Prophets TB Joshua Instructs Refund Of $100 Registration

Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua has released a statement via social network, �Facebook�, instructing those co-ordinating the arrangement of visits to his popular church in Lagos, Nigeria, to refund the $100 he learned they had been collecting from people as a registration fee. Joshua said he was concerned upon learning from emails and online reports that those arranging groups to visit The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) were taking $100 as a registration fee for those desirous of visiting his famous sanctuary, stating that the organisation of such was charitable in nature and not a money-making venture. �I have received many emails and newspaper reports on the internet complaining of registration fees of $100. What then makes us an evangelist? When people go to concerts, they also register with $100,� the statement, which was posted to over 500,000 fans of �TB Joshua Ministries�, read. He maintained that co-ordinating visits to The SCOAN was evangelical and not finance-orientated, warning those involved that collecting undue money from vulnerable people was tantamount to partaking in their troubles. �If we are evangelists, co-ordinating for God�s sake, all our concerns, aspirations and heart desires must be subjected to the Gospel through works of charity by helping the sick, distressed and unsaved instead of collecting registration fees of $100 from them before giving succour, I mean, attending to them. This cannot be justified; it amounts to taking a portion of their situation.� The popular cleric insisted that money-making should not be the focus or drive of such co-ordinators but rather care for the sick and distressed in society. �If we are focused on making money only, a large slice of life will pass us by. We should spend less on ourselves and more on others,� he exhorted, reminding them of Jesus� words in Matthew 25:40-45. �Don�t forget your promise when you were called to be co-ordinators. Your promise, if I may remind you, was to give rest to the sick, distressed and unsaved,� he wrote. The statement ended with Joshua�s insistence that any money collected for registration should be immediately returned. �Those who have already paid $100 for the registration should be refunded, for God�s sake. I am impressed by the prompt action of the co-ordinators in Tanzania and Zimbabwe who have been refunding the $100 paid by each person as a registration fee. I believe all others will act likewise." Citing Matthew 10:41, he concluded, "He who honours a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet�s reward.� The SCOAN is known to be one of Nigeria�s major tourist attractions, with hundreds of foreign visitors flocking to the cathedral on a weekly basis in search of the miraculous. The ministry is especially popular within Africa, with scores of visitors from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana and a host of other African countries making regular pilgrimages to The SCOAN in Lagos. T.B. Joshua is also renowned for his philanthropy, charitable giving to the less-privileged forming an integral part of his church services broadcast on Emmanuel TV.