African leaders have joined the population flocking to Lagos for spiritual healing and deliverance from T.B Joshua's Synagogue, Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria.
The road to Lagos has become a busy highway since Nigerian Pastor Temotope Balogun Joshua took upon himself to heal the sick who otherwise would not find cure in modern medicine.
The “man of God,” as the charismatic Pastor is called, has become the centre of attraction and hope for many who suffer from physical and spiritual afflictions. African leaders have joined this ballooning queue of pilgrims flocking to “prophet” Joshua’s Synagogue, Church of All Nations or "SCOAN."
SCOAN, the “Divine Ministry”
Pastor Joshua’s SCOAN, a “ministry from above” as he calls it, has grown in size, significance and reputation since its creation in 1987. It operates branches in Ghana, South Africa, England, Gabon and Greece. It attracts crowds from all over the world because of the rare miracles performed by its founder and leader “Prophet” T.B Joshua. It is also highly involved in humanitarian and philanthropic activities.
As a result of this growing popularity, African leaders now lead the crowd of pilgrims to Nigeria in search of salvation and healing. Pastor Joshua’s courtship with these dignitaries began in the early 1990s when he visited the Governor General of the Republic of Bahamas.
In 1999, the BBC’s Philips Barnaby reported former Zambian President Patrick Chiluba as worshiping “in a controversial church.”
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills is perhaps the closest friend to Pastor Joshua among African leaders. “I am no stranger to the Synagougue,” he told Newswatch, in February 2009, adding, “I have been here regularly. And I have known the man of God for more than ten years.”
President Mill’s unwavering faith in Pastor Joshua is inspired by the latter’s accurate prediction of the course and outcome of the elections that brought Mills to power in 2009.
Besides President Mills, visits by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithili and Limpopo King Koshi Kgabo have also greatly enhanced the international profile of SCOAN and Pastor Joshua. Other dignitaries include; Omar Bongo of Gabon, Pascal Lissouba of Congo Brazzaville, former Liberian warlord – Yomie Johnson and former President of the Central African Republic – Andre Kolingba.
It is very evident that many other African leaders and their ministers make it to SCOAN behind the cameras. President Bongo for example only came to SCOAN after several failed attempts to move Pastor Joshua to Gabon.
SCOAN’s guest list is not confined to Africa alone. Rev. Tay Cheng Kee, founder of the Bethesda Cathedral in Singapore, and Raph Beimer, a U.S. former judge all count among quests from outside Africa.
Testimonies by African Leaders about SCOAN
Regular broadcasts by SCOAN’s media arm – Emmanuel TV carry testimonies of gratitude by African leaders to the man of God and his ministry. King Goodwill Zwelithili for example, expressed boundless gratitude to Pastor Joshua for healing his daughter after many failed attempts in hospitals. After her healing, the Princess Sibusile devoted her life to the service of God as a worker in SCOAN.
King Koshi Loloto confessed that he has seen the word of God working in the spirit. President Mills thanked God for using Pastor Joshua as an instrument of peace and revelation. On his part, President Bongo confessed that he was compelled to visit SCOAN after listening to testimonies by highly placed people in his country about the miracles being performed in SCOAN. After his visit in 1999, Chiluba promised to devote his post Presidential era to the service of God.
As he creates sensations worldwide, Pastor Joshua also triggers controversy. Like the biblical prophet, he is yet to be (completely) accepted in his own homeland – Nigeria. His courtship with African leaders is the new weapon against him.
Asked why African leaders flock to his church in large numbers, the man of God said “It is because their needs are met.” He used the Bible as reference. “Even in the Bible” he said, “people travel far and wide to where their needs are met.”
Related Reading
Readers may also enjoy reading about Pastor T.B Joshua and the Power of Healing.
Sources:
Ajaero, Chris. “The Synagogue’s VIP Guest List,” Newswatch, February 15, 2009.
Philips, Barnaby, “Chiluba Worships in Controversial Church,” BBC, November 12, 2000.
Onyekwere, Joseph. “T.B Joshua Hosts Bongo” Newswatch, January 21, 2008.
The copyright of the article African Leaders Flock to Lagos For Salvation in Alternative Spirituality is owned by Tongkeh Joseph Fowale. Permission to republish African Leaders Flock to Lagos For Salvation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
As a keen observer of Emmanuel TV, the ministry of TB Joshua has
revolutionised and refreshed my perspective of christianity.
Brought up in a church bogged down by tradition and conventionality, I
veered off the christian course in my school years, only seeing religious
formality and never the reality of Christ. I came to the conclusion God
existed only in the minds of the deceived and deluded, a mere figment of
imagination that people grasp hold of for solace in times of trouble and
heartache.
However, when someone introduced me to the ministry
of TB Joshua, and I began to watch his television station, listen to his
teaching and study his lifestyle, my eyes began to open and truth entered
my thirsty heart. This ministry is practical - it is not theoretical or
traditional. It is real.
You don't just hear the Bible taught -
you see the Bible in action, a modern day book of Acts experience, every
week. Through SCOAN, I have witnessed irrefutable evidence that Christ
lives today.
I did not draw this conclusion from a day's viewing
- it is consistent and persistent evidence of this truth in my personal
journey of discovery that really convinced my beyond all doubt.
You talk of healing, thousands are instantly healed every week in the
service of all manners of sickness and suffering. Prophecy? Both prophecies
relating to world events, and individual revelations characterise every
service - and all our remarkably accurate. Deliverance? For the first time
in my life I witnessed demon possessed people set free in an alarming and
spectacular fashion. Charity? TB Joshua practices what he preaches, living
a simple lifestyle and spending more on others and less on himself, with
projects for abandoned and neglected widows, fatherless and elderly. It is
touching and practical christianity.
Alongside all these is the
simplicity and practicality of his teaching, the genuine love he
demonstrates in reconciling broken and bruised families, and the
rehabilitation of prostitutes, armed robbers and former cult members.
This is my personal conviction, and I encourage others who have
given up on christianity in the west to study TB Joshua's ministry. It is
sure to rock your religion, and answer many of the burdening questions in
your mind, as well as spark many more.
Church is not just a
gathering where people sing, socialise and share - it ought to be a place
where your problems are solved, you receive direction for your life, and
you see the power of God.
Jul 1, 2009 3:54 PM
Guest :
VISITING THE SYNAGOGUE, CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS
For New
Zealanders wishing to visit Prophet Joshua at The Synagogue, Church Of All
Nations, Lagos, Nigeria, you must:
1. Email The Synagogue,
Church Of All Nations (their email addresses are listed under "Contact
Us" on this email:emmanuel_family@yahoo.com expressing your desire to
visit them, the reason for your visit and asking for an invitation. You
should give some indication of the date you wish to go. You must give at
least one month's notice.
2. On receipt of an invitation from
The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, you will need to apply to the
Nigerian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, for a visa. Your travel agent
should be able to help you with your application.
3. The visa
normally takes about 10 working days to process and costs approximately
$185 for New Zealanders and $285 for Australians.
4. Emirates
Airlines have a flight through Sydney to Dubai and then direct on to Lagos,
Nigeria. This is probably the best way to go.
5. You should stay
10 days to get the best result (your duration of stay needs to be confirmed
by The Synagogue, Church Of All nations).
6. The Synagogue,
Church Of All Nations will provide food and accommodation at a set fee.
This fee is approximately $570 per person per week. The accommodation is in
a dormitory style with separate accommodation for both men and women.
7. We suggest you take a pillow!
Contact:Mrs
Sheree Peck
email:emmanuel_family@yahoo.com
phone:+234 (0) 7028548014
Aug 9, 2009 2:45 AM
tanishanish :
VISITING THE SYNAGOGUE CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS - THE ONLY CORRECT WAY
Please, do not mind the post by the person claiming to be Sheree
Peck. The ONLY way to visit the SCOAN is found on The SCOAN's OFFICIAL
WEBSITE: www.scoan.org, www.scoan.com, www.emmanuel.tv. The ONLY way to
speak to the church concerning a visit, prayer request, etc, is on THEIR
OFFICIAL WEBSITE and the screen of EMMANUEL TV (www.emmanuel.tv) If
you want to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations FROM ANY NATION
please contact THE CHURCH DIRECTLY.
May 15, 2009
