WHO IS TB JOSHUA’S MENTOR?

Whatever stance one has taken on the

credibility of TB Joshua, the famous (or
infamous?) pastor of The Synagogue
Church of All Nation’s in Lagos, Nige ria –
one fact remains indisputable, his is an
incredible journey surrounded in mystery
and being written in history. Joshua is
easily the most vilified pastor in Africa,
yet by far the most sought after. He is
the hope of multitudes and yet the
headache of religious bodies, who have
vehemently disowned him but can’t
seem to ignore him. It is a living drama
being watched world over, as time’s
steady course continues its revealing
discourse on truth and authenticity. But
what is it about TB Joshua that has
actually engendered such outright
denunciation and renunciation by his
fellow labourers in the vineyard?

Upon perusal of the apparent grouses and grudges of the Pentecostal Leaders of
Nigeria against the enigma and personality of Prophet TB Joshua, high up on the list is
the issue of his mentorship. “Where was he when he was called to ministry? Who are
the men of God who can point at him, that we raised him into ministry, laid hands on
him and sent him forth into the ministry?” says Paul Adefarasin, the charismatic
founder of House of the Rock, Lagos. “We don't know Joshua's Pastor; we don't know
where he was raised from. He has no testimony from where he got born again. So, we
cannot accept that he is one of us… There is no proof of his salvation,” explains
Matthew Ashimolowo, the prosperity preacher and founder of KICC in London. “There
are only two questions Ayo Oritsejafor (President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria) asked us to ask Joshua or anybody who comes from him: When were you
born again? Which church did he attend and who was his pastor or mentor?” fumes
Bishop Abraham Olaleye, a vice chairman of PFN. “Who were his contemporaries
when he gave his life to Christ? What led to his confession of Christ? How did it
happen? Where was he baptised? Who baptised him? Who are his pastors? Where did
he train? Who is the Paul of his Timothy?” asks Bola Akin-John, a Pentecostal church
growth expert.

That miracles and commendable charitable works are happening in his church is
attested to by almost all, but such leaders can’t seem to fathom how a man so
mightily gifted could have attained such a level without human tutorship and training.
As such cannot be explained by the logic and lectures of theological training, they
readily write him off as demonic and diabolic. Surely, a man of God of such stature
and status could not just spring up without the approval and appraisal of some top-
notch Christian leaders? Thus, they have proclaimed to all willing to listen that anyone
who associates with TB Joshua does so to their own folly, be him a president or
pauper, simply because they have adopted a strong position without investigating its
foundational validity.

However, the phenomenon of men being used by the Almighty without human
tutelage is not isolated to the instance of Pastor TB Joshua. Thorough biblical
exploration would reveal many of God’s generals with no record or register of human
mentorship. Who was the mentor of Jeremiah, who the Bible says God called right
from his mother’s womb? Who was the mentor of John the Baptist, sent from above to
prepare the way for the Saviour? Who was the mentor of Apostle Paul, who was
blinded on the road to Damascus while intent on the destruction of Christians,
subsequently to become a leading figure in New Testament Christianity? What about
Moses, Elijah or King David? Human backing and tuition are clearly not a qualification
for divine assignments.

What then is the premise for church leaders today to demand proof of mentorship as a
seal of apostleship? Can this assertion be attributed to the application of biblical
principles, or to personal misgivings and prejudice? Why has the Nigerian Pentecostal
church chosen to adopt a stance on a particular person that contradicts and conflicts
with scriptural authority and experience? It appears to be a case of addressing private
qualms and jealousies under the guise of Christian comradeship and censorship,
misguiding and incensing millions of followers against TB Joshua and projecting the
image of a warring and divided church in the process.

The current president of PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has consistently remained one of
Joshua’s most vocal critics, even expelling any PFN members who attempt to
fraternise with him. He makes his stand known clearly on the pulpit and in the pages
of newspapers: “T.B. Joshua is not a Christian. If T.B. Joshua can show me his pastor
who pastored him before he said he was called into the ministry; if T.B. Joshua can tell
me when he got converted and how he got converted, then we would consider him.”

Yet, T.B. Joshua’s own website recounts the extraordinary tale of his calling into the
ministry, available for all to read and dissect: “I was in a trance for three consecutive
days, then I saw a hand that pointed a Bible to my heart and the Bible entered my
heart and my former heart seemed to immerse with the Bible immediately… I heard a
voice saying, “I am your God; I am giving you a divine commission to go and carry out
the work of the Heavenly Father… I would show you the wonderful ways I would
reveal myself through you, in teaching, preaching, miracles, signs and wonders for
the salvation of souls”. So, is it a crime for God to call one for His service without
consulting certain people or meeting certain manmade criteria? Are we mere mortals
in a position to query God’s wisdom and ways?

Chiji Okafor, the celebrated Nigerian columnist and artist, wrote of such a disposition
and demeanour: “It is amazing that anybody who lays claim to being a pastor of God
should be talking about mentoring in matters of the faith as if talking about some
rookie artisan being shepherded into 'freedom' from his master's workshop. Such
drivel simply speaks volumes of the man who utters it. It reveals the depth of
vulgarity to which our 'modern' men of God have allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to
sink.

“Anybody who boasts in God's vineyard about his mentor and such other inane
subjects as earthly endowments has simply not imbibed the lessons of Christ's
personal life. Jesus Christ the Son of God could have been born a prince, if He so
chose. On the contrary, God made man, decided to come into this world, the son of a
wretched carpenter born in, of all places, a manger and side-by-side animals! He had
neither an earthly mentor, nor did the Bible tell us that He had doctorate degrees in
sacred theology and dogmatic philosophy.

“In His divine wisdom, God chooses whom He crowns king and decides whom He
endows with any gift He likes – and we all have our different gifts. Anybody who
challenges this wisdom of God Almighty blasphemes against Him, by querying His
authority. So, why would God choose a humble, even innocent, or bucolic Temitope
Balogun Joshua for the enormous anointing he has received? Why didn't He pick one
of those blue-blooded, Oxford-trained peers of the realm?”

Bolu-Olu Esho, a journalist with The Sun Newspaper further wrote on the issue:
“Pastor T.B Joshua has a simple background that could tempt one to ask questions
about how he achieved the feat he’s known for today. But minds of history would be
at ease, as they would consider him as another manifestation of the mystery assigned
to God Almighty. The question of academics in the work of God is inconsequential, as
God does not consider this as a criterion for choosing people for His work…The stance
of these ministers of God against Pastor Joshua makes one question how versed they
are in the Word of God. Is it not written in the Bible that God used the foolish things of
this world to confound the wise?”

Clearly, the question our revered gentlemen should ask is not, ‘Who is your mentor?’
but ‘By what authority are you acting?’ in conjunction with the biblical standard: ‘By
their fruits, you shall know them.’ The attributes and qualities a person possesses
speak volumes of their source of strength. The steadfast consistency, prophetic
insight, charitable disposition, healing gifting, practical teaching, heavenly wisdom
and childlike simplicity of T.B. Joshua cannot possibly be the product of illusion,
sorcery or man’s acumen. The testimony of Ghana’s new head, Prof. Atta Mills, alone
is enough to confirm the genuineness and greatness of Joshua’s ministry and calling.
Has history ever heard of a sitting president visit a church and publically testify that
the pastor accurately predicted the outcome and specific details of the election to
him? His testimony echoes the tens of thousands who rush to Joshua’s church on a
weekly basis to receive a touch from God.

Sadly, the gap between the accusers and the accused is ever widening as many
leading pastors in Nigeria are becoming more embroiled in the pursuit of money and
material gain than the essence of Christ’s gospel and work. Kingdom business seems
more like worldly business, with pastors making headlines for expensive acquisitions,
lavish living and political speeches as opposed to solving problems, meeting needs
and changing lives. Ilobi Austin, a catholic in faith, wrote, “While God is ordering his
(T.B. Joshua’s) counterparts to acquire more automobiles and in some cases, private
jets with cost in the billion bracket, the same God is asking him to love humanity like
himself and consequently, improve their earthly and heavenly fortunes. He is today,
father to the fatherless, mother to the motherless, friend to the friendless and
government to the government-less. Little wonder then, that the good Lord
magnanimously found him worthy for the arduous task of delivering his people from
the vice grip of the devil. Such powers in the hands of such ministers, who have made
the criticism of his ministries their pastime, would have seen deliverance going to the
highest bidders.”

So what has TB Joshua to say on all this? Here is his own response when asked about
his non-admission into PFN in a recent interview with The Sun: “As a point of
correction, I never applied to be a member of any association. Okay? Two, the way
and manner God executes His plan in our lives differ. Some He brought them from this
direction, some from another direction. Some He allowed to go to Theology school,
some He allowed them to go to the university and they may not even go to Theology
school. Some, they may not even go to school at all. Yet they would become whatever
God wants them to become. There is a university of God – and in the University of
God, however brilliant you may be, you will not be given double promotion – you must
take every course, because each course serves a purpose.”