… As the Synagogue Church of All Nations marks the fifth anniversary of Prophet TB Joshua’s passing, a Lagos-based journalist compiles testimonies portraying the late televangelist as a misunderstood divine envoy.
Dare Adejumo Reports
Five years after the death of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, widely known as TB Joshua, fresh reflections continue to emerge among Christians who once doubted or criticized him.
For Madam Florence Olowokere, a Pentecostal Christian, the moment of reckoning came unexpectedly while watching television.
“As I saw the remains of the man of God, Prophet TB Joshua, inside a transparent coffin, my goosebumps wildly arose,” Olowokere recounted. “I was shaken and immediately overwhelmed with guilt and fear. A revelation came to me straightaway, piercing my heart like thunder: ‘Here is a beloved son of God who has accomplished his assignment on earth.’”
She said she knelt down in tears and asked God to forgive her for speaking negatively about the prophet in the past, adding that she had been misled by some church leaders.
“It is a colossal spiritual tragedy to say anything negative against an anointed man of God, even in ignorance,” she said. “I have learned a bitter lesson: not to believe anything about any prophet unless the Holy Spirit directly reveals it to me.”
Olowokere added that she has since committed herself to fasting and fervent prayer to seek divine guidance on spiritual matters.
A Life of Persecution?
According to Dare Adejumo, a Lagos-based journalist and media consultant who compiled the tribute, TB Joshua’s path was marked by sustained opposition from fellow clergy.
“Besides his master, Jesus Christ, and the early apostles, no other person on earth who carried the cross of Jesus has ever been persecuted like TB Joshua,” Adejumo wrote. “All kinds of ridiculous lies were concocted against him just to bring down his ministry, but they never succeeded.”
Adejumo compares the late prophet’s critics to “modern Pharisees,” accusing some pastors of turning churches into commercial ventures and manipulating congregants.
TB Joshua, who led the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, Lagos, died in June 2021. During his lifetime, he drew millions of followers worldwide but also faced accusations of staging miracles and controversial teachings — allegations his supporters consistently denied.
Character and Conduct
Supporters describe TB Joshua as a man of unusual humility and generosity.
Adejumo notes that the prophet often held crusades abroad without collecting offerings, a sharp contrast, he claims, with many contemporary ministers.
“He would tell people from other churches who received a touch of God through him not to do thanksgiving in SCOAN,” Adejumo wrote. “Instead, they should go back to their respective churches, assuring them of continued blessings if they remained there.”
One of TB Joshua’s often-repeated statements was: “If you call yourself a Christian and you don’t have a relationship with God, you are wasting your time.” He also maintained that “Christianity should not be treated as a religion but as a relationship with God.”
Another source, Paul Odutola, described by Adejumo as a “quiet servant of God,” offered a more theological claim: “I wish you knew where TB Joshua is today. His assignments with God right now are greater than what he did while on earth. He successfully completed his task before God joyfully translated him into a higher glory.”
Prophetic Reputation
According to the tribute, TB Joshua’s prophetic ability was central to his ministry.
“He would reveal hidden things of centuries — where you came from and your family background with superb accuracy, even details from when you were in the womb,” Adejumo wrote. “You could not hide from him.”
Despite limited formal education, Adejumo argues, the prophet possessed uncommon wisdom: “If you describe him as more than a professor or a field marshal, you would be right.”
Humanitarian Legacies
Beyond spiritual claims, the tribute highlights TB Joshua’s humanitarian efforts, including repatriating Nigerians stranded in foreign crises, supporting the poor across continents, mending broken marriages, and promoting peace in war-torn countries.
“He was the father and mother for the fatherless and motherless,” Adejumo wrote. “His name will continue to resonate when a true man of God is mentioned in genuine love for the poor.”
Successor and Anniversary
Adejumo also praised TB Joshua’s widow and successor, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, saying she has “gone through her husband’s spiritual mills” and is now expanding the church’s legacies worldwide.
According to the report, followers across the globe are marking the fifth anniversary of TB Joshua’s passing with prayers, solemnity, and thanksgiving.
“Today every part of the world is rejoicing and celebrating the fifth anniversary of his passing in prayers and solemnity,” Adejumo wrote, “giving thanks to the Most High God for His love for mankind once again in TB Joshua.”
About the author
Dare Adejumo is a Lagos-based journalist, public analyst, and media consultant.
