CELEBRATING EMMANUEL TELEVISION @ 7

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) likes to pride itself as the largest television network in Africa but there are millions of Africans who do not know that such a network exists let alone subscribing to it. But  a recent study shows that the Emmanuel Television is one of Africa’s largest television networks. The network which was founded by Prophet T.B. Joshua, the pastor of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is seven years old this month. The network which was launched on March 8, 2006 has grown to become one of the most watched in the continent and also followed by millions around the world.

Using this medium prophet T.B. Joshua has taken Nigeria to the world and has also brought the world to Nigeria. Prophet Joshua has shown that beyond scams and corruption, Nigeria has other positives to share with the world. The messages and miracles performed by Prophet Joshua through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and shown on Emmanuel TV have turned the Synagogue Church of All Nations to a Mecca of Christianity in Africa. In every service at the Synagogue which is usually televised live around the world, people from all parts of the continent of Africa are always represented. As a matter of fact the impact of Emmanuel Television has gone beyond Africa as Christian faithful from Europe, the Americas, the United States, Asia and the Caribbean are common sights at the Synagogue. Many non-Christians are also hooked to the network.  The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation(NTDC) which was ostensibly established by the federal government to lure tourists from around the world in the bid to diversify the nation’s economy cannot claim to have brought into this country more tourists than the religious pilgrims from Africa and around the world that throng the Synagogue. These thousands of religious tourists who come in search of healings and deliverance after the doctors say it was all over for them spend millions of dollars while in Nigeria thereby boosting the economy of Lagos and indeed Nigeria. Indeed the positive image which results from these pilgrims interaction with ordinary Nigerians is unquantifiable, but if an accountant is to try to quantify this “goodwill”, needless to say that it would run into several billions of dollars. Many of such pilgrims who had gone home with joy after God used T.B. Joshua to meet their needs would no doubt treat Nigerians living in their countries with much respect and help in building the much needed African and world camaraderie that could help in the building of the brotherhood of mankind and enhance peace and development.  

To understand the impact of Emmanuel TV on the continent and the world, one needs to see the way the world react to prophesies of major world events emanating from the Synagogue. The uncanny accuracy of Joshua’s prophesies have held the world spell bound and have attracted millions of viewers to the network and ultimately to the Body of Christ. These days when major football competitions are taking place in Africa or in other parts of the world, many football fans are restless until they hear from the man of God on which direction the pendulum is swinging and Joshua’s prophesies(not predictions) are always to the point. T.B. Joshua uses this medium of prophesying on matches to draw the soccer mad youth who are often far from God to the kingdom of the Most High. This is because when such prophesies is given with its usual accuracy; the youth of today will come to understand that what is unseen is far greater than that which is seen. That there is a God who determines the fate of man and that it is foolish to believe that achievements and accomplishments can be possible without God, even in football.

Even political leaders in Africa and around the world can no longer ignore Emmanuel TV and prophetic pronouncements by Joshua who has prophesized on major political, manmade and natural disasters that came to pass. A case in point was his prophesy on the late Malawian leader which came to pass.

On Sunday 5th February 2012, Joshua stated live on Emmanuel TV, “In April… we should pray for one African head of state, president, against a sickness that will likely take life – sudden death. It is a sickness being kept in the body for a long time.” The declaration sparked debate and speculation within many African countries with numerous media outlets reporting on the prophecy.

Similarly on Sunday 1st April, T.B. Joshua reiterated the prophecy, saying, “What I’m saying is very close now. Whether you like it or not, pray for your leaders. A head of a nation, I’m seeing sudden death as a result of sickness. Pray. This is Africa, not even West Africa.” In line with the prophet’s prediction, Mutharika died suddenly of a cardiac arrest  just four days after Joshua had said the event was imminent.
The incident is being seen as a verification and vindication of Joshua’s prophetic gift, as well as sparking online debate about the role and relevance of prophets and prophecies in today’s age.
 T.B. Joshua who prophesied the death of President Mutharika also has a rich history of accurate prophetic declarations which provide both credence and context to this prophesies.
On Sunday 29th June 2008, Joshua said, “Pray for one of your leaders that will be rushed out of the country… I see the body being rushed out in order to save this soul. I’m seeing a flag. Is it flying down?”
On Tuesday 1st July 2008, Former Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was rushed to a hospital in Paris, France where he died after suffering a stroke.
In the same service on Sunday 29th June 2008, he said, “I'm seeing a hero, famous and popular… being saved – suddenly was saved from death. Let us pray on Tuesday and Thursday – let's capture Wednesday…”. Three days later on Wednesday 2nd July 2008, the former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was rescued after 6 years of captivity in the Colombian jungle.  Similar accurate prophesies are legion and after watching such on Emmanuel TV many viewers from around the world have made the journey to Synagogue and Nigeria.

Prophet Joshua however is not without his critics. It is in the nature of things that man will condemn that which he did not understand and destroy even that which he understands. No man of Joshua’s status has walked on earth without being condemned or even demonized and their worth not realized until they passed on. Today we celebrate Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr and holidays are observed to mark their birthdays, but when they were alive not everyone agreed with them. Despite the world acclaimed leadership qualities of Gandhi, the Muslims of India was so suspicion of his intentions that they opted for the splitting of India into two on the eve of its independence from Great Britain leading to the creation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Muslims and subcontinent India dominated by Hindus. Even after his death, his offspring were assassinated one by one. Martin Luther King Jr whose heart rending speeches are used for our ringing tones and whose Bible was used by President Barack Obama on his swearing in ceremonies was so despised by some of his critics to the extent that one of them assassinated him shortly after delivering a famous speech. When our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ walked on the face of the earth, the cynics ridiculed: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

As celebrated author Dale Carnegie noted in his book: “How To Stop Worrying and Start Living”, “Nobody kicks a dead dog”. So much for the critics of Prophet T.B. Joshua.