12th June, 2013
Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, has directed his followers not to shower him with gifts as he clocks 50 today, instead they should spend their money and possessions on the poor who need help the most.
Nigeria’s televangelist, faith healer and founder of Emmanuel Television was born in the small village of Arigidi in Akoko area of Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, on 12 June 1963.
After many low paid jobs in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, including one he loves to remember as a poultry farmer, T.B. Joshua burst into the national scene in the 1990s with his miracles and healings.
“Those things that you have for T.B. Joshua, even what you will spend on a greeting card, put it together and spend it on this commission (the poor),” T.B. Joshua said.
“Be a father to the fatherless. There are many homeless and fatherless orphans. If you can’t bring anyone of them to your house, you must go to them, care for them and give them scholarships,” he said.
He added: “Whatever you have as a gift for the ceremony or the occasion of my 50th birthday, put it together and use it to rededicate yourself to the acts of giving. No matter how small it is.”
The Man In The Synagogue, as TB Joshua is known to followers around the world, said God has directed him to create employment for jobless graduates.
“One of the projects the Lord has given to us at 50 is that we must create jobs for people who are jobless. This is the number one project for my 50th birthday. I am going to pursue it. Graduates everywhere are without a jobs. I asked the Lord to bless me to be in position to help them. This birthday, it will be an assignment for me,” T.B. Joshua said.
Joshua warned that if jobs were not quickly created for the unemployed, the future will be bleak and no one will be able to sleep.
“If you listen to the graduates today, you will be afraid of the future. If something is not done quickly, you will not be able to sleep and close your eyes in the future. Tomorrow will be tough. We have to come together and do something now,” he said.
On 26 May, T.B. Joshua began the assignment of facilitating the provision of jobs to graduates. At least 24 graduates were given employment.
On his birthday, he said God has blessed him beyond his expectations and he would like to give something back to the creator to say thank you.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. At 50, the Lord has given me so much in all areas of my life which I cannot reciprocate. At 50, I should be more grateful to God and show more commitment to His service,” he said.
He told followers that “the best way to celebrate this birthday is to be on your knees and thank God for the life of T.B. Joshua.
“Pray for the Church of God for a strong bond of love. Pray for your nation and the whole world.”
—Simon Ateba