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Synagogue Church of All Nations

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The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) is a charismatic Christian megachurch located in Lagos, Nigeria.[1] The Church was founded in 1987 and has a presence across the globe with over 50,000 individuals attending service weekly.[2]

Synagogue Church Of All Nations
The Synagogue Church of All Nations
Map
LocationLagos, Nigeria
CountryNigeria
DenominationNon-denominational, Charismatic
Weekly attendance50,000
Websitewww.scoan.org
History
Founded1987
Founder(s)T.B. Joshua
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Evelyn Joshua

The church is most associated with its founder T. B. Joshua, who died in 2021. It is also known for its television network Emmanuel TV which live streams services to viewers around the world.[3] In 2024, the BBC reported allegations of widespread abuse and torture by Joshua.[4][5] In 2024, Joshua's widow, Evelyn Joshua, became church leader.[5]

History

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T. B. Joshua wrote that in a heavenly vision he received 'divine anointing' and a covenant from God to start his ministry in 1987.[6] The church started with eight members, but has since become one of Nigeria's most influential churches, attracting over 50,000 people[2] to its weekly Sunday services at the headquarters in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos. Joshua, the church's founder and senior Pastor, died in June 2021 shortly after leaving an ongoing service.[7]

Religious tourism

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SCOAN is especially known for the huge number of foreign visitors it attracts with The Guardian reporting the church receives more weekly attendees than the combined number of visitors to Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.[8] This Day newspapers reported that "about two million local and inbound tourists" visit SCOAN annually.[9]

It has been described as "Nigeria's biggest tourist attraction"[10] and "the most visited destination by religious tourists in West Africa".[11] Figures released by the Nigerian Immigration Service indicated that six out of every ten foreign travelers coming into Nigeria are bound for SCOAN.[12]

SCOAN's contribution to Nigeria's religious tourism was highlighted[13] when the cleric hinted at the possibility of relocating his ministry to Israel during a Sunday service.[14] The announcement proved controversial; several prominent Nigerians[15] urged him to remain in the country, citing the economic setbacks[16] Nigeria would probably experience if he moved out of the country. The church's popular services have significantly helped local businesses and hoteliers.[17]

Television

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The church's weekly services are broadcast live on Emmanuel TV as well as on SCOAN's social media platforms.[3]

In April 2021, YouTube suspended Emmanuel TV's channel as a result of alleged hate speech by Joshua in videos on the channel. At the time the channel was suspended, it had over 1,800,000 subscribers and 400 million views. The allegations of hate speech referred to claims made by Joshua in at least seven videos that homosexuality is the result of possession by demonic spirits and that homosexuality can and should be cured via spiritual deliverance.[18] At the time of the channel's suspension, it was the most-viewed Christian ministry on the platform.[19][20]

In January 2024, days after Joshua's sexual abuse scandal was revealed, Emmanuel TV's satellite channel was removed from DStv by MultiChoice, a South African media company as well as from YouTube for a second time.[21]

Controversies

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In 2009, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria publicly disassociated itself from TB Joshua's church, calling on him to "repent and convert to Christianity." Ayo Oritsejafor, leader of the organization, criticized Joshua for serving as pastor without study in the field. [22]

Building collapse

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Main article: Synagogue Church building collapse

On 12 September 2014, a guesthouse at SCOAN's compound in Lagos collapsed, killing at least 115 people, of whom 84 were South Africans.[23]

Purported healings and miracles

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SCOAN claimed that Joshua regularly facilitates miracles at the church.[24] Hundreds of weekly visitors to "prayer lines" at the church were prayed over by Joshua, and the church claimed he cured people of HIV/AIDS,[25][26][27] blindness[28] and open wounds.[29] [30] [31] [32]

Joshua's followers attributed miraculous properties to anointing water that had been prayed over by Joshua, claiming that it healed wounds,[33][34] or saved them from explosions or helicoper crashes.[35][36] In 2013, four people died in a stampede in Joshua's Ghanaian branch when an unadvertised service in which the water was being distributed drew huge crowds that exceeded the church's capacity. The incident nearly brought Ghana's capital city, Accra, to a standstill, and led to criticism of Joshua.[37]

In 2014, during the West African Ebola virus epidemic, Joshua also made headlines when he claimed his anointing water could cure people suffering from Ebola. He subsequently sent 4,000 bottles of the water and $50,000 to the Ebola-stricken nation of Sierra Leone.[38][39] A Sierra Leonean politician claimed that the water cured Ebola.[40] Lagos State Health officials visited Joshua and asked that he use his influence to publicly discourage Ebola victims from visiting his church for prayers.[41]

In 2024, Joshua's former chief lieutenant, Agomoh Paul, who left the SCOAN compound after ten years, said that Joshua was a "genius" manipulator.[5] Paul said that he was in charge of faking "miracles" purportedly performed by Joshua.[5] Paul and others interviewed by BBC News said that those who seemed to be "cured" at the church were frequently paid to "perform or exaggerate their symptoms before their supposed healing took place" and in some instances were drugged or medicated as part of the "faith healing" process.[5] Some were falsely told that they had HIV/AIDS but had made a recovery due to Joshua.[5]

Posthumous abuse accusations

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In 2024, the BBC published findings from a two-year investigation, reporting that Joshua had abused followers over more than 15 years.[5] The BBC reported that at least 150 people lived in Joshua's secretive Lagos compound as disciples, sometimes for years or decades, and many interviewees described SCOAN as a cult.[5] More than 25 church followers from various countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Britain, the U.S., South Africa, Namibia, and Germany, revealed alleged abuse within the church and by Joshua personally, including multiple rapes, torture, and forced abortions.[5]

One Namibian woman said that Joshua repeatedly raped her, the first time when she was seventeen years old, and that she was forced to have five unsafe abortions while at the compound.[5] A British woman also said that Joshua had assaulted her, and that she was held under solitary confinement in the compound, where she made numerous suicide attempts.[5]

Multiple other interviewees reported that they were regularly subject to physical abuse, such as being beaten with electrical cables and horse whips, and were subjected to sleep deprivation.[5] Other witnesses in Nigeria said that after publicly disclosing abuse, they were attacked.[5] SCOAN denied that Joshua had committed any wrongdoing.[5]

The BBC report led to negative response in African media, with the report being condemned as 'propaganda',[42] and "dirty lies",[43] and other sources questioning why the BBC chose to publish the report long after Joshua's death, where no response would be possible.[44][45] SCOAN itself condemned the BBC for "descending into fictional narratives and propaganda, thus turning itself into a weapon for a hatchet job as gangsters in the gab of journalism with a destructive ulterior motive for personal gains against a perceived enemy".[46]

References

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  1. ^ "TB Joshua Ranked Among Most Famous Prophets In History". African Travel Times. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Celebrity Priests". The Economist. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b Baker, Helen (3 August 2016). "Emmanuel TV: Celebrating A Decade Of Blessings". PM News (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ Northcott, Charlie; Spooner, Helen (7 January 2024). "TB Joshua: Megachurch leader raped and tortured worshippers, BBC finds". BBC News, Africa Eye. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Northcott, Charlie; Spooner, Helen (7 January 2024). "TB Joshua: 'We thought it was heaven but then terrible things happened'". BBC News, Africa Eye. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  6. ^ Pieter Coertzen, M Christiaan Green, Len Hansen, Law and Religion in Africa: The quest for the common good in pluralistic societies, African Sun Media, South Africa, 2015, p. 311
  7. ^ Nimi Princewill (6 June 2021). "Nigerian megachurch preacher dies after church program". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  8. ^ Mark, Monica (1 September 2013). "Lagos Businesses Cash In On Lure Of Super Pastor TB Joshua". The Guardian (UK). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Nigeria: Tourism Expert Calls for Restoration of Tourism Ministry". This Day (Nigeria). 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Synagogue Impasse: Hoteliers, Others Groan". New Telegraph (Nigeria). 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
  11. ^ Ojewusi, Sola (26 March 2016). "TB Joshua And The Synagogue Tragedy, Another Perspective". The Authority (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Foreigners Flock To Nigeria For TB Joshua's Birthday". Nigeria Films. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
  13. ^ Henama, Unathi (9 May 2017). "TB Joshua emigrating to Israel: Lessons for South Africa on religious tourism". The Cable (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  14. ^ Irekamba, Chris (11 June 2017). "Synagogue church going to Israel: What residents, neighbours say". The Guardian (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  15. ^ Odunsi, Wale (9 June 2017). "TB Joshua's Relocation To Israel: Cardinal Okojie, Balarabe Musa React". Daily Post (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Beg Him Or Nigeria'll Lose Billions If TB Joshua relocates – Experts Tell FG, Ambode". Vanguard (Nigeria). 14 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  17. ^ Ben-Nwankwo, Nonye (17 August 2013). "TB Joshua's Neighbours Convert Homes To Hotels". The Punch (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  18. ^ "TB Joshua: YouTube blocks Nigerian preacher over gay cure claim". BBC News. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Olowookere was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Bruce, James (15 April 2015). "Skewed Stats". World Magazine (US). Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  21. ^ Charlie Northcott & Yemisi Adegoke, TB Joshua exposé: YouTube deletes Emmanuel TV channel of disgraced megachurch leader, bbc.com, UK, January 31, 2024
  22. ^ AFP, L'influence des évangélistes critiquée après les accusations contre le pasteur TB Joshua au Nigeria, voaafrique.com, USA, January 31, 2024
  23. ^ TB Joshua Lagos church collapse: Many South Africans dead Archived 22 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine BBC
  24. ^ "TB Joshua now releases videos of his early days miracles". Zambian Eye. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
  25. ^ "Prophet TB Joshua Heals A Man Who Has AIDS". Nigeria Films. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
  26. ^ "People 'healed' of HIV-AIDS after visiting Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua". Harare24. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  27. ^ "Prophet T.B.Joshua & The Synagogue". The Remnant. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  28. ^ Zaimov, Stoyan (12 April 2017). "Blind Man Shouts 'I Can See!' at Controversial Pastor TB Joshua's Healing Service". Christian Post. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  29. ^ Zaimov, Stoyan (14 May 2017). "Jesus shoots protruded anus back to place says TB Joshua Ministries". Vanguard (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  30. ^ Kluger, Jeffrey (12 February 2009). "Spiritual Healing Around The World". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009.
  31. ^ Petesch, Carley (19 April 2014). "Nigeria Preacher: Healer Or Controversial Leader". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  32. ^ Getty, Rowan Moore (25 April 2014). "Only The Synagogue Can Save You". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  33. ^ Edjewhovbo, Benson (22 July 2010). "Curing Four Year Old Acid Victim". Daily Independent. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  34. ^ Ndlovu-Gherke, Nomsa (16 July 2010). "By Divine Connection". The Voice (Botswana). Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  35. ^ Njoku, Ihechuwku (27 October 2015). "'How T.B Joshua's morning water saved us from Bristow Helicopter crash'". Vanguard (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  36. ^ Orenuga, Adenike (21 April 2014). "How T.B Joshua's anointing water saved us from the Nyanya bomb blast – Survivors". Daily Post (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  37. ^ Hirsch, Afua (23 May 2013). "Celebrity Pastor Under Fire After Worshippers Die In Rush For 'Holy Water'". The Guardian (UK). Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  38. ^ Tracy, Abigail (15 August 2014). "This Guy Sent Sierra Leone 4,000 Bottles of Holy Water to Cure Ebola". Vocativ. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  39. ^ Griffin, Andrew (17 August 2014). "Millionaire Preacher Sends 4,000 Bottles Of Holy Water As Ebola Cure". The Independent (UK). Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  40. ^ Ogbeche, Danielle (3 November 2015). "TB Joshua's 'Anointing Water' Reportedly Curing Ebola In Sierra Leone". Daily Post (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  41. ^ Moon, Ruth (29 October 2014). "Why Nigerian Health Officials Turned to a Megachurch Pastor When Ebola Struck". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  42. ^ Idris, Tijani (28 September 2023). "The BBC: Public interest or propaganda?". Blueprint Newspaper. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  43. ^ Sunday, Ochogwu (9 January 2024). "'They're dirty lies' - Fani-Kayode fumes over BBC's heavy allegations against TB Joshua". Daily Post Newspaper. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  44. ^ "Documentary on TB Joshua: BBC criticized for releasing film on dead prophet". Cameroon News Agency. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  45. ^ "TB Joshua: Lies have become truth - Iginla reacts to BBC report". Daily Post Newspaper. 9 January 2024.
  46. ^ "Synagogue Church Tackles BBC Over Documentary". Leadership News. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
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