Nigerian preacher TB Joshua, one of Africa’s most influential evangelists, has died at the age of 57.
A post on his Facebook page, which has more than five million followers, said: “God has taken His servant”.
Reports said he died on Saturday shortly after conducting a live broadcast, but the cause of his death has not been made public. Tens of thousands would attend his services, with top politicians from across Africa among his followers.
But his teachings and practises were also controversial.
In April, YouTube suspended his account due to allegations of hate speech after a rights body filed a complaint over videos showing the preacher conducting prayers to “cure” gay people.
Facebook also removed at least one post showing a woman being slapped while TB Joshua said he was casting out a “demonic spirit”.
Currently, tributes have been pouring in on social media for the preacher, widely referred to as Prophet TB Joshua by his followers.
WHO WAS TB JOSHUA?
Temitope Balogun Joshua was the founder of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations. He was one of Nigeria’s most popular televangelists but was perhaps the least flamboyant of his peers.
Tens of thousands of people have attended his weekly services in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.
His rise to prominence in the late 1990s coincided with the explosion of “miracle” programmes performed on national TV by various pastors.
TB Joshua was often mocked for lacking the finesse of his colleagues during “deliverance” sessions – an intense prayer that resembles exorcism.
His ministry professed to heal all manner of illnesses including HIV/Aids and attracted people from all over the world.
One of his churches collapsed in 2014, killing at least 116 people including many South Africans.
A coroner in a Lagos court said “the church was culpable because of criminal negligence”, but he never faced any charges.
Known as the “Prophet” by his followers, he ran the Christian television station Emmanuel TV and often toured Africa, the US, the UK and South America.
GOD’S GENERAL IS SLEEPING
Late Prophet TB Joshua left behind his wife Evelyn who is also a pastor in his church and the second most powerful person in the Synagogue Church of all Nations and 3 daughters.
Did you know!
Facts About TB JOSHUA
Did you know that Pastor TB Joshua stayed in his mother’s womb for 15 months before he was born?
He attended six colleges in less than one year due to lack of sponsorship.
Though he did not complete his secondary school education.
The televangelist is one of the richest pastors not just in Nigeria, but the world.
His life was full of struggle,as he came from a poor family, during rain season he used to wash people’s feet on roads,just to gain a living.
He worked in a poultry just to raise school fees.
One day he sacrificed his own schools fees and paid for his classmate( friend) who was chased from school for failure to pay school fees
After paying for his friend,TB Joshua then went to look for piece works to look for his own school fees.He sold chicken wastes(manure) to raise his own school fees.
He was such a humble soul who never gave up.
He started prayer and fasting from childhood.
Whenever his mother was in debts,TB Joshua would go on mountain and pray/fast.
Everytime he would knock off from school,he would go to the prayer mountain and pray.
He was nicknamed Small pastor in the school attend.
One day, a mad person came at his(TB Joshua)’s school armed to his teeth!
Everyone one including the teachers and pupils ran for their dear lives, But to the shock of everyone the small TB Joshua walked directly to the mad man and said,
“Give me your knives, tools, etc, and leave this school now in Jesus name,” that’s how the mad man left the premises in peace like an Angel who had fallen from heaven on a sofa!.
One of his favourite quotes was, “Never allow your current situation predict your future, God’s time is the best!. Everything great starts small”.
Meanwhile, his birthday falls on June 12
Six days to go, that’s the day he will likely be put to rest.
A LIFE WORTHY LIVING
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