It is always spiritually uplifting whenever I reminisce about Prophet TB Joshua. Those who were unfamiliar with him or chose not to get to know him, yet found solace in speaking negatively about him, were unequivocally mistaken. And they remain mistaken to this day.

I had the privilege of meeting him on several occasions, each time in close proximity, one-on-one. Arigidi Akoko is also our shared community, which made it even more exceptional to have met him and to have been entrusted with various responsibilities concerning the children.

The Prophet TB Joshua I knew was:

1. A devoted family man, deeply loving and compassionate, unreservedly generous, a true Nigerian, and a quintessential African man.
2. A faithful preacher of the true and complete Word of God. He lived the Word of God, exemplified it, and demonstrated that God is as close to us as our very breath. He was a man of fasting and prayer, teaching and expounding on the concept of unceasing prayer.
3. A man of peace who refused to hold onto offense. He preached and instructed his followers, disciples, and viewers that harboring offense could impede their access to the throne of grace.
4. A man who came to nurture the vineyard of God. All his teachings, healings, prophecies, and deliverances were performed in the name of Jesus, using the Word of God. TB Joshua did not seek to establish a new foundation but to build upon the foundation already laid by Jesus Christ.
5. An evangelist of the Word. During one meeting, he summoned me and introduced me to a group that had attended the same gathering. This group hailed from SCOAN Lokoja, Kogi State. SCOAN Lokoja, which still exists, was among his earliest ministries until he settled in Lagos. The group requested his personal attention and regular visits, and he responded by sending his evangelists periodically. My specific assignment was to evaluate the place and provide a report. Prophet TB Joshua maintained satellite stations worldwide for his ministry, and we must now support our new leader, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, in this evangelistic endeavor.

Therefore, as we commemorate the second anniversary of Prophet TB Joshua’s passing, let us not forget his love and his pragmatic approach to the philosophy of evangelizing the world by “changing people and changing the world.” While Prophet TB Joshua may have departed from us physically, he has left behind a profound and impactful ministry that will engage us until the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). When we gaze at the sky on that day, Temitope Balogun Joshua will be soaring to meet the Lord. It is our responsibility to ensure that we are also there in the sky, ready to meet the Lord Jesus.

We join our voices in proclaiming to the righteous, “It shall be well with you. You shall eat the fruit of your actions” (Isaiah 3:10). The Lord will always deliver the righteous from every trouble (Proverbs 11:8), in the mighty name of Jesus.

“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men” (Proverbs 11:8).

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria