Date of Birth and Death
Place of Birth:
Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
Profession
Pastor, Televangelist
Nationality:
Zodiac Sign:
Age: Died at 58 Years Old
ABOUT
Temitope Balogun Joshua, often known as T.B. Joshua, was a prominent Nigerian charismatic pastor and televangelist born on 12 June 1963. He was the visionary leader and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a large Christian megachurch based in Lagos, Nigeria. SCOAN operates the Emmanuel TV television station, which broadcasts its services and programs worldwide.
T.B. Joshua gained significant popularity across Africa and Latin America, establishing a vast following. His influence extended into the digital realm, where he had an impressive social media presence, including over six million fans on Facebook. Emmanuel TV, his YouTube channel, garnered over one million subscribers, making it the most-viewed Christian ministry on the platform. However, in 2021, YouTube suspended the channel due to alleged homophobic hate speech.
The media often referred to T.B. Joshua as the “Oprah of Evangelism” and “YouTube’s most popular pastor” due to his widespread reach and influence. His dynamic preaching, prophetic messages, and reported miracles attracted millions, making him a notable figure in global evangelical circles.
Joshua passed away on 5 June 2021, shortly after an evening service in Lagos, Nigeria, just a week before his 58th birthday.
BEFORE FAME
Joshua was born into a Yoruba family that included both Muslims and Christians. Following the death of his father, he was raised by his Muslim uncle. He attended St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School in Arigidi Akoko from 1971 to 1977 but left secondary school after one year to work on a poultry farm. Known as “small pastor” for his love of the Bible, Joshua once attempted to join the Nigerian military but was thwarted by a train breakdown en route to the academy.
From the outset of his ministry, Temitope Balogun Joshua maintained a strong connection with nature, believing it enhanced his spirituality. In an abandoned swampy area in Agodo-Egbe, Lagos, the young prophet dedicated countless days to prayer, fasting, and solitude, driven by a divine commission.
Inspired by a visit to The Synagogue of Old in Jerusalem, Israel, where Jesus Christ had ministered, Prophet TB Joshua felt called by God to establish a church. He began with just eight members, and the church was prophetically named ‘The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations’ (SCOAN). In 1989, he laid the foundation for the first church, joyfully walking among the initial congregation who were seated under trees in the open air.
“My coming to your midst is just to lay a foundation,” he declared. “I am here to lay a foundation, that today we start The Synagogue here! The Synagogue has started here! I have come to launch a good foundation for the church. You should know that this man always says things in proverbs.” This marked the humble beginnings of what would become a globally recognized ministry.
The first three church structures were destroyed by adverse weather and the number of worshippers began increasing exponentially. In 1994, the church moved to Ikotun-Egbe, the current location of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations!
He founded the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian megachurch in Lagos. Joshua passed away on 5 June 2021 at his home in Lagos, shortly after his Saturday night teaching, just a week before his 58th birthday.
CAREER
Temitope Balogun Joshua founded the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a megachurch renowned for its influence and the Emmanuel TV television station based in Lagos. Joshua’s journey to ministry began with a heavenly vision in which he claimed to have received divine anointing and a covenant from God, leading to the establishment of SCOAN. The church drew an impressive weekly attendance of over 15,000 members, including international visitors accommodated in on-site lodging.
SCOAN’s popularity surpassed many notable tourist attractions, drawing more weekly attendees than Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London combined, according to The Guardian. This influx of visitors significantly boosted local businesses and hospitality services. Despite the global reach of his sermons, distributed widely through various media channels, Joshua maintained only one church branch in Ghana, stating in 2014 that it was “not yet time” for worldwide expansion.
SCOAN emerged as Nigeria’s leading tourist attraction, particularly noted for religious tourism. Nigerian Immigration Service statistics indicated that six out of every ten foreigners entering Nigeria were SCOAN-bound. This phenomenon was significant enough to be discussed in the Zimbabwean parliament concerning the economic benefits of religious tourism. In 2013, increased flight routes to Lagos from various African countries were introduced to accommodate the surge in religious tourists.
Joshua’s ministry extended beyond Nigeria, with international “crusades” in countries like Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Paraguay. His humanitarian efforts included aiding militants, armed robbers, and sex workers seeking redemption. He provided substantial donations for local infrastructure, including electrical transformers and funds to restore electricity in Ondo State.
The SCOAN scholarship program supported thousands of students, from primary to tertiary education levels. Joshua sponsored students for advanced studies, including a Nigerian PhD student at Oxford University and a young Motswana at Harvard Law School. He also established and funded schools in Pakistan and Ecuador, aiding earthquake recovery efforts in the latter.
Joshua founded My People FC in 2009, a football club that produced players like Sani Emmanuel and Ogenyi Onazi, who gained international recognition. His financial support extended to WBO International Light Middleweight boxing champion King Davidson Emenogu.
In the political sphere, Joshua influenced several African leaders. Ghana’s President John Atta Mills credited Joshua with prophesying his electoral victory. Joshua’s prophecies and interventions played roles in the political landscapes of countries like Malawi and Tanzania. He mediated in post-election tensions in Tanzania and was a key figure in Prince Yormie Johnson’s endorsement of George Weah in Liberia’s 2017 elections.
Joshua’s humanitarian and peacemaking efforts earned him numerous accolades, including a National Honour from the Nigerian government and recognition from international bodies. Despite his controversial views and the suspension of his popular YouTube channel in 2021, Joshua remained a significant figure in global Christianity until his death on June 5, 2021, a week before his 58th birthday.
FAMILY LIFE
TB Joshua (Temitope Balogun) was born into the family of Pa Kolawole G. Balogun (father) in the rural community of Osin Quarters, Imo, Arigidi, Akoko and his mother, Madam Folarin Aisha Adesiji Balogun and Folarin Balogun (mother), hailed from Ede, Agbaluku Quarters, both in Ondo State.
He married Pastor Evelyn Joshua (wife) from Delta State, Nigeria. She has been an strong supporter of her husband’s ministerial journey (now the general overseer of SCOAN), accompanying him on numerous international charitable events and crusades. Their happy union of 31 years has been blessed with three beautiful daughters: Promise, Heart and Serah.
Serah Oyindamola Joshua, Esq. holds a Bachelor of Laws from the London School of Economics, a Master of Laws from New York University School of Law, and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Promise Joshua graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with a BSc in Politics and International Relations and pursued a Dual Master of Public Administration at LSE and Columbia University, New York. Heart Joshua, the youngest daughter, is currently still in high school. TB Joshua (Temitope Balogun)’s birthday remembrance is 12th June.
ASSOCIATED WITH
TB Joshua is associated with Evelyn who took over as leader of SCOAN in September 2021, after her husband’s death. He died shortly after conducting a live broadcast”, according to a BBC report. He is also associated with former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu who described T. B. Joshua’s death as “a great global knock” in a tribute. His criticism and controversies includes different posthumous abuse accusations, purported exorcisms, healing and miracles and claimed prophecies. Additionally, his controversy includes the collapse of the guesthouse at SCOAN’s compound in Lagos which took the life of at least 115 people, of whom 84 were South Africans. He is known to be controversial, and was even ‘blacklisted’ by the government of Cameroon in 2010.
TB Joshua Net Worth
Even though people criticize pastors who demanded money and politicians who bought votes, Joshua became one of Africa’s wealthiest pastors (Nigeria’s third-richest pastor, although the claim was immediately denied in a statement by the church). Former church insiders estimated that he received tens of millions of dollars from fundraising, pilgrimages, video sales, and appearances at stadiums filled with followers.
In 2015, Sahara Reporters claimed that Joshua secretly purchased a Gulfstream G550 jet through a Bank of Utah trustee, a report which Joshua’s aide denied.
Nigeria’s Premium Times reported that Joshua formed a company called Chillon Consultancy Limited, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in June 2006, based on information from the Panama Papers leak. Joshua denied any offshore activity, stating on Facebook, “I am not a businessman and have no business whatsoever. What God has given me is more than enough.”