Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua of the
Synagogue Church of all Nations spoke with
Punch on myriads of controversies
surrounding his person and ministry.

PEOPLE SAY THAT YOU ARE VERY HUMBLE DESPITE YOUR POPULARITY,HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THIS?

If you have passed through what I have
passed through, you will even be more
humble than I am.

LIKE WHAT?

Things that can make people to be humble.
You just think of it. I have good health and
God shows me what I would have been in
terms of sickness and death; it humbles me
and I want to use my good health for him.
At times, God shows me how people are
suffering and the thought that it could have
been me keeps me humble. For instance, if I
did anything wrong during this interview,
when you may have left, God will caution
me. If I am not humble, I will be out of track.
If I was not in the house of God, I would be
one of the touts in the motor parks (the
Agberos)

WHY IS IT THAT YOUR MINISTRY IS MORE POPULAR OUTSIDE NIGERIA THAN IN NIGERIA?

I want to offer the same prayer for you:
that God should make you more popular
outside your country than in your country.
Let other countries introduce you to your
country. I think that is better. As it is written
in the Bible, a prophet has no honour in his
country. I am not an evangelist or a pastor, I
am a prophet. It is the word prophet that
was used in that scriptural passage, not
evangelist or so. If my people had
understood the work from the beginning, it
could have affected the glory of God in my
life today. If people understand your vision
from the beginning, you may not go far. It
is better they don’t, they will understand
later and by then, you would have been very
strong and God would have strengthened
your desire. Praises and adoration can
make you a local champion. Where are the
people that Nigerians praised from the
beginning? I can mention some – even men
of God, who are no longer living today, so
many founders – We
should get this understanding that those
who were local champions in the past did
not reach international recognition. Look
beyond the ministry job to the secular
world, was it Nigeria that introduced Prof.
Wole Soyinka to the world? But when he
became a Nobel Laureate, he became more
powerful; when he talks, everyone wants to
listen. Whereas there were some other local
champions that even when they were
dying, nobody took their news to CNN. They
don’t know them. God has a way of raising
people by throwing the image to the
international community. Even the
footballers that are notable became
acceptable to Nigerians when they belong
to international clubs. I may not be
accepted by some people in Nigeria but my
acceptance in the world has been
announcing me to my world. When you
look at the people working with me, you
see that the ratio of Nigerians working with
me are not more than 10 per cent.

WHAT IS THE SPECIAL ATTRACTION THAT BRINGS HEADS OF GOVERNMENT TO SYNAGOGUE?

You have said it all, where there is demand,
there is supply and in that place, there
would be enough anointing to do the work.
God will not allow people to go to a place
where there is no supply. It is not possible. I
observe that if three chairs are added to
this church today, you suddenly find people
filling it and if four are removed, it is just
the number of people that will fill the chairs
that will come. I have studied that from the
beginning. Sometimes when I see some
ministries printing handbills, using
signboards to advertise the church, I say
those things are not necessary. God is the
one inviting people, if you allow him to do
it, the solution to their problems will be
waiting for them. But if you take it upon
yourself to do the advertisement, people
that God is not expecting will come along
with them and there will be crisis and
trouble. You just continue doing your work
and leave the advert for God, then those
that God didn’t invite will not come and
there will be peace and tranquillity. You
should not go out to start saying ‘I can heal,
I can deliver.’ At synagogue, our critics are
our advertisement. They are people that
don’t want to hear about us. They tell other
people that ‘that church is devilish;’
unknowingly, some of the people they tell
get inquisitive and they will want to come
here and see what a devil looks like since
they haven’t seen one before. God has been
using this as advertisement for us. Ninety
per cent of people who come here do so in
the bid to come and verify what they had
heard about this church. When some of
them get here, they will sit at the back,
fearing that they could be hurt. Some put
on dark glasses or disguise in a way that
will not allow people that know them to
recognise them. But before the service is
over, some of them will pick up their bags
and move to the front seats. They eventually
become my prayer warriors. Let me tell you
something that amazes me and that I
always thank God for – those who are with
me are more than those that are against
me. They keep supporting me all over the
world. I have more, more, more people
around the world. Whenever I say this, tears
flow from my eyes (sobs for a while). These
are tears of joy. I get so sad when I hear
people’s confession when their eyes
become open to what God is doing here.
Some say, ‘I wish I had known this, my
mum would not have died. She asked me to
bring her here but because of what I was
hearing about this place, I refused until she
died. I hope that she will forgive me.”’

IS GOODLUCK JOHNATHAN ON THE LIST OF HEADS OF STATE THAT PATRONISE YOUR SERVICES?

When it comes to relationship, I think he
would be in the best position to answer
that question. Since what we are doing is
creating impact around the world, you
should expect Nigeria’s president to also be
part of it. We are praying for the nation and
being a Christian acknowledges it. If
Jonathan had been here, it would have
been shown on our Emmanuel Television
network. No president has ever visited this
place in secret. The Bible says that if you
confess me before men, I will confess you
before my father in heaven. I am not a
witch doctor; we have nothing to hide. If
you have not read in the newspapers that
your president came here, then that is that.
Anytime presidents of other countries come
here, Jonathan is usually aware. If he
doesn’t believe in what we are doing, he
would have told them that we constitute
security risks.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT JOHNATHAN,DOES HE SPEAK TO YOU ON PHONE?

Don’t rush me. Let me finish answering the
last question. Now, you would answer the
question yourself; have you read that he
came here, have you? My sister, you have
said it all. What phone call are we talking
about?

HOW DO YOU TELL THE PRESIDENT WHEN YOU HAVE AN INSTRUCTION FOR THE NATION?

I say it on the television and all over the
world. I accept that is not enough; it is
better to see him one on one.
But what is the essence of a president’s
visit if he won’t follow what I will tell him?
This kind of trend keeps staining my name.
I will not mention anybody, when they leave
here; they do not obey the instructions.

BUT WHAT ARE THESE PRESIDENTS LOOKING FOR IN YOUR CHURCH?

The reason why people visit a man of God is
to receive instructions, his opinion about
them or their country. But if they don’t
follow it, yet the whole world knows that
they are close to TB Joshua, it has no
benefit.

SO ARE YOU SAYING IT'S NO BIG DEAL THAT PRESIDENTS VISIT YOU?

It is no big deal. Except they obey the
counsel given to them, it has no benefit. It is
not something to be proud of. At least,
seven presidents have visited this place
since inception. But each time presidents
come to this place, I get query from God.
When they come around, you won’t have
time to attend to other people. They will
block the road with their security and at the
end of the day, they won’t do what you
advise them to do.

PEOPLE SAY THAT YOUR GENEROSITY IS USED TO WOO PEOPLE TO YOUR CHURCH.HOW DO YOU REACT TO THIS?

How much will I give to the president of a
nation to come here? Even when they come,
I don’t get any financial gain but I incur cost
because I want to ensure that they are well
cared for. That is all; I even prefer to spend
my time with the poor than to be with the
presidents. If a president visits this place
today, the whole of the day will be devoted
to that visit, I would have lesser time for the
poor people, who need my attention. God
has been warning me over this trend so
much that when some presidents said that
they wanted to visit me, I said no. I said it
would be better for me to visit them in their
countries. Each time they visit this place, I
receive query from God because of my time.
that should have been used to attend to the
poor and the needy that are waiting for me.
One soul is not superior to the other, why
should I continue to receive query? Really
out of three presidents that may visit, there
will hardly be one that will show good
example of the counsel that they received
from me. If the needy are more receptive to
God, it is better to give them more of my
time.

STILL ON GENEROSITY,WHY DO YOU ASK PEOPLE TO DISPLAY ITEMS GIVEN TO THEM LIVE ON CAMERA, IS IT PROPER?

We do so to encourage other people to do
likewise. Some of them are physically-
challenged or indigent people who do not
even have bank accounts, so we have to
give them cash. We don’t want them to be
duped, but we don’t do that often anymore.

IS'NT IT A DELIBERATE WAY OF ADVERTISING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

It is not so.

BUT WE DON'T SEE SUCH THINGS IN OTHER CHURCHES?

Every man of God has his own habit. Habit
is a gift from God. Like Daniel, whenever he
wants to pray, he will open his window,
that is his habit. The disciples of Jesus
prayed six times a day; that is their habit. It
is not that we are showing off. When
people see what we are doing, they learn
how to be good givers. If you do everything
privately, what will people write about?
Jesus fed the 5,000 people in the open, not
in secret. That is why it could be written.
When the tax collectors came to him, he did
not hide to say, ‘I don’t want them to see
that they want to collect money from me.’
Even when he healed a man and they asked
him how he did it, he asked them to go and
ask the healed man.

YOU SAY GOD SPEAKS TO YOU, HOW DOES HE SPEAK TO YOU?

Faith must first be in the heart before there
could be an accepted confession. That
means faith must first be in the heart
before there could be an acceptance of
prayer, request, talk from God. Faith is of
man’s heart, which is spirit. Heart literarily
means a different thing from the spirit. You
use your faith to put a demand.

SO, HOW DO YOU GET THOSE PROPHECIES- PICTURE OR VOICE?

I use my faith to place a demand. You don’t
understand what I am saying. Let me put it
this way, faith is a channel through which
the anointing flows. That means you use
your faith to put a demand and ask for
whatever you want. If there is faith in your
heart, you can close your eyes and make a
demand that you want to know what is
happening around the world and before
you know it, you will see the vision. There is
what you call a measure of faith – deep,
deeper, deepest faith. I don’t know which
level you belong. Faith grows as we hear
the word and obey it. We are not all at the
same level, but all things are possible to him
that believes. What is possible for you may
not be possible for me.

BUT MANY PEOPLE SEE YOU AS MYSTICAL, THEY THINK YOU ARE NOT A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST; THAT YOU BELIEVE TO SOME OTHER SECT.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR POWER?

Your question is funny. We don’t get power,
it is faith we have. The power in our life is
released by faith through our mouth. The
issue of getting power is wrong. We don’t
talk about getting power here. If you don’t
have faith, power will remain dormant. In
Mark, Jesus said this kind won’t be possible
but by prayer and fasting. The disciples had
power but lacked faith to release it.

COMING FROM YOU DIRECTLY, WHO ARE YOU?

Coming from you directly, who are you?
Nigerians cannot tell me who I am. The
percentage of my people around the world
is more than those in Nigeria. I am
celebrated around the world. Go on the
internet, Emmanuel TV is the most watched.
Forget about anybody, I don’t need to
promote myself. Even Jesus could not win
everybody’s soul.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN, DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST?

The word Christian is a title. How do you
know that those people talking believe in
Jesus Christ when Christianity is a matter of
the heart?

BUT ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD......

That is what I am correcting you about; that
someone said he is a Christian doesn’t
mean he is. If somebody says he belongs to
this or that fellowship, only God knows. It is
not about confessing that I am a prophet, a
pastor, only God knows who is serving him.
A mango tree cannot bear coconut. What
you believe radiates around you. I’m more
than that kind of confession. If anyone
doesn’t believe me, they would when the
time comes.

BUT WHY DON'T YOU BELONG TO ANY CHRISTIAN BODY?

Christianity is not an association. Let us talk
about Christianity. I don’t celebrate religion.
I am a follower of Jesus; I am a Christian,
that is all I know. I will invite you to come
and worship here this Sunday. I am known
by my love, not by my association, so
whether Pentecostal, Catholic, Charismatic,
Methodist, who is serving God? I don’t
judge people but people can judge me. All I
know is that my persecution has been a
blessing; I have been tamed by it. It has
strengthened me. I am a Charismatic.

SO, WHO ANOINTED YOU INTO THE MINISTRY?

I have told you about faith. You know that
Elijah anointed Elisha, but can you tell me
who anointed Elijah? So you see God can
choose to do it the way He wants. Because I
don’t want to hurt you, I don’t know which
circle you belong to, maybe your own
pastor was anointed by a man.

ARE YOU STILL VERY CLOSE TO PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME?

Please, don’t drag me into all that. I beg you.

WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF JIM IYKE?

Oh please, don’t drag me into that. All I can
say is that if a person needs to see a doctor,
he should be free to do so. I like the young
man. He has been defending himself on the
internet. Is he not enjoying a better life
now? Are things not working for him?

WHY ARE ALL THESE STARS ALWAYS COMING TO YOUR CHURCH?

Please I don’t want to talk about that.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR ALLEGED LINK TO THE RELEASE OF MAJOR AL-MUSTAPHA?

Which one are you saying again? Please
spare me that. I will give you time to come
back and talk on that.

YOU ARE REPUTED FOR PREDICTING FOOTBALL MATCHES CORRECTLY,HOW FAR WILL NIGERIA GO IN THE WORLD CUP?

I can’t say that now. I will give PUNCH the
privilege of getting my prophetic messages
once they come out.

WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?

I don’t expose my family. I hear people
saying that I don’t have a wife and that I
have no child. That is the news everywhere.
You have seen my wife and this is a
photograph of my daughter.

WHY IS IT THAT YOUR WIFE DOES NOT PREACH LIKE OTHER PASTORS' WIFE?

My wife is a very wonderful woman. She
believes in receiving her own call. She does
not just want to hold microphone because
her husband is a pastor.
Men of God need to take care of their
children. My daughter studied Law she is
doing her PhD in Harvard and she is coming
back home to preach the gospel. She loves
to preach.

IS YOUR WIFE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LOOKS?

I love to look good too; it is 50-50 anyway.
She has been a great woman to me. She has
been a great source of encouragement in
the midst of my challenges. She is different
in the sense that she said I was the one
God called, so she is waiting until she is
called by God to be a pastor. That is unlike
what most men of God do, they believe that
once they are called, their wives must be
pastors too.

WHEN ARE YOU BUYING YOUR OWN PRIVATE JET?

When one is at the airport to catch a flight,
you see that many have become like Molue.
They could disappoint you by saying the
flight has been cancelled. Even when you
eventually get on board, people keep
thronging you for one reason or the other.
The person serving you the meal may be
someone that needs deliverance, by giving
you food, she will deliver you. There was an
experience I had when travelling by air for
a trip of about nine hours. I was pressed
but couldn’t go and ease myself because I
had to queue like other people before I
could use the restroom. Besides, I thought
that some of those people could go to the
toilet immediately after I had used it in
expression of faith, so I remained glued to
my seat all through the journey. That would
not have been if I was flying a private jet. Or
if you are a man of God that snores and
they see the pastor sleeping and snoring,
they will think he shouldn’t snore.
Meanwhile, he is human. So a man of God
should have a private jet if the situation
demands it.

WHO SHOULD PAY FOR IT?

If the use is for the church, the church
should buy it, own it and manage it. It
should not be bought in the pastor’s name.
When he is no longer there, the jet remains
the church’s.

BIG ORGANISATIONS HAVE A NEED FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT, HOW DID YOU HANDLE THE STAMPEDE CASE IN GHANA OVER HOLY WATER?

I know where you are going, don’t go
there. Why don’t you let’s leave that please.
What inspired you to owning a football
club?

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OWNING A FOOTBALL CLUB?

It is the desire to help people realise their
dreams. There are other social platforms
that we use to help people.

STILL ON PREDICTION OF FOOTBALL MATCHES, IS GOD NOT TOO BUSY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT?

The same God speaks about everything.
God is aware of everything. It is all about
the faith that you have; it manifests even in
small things. We need to know how much
we need God.

BUT PEOPLE SAID YOU SEE A CRYSTAL BALL THAT AIDS YOUR PREDICTION?

But people said you see a crystal ball that
aids your predictions?
Don’t you wonder why I am the only one
saying it and it is coming to pass?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCE ON THE STOOL IN YOUR VILLAGE IN ONDO STATE?
Don’t drag me into that, I will not go there,
maybe next time.

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This is TOO INSPIRING. A must READ. Thanks for the share

Ure welcum