Founder of the Synagogue Church of all Nations, Temitope Joshua, has admitted
facing hard times since the collapse of his church guest house in Lagos
last Friday which killed about 80 persons and injured dozens.
facing hard times since the collapse of his church guest house in Lagos
last Friday which killed about 80 persons and injured dozens.
“Hard times may test me, they
cannot destroy me. To withstand hard times, stand with Christ. When you
face trials, hard times, you can count it all joy if you add faith.” he wrote
on the church’s Facebook page.
cannot destroy me. To withstand hard times, stand with Christ. When you
face trials, hard times, you can count it all joy if you add faith.” he wrote
on the church’s Facebook page.
Continuing he wrote, “It
is through hard times that you gain the necessary experience and maturity to
handle whatever responsibility given you. We are most likely to go astray from
God and forget Him when things are easy with us in the world because we often
become proud and stupid with wealth and pleasure.
is through hard times that you gain the necessary experience and maturity to
handle whatever responsibility given you. We are most likely to go astray from
God and forget Him when things are easy with us in the world because we often
become proud and stupid with wealth and pleasure.
“God visits His people with
hard times that they may learn His way. His ways, though hard to the ungodly
men, are desirable and profitable because they lead us to safety unto eternal
life. God allowed the enemy to overcome Israel so that they may learn the
difference between serving God and serving the devil.
hard times that they may learn His way. His ways, though hard to the ungodly
men, are desirable and profitable because they lead us to safety unto eternal
life. God allowed the enemy to overcome Israel so that they may learn the
difference between serving God and serving the devil.
“If not for our hard times, we
would not have sought the face of God. I mean, if not because of hard times,
man by his wicked nature, would not have sought the face of God. This means,
God sometimes uses hard times to draw us to Him so that we can take our proper
position and possession in Him.
would not have sought the face of God. I mean, if not because of hard times,
man by his wicked nature, would not have sought the face of God. This means,
God sometimes uses hard times to draw us to Him so that we can take our proper
position and possession in Him.
But despite his words of
admonition, some members especially South Africans appeared to be sore with the
popular televangelist.
admonition, some members especially South Africans appeared to be sore with the
popular televangelist.
A South African public affairs
commentator, Allan Taylor, expressed concerns over the number his compatriots
lost in the tragedy.
commentator, Allan Taylor, expressed concerns over the number his compatriots
lost in the tragedy.
“I’m saddened by the death of
up to 67 South Africans in the Nigerian church collapse and at the hands of TB
Joshua’s greed. It is also important to expose those who lured the unfortunate
victims to Nigeria on false pretences.
up to 67 South Africans in the Nigerian church collapse and at the hands of TB
Joshua’s greed. It is also important to expose those who lured the unfortunate
victims to Nigeria on false pretences.
“Innocent lives of people have
been lost; yet TB Joshua makes the tragedy about himself. He is a disgrace,”
the enraged South African wrote on Twitter.
been lost; yet TB Joshua makes the tragedy about himself. He is a disgrace,”
the enraged South African wrote on Twitter.
Another Bloemfontein-based
South African, Portia Tsotetsi, said TB Joshua owed the families of her
compatriots lost in the building collapse some answers.
South African, Portia Tsotetsi, said TB Joshua owed the families of her
compatriots lost in the building collapse some answers.
“My thoughts and prayers are
with the families of the 67 South Africans who lost their lives in Nigeria.
What bothers me most is the silence of TB Joshua and his church concerning the
67 who died.
with the families of the 67 South Africans who lost their lives in Nigeria.
What bothers me most is the silence of TB Joshua and his church concerning the
67 who died.
“Where are messages of
condolence? When is the church (SCOAN) offering a statement of condolences to
the families? When is TB Joshua speaking about this tragedy? What bothers me is
the amount of blind loyalists who refuse to see facts. They will do anything to
protect their church,” Tsotetsi tweeted.
condolence? When is the church (SCOAN) offering a statement of condolences to
the families? When is TB Joshua speaking about this tragedy? What bothers me is
the amount of blind loyalists who refuse to see facts. They will do anything to
protect their church,” Tsotetsi tweeted.
Meanwhile, the church is
yet to produce names of lodgers in the building.
yet to produce names of lodgers in the building.
Although the South African
government had Tuesday claimed that 67 of its citizens perished in the
collapsed building but rescue operators are faced with the challenge of
identifying the nationalities of the dead and survivors, owing to what they
alleged as reluctance from SCOAN to produce the names.
government had Tuesday claimed that 67 of its citizens perished in the
collapsed building but rescue operators are faced with the challenge of
identifying the nationalities of the dead and survivors, owing to what they
alleged as reluctance from SCOAN to produce the names.