There was widespread wailings by members of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) as the church leadership confirmed the death of Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, its founder and spiritual leader.
The gate leading to the church was blocked by security personnel to stop the army of grieving church members from accessing the church auditorium.
Popularly known as T. B. Joshua, the pastor died at the age of 57.
Reports on the death of Joshua started circulating in the early hours of Sunday but there was no confirmation.
However in a statement later on Sunday morning, the church said he died after a programme on Saturday.
According to the church, “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7.
“On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”
“God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.
“As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.
“Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.”
But though the church was silent on the circumstances of his death. a source said that Pastor T. B. Joshua died at about 8.00pm in his bedroom.
The source noted that he was not nor appeared sick, and though he did not show any sign of or premonition of his death, he only appeared for five minutes at the Mountain programme, which was quite unusual.
According to him, “even after the programme, he carried on his duties, meeting with some senior church members. He was cheerful all through the programme and engagements.
“It was the wife who discovered he had died and called senior members of the church to break the news.”