Temitope Balogun Joshua, one of Africa’s most popular televangelists who was known as T.B. Joshua, has died. He was 57.
The Nigerian-born pastor was the founder of the megachurch Synagogue Church Of All Nations, or SCOAN, which also runs the Emmanuel Television Station in Lagos.
The church announced his death in a statement on Sunday. No cause of death was given.
“God has taken His servant Prophet T.B Joshua home — as it should be by divine will,” the church said, adding that “his last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for, and died for.”
T.B. Joshua was noted for making predictions and for his claims to cure various ailments and to make people prosper through miracles. He was, however, controversial, with critics questioning his claims and saying he profited off of people seeking hope.
Many African presidents, senior government officials, international soccer players, musicians and other high-profile guests have worshipped at the church. He was popular in many African countries, and in South America where he had held many religious crusades.
TB Joshua successfully prophesied the passing of Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika who died of a cardiac arrest on 5 April in 2012.
Bingu was succeeded by his deputy, President Joyce Banda, a stout follower of the televangelist. After assuming the high office of Malawi, she frequently visited the church to seek the face of God in order to govern her people well.
The late President John Evans Atta Mills prior to the 2008 general elections in Ghana visited TB Joshua to seek the face of God during the election.
A thanksgiving service was held on Sunday 11th January 2009 in honor of President John Evans Atta Mills, during his visit to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations as the newly elected President of Ghana.
During the service, President Atta Mills personally confirmed the prophetic message he received from Prophet TB Joshua regarding his historic ascension to office.
“Those who humble themselves under God’s hand have taken the best course to secure themselves,” President Mills said.
Former Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Richard Tsvangirai has also visited Nigeria to seek spiritual help at SCOAN.
“Just like the President of Ghana who came to Synagogue Church to seek the face of God during the election in his country, the Zimbabwe Prime Minister is also at the Synagogue Church to seek the face of God,” aid to Tsvangirai said.
Former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba also visited the SCOAN while in power, as well as the late leader of Gabon, Omar Bongo, and the Zulu King all visited the SCOAN to seek the face of God and spiritual direction to rule.
More than 15,000 people from Nigeria and abroad attend SCOAN’s Sunday services.
In September 2014, the guest house of the church collapsed, killing more than 100 people, most of them foreigners who were in Nigeria to attend his services.
While authorities say the building collapsed because of structural defects, T.B. Joshua insisted the building was blown up by a small plane that he claimed flew over it shortly before it came down.
Joshua is survived by his widow and three children.
