Worshippers at The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) were, on Sunday, thrown into deep mourning over the sudden death of the founder, Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua.
Joshua, popularly known as Prophet T.B. Joshua, died on Saturday at the age of 57, as announced on the church’s website .
At the Synagogue in Ikotun area of Lagos State, residents and members expressed shock over the sudden demise of the prophet.
Some of the worshippers had come to church enthusiastically looking forward to the prophet’s ministrations and counselling, only to hear the untimely sad news.
It was an atmosphere of despair and uncertainty as the members who had come for service and counseling unaware of the death, were seen in tears at the gate of the church.
Most of the members and residents felt their hope of miracles were shattered and openly cried to God to wake and bring back to life the popular televangelist whom they called “Daddy”.
Mr Celestine Okwuosa, a faithful, said that the pastor preached on death at the mountain on Saturday and made comments on his passing, and afterwards passed on.
Okwuosa said that he believed the pastor had the premonition of his demise before the time.
According to him, the world will miss him dearly and church members will miss him for his great deeds.
“Going to three years now, there has not been church service in the church auditorium.
“But the pastor only book people online and take them to the mountain for prayers and other programmes due to the lockdown,” he said.
Mrs Bola Adeniran, a resident of the area, who had yet to come to terms with the reality of the situation, said that the pastor could not have died but was resting.
Adeniran listed so many things that the pastor had done for the benefit of the people.
She said the electricity transformer that served the area was given to the community by the late T.B Joshua.
“There were sets of less privileged persons that he gave money every week to sustain their wellbeing.
“We, all the people of the area, are in disbelief over the news and we are praying for God to revive him to continue his good works,” she said.
The entrance gate to the church, though barricaded by security operatives, accommodated thousands of sympathisers who occupied every available space to mourn the pastor.
Many of them broke down and cried uncontrollably on Sunday.
Some of the members could not utter anything audible as tears enveloped their faces each time they tried to say something.
Some of them said that his death was unfortunate, especially at a time the nation was in need of strong voices to unite it and entrench love and genuine spirituality
They said that he committed his time on earth to serving God and humanity.
Others, amidst tears, wondered what their lives would be like, in his absence, as he was their saviour in time of material need and in prayer.
One of the mourners kept screaming that God should have taken her, instead of Joshua.
Joshua, who would have been 58 on June 12, was known as a fiery preacher and had followers worldwide.
He used his TV channel to attract a large number of Christians from across the world.
The TV channel, which is run by Joshua’s Church, is one of the largest Christian broadcast stations, available on DStv channel 390 and digitally on social networks.
Joshua was one of Nigeria’s most influential and wealthiest Pastors whose followers included prominent politicians and business leaders from across Africa and around the world
Mrs Melinda Soares, a member of SCOAN, who came in from Seme, said “Baba”, as Joshua was fondly called by his followers, died for Nigeria.
“Baba has finally died for Nigeria ! This has always been his wish. I have never seen a man of God like him. He does what he says and says what he does.
“He still said the same thing yesterday on the mountain where we went. His death is a pointer to the fact that God’s will for Nigeria is finally coming to pass,” Soares said.
Mr Perter Lucas, another member, said God took Joshua at a very early age so that, through him, there would be peace in Nigeria.
Mrs Ifeoma Cherechi, a member of the Church, said that Joshua had been her helper over the years.
“Now that he is gone, I am at a loss. Without him, I would not have known Lagos State.
“God, please bring Baba back and take us. He should not die. Let it be that you called him to give him a message to us.
“He has been a good father to me, my landlord and my children, both financially, spiritually and physically. He has always been there for me.
“What will be my worth now? How will my life and that of my family be?,” she cried.
Meanwhile, members who came to worship but couldn’t gain access to the Church auditorium, continued to praise and worship at the Church entrance.
They prayed for the repose of Joshua’s soul.
Some of the sympathisers, who likened his departure to that of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the Founder of the Church of God Mission, said “saints transit quietly’’.
Some mourners, who described the late prophet as humble, said that they came to the Synagogue to confirm his death.
They said the news was “unbelievable and shocking’’ hence they wanted to confirm themselves rather than relying on social media and it turned out to be true.
Mrs Chizoba Ajuoku, a resident of Agbara, Ogun State and a member of the church, said she got the information through one of the platforms of the church around 5.30 a.m. and immediately drove to the place to confirm the sad news.
Ajuoku, who said that she had been attending the church for 12 years, expressed shock on the death of the man she called daddy.
“Just like Idahosa, who passed away during his active days after a session with his associates, Prophet Joshua also passed on after having a service with members on the mountain.
“For him and God his maker, he must have completed his task here on earth and God called him home to our disbelief,’’ she said.
Mrs Dorothy Afoke-Imade, another member said the world would miss his preachings that were mostly accompanied by miracles.
“He was in the same realm like Idahosa, touched lives positively and proffered solutions to social crises. Little wonder he commanded followers across the globe.
“As an apostle of faith, we have the firm belief that he is rested with the Lord in Paradise. It is left for us to advance his legacies and immortalise him,” she said.
Mr Tochukwu Amadi, a worker in the church, said that the prophet did his best to better his environment.
According to him, with his exit, rapture is at hand, therefore, everyone should amend his or her ways to conform with God’s standards.
