinthians 6:16; Colossians 1:27). Jesus loves us and cherishes our company. It is possible for you to have a close relationship and friendship with God Almighty.
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after My sheep.
I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land” (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
     

Posted: at 16-02-2011 05:18 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

?

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Posted: at 16-02-2011 07:00 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

u r d man i can c all u av doing i wish i can b supportive too god help me ...

Posted: at 16-02-2011 07:20 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac