Elegy to Prophet TB Joshua By Barr. Kissinger Ikeokwu

I do not agree with all the worship practices and patterns of the SCOAN. If you lived beyond the day you left the world, I would not have visited nor joined the SCOAN.

But I am a witness to your sojourn on planet earth. I must confess that I count myself lucky to be among the generation you impacted. I know you may not have known this while you are alive. That though like all human you are not perfect. Far be it, that you will be without flaw.

All the controversies regarding the Prophetorial office, miracles and SCOAN mode of service are well documented and need not be recited at this moment of grief over your demise. On your death, every mortal being who had an issue with you or your service to God, ought to forgive for areas of weakness and and highlight some great fits you achieved for God’s kingdom.

For clarity I wish to document the fond memories I will always have about your Sir by itemizing them. Hear firsthand something’s that made TB Joshua special.

1. You were humble. A gentle soul. I never saw you angry. Never saw you in a fiery mood. You are an embodiment of peace, grace, wisdom and gentility. If we emulate just this from you, the world will be a better place. One man who never spoke out of provocation.

2. You taught me and the rest of the world the best way to respond to criticisms, malignant attacks, peer and contemporary rivalry, jealousy. All the decades and for all that was thrown at you, your response was always one thing. “Silence”. I have never seen a mortal who never bothered what the world says about him. I never saw you curse, insult, reply in fury to anyone. You lived your life doing just one thing amidst all the doubts and jeers that you are a fake prophet. You never bothered nor struggled to reply to anyone. You allowed time to run its course. I must say I loved you for this Sir.

3. Until your death, I never knew you had a wife or children. I know many will be surprised just like myself. How did you achieve that Sir? You are simply a legend. You lived a quiet family life. None knew you were such a loving husband and father to multiple until you demise to great beyond. We learn Sir.

5. You are the only and first Nigerian I can beat my chest and say documented his life journey on earth. You documented your life sojourn more than anyone else. As if you knew you won’t be here for too long. The videos of your life can sustain all that you are known, for many generations to come. Even to many upcoming generation who never had the privilege to see you. Legend.

6. You will be remembered for your preaching of ” the Love of Jesus”, “Grace”, “Peace and salvation from Jesus”. I never saw you hitting on wealth, tithes, seed faith, prosperity. Your few preachings I watched or listened to you preached more about the Love of Jesus above every other consideration. I have never seen a video where you asked people to donate money. People gave into your missionary work voluntarily.

7. Outside your Church, all I knew about you was how you helped people. Your compassion and humanitarian gesture are well documented even when I never met you nor witnessed any in person. The testimonies every where is that you uplifted people. You loved mankind and lived a life giving and impacting people.

8. You were rejected by the CAN. PFN. Many ostracized or distanced themselves from you. Many predicted doom for your mission in SCOAN. Though without controversy, you clinged more to the name “Jesus”. The more they appropriated you to Lucifer, the more you professed Jesus and even exemplified the life of Jesus more than the noisiest of them. You were so consistent to your faith. The whole world condemned you, wrote you off, rejected you but you showed the power of consistency in what you believed and at the last count, I heard you profess only ” Jesus”. You lived the simple message that Christianity is about how we live it and not by the word of mouth.

9. You had a knack for excellence. Everything about the Synagogue Church was top notch. You settled for only the best. One can disagree with you, but the mission through EmmanuelTV was simply irresistible. When NBC banned all Miracle display program targeting mostly your SCOAN programs, you established EmmanuelTV and sustained it just with your partners. The SCOAN Praise and Worship on EmmanuelTV used to be the highest point for my family. Simply irresistible. The sound production and quality bears your knack for excellence.

10. Even in affluence, I never saw the luxury around you. Not in your dressing. Never saw you cause traffic. Not a limousine nor private Jet. Not a desire to conquer the land. Your dressing was simple, consistent and predictable. You rejected the Lekkis, Ikoyis, Suruleres but chose the suburbs of Ikotun, that catches no eyes. No one knew when you were traveling or in the aircraft. No one saw you taking selfies in beautiful landmarks overseas. But you saw and conquered all. No private University, not much businesses attached to your person. Oh what a man. Not the Masters, PHD Degrees. But you had the one and only pilgrimage the world visits Nigeria to see in lowly Ikotun suburb.

I must say your life impacted me in many ways. Like I highlighted above, I have learnt many things from your sojourn on planet earth that I need to apply for a lifetime. Finally you were not judged by the verdict of men, nor the controversies that surrounded the SCOAN, miracles or prophecies. You were justified by your Good Works. Finally I saw a man who to a greater degree exemplified the Love of Jesus. You had peace in your self and with your God, so who am I to condemn you.

Thank you for being such a wonderful influence. I am grateful to be a part of the generation you impacted Sir. As I sign off, I have few words for you Sir.

Goodnight Prophet TB Joshua

Adieu Prophet TB Joshua.

Finally Posterity judged you faithful a consistent soldier of the Gospel.

I celebrate your life journey on planet earth. No one can debate it that you lived a life worthy of emulation.

Adieu Sir.

Kissinger Ikeokwu writes from Owerri.