| Whatever stance one has taken on the credibility of | | | | people or meeting certain manmade criteria? Are we |
| TB Joshua, the famous (or infamous?) pastor of The | | | | mere mortals in a position to query God’s |
| Synagogue Church of All Nation’s in Lagos, | | | | wisdom and ways? |
| Nigeria – one fact remains indisputable, his is an | | | | Chiji Okafor, the celebrated Nigerian columnist and |
| incredible journey surrounded in mystery and being | | | | artist, wrote of such a disposition and demeanour: |
| written in history. Joshua is easily the most vilified | | | | “It is amazing that anybody who lays claim to |
| pastor in Africa, yet by far the most sought after. | | | | being a pastor of God should be talking about |
| He is the hope of multitudes and yet the headache | | | | mentoring in matters of the faith as if talking about |
| of religious bodies, who have vehemently disowned | | | | some rookie artisan being shepherded into 'freedom' |
| him but can’t seem to ignore him. It is a living | | | | from his master's workshop. Such drivel simply |
| drama being watched world over, as time’s | | | | speaks volumes of the man who utters it. It reveals |
| steady course continues its revealing discourse on | | | | the depth of vulgarity to which our 'modern' men of |
| truth and authenticity. But what is it about TB Joshua | | | | God have allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to sink. |
| that has actually engendered such outright | | | | “Anybody who boasts in God's vineyard about |
| denunciation and renunciation by his fellow labourers in | | | | his mentor and such other inane subjects as earthly |
| the vineyard? | | | | endowments has simply not imbibed the lessons of |
| Upon perusal of the apparent grouses and grudges | | | | Christ's personal life. Jesus Christ the Son of God |
| of the Pentecostal Leaders of Nigeria against the | | | | could have been born a prince, if He so chose. On |
| enigma and personality of Prophet TB Joshua, high up | | | | the contrary, God made man, decided to come into |
| on the list is the issue of his mentorship. “Where | | | | this world, the son of a wretched carpenter born in, |
| was he when he was called to ministry? Who are the | | | | of all places, a manger and side-by-side animals! He |
| men of God who can point at him, that we raised | | | | had neither an earthly mentor, nor did the Bible tell us |
| him into ministry, laid hands on him and sent him forth | | | | that He had doctorate degrees in sacred theology |
| into the ministry?” says Paul Adefarasin, the | | | | and dogmatic philosophy. |
| charismatic founder of House of the Rock, Lagos. | | | | “In His divine wisdom, God chooses whom He |
| “We don't know Joshua's Pastor; we don't know | | | | crowns king and decides whom He endows with any |
| where he was raised from. He has no testimony | | | | gift He likes – and we all have our different gifts. |
| from where he got born again. So, we cannot accept | | | | Anybody who challenges this wisdom of God |
| that he is one of us… There is no proof of his | | | | Almighty blasphemes against Him, by querying His |
| salvation,” explains Matthew Ashimolowo, the | | | | authority. So, why would God choose a humble, even |
| prosperity preacher and founder of KICC in London. | | | | innocent, or bucolic Temitope Balogun Joshua for the |
| “There are only two questions Ayo Oritsejafor | | | | enormous anointing he has received? Why didn't He |
| (President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria) | | | | pick one of those blue-blooded, Oxford-trained peers |
| asked us to ask Joshua or anybody who comes | | | | of the realm?” |
| from him: When were you born again? Which church | | | | Bolu-Olu Esho, a journalist with The Sun Newspaper |
| did he attend and who was his pastor or | | | | further wrote on the issue: “Pastor T.B Joshua |
| mentor?” fumes Bishop Abraham Olaleye, a vice | | | | has a simple background that could tempt one to ask |
| chairman of PFN. “Who were his contemporaries | | | | questions about how he achieved the feat he’s |
| when he gave his life to Christ? What led to his | | | | known for today. But minds of history would be at |
| confession of Christ? How did it happen? Where was | | | | ease, as they would consider him as another |
| he baptised? Who baptised him? Who are his | | | | manifestation of the mystery assigned to God |
| pastors? Where did he train? Who is the Paul of his | | | | Almighty. The question of academics in the work of |
| Timothy?” asks Bola Akin-John, a Pentecostal | | | | God is inconsequential, as God does not consider this |
| church growth expert. | | | | as a criterion for choosing people for His work…The |
| That miracles and commendable charitable works are | | | | stance of these ministers of God against Pastor |
| happening in his church is attested to by almost all, | | | | Joshua makes one question how versed they are in |
| but such leaders can’t seem to fathom how a | | | | the Word of God. Is it not written in the Bible that |
| man so mightily gifted could have attained such a | | | | God used the foolish things of this world to confound |
| level without human tutorship and training. As such | | | | the wise?” |
| cannot be explained by the logic and lectures of | | | | Clearly, the question our revered gentlemen should |
| theological training, they readily write him off as | | | | ask is not, ‘Who is your mentor?’ but |
| demonic and diabolic. Surely, a man of God of such | | | | ‘By what authority are you acting?’ in |
| stature and status could not just spring up without | | | | conjunction with the biblical standard: ‘By their |
| the approval and appraisal of some top-notch | | | | fruits, you shall know them.’ The attributes and |
| Christian leaders? Thus, they have proclaimed to all | | | | qualities a person possesses speak volumes of their |
| willing to listen that anyone who associates with TB | | | | source of strength. The steadfast consistency, |
| Joshua does so to their own folly, be him a president | | | | prophetic insight, charitable disposition, healing gifting, |
| or pauper, simply because they have adopted a | | | | practical teaching, heavenly wisdom and childlike |
| strong position without investigating its foundational | | | | simplicity of T.B. Joshua cannot possibly be the |
| validity. | | | | product of illusion, sorcery or man’s acumen. The |
| However, the phenomenon of men being used by | | | | testimony of Ghana’s new head, Prof. Atta Mills, |
| the Almighty without human tutelage is not isolated | | | | alone is enough to confirm the genuineness and |
| to the instance of Pastor TB Joshua. Thorough biblical | | | | greatness of Joshua’s ministry and calling. Has |
| exploration would reveal many of God’s generals | | | | history ever heard of a sitting president visit a church |
| with no record or register of human mentorship. Who | | | | and publically testify that the pastor accurately |
| was the mentor of Jeremiah, who the Bible says God | | | | predicted the outcome and specific details of the |
| called right from his mother’s womb? Who was | | | | election to him? His testimony echoes the tens of |
| the mentor of John the Baptist, sent from above to | | | | thousands who rush to Joshua’s church on a |
| prepare the way for the Saviour? Who was the | | | | weekly basis to receive a touch from God. |
| mentor of Apostle Paul, who was blinded on the road | | | | Sadly, the gap between the accusers and the |
| to Damascus while intent on the destruction of | | | | accused is ever widening as many leading pastors in |
| Christians, subsequently to become a leading figure in | | | | Nigeria are becoming more embroiled in the pursuit of |
| New Testament Christianity? What about Moses, | | | | money and material gain than the essence of |
| Elijah or King David? Human backing and tuition are | | | | Christ’s gospel and work. Kingdom business |
| clearly not a qualification for divine assignments. | | | | seems more like worldly business, with pastors |
| What then is the premise for church leaders today to | | | | making headlines for expensive acquisitions, lavish |
| demand proof of mentorship as a seal of | | | | living and political speeches as opposed to solving |
| apostleship? Can this assertion be attributed to the | | | | problems, meeting needs and changing lives. Ilobi |
| application of biblical principles, or to personal | | | | Austin, a catholic in faith, wrote, “While God is |
| misgivings and prejudice? Why has the Nigerian | | | | ordering his (T.B. Joshua’s) counterparts to |
| Pentecostal church chosen to adopt a stance on a | | | | acquire more automobiles and in some cases, private |
| particular person that contradicts and conflicts with | | | | jets with cost in the billion bracket, the same God is |
| scriptural authority and experience? It appears to be | | | | asking him to love humanity like himself and |
| a case of addressing private qualms and jealousies | | | | consequently, improve their earthly and heavenly |
| under the guise of Christian comradeship and | | | | fortunes. He is today, father to the fatherless, |
| censorship, misguiding and incensing millions of | | | | mother to the motherless, friend to the friendless |
| followers against TB Joshua and projecting the image | | | | and government to the government-less. Little |
| of a warring and divided church in the process. | | | | wonder then, that the good Lord magnanimously |
| The current president of PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor | | | | found him worthy for the arduous task of delivering |
| has consistently remained one of Joshua’s most | | | | his people from the vice grip of the devil. Such |
| vocal critics, even expelling any PFN members who | | | | powers in the hands of such ministers, who have |
| attempt to fraternise with him. He makes his stand | | | | made the criticism of his ministries their pastime, |
| known clearly on the pulpit and in the pages of | | | | would have seen deliverance going to the highest |
| newspapers: “T.B. Joshua is not a Christian. If T.B. | | | | bidders.” |
| Joshua can show me his pastor who pastored him | | | | So what has TB Joshua to say on all this? Here is his |
| before he said he was called into the ministry; if T.B. | | | | own response when asked about his non-admission |
| Joshua can tell me when he got converted and how | | | | into PFN in a recent interview with The Sun: “As |
| he got converted, then we would consider him.” | | | | a point of correction, I never applied to be a member |
| Yet, T.B. Joshua’s own website recounts the | | | | of any association. Okay? Two, the way and manner |
| extraordinary tale of his calling into the ministry, | | | | God executes His plan in our lives differ. Some He |
| available for all to read and dissect: “I was in a | | | | brought them from this direction, some from another |
| trance for three consecutive days, then I saw a | | | | direction. Some He allowed to go to Theology school, |
| hand that pointed a Bible to my heart and the Bible | | | | some He allowed them to go to the university and |
| entered my heart and my former heart seemed to | | | | they may not even go to Theology school. Some, |
| immerse with the Bible immediately… I heard a | | | | they may not even go to school at all. Yet they |
| voice saying, “I am your God; I am giving you a | | | | would become whatever God wants them to |
| divine commission to go and carry out the work of | | | | become. There is a university of God – and in |
| the Heavenly Father… I would show you the | | | | the University of God, however brilliant you may be, |
| wonderful ways I would reveal myself through you, | | | | you will not be given double promotion – you |
| in teaching, preaching, miracles, signs and wonders for | | | | must take every course, because each course |
| the salvation of souls”. So, is it a crime for God | | | | serves a purpose. |
| to call one for His service without consulting certain | | | | |