29th December, 2013
.As South Sudan President sends delegation to pray for peace
Simon Ateba/Lagos
Like a carnival, with thousands of people singing and dancing, and hundreds of flags from different countries flying across the fully packed auditorium, the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda and her husband, on Sunday worshipped at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, in Ikotun area of Lagos, western Nigeria.
Going by her strong and long applause, Joyce Banda seemed to have been well entertained by a professional South African opera singer, Kimmy Skota, who rendered a moving song (Pie Jesu – Merciful Jesus) after telling the crowd that she was recently delivered by the Synagogue church in London.
Onazi Ogenyi, a professional soccer star with Lazio Football Club in Italy also entertained the huge and multi-racial worshippers with his keyboard.
The dancing and singing were relayed live on Emmanuel Television and beamed on over 50 screens in the expensively built church.
Malawi’s first couple was formally welcomed into the church by Prophet T.B. Joshua, the founder of SCOAN.Joshua also announced the presence of a delegation from President Salva Kiir of crisis-ridden South Sudan, who came to receive prayers for peace.
The Malawi first couple arrived the church as early as 8.30 a.m. with their entourage of about ten persons, but it was not until 12.34 p.m. that T.B. Joshua made his first appearance in the church and promptly introduced the president and her husband.
By that time, Banda had taken her first break at 11.43 a.m., having waited for over three hours.
While her husband appeared very fit and remained standing, even dancing during hours of praise and worship songs, Banda stood up and sat down several times and remained seated much of the time.
She walked slowly and came close to falling down when she was leaving the auditorium on her first break but was supported by her aides.
But the carnival like church service turned grim when T.B. Joshua began unveiling his prophecies for the year 2014.
The man in the Synagogue, as T.B. Joshua is known said 2014 will be a hard year with many African banks and airlines closing shop.
He said there will not be enough money to sustain many banks and many planes will get damaged and there will not be enough money to buy new ones.
“There will be more demand than supply,” he said.
He said the year 2014 will be like a bridge where many will fall off and some will cross it with ease.
He said it will be a very difficult year for the wicked but those who do good and serve Jesus will be fulfilled.
“There will be a lot of challenges for the mighty and powerful next year,” he said, adding that “2014 is a year of bridge. It’s a year of destiny”.
He said those involved in farming will have a great year even though money will be scarce and hardship will expand.
By the time he was done with ministering to attend to about 3000 people who came for healing and miracles, Banda and her entourage took their second break 2.18 p.m.
For the next three hours, T.B. Joshua was performing healing and miracles on thousands of people on the prayer line.
At 6.20pm, Banda returned to the auditorium, with two bodyguards.
Banda and husband arrived Nigeria two days ago for prayers in the church of a man she describes as her “spiritual godfather”. The Malawi first couple will return home Monday.