Renowned Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua turned 52 on Wednesday June 12th 2015. The birthday celebration was held in South Africa with the families of the victims who died on Friday, September 12th 2015 while visiting the Synagogue Church of All Nation.
The Nigerian cleric’s popularity in Southern Africa has shown no signs of waning, despite the tragic building collapse that claimed the lives of 84 South Africans in his church last year.
We were informed, family members of those who lost their lives and survivors of the incident were among those who organised the celebration for Pastor Joshua, alongside ‘The SCOAN Family in Southern Africa’.
Although, the prophet was not there in person to attend the celebration, members of the SCOAN Family in Southern African and well-wishers gathered in thousands to honour the cleric man.
It was announced on his Christian network, Emmanuel TV penultimate Sunday that the cleric had arrived in Nigeria over a week ago from his crusade in Mexico but was “waiting for God’s instruction on what to do next”.
Joshua used the occasion of his 52nd birthday to remind well-wishers to care for the less privileged and create jobs for unemployed graduates. Calling on those who desired to give cash or kind towards the occasion, should rather channel such resources into charitable endeavours.
“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 and rededicate yourself to the act of giving. Be a father to the fatherless and a benefactor to the needy. Raise the standard of living through the little you are going to invest,” Joshua exhorted congregants. “Those things you have for T.B. Joshua, even what you will spend on a greeting card, put it together and spend it on this commission.”
He stated his priority project was facilitating the creation of jobs for frustrated graduates, calling on all in a position to support job-seekers to come forward. “We must get jobs for people who are jobless. This is the number one project for me. I am going to pursue it. Graduates are everywhere without jobs. This birthday, it will be an assignment for me.”
“At 52, I should be more grateful to God and show more commitment to His service,” the Nigerian pastor stated. Stressing that the source of his success lay in the closeness of his relationship with God, Joshua revealed, “If I could give you one clue to my success, I would say I took care of the depth of my relationship with God and He took care of the breadth of my success. Jesus will do the same for you!”
Born on June 12th 1963 in Ondo State, Nigeria, T.B. Joshua’s rise from a poverty-stricken home to an internationally renowned minister of God is nothing short of remarkable. With his birth shrouded in mystery, legend has it that Joshua was in his mother’s womb for 15 months. It is also claimed he narrowly avoided death seven days after his birth when a quarry explosion near his house sent rocks through his roof, missing him by inches.
From dropping out of secondary school in his first year to working in a poultry farm carrying chicken waste to teaching little children while attending evening classes, to washing people’s legs on the muddy streets of Lagos, a forty-day fast to receiving a divine call and starting a ministry with a mere eight members – the life of T.B. Joshua is indeed a journey of amazing grace.
Today, thousands journey weekly to his abode in the heart of Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos to seek spiritual solace with millions more tuning in to watch what is reputed to be Africa’s most popular station, Emmanuel TV.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that Joshua may soon be leaving Nigerian shores on a more permanent basis, fueled further by the celebration of his 52 birthday which was held in South Africa, originally scheduled to hold in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigeria’s tourism board will likely be unimpressed by the announcement as last year over 5,000 foreign pilgrims made the journey to Nigeria to celebrate with Joshua. Official figures revealed two years ago that 6 in every 10 visitors to Nigeria are bound for The SCOAN.