As Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua bows out of this sinful world, we cannot help but talk about the eventful, memorable, and “enigmatic” life he spent. Popularly known as Prophet T.B. Joshua, he was one of the most controversial Nigerian pastors of our time. Among others, he was most notable for his miracle performances, Prophesying, and was loved by many of his benefactors for his philanthropy, helping the needy and sponsoring persons in various capacities. This article makes effort to highlight Prophet T B Joshua’s numerous humanitarian efforts and present a completely different man from the controversies that trailed him and his ministry in his lifetime.
Prophet T B Joshua was the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and they run a cable TV network ‘Emmanuel T.V. There has been claims that the Prophet regularly facilitated miracles at the church. Several hundred people from across the world visit SCOAN every week to participate in prayers, in which visitors are prayed over by Joshua. SCOAN has published numerous videos claiming to document the healing of illnesses, disabilities, and injuries, many of which are known to be medically incurable, such as HIV/AIDS, blindness, and open wounds.
Spiritual healing at SCOAN has been the subject of several media reports, including a mention in Time Magazine, an Associated Press interview, and an article by Foreign Policy detailing the tendency of Nigerians to seek spiritual help due to insufficient medical facilities.
A Forbes blogger estimated that Prophet T B Joshua spent $20 million on “education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants”. There is also a rehabilitation program for militants from Nigeria’s volatile Niger Delta region, repentant armed robbers, and sex workers who came to the church for ‘deliverance’.
Here are highlights of his numerous philanthropist activities across the world which endeared him to many admirers, followers, and strong disciples worldwide.
Disaster relief
In 2010, Haiti was hit by one of the world’s worst earthquakes. The disaster was so devastating that the country would use any help it could get to survive. It was learned that Prophet T B Joshua sent a team of medical personnel and humanitarian workers to the affected area, establishing a field hospital called ‘Clinique Emmanuel’.
He equally sent support to nations such as the Philippines, India, and Ghana in the wake of varying natural disasters. His satellite television, the ‘Emmanuel TV Team’ also assisted victims of the earthquake that struck the nation of Ecuador in April 2016, providing over $500,000 worth of humanitarian aid.
Scholarships
Prophet T B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), is believed to have a scholarship program that caters to the academic needs of thousands of students ranging from primary to tertiary education. Pastor T B Joshua also sponsored a Nigerian Ph.D. student of Oxford University. Reports in the Nigerian media have it that she received £100,000 from the Synagogue church. He also gave a scholarship to a young Motswana to study at Harvard Law School in the United States of America.
Community support
Prophet T B Joshua was said to have provided financial aid to several communities in distress, notably providing two electrical transformers to a local community after theirs was burned beyond repair. He donated over N26m to help restore electricity and put an end to over two years of power outage in four councils in the Akoko area of Ondo State. The renowned cleric was said to have also made several large donations to police forces in Nigeria, Ghana, and Colombia.
Education
Prophet T B Joshua funded the building and running of a school in Lahore, Pakistan named ‘Emmanuel School’. He also rebuilt a school in a rural area destroyed by the 2016 Ecuador earthquake. He traveled to Ecuador for the opening of the school in June 2017.
Support for migrants and deportees.
There had been news about Prophet T B Joshua rendering help to several groups of Nigerians who attempted to migrate to Europe through illegal routes. Most notable are the deserts of North Africa through Libya. Several of such people in search of greener pastures, escaping the harsh living conditions in their country are arrested and deported. Such and many more have been supported at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and T B Joshua. Following their deportation from the North African nation, with the harsh conditions they encountered, Joshua’s assistance subsequently made headlines in several local newspapers.
Sports
In 2009, Prophet T B Joshua started a football club which he named ‘My People FC’, as part of efforts to help the youth. Two members of the team went on to play for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Sani Emmanuel, who apparently lived in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) for several years, was Nigeria’s top-scorer and the tournament’s MVP. Emmanuel and his colleague Ogenyi Onazi signed professional contracts with SS Lazio. Onazi became a key player for the Nigerian Senior Team, the Super Eagles, and is a prominent professional footballer in the world.
WBO International Light Middleweight boxing champion King Davidson Emenogu said that Prophet T B Joshua has financially supported him throughout his career and purportedly prophesied that he would be a world boxing champion
Reconciliation efforts
Joshua was involved in the meeting of the family of the late president of Liberia, Samuel Doe, with the former warlord Prince Yormie Johnson who was responsible for Doe’s death. During this meeting, the family publicly forgave Johnson who said it was through Joshua’s prayers that he stopped drinking alcohol and turned to Christianity.
The Prophet has been reported to have played important roles in reconciling broken homes and restoring families torn apart by false accusations.
Humanitarian awards.
In recognition of his humanitarian activities, Prophet T B Joshua was awarded a National Honour by the Nigerian government in 2008 as well as receiving a letter of appreciation from the United Nations. He was further honored as an Ambassador of Peace by the Arewa Youth Forum, a predominantly Muslim organization, as well as being recognized with an ‘award of excellence by ZAKA, Israel’s primary rescue and recovery voluntary service.
Prophet T B Joshua died on the 5th of June, 2021 at age 57 in his Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Lagos, Nigeria. The cause of his death was not disclosed. The world in this age and times is desperately in need of more men with hearts of gold, who will rise to their calling and minister to the needs of men, both spiritually and physically. His followers, benefactors, and fans would surely miss him, the numerous lives he has impacted positively will miss him.
This article was compiled from various media sources including the Wikipedia page T. B. Joshua.
