Paid To Blaspheme Prophet T.B. Joshua!
FROM militancy through to blasphemy to discovery, the tale of James is
intriguing and intrepid, revealing both the jealousy of men and the
justice of God…
Life was difficult for James. Growing up in the squalor of a remote
village in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, it seemed he was set to follow his
peers into a life of poverty and obscurity. But the zeal to make
something out of life, to break free from the jinx of failure burned
within James from a young age. He found that opportunity as a
rebellious teenager when he joined a group of notorious militants with
a promise of an exciting lifestyle and good money. But there was a
price. “Because of the nature of the job I was doing, I went to so
many places for charms for protection with the result that if you cut
me, it won't penetrate. If you shoot me, the bullets won't enter.” The
charms soon started back-firing for although protection was seemingly
given, spiritual attacks and terrible nightmares became the norm.
Realising he needed deliverance, James set off to look for a church
where he could be set free from the satanic chains he had
inadvertently locked himself in.
The church he eventually attended however had other motives – ulterior
motives. “The pastor prayed for me, and then asked me to wait behind
afterwards, that he wanted to see me. After some time, he asked me if
I wanted to work with them.” From militancy to the work of God? James
was shocked, but decided to accept, believing this could be the key to
a new life. “After all, there's nothing wrong in working in the house
of God,” he surmised.
The assignment for James however, was not the one normally associated
with a church or God's work. It was a dark assignment with dangerous
intent. “I did not know that he was asking me to blaspheme against the
man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua. I had never met T.B. Joshua in my
life. I'd never even seen him. I'd never even heard the name before.
So I accepted the offer as they would pay me a huge amount of money to
testify against Prophet T.B. Joshua in any of their crusades.”
Naïvely, James agreed. Little did he know that such acceptance was to
entangle his life further into a mesh of chaos and confusion,
misleading and deceiving tens of thousands in the process.
“What I was required to say is: 'T.B. Joshua is a satanic agent from
the kingdom of darkness; we belong to the same kingdom of darkness. I
am on level seven and he is on level five. He never mentions the name
Jesus Christ in his church, he only mentions Emmanuel!' I danced to
their tune because of the money involved. They took me around many
states in Nigeria and beyond to testify against the man of God. Every
crusade, a lot of people usually gathered to listen and hear me out.”
Rumours spread like wildfire as the web of deception weaved its wicked
way further throughout the country and beyond, painting Prophet T.B.
Joshua black in the eyes of people. However, the intent of the
perpetrators did not materialise as his ministry waxed stronger
despite the hail of persecution and false accusation. In the midst of
this, James decided to travel abroad to South Africa in search of
greener pastures, the money he received in the course of blasphemy
never amounting to or accounting for anything meaningful. “Getting to
my new location, I found myself doing rubbish. My life was somehow
useless. What I didn't like, that's what I saw myself doing. And all
this while the pastor never stopped inviting me back to Nigeria for
the same purpose of blackmailing Prophet T.B. Joshua each time they
staged crusades and I always obliged because of the money involved”.
Life continued in a downward spiral with various attempts at business
all ending in failure and frustration. James seemed stuck in a vicious
cycle of life, with no apparent end. “I received a lot of attacks and
lost almost everything I acquired.” Marital problems loomed and his
spiritual life was practically non-existent. “I used to go to church
to play music, sing and do everything in the church – but to give my
life to Christ was something I never contemplated because of what had
happened to me in the past. I only saw church as a game.”
But an incredible discovery was around the corner, set to transform
and reform his life and future. “After some time, my wife demanded I
install a satellite dish in our apartment to enable her and my son to
access Christian channels. I succumbed after a lot of pressure but any
time I was in the house, I preferred watching movies instead of
Christian channels. One fateful day I tuned to channel 33 where I saw
Emmanuel TV and not quite two seconds later, I saw the name, Synagogue
Church. I was interested. Not quite five minutes on, I saw the name
'Prophet TB Joshua' on the screen and realised immediately that this
must be the man I had been blaspheming.”
For the first time in his life, James saw the man he had witnessed
publicly against on countless occasions. Remorse began welling within
him as he heard the name of Jesus Christ mentioned frequently. Regret
pierced his heart as he saw the remarkable healing testimonies,
accurate prophetic messages, touching charitable activities and
challenging biblical sermons on Emmanuel TV – all in the name of Jesus
Christ. He had been deceived to deceive. “I saw and heard him
mentioning “In the name of Jesus Christ” times without number. I said,
'Ah! But the people that asked me to testify against this man said he
doesn't mention the name Jesus Christ but only Emmanuel. No! I can't
remain here. I must come down to Nigeria, confess my sins and free
myself so that my family and I can have a bright future.”
His eyes opened to the truth, James sought to right his wrongs and
embarked on a journey to The SCOAN in Lagos, Nigeria. Knowing his
public blasphemy had influenced many negatively, James believed his
public confession could influence many more positively. On December
20th 2009, standing in the arena of The Synagogue, Church Of All
Nations and speaking live on Emmanuel TV, James shared his experience
to a rapt audience. Prophet T.B. Joshua publicly forgave him, prayed
for him and delivered him in the name of Jesus and 16 years of false
testimony and profanity finally came to an end.
SOURCE: Read Us Edition 3