Temitope Balogun Joshua (born June 12, 1963 in Arigidi, Nigeria), commonly referred to as T. B. Joshua, is a Christian minister, televangelist and faith healer. He is leader and founder of the ministry organisation The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), which runs a Christian television station called Emmanuel TV, available on satellite and on the Internet via the Streaming Faith broadcast portal.
He is also a notable humanitarian, providing aid to minorities and the underprivileged on national and international scales via Another Ministry. He has been awarded various accolades, notably receiving the National Honour of OFR by the Nigerian government in 2008.[1] He is recognised as one of Africa's 50 most influential people.[2][3]
Joshua is known for his popularity across Africa and his online presence, with close to 600,000 fans on Facebook[4] and hundreds of YouTube videos which have proved controversial and amassed thousands of views.
Biography
According to Joshua’s official biography, unusual circumstances surrounded his birth. It is claimed he spent 15 months in his mother’s womb [5] and narrowly avoided death after a quarry explosion near his house sent rocks through its roof just seven days after his birth.
Joshua attended St. Stephen's Anglican Primary School in Arigidi-Akoko, Nigeria between 1971 and 1977,[6] but failed to complete one year of secondary school education.[6] In school, he was known as "small pastor" because of his love for the Bible. He worked in various casual jobs after his schooling had ended, including carrying chicken waste at a poultry farm.[7] He organised Bible studies for local children and attended evening school during this period.[5] Joshua attempted to join the Nigerian military but was thwarted due to a train breakdown that left him stranded en route to the military academy.[8]
The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN)
In 1989, T. B. Joshua allegedly fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights.[9] He wrote that in a heavenly vision, he had received divine anointing and a covenant from God to start his ministry.[10] Following this, Joshua founded the ministry organisation The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) with only a handful of members.[11][self-published source] According to the organisation, more than 15,000 members now attend its weekly Sunday service; visitors from outside Nigeria are accommodated in the accommodation blocks constructed at the church.[12][13][14]
Claims of healing and other miracles
SCOAN remains controversial both in Nigeria and abroad, claiming regular occurrences of divine miracles. Several hundred Nigerians and international visitors come to the SCOAN each week to register for the prayer lines where the visitors are prayed over by T. B. Joshua and the "Wise Men". SCOAN has published numerous videos claiming to document the healing of incurable disabilities and illnesses such as spinal cord injuries, HIV/AIDS[15][16][17] and cancer.[18] Medical reports are a prerequisite for prayer for any health-related ailment in an attempt to authenticate the miracles said to be occurring.
Notable sportspersons who claim to have been healed of sporting injuries at the SCOAN include South African rugby players Jaco van der Westhuizen[19] and Jaco du Preeze, and Nigerian footballer Joseph Yobo.[20]
Spiritual healing at The SCOAN has been mentioned by Time magazine.[21] Since June 2010, five "Wise Men" have joined in ministering to people at The SCOAN, purportedly able to prophesy, heal and deliver in the same vein as T. B. Joshua.[22] The church has branches in Ghana,[23][24][25] the United Kingdom,[26] South Africa,[27][self-published source] and Greece.[28]
Many have also claimed to be healed through ‘Anointing Water’ that has been prayed over by Joshua and given to those who are unable to physically attend his church in Lagos.[29][30][31]
Deliverance of demon-possessed
SCOAN is also controversial for the 'deliverance' of those allegedly possessed by evil spirits during its services.[32][33] The wife of Ghanaian goal keeper Richard Kingson was allegedly delivered of an evil spirit which was behind her husband's inability to procure a contract with a team since 2011.[34]
Humanitarian work
Another Ministry is the humanitarian arm of SCOAN. It caters to the needs of widows,[35][36] dwarfs,[37] the elderly,[38] physically challenged,[39] orphans and the destitute.[40] The church provides scholarships to orphans and children of the underprivileged, with educational support given from primary to tertiary levels. His scholarship sponsorships have included a Nigerian student doing a PhD in Oxford University, Nigerian media reporting the total given amounted to £100,000.[41]
There is also a rehabilitation programme for armed robbers,[42][43] prostitutes, political thugs and militants from Nigeria’s volatile Niger Delta region.[44]
Joshua is well known in Nigeria for reconciling broken families and marriages.[45][46][47] SCOAN has established various NGOs in other countries, including the Passion For Needy in Ghana.[48] After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Joshua sent a team of medical personnel and humanitarian workers to the affected area, establishing a field hospital called 'Clinique Emmanuel'.[49] A Forbes blogger estimated Joshua has spent $20 million on humanitarian activities in the last three years.[44] In recognition of his humanitarian activities, he was awarded a National Honour by the Nigerian government in 2008.[1]
Sports
In 2009 T. B. Joshua started a football club, My People FC, as part of efforts to help the youth. Two members of the team played for Nigeria's Golden Eaglets in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Sani Emmanuel, who apparently lived in The SCOAN for several years,[50] was Nigeria's top-scorer and the tournament's MVP. Emmanuel and his colleague Ogenyi Onazi have now signed professional contracts with SS Lazio, Onazi recently debuting and scoring for the Nigerian Senior Team, the Super Eagles.[51] Following the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, T. B. Joshua rewarded the efforts of the Nigerian Team, presenting the physically challenged medalists with cash gifts and cars.[52]
Current WBO International Light Middleweight boxing champion King Davidson Emenogu said that Joshua has financially supported him throughout his career and purportedly prophesied that he would be a world boxing champion.[53]
Claims of prophecy
SCOAN claims that Joshua has successfully predicted events in the lives of individuals who attend his church services as well as worldwide events, including a prophecy of Michael Jackson's death[54] and the outcome of various football matches, including the recent African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final match, which was won by the Zambia national football team.[55]
His prophecy about the death of former Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, created an internet storm, the prediction widely reported in African press before[56] and after his demise.[57][58]
Joshua's prophecies are allegedly held in such esteem that false rumors spread using his name are known to have caused widespread panic in communities,[59][60] affected sporting events[61] and led people to stop using social networks.[62]
Notable visitors
Notable visitors, especially within the African political sphere, have visited SCOAN. These include Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai,[63] late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills [64] (who testified that T. B. Joshua prophesied his ascent to presidency),[65] South Africa’s Winnie Mandela,[66] Malawian President Joyce Banda[67] and the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu [68]
Emmanuel TV
Emmanuel TV is the television station of the SCOAN and broadcasts 24/7. Their Sunday and Monday services, which include the prayer lines, are broadcast live. T. B. Joshua's programmes also air 5 days a week on TBN Africa, as well as weekly on a number of local television stations across Africa. T. B. Joshua has donated televisions to prisons and hospitals so that they will be able to watch the Emmanuel TV broadcasts.[69][70]
Popular Nigerian Actress Tonto Dikeh testified that Joshua’s prayers on Emmanuel TV stopped her smoking habit of 14 years.[71]
Controversy
Joshua and pastors from SCOAN have attracted controversy for their claims to heal incurable illnesses such as HIV/AIDS[15][16][17] and cancer[18][72] and recommending that "healed" individuals stop taking potentially life-saving antiviral medications.[72]
Rumours of Joshua's plans to visit Zimbabwe in May 2012 led to controversial clashes within both politicians and pastors.[73] The visit never materialized.
Personal life
T. B. Joshua is married to Evelyn Joshua. Contradictory reports have circulated as to whether he has children.[74] His first daughter Serah graduated from London School of Economics with a law degree in 2012, and was planning to pursue a Master's degree in America.[74]
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