Renowned Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua
turns 50 on Wednesday June 12th
2013. In his characteristically
unconventional style, he has called for
the focus of the celebration to be
redirected towards care for the less
privileged and job creation for
unemployed graduates.
Speaking on his popular broadcast
platform Emmanuel TV, Joshua called
on well-wishers who desired to give in
cash or kind towards the golden
occasion to channel such resources
into charitable endeavours.
“The best way to celebrate this
birthday is to be on your knees and
thank God for the life of T.B. Joshua.
Pray for the Church of God for a strong
bond of love...
"Pray for your nation and the whole
world and rededicate yourself to the
acts of giving. Be a father to the
fatherless and a benefactor to the
needy. Raise the standard of living
through the little you are going to
invest,” Joshua exhorted congregants.
“Those things you have for T.B. Joshua,
even what you will spend on a
greeting card, put it together and
spend it on this commission.”
The noted philanthropist challenged
viewers to examine the listed names
on their phones, asking how many
people were friends with the under-
privileged or bedridden. “You must
have many orphans and those on the
sick bed as friends. Give them a call. Be
a prayer partner with them and let
them know there is hope. Become part
of their family,” he passionately
counselled.
He stated his priority project was
facilitating the creation of jobs for
frustrated graduates, calling on all in a
position to support job-seekers to
come forward. “We must get jobs for
people who are jobless. This is the
number one project for my 50th
birthday. I am going to pursue it.
Graduates are everywhere without a
job. This birthday, it will be an
assignment for me.”
He bemoaned the state of youth
worldwide, stating a bleak future lay
ahead if urgent action was not taken
by those in a position to help. “If you
listen to the graduates of today, you
will be afraid of the future. If
something is not done quickly, you will
not be able to sleep and close your
eyes in the future. Tomorrow will be
very tough; we have to come together
and do something now.”
Last week, the project began in
earnest with Joshua facilitating the
employment of 24 graduates in jobs,
22 of whom were not members of The
SCOAN. He called on churches
worldwide to join in the call for job
creation with no strings attached. “If
every church and organization
embarks on telling people in the
position to get graduates jobs instead
of campaigning for money and
prosperity, it will change the
situation,” he stated.
He further added that these actions
should not be determined by time or
season. “When you start, don’t stop –
let it be part of you forever. Your
rewards in life are determined by how
many people you have helped and the
problems you have solved. This is the
way the Lord wants us to celebrate this
birthday at 50.”
On a personal note, Joshua said the
occasion was a sober moment for
appreciation of God’s goodness in his
life and added determination for
greater service to Him and humanity.
“To whom much is given, much is
expected. The Lord has given me so
much in all areas of my life which I
cannot reciprocate. What an
undeserved blessing! At 50, I should be
more grateful to God and show more
commitment to His service,” the
Nigerian pastor stated. Stressing that
the source of his success lay in the
closeness of his relationship with God,
Joshua revealed, “If I could give you
one clue to my success, I would say I
took care of the depth of my
relationship with God and He took care
of the breadth of my success. Jesus will
do the same for you!”
Born on June 12th 1963 in Ondo State,
Nigeria, T.B. Joshua’s rise from a
poverty-stricken home to an
internationally renowned minister of
God is nothing short of remarkable.
With his birth shrouded in mystery,
legend has it that Joshua was in his
mother’s womb for 15 months. It is also
claimed he narrowly avoided death
seven days after his birth after a quarry
explosion near his house sent rocks
through its roof, missing him by inches.
From dropping out of secondary school
in his first year to working in a poultry
farm carrying chicken waste; from
teaching little children while
attending evening classes to washing
people’s legs on the muddy streets of
Lagos; from a forty day fast to
receiving a divine call and starting a
ministry with a mere eight members –
the life of T.B. Joshua is indeed a
journey of amazing grace. Today,
countless thousands journey weekly to
his abode in the heart of Ikotun-Egbe,
Lagos to seek spiritual solace with
millions more tuning in to watch what
is reputed to be Africa’s most popular
station, Emmanuel TV.http:///forum/topics/t-b-joshua-opens-up-about-the-depth-of-his-success-secret