Why I Don't Have Church Branches Everywhere ––TB Joshua

Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua has opened up as to why his church does not have foreign branches despite his popularity abroad. The cleric, who spoke on Sunday 24th August 2014 at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), stressed on the need for God's character to be fully established before ministerial expansion.

"I would have loved to have branches all over the world because people want T.B. Joshua everywhere," he told the congregation. "But it is not yet time because it will be too much for my character. When the load is too heavy for you, it will become a burden."

He further added that he was not moved by pleas from people but rather relied on God's instruction. "Not where they want me but where God wants me," he emphasised, adding that he was not in a haste or hurry and would not jump ahead of God's timing.

"If you run before God, you cannot run after God," he continued, explaining that this had been the bane of many businessmen and pastors as their desire to expand superseded their level of character.

His views stand in stark contrast to the popular notion that the amount of branches a church has is indicative of its level of success.

"In a situation where you become so great without God's character, it means the end is going to be bad," Joshua went on further to explain, reminding congregants of Jesus' words in John 14:27 that the world too could provide wealth and fame although with conditions attached.

"When you see someone who is great without God's character, don't admire him – pray for him because the beginner is not the owner but the finisher... The beginning and middle are off-record; the end is what will put the record straight."

He stated that it was even better not to have fame and popularity than to achieve what would eventually end in calamity. "Character is the one that carries whatever we become. If your wealth is bigger than your character, that wealth will be spending you, not you spending it," TB Joshua cautioned.

Joshua stated that one of the secrets of his ministerial success was not being driven by money, explaining that some worshippers were still under canopies in his church not because he lacked the financial capacity to expand but because he was waiting on God.

"There is money to build but money cannot dictate for me. We could expand this place (The SCOAN) and build the biggest church in the world but I allow the Source of money to tell me what to do, not the money itself."

Ihechukwu Njoku 

- freelance journalist currently in Lagos, Nigeria