This book is based on encounters with the work of Temitope Balogun Joshua (1963-2021) of Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Nigeria. TB Joshua, as he was popularly known, was a renowned minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was greatly endowed with the spiritual gifts of teaching, prophecy, healing, deliverance, and discipleship. His philanthropic work stretched across the continents, touching the needy in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He was a friend and confidant of heads of state and governors. He was above all a friend of the poor, the marginalized, and a fatherly figure to orphans, widows, and the displaced. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the legacy of this extraordinary man who rose from the most humble beginnings to earn global acclamation and respect. The book provides a critical analysis of the controversies the ministry of TB Joshua attracted and what he learned and taught about overcoming challenges and adversity. My wife and I had the privilege of meeting with Prophet T.B. Joshua on the afternoon of November 26, 2019, having shared a draft copy of the book with him. He graciously embraced our efforts and offered the most generous encouragement, including a financial gift to meet the costs of publication. For that we are forever thankful.
The purpose of T.B. Joshua's life was encapsulated in a message entitled, "The Beauty of Our Achievement." The message is also a pointer for what he passionately believed for others who encountered him. The following are his words.
It takes faith to maintain your position to the end. The beauty of our achievement is when you are no longer living and the achievement is still there, lingering on in the eyes of and ears of children yet unborn. We are not necessarily blessed by God because of today. It's not necessarily because of today you are blessed, but you are blessed because of tomorrow when you are no longer living. That achievement continues to live so that our children can be influenced in a positive way by our achievement. You will no longer live to educate them, to tell them the right way to follow, but your achievements will be there to talk to them. Your concentration is so much on what you want to achieve, what you need. That is your concentration. You want to be this; you want to be that. Vanity upon vanity! If you are known today and you are not known tomorrow, what is the value of it? If your name is written today, and vanishes tomorrow, what is th