Visit evokes TB Joshua remniscence
Anxiety hit me as I stepped my foot into the late Prophet Tomitope Balogun Joshua, best referred to as TB Joshua's museum. This is despite the fact that not only did I visit the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) for my spiritual uplifting, but I equally wanted to physically pay my last respect and get closer to the Mausoleum where the great man himself has been laid to rest.
SCOAN leader and wife to the founder, Pastor Evelyn and family took a decision to bury him at the church premises, in a place called Mercyland, where he used to hold his deliverance services, instead of doing it the traditional way of taking him to his Ondo State as it would have been more expensive to visit there. Numerous questions cropped into my mind as I stepped inside the brown brick walled building housing both the museum situated adjacent to the Mausoleum of T.B.
Joshua who answered the highest calling just a few days before his birth day on 5 th June 2021. My thinking was interrupted by the voice of a young man. They called them Youth as they are in their youthful days. The youthful docent called all those inside to pay attention and asked us to draw the electronic board table. This is where directions are given on how the tour will be conducted. The enthusiastic docents pour their hearts out in their narration. They talk with vigour and great confidence as they take visitors through the story and life of the late prophet.
Indeed having been inside, I can attest to the fact that the museum is a repository of love that chronicles the story of the miraculous birth, destined life, passing on to glory and great legacy of a divine man. Today and for future years to come, the exhibit is for the public to learn about this great man, witness his works, and marvel at his devotion to God and his love for people. SCOAN counts amongst Nigeria’s highest foreign currency earner as, like the name states, it has no boundaries and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.
Further, it is indeed true that the museum is a place where international visitors, even those who never met him before are inspired by the life and legacy of T.B. Joshua to become catalysts for positive change in their own lives, families, communities and indeed the world.
There is a section of the museum where there is exact replica of T.B. Joshua’s office, where he executed his administration, prayer counselling, meeting his guests amongst them dignitaries, including heads of states, cabinet ministers, and diplomats.
In here there is his L-shape wooden table and three chairs, his photographs and various government officials and heads of state certificates, plagues, appreciation letters, and invitation letters. Coming across this section left me speechless and motionless.
This is so because I have been to his office on many occasions, the only thing that is missing is seeing him seating there in person. However, I could recall some of the things that he said while seating on the other side of the table.
Installed television sets where video clips of his preaching are continuously played. Records show that the museum is an embodiment of one of T.B. Joshua’s most poignant quotes: “The beauty of achievement is when we no longer live and our achievement is still there, continuing to linger on in the eyes and ears of children yet unborn”.
Its arrangement is inspired by the Biblical passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 2 (NIV) “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens: a time to be born and a time to die ...” Words which T.B. Joshua echoed minutes before his passing. Although all quotes and everything inside is worth being mentioned, one cannot resist to mention his picture taken at his last service at the multimillion Dollar Prayer Mountain and a quote where he asked:
“Why do you think we need to hold interactive prayers?” Another centre of attraction is the exhibited stone that crashed through the roof of T.B. Joshua’s home during his naming ceremony when he was a new born baby. A video recording plays above the Stone exhibit – the words of an eye witness of that fateful day in June 1963. The elderly woman – a member of T.B. Joshua’s extended family – recalls and narrates the story to T.B. Joshua, saying:
“A water pipe was being dug at a nearby site and you were laid here, sleeping. Shockingly, a stone flew from the site through this zinc and landed very close to where you were sleeping, Jesus rescued you. This is the very stone. It is the very one ... I did not throw it away. It is part of history.” There is also a section which shows him as a family man and a closet that carries some gowns that he used to wear when at the Prayer Mountain, praying; a small sword, three small bibles and faith bracelets. To all that I say many thanks to the visionary leadership of the TB Joshua Foundation.