I’m Determined To Carry On My Husband’s Legacy —Evelyn, TB Joshua’s Widow
FUNSHO AROGUNDADE
Pastor Evelyn Onyisi Joshua, the widow of Nigeria’s charismatic clergy and founder, The Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as T.B. Joshua, has assured of her determination to sustain the legacy of her late husband.
Pastor Evelyn revealed this during her address as the new leader of SCOAN at the first Commemorative Service in celebration of the life and legacy of the late Prophet on Sunday, June 5 at the Church headquarters in Ikotun, Lagos.
According to her, exactly a year ago, the prophet “finished his race and left us all in a blaze of glory. Of course as humans, we wept, we wailed, we worried. I did it all. But today, we have gathered here not to mourn but to return all the glory to the Father for thus far He has been with us, His mercy, grace and favour which stand sure in our lives.
“We are all witnesses to all that has been happening since the church reopened—on the 5th of December, 2021— exactly six months after Prophet T.B Joshua passed on to glory. The vision has been carried on. The mission has remained the same and the Lord has been faithful in all ways.
“Despite what the ministry has been through, we are inspired and energized by the strong arms of God and the powerful sustaining spirit of the partners and members all over the world. The ship of the ministry is being steered by the God of T.B. Joshua as He has always done. He is the spiritual spinal cord of the ministry and we are profoundly proud of His mighty name, for what He has kept doing for us in all ramifications.”
The new SCOAN leader, who was surrounded by more than a dozen of Preachers of the Word from across the globe who prayed for her on the journey ahead, described her late husband and father of their three daughters as a ‘Prophet for Generations’ whom she shared many wonderful moments with.
““The T.B. Joshua I knew, that I married and who fathered my three daughters was a man of prayer—in fact, that was what led me to him…We are indeed determined to broaden the scope and relevance of Prophet T.B. Joshua’s legacy,” Pastor Evelyn assured.
While stating that the SCOAN Mountain in Egbe, Lagos remains an assured place of meeting God through prayers, she was excited that members have not stopped visiting the serene site in order to encounter God.
“We give glory to the name of the Lord for the marvelous miracles and deliverance taking place every moment at the mountain,” she added while noting that work is ongoing at the completion of the SCOAN Mountain in Arigidi Akoko, a dream project at the heart of the late prophet in his hometown in Ondo State.
In his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Rev. Bukola Adeleke, his SSA on Religious Matters congratulated Pastor Evelyn for keeping the memory of her late husband alive, while his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his deputy, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, also offered his heart-warmed wishes to the TB Joshua family and the entire members of SCOAN.
There were messages from representatives of former Ghanaian President, Mr. John Mahama; Cross River House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Hon. Joseph Bassey and President of Israel Economic Centre for Peace, Mr. Ayoob Kara.
Meanwhile, it was an admixture of music, comedy, ministration, and exhortation at the special commemorative service compered by Nigeria’s comedy icon, Ali Baba and MC Frank Brown.
During his exhortation, Pastor Bernard Mulder from South Africa urged Christians to look beyond the tragedies of life and focus on what God called them to do.
There were music and drama ministrations from the likes of internationally acclaimed flute player, Tee Mac Omatshola; Child prodigy, Esther; The Emmanuel TV Choir; South Korea professional Opera singer, Samuel Kim; award-winning American gospel artistes Shirley Murdock and Vashawn Mitchell; Ondo State Government House Choir; The Salt of the Earth Band; and The I For Christ Drama Group.
The celebration concluded with the unveiling of T.B. Joshua Foundation and the T.B Joshua Museum where life and activities of the Prophet will be documented.
T.B Joshua, also a televangelist and philanthropist, passed on June 5, 2021 at age 57.
The enigmatic clergy —especially with his preaching style and record of miracle performances — would have been 58 on June 12, 2022.