body-container-line-1
20.05.2012 Feature Article

The Uniqueness Of T. B. Joshua

The Uniqueness Of T. B. Joshua
20.05.2012 LISTEN

Love him or hate him, he is a public figure that can not be ignored. His name is long and difficult to pronounce, that is why others opt for his initials (T. B.) and only an easier part of it, Joshua. Nigerians have become notorious for trickery and bribery the world over. Their notoriety is so wide spread that in some place just possessing a Nigerian passport draws the trail of the police. In almost every country there are crooks and honest people, Nigeria is no exception. The good news is that all is not rotten, in the basket of rottenness. One person stands out with a different flavor. He is not the only one, there are many more. But what is it that makes T. B. Joshua unique. By the way, I am neither his fan nor his foe.

Below find things that T.B. Joshua does, which others don't. These are the things that make him a darling of the people despite the negative publicity campaign by his fellow church men and the media.

HIS CHARITY WORK.
He is not the richest when compared to the other Nigerian pastors, who are reputedly, super rich. One has five personal jets. Just one similar jet stirred controversy in Malawi when our president bought it, but a certain Nigerian pastor has five of them. Some own big hotels, printing presses, limousines, and big companies. The irony is, you hardly hear of them giving to the poor, the widows, the lame and the blind. T.B. Joshua gives liberally, giving out even cars while others are stockpiling them in their compounds. He gives scholarships and his ministry has helped in educating many people up to university level.

HIS HUMILITY.
He is a down to earth person. Mingling with people, breaking his English while mending marriages and hearts of people. He is seen freely having lunch with old people, the lame and what have you. He is seen comforting people and many times he has been heard telling childless parents that he will be their child. He jokes freely with all while most of the men of God we know, believe in being serious, and by that I mean living a separated life and mingling with nobody.

HIS FATHERING HEART.
He is the only one I know, and I stand to be corrected, who has identified and recruited people, and is training them in his own church. He is exposing them and even allows them to appear on the television alongside him. Sometimes he even takes a back stage while they take charge of the services. Show me any other minister or leader who has done that. All the others make sure that the television is off limit, for any budding or aspiring preacher. If you find them grooming someone, then, be sure, he is one of their kin and folk, otherwise, NO WAY!! Some have managed to put their spouses, brothers, sons and nephews in all strategic areas of their ministry. But he has picked up people not related to him. One of them is even a Greek. Some feel so insecure, that they have to rush home leaving meetings so that nobody preaches apart from them.

HE IS NO GLOBE TROTTER.
Seems like this man knows his mission field – Nigeria. He rarely goes out of his country. He has the courage of sending some of his boys to the USA to do ministry. This is a direct opposite of the ministers we know. Most people enjoy the inside of an aero plane so much so that they are hardly available at their home for over half of the year. This T. B. Joshua man is never excited with foreign trips which others would quickly jump on at the expense of their local flock. He is different. People find him where he is found and even the mzungu people have to swallow their pride and come to Nigeria if they want him, what a contrast to most preachers we know.

I have deliberately left out issues to do with the way he ministers. Not all people agree on that, that's why others brand him “controversial”. These issues are more theological than otherwise and as you know, the pew man is not conversant with theological issues. He is a bench warmer and a layman sitting at the back of some church. You may choose to disagree with me, but the above are some of the facts that make him unique – to me of course.

body-container-line