Death of a Philanthropist - T.B Joshua

Temitope Balogun Joshua was a Nigerian charismatic pastor, televangelist, and philanthropist died on June 5th, 2021, he was 57. He died from an undisclosed cause his church said.

"God has taken his servant Prophet TB Joshua home... His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God," the church wrote on its Facebook page on Sunday, without giving further details.

Synagogue Church of All Nations - SCOAN

The preacher, popularly known as TB Joshua, founded The Synagogue Church of All Nations, a Christian megachurch in Lagos.

This woman outside the church broke down in tears when she heard the news.

The father of three was one of Africa's most influential preachers with millions of television and social media followers. More than 15,000 people from Nigeria and abroad attend his Sunday services.

Pastor TB Joshua was one of the most respected pastors in Africa's most populous country. Social media was hysteria with grief when the new of his death broke out as people were pouring eulogies.

Mourners gathered outside the church headquarters on Sunday mourning as news of his demise Prophet broke out.

The church environment full with people mourning, crying and lamenting about the death of their Prophet.

He rose to prominence in the 1990s at a time when there was an explosion of televangelism in Nigeria and many parts of Africa. He was one of the most followed preachers in Nigeria and across Africa.

He was also popular in South America where he had held many religious campaigns.

Debates/Controversies

TB Joshua was known for making predictions and for his claims to cure various ailments and to make people prosper through miracles.

He was, however, controversial, with critics questioning his claims and saying he profited from people seeking hope.

According to Forbes, he had an estimated fortune of several million dollars 

Many African presidents, senior citizens attend his church. 

So when people mourn and celebrate him in their ways, which some other people may find "in-appropriate" based on their own conception of religion, life and death. perhaps this may throw a little insights into the dynamics of what's likely playing out.

Death is the only debt we all collectively owe and would pay someday, because, in the end, especially for theists, the ultimate lesson here is that we are not God.

Adieu.