Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly known as TB Joshua was honoured by people all around the world, members and non-members of his church, he was revered by people from all around the world and his weekly services contained tens of thousands of people from around the world.
Thousands of people mourning the death of the founder of The Synagogue Church of Nations are assembled in his house in Ikotun, Lagos. The former church leader died at age 57 after a brief sickness.
TB Joshua known as the “Prophet” by his followers ran the Christian television station Emmanuel TV and often travelled across Africa, the United States and South America, despite the fact that he grew up in a poor family and was raised by his uncle, a Muslim after his father who was a Christian died.
Different countries flags hung outside the church, and it waved at half-mast. It is difficult to understand if the flags belong to the countries he visited during his lifetime. The poles of the flags stretch beyond one kilometre.
Most of the mourners and onlookers were not members of his church but his demise affected them because he lived a life of philanthropy and his ever-busy church served as a means of business for some people.
In attendance also are dignitaries such as Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Mr Joshua’s home state of Ondo, who read from a bible passage. A delegation was sent to attend his burial on Friday by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which was always at loggerhead with TB Joshua’s ways during his lifetime.
He had always wanted to be accepted by the largest Christian faith while he was alive, it’s so sad his wish came to pass at his death. His wife, Evelyn Joshua will take on the reigns as the General Overseer of the church by appointment said her husband grew the church from eight members to what it has become today.
“For gold to become gold it must pass through fire. I just want to thank you for being a good father to our children,” she said at Tuesday’s all-day tributes service.
His children, Sarah Joshua, Promise Joshua and Heart Joshua, described their father as “a man with a formidable dedication”.
