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Deliverance in Jesus name
Reason
This is the travel report of my visit to The Synagogue Church or All
Nations in March 2007. This journey was well organised by the foundation
"Deliverance in Jesus name". It became a week with a lot of
impressions, which do not hurry themselves to be described. Take a
little time for reading. Click on the photographs at the right side to
examine more photographs and videos.
Already since 2002 I collected the news concerning T.B. Joshua and The
Synagogue Church or All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria. In November 2006 I
got the task to make an Internet site for the (new) foundation, which
organizes the Dutch journeys to this church.
The offer to go along with them was welcome, I was glad with this
invitation, because it would be a good occasion to see with own eyes
what is happening there.
The Internet site is called: www.bevrijdinginjezusnaam.nl
(Deliverance
in Jesus name). Deliverance in Jesus name, is exactly what happens there
in Lagos. There people in need are delivered of sicknesses and evil
spirits. Sometimes it happens in a moment. I saw the same things happen that you can read in the book Acts and in the gospels.
The outward journey
This time went with a group of only five people. But that has also its
advantages. I enjoy flying like a small child. Landing and take
off I find splendidly each time. The flight goes along the river Rhine,
which is seen continuously, and over the tops of Alps, covered with
snow. Because of the fog on Schiphol Amsterdam we departed too late and
we are landing in Milano at 15.00. We still have five minutes, but the
plane to Lagos leaves without us. T.B.Joshua said a week before that we must not care if there would be any delays.
That is beautiful. We get an extra of Alitalia: we can spend the night
in a luxuriously hotel with a delicious dinner and breakfast.
Arrival
One day day later as planned we arrive in the evening in Lagos. It is
warm there, 30 degrees, but the wind blows nicely. There are already
people of the church waiting for us and we are brought by bus to the
church. A soldier with gun in the front seat. The ride through this city
of 15 millions inhabitants is a happening on itself: chaos, many
hooting, swung back and forth to avoid breaches and hooting cars and
motorcycles. For half an hour we pass by poor constructions and a lot of people. What are they all doing? I
must swallow however, of all that poverty.
The welcome in the church is cordial. Everyone greets you with
"Emmanuel" (God with us). The dormitories are indicated, men
and women separated, and we even get a warm meal. The food
is particularly good there and that remains good the complete
week.
Tour
They are doing everything by itself there. The large splendid church of
140 at 70 meters, by others also called ' cathedral ', has been built
with own people and resources and has been been finished splendidly.
There is place for 8000 people, and they have almost 20,000 members.
There is also a shop where you can buy 'everything'. Beside the church
is a large area with open tents where education can be given to young
and old and where are organized meetings for children and youngsters. If
you go there at night you can enjoy their splendid singing in the dark.
At the other side of the road is a large area with many workshops:
garage, metal- and wood working (I saw the lathe, on which I long ago
learned it: -), a bread bakery, and they also bake their own stones,
etc., there is a parking place for the buses which pick up the people on
Sunday from the full surroundings; and a football field (of hard sand
ground).
The food is simple and well. The water from the tap is drinkable,
although it is generally too warm. The church has her own filters. A
generator catches the regularly attentive current drop outs within half
a minute.
A walk along the church shows how nicely it is finished. It has
something of a basket. Against the church are made beautiful portrayals
of the last supper and Jesus in conversation with Nicodemus. By the main
road, which runs at the main entrance of the church, you cannot come.
Too dangerous for whites. You don’t see any white people in the city.
They have money, thus they are robbed. But the soldiers at the entrance
ensure, however, that you do not go too far.
The church
The two services on Sunday are of course the most important. We have
seen beautiful wonders and healings. Several camera teams are running
and they are recording everything. It is striking also that almost
everyone heals, if not direct, then nevertheless within some days or
weeks. And everything is documented. People must show a medical report and the healing itself is filmed and later follows
the testimony before the camera. For sicknesses as Aids one
must return some weeks later with the hospital declaration.
Videotapes
As a preparation for the Sunday services we have to watch many
videotapes of healings. We see the most recent healing campaigns in
Singapore, Australia and South-Korea, which is filmed by several camera
teams. Very alternating and captivating pictures. Small and large
healings. And also many people are delivered of evil spirits. Thrilling and
breathtaking sometimes.
Education
The sermons of T.B. Joshua are briefly and 'basic', but they have an
extra dimension. They concern about now. God is now God. He is a God of
now. He saves now, He heals now. He delivers now. The sermons are simple
and especially targeted on personal holiness. Each sin, irritation,
angry word must directly be confessed to God and to he who you have put
on something. There is power in your mouth and therefore it must come
out of your mouth. Then the Holy Spirit can fill it up. The Holy Spirit
is gentle, and otherwise withdraws himself. But He is also power from
above; not only a support in your life, but also power for words of God,
for healing of sicknesses, and for delivery of evil spirits.
Prophet
T.B. Joshua is Prophet. That is a title which is a little difficult to
accept for us, sober Westerners. But as there is the gift of teacher or
evangelist, he has indeed received the gift of prophecy. I witnessed a
meeting with about hundred young people of which some had mutually
considerable criticism on each other. That was solved in a marvellous
prophetical way. Everyone of them heard in an encouraging and
prophetical speech what his/her problem was. A special experience. There is also every month a special prophetical
service. Not as a sermon in our meetings, but he himself tells people by
a word of God with what problem they have come to the service and they
receive their deliverance. This also happens in the Sunday
services.
Sunday
The Sunday services start with much singing. They have well-known and to
me unknown songs. Everyone knows them from the head and texts are not
available, therefore you listen and move with them. Moving, that does
everyone. I found it contagiously and gladly participate. They sing and
pray with the complete body: arms, legs, mouth, everything is moving.
Not in ecstasy, but to emphasise and to go through what you sing and
pray.
Prayer line
After the worship service and a sermon of T.B.Joshua we, the guests, are
going to the Prayer line, also called Emergency Section. There is a row
of about ten people with open wounds and things like that. Everything is
filmed and as T.B.Joshua extends his hand and pronounces healing in
Jesus name, they walk one after the other away thanking Jesus. You do
not see the healing of the open wounds immediately, but one says that
these people are healed after a few days and then return and give their
testimonies before the cameras. Everything is documented. Further on in
the hall are the Aids patients. Laying hands on them is by person and is
very brief. "You're free, in Jesus name", T.B.Joshua. says and
people who feel that the pain has left bear witness of it directly
before the cameras. They say they feel no more pain or show movements
which they could not do, and shout: "Thank you, Jesus!".
He is receiving all honour.
Because you cannot see if HIV patients are
healed, they must return with a medical HIV-negative declaration.
Poster
Then the hall gets filled with about a hundred native people who have
been precisely screened and taught in the previous weeks. We also, the
foreign newcomers, get a place in the long row. Everyone with a large
poster with their sickness written on it. And at the top of it states:
God is the Healer. His name is Jesus Christ. You will have to know this:
T.B. Joshua is not the healer!
Just a little trip - I thought of going to the church with in fact
'nothing'. In that case you go for a 'Spiritual Uplift'. That means that
you want to have a spiritual bounce. But when I am questioned by a group
of 6 à 7 young women/girls in the interview for the prayerline, it
comes out that my marriage is not so good. The 'spiritual uplift' does
not continue. 'Marriage problem' comes first now on top of my poster.
And instead of 'spiritual uplift' I need a 'Breakthrough' according to
them. That is an opening in all areas of your life. I am, however, glad.
Why would you hide here something?
Evil spirits
So there I am sitting, with a large poster before me, waiting for the
junior prophets who go first. I am getting a heavy hand imposed. As
T.B.Joshua is coming nearer he is stopped at a man from Mozambique who
violently starts manifesting. The man was the whole week at our group,
watching videos, we had good conversations, he had worked in Germany and
can talk a little German, and that seems to be like Dutch, so... But
when T.B.Joshua lays a hand on him, the spirits manifest and show
themselves. It becomes a complete spectacle in front of our feet. With
authority T.B.Joshua orders the spirits. After half an hour
the man lies completely finished on the ground, delivered of several
evil spirits and he testifies of it later in the afternoon
service.
In the meantime T.B.Joshua also continues quietly with his work and I
also feel his heavy hand on my head, chest and stomach. I assume that
there has be pushed out something and I pray too. Further I perceived
nothing , but that night it broke through. I have confessed everything
what I could think of and felt how the Holy Spirit
filled me up.
I have missed much of what happened further on in the Prayer line. A few
chairs further on sits a woman who has an evil spirit which starts
shouting with a sepulchral voice: "she must dead, I want her dead,
I'm her husband". She rolled on the floor against our feet. Later
in the afternoon service she was delivered entirely.
Shot wounds
Two boys sat opposite to me. One with a shot wound in his hand and the
other one with a shot wound in his leg. The last came on crutches and
was healed partially. He threw his crutches away, but still hopped. One
says that the hopping will heal in the coming days. The shot wound in
the hand of the other boy apparently gave him much pain. He could not
stretch his fingers. Then T.B.Joshua extended his hand, the hand of this
boy started moving and he cramped of pain. T.B.Joshua always walks
around several times, and at the second round the same happened: the
extended hand of T.B.Joshua caused the movement in the boy’s hand and
terrible pain. The third time, about 10 minutes later, T.B.Joshua
stretched his hand out towards him and only made a one hand movement to
stand up and he said: "You are free". Astonishement on the
face of the boy who was still having pain. Again a short
stand-up-and-move-sign from T.B.Joshua and while the boy stood up he
could move he his hand and stretch his fingers freely. Amazement and joy
radiated of his face. The miracle happened in just a few seconds.
After having declared everyone "free", T.B.Joshua went to the
Mother Section beside the church, where many women, mothers and children
are sitting. There also happens a lot for an hour or may be even longer.
We could enter the church again, where the time was filled up with
singing in the usual enthusiastic manner.
Emmanuel.tv
Much of the things I described above are daily aired on www.emmanuel.tv.
This TV station of the church can be watched in many continents
(N-America, Europe, Africa) and on Internet everywhere in the world. The
aim of this sender is massive:
Changing lives,
Changing nations,
Changing the world.
The start one year ago was simple. However, 24 hours a day, but with
many repeated clips. Meanwhile the dispatch has developed into a
complete and changing program with daily new sermons, healings and
miracles. The Sunday services are transmitted 'live' and will soon be
repeated on a week day. Many church members in Europe and Africa are
sitting in church on Sunday morning and in this way they are able to see
these services too.
Prayer Mountain
Ten years ago T.B.Joshua started the church with 8 people on the Prayer
Mountain. On the Prayer Mountain are also the ' prayer warriors ' who
pray 24 hours a day for all possible things. Also for us. The Prayer
Mountain is not a mountain but a nature area, with a sandy plain with
some shadow giving trees, where the weekly prayer services of the church
are held. They are held weekly at night, on Wednesday night from 12 up
to 5 a.m.. The prayer is enthusiastically prayed in a fiery manner,
well-known to all.
Because we arrived a day later caused by the delay of our flight we
missed this happening. But on the last day we could go there by daytime.
It became a drive through a very poor district. We bumped slowly over
the bad roads and I saw appalling many boards of charismatic churches.
Also many friendly eyes and waving people who were obvious well disposed
to us, white people. Or possibly it was because of the Scoan bus. We
arrived in a paradise nature area with much water and small islands, and
that in the middle of this large city Lagos with 15 millions
inhabitants. On the sandy plain we could pray. There is said that each
prayer you pray there is answered. I assume it is true. In faith stand
on... in faith praying, speaking, acting... asking and having the faith
of Christ in you... How are you doing that: standing and acting in your
faith? Those are the eye-openers which you get there in Lagos.
Aid
The poverty is large. There is a lot of abuse. The church tries to do as
much as possible, but for many things is hardly enough money. The church
provides people with food and clothing. Food is distributed to children.
An example: often women are sent away when the husband dies. They can
keep their clothes but further they get nothing. Everything belongs to
the family of the deceased husband. Beggarly they come to the church and
are getting food, clothes, lodging, and a house is searched for.
Return trip
After a week it was done. Only for that ride by car from and to the
airport you want to go to Nigeria. We were stuck constantly in the
hooting traffic. The military jumped out and we went a bit further.
They are driving very brutally there, but I have seen no anger, fingers
raised or abusing. It simply seems to be their driving style. And if it
goes more rapidly on the left roadway, it seems to be allowed too. We
arrived marvellous enough exact in time. This means: all luggage was
already checked in, except ours. But there are also working members of
the church at the airport and the church has a good name and so they do
everything for you. Therefore our luggage followed in the rear.
Therefore this also ended marvellous good.
Criticism
You wonder of course if I have no criticism. Well... much is going on
the African manner (way?). I have tried a few times to change the
nation, but I should better not do that. And criticism on spiritual
matters? There are some things which I (still) do not understand well.
But my conclusion is that 'we' better can take an example to 'them' then
'they' to 'us'. And the criticism, as expressed by some critics, appear
to rest on ignorance.
Conclusion
I have never heard the name of Jesus so frequently. It is all about Him.
The cross, the crucifixion, the resurrection, they are also portrayed in
a lot of manners in and around the church. All of the church windows are
stained-glass windows with biblical scenes and texts. Pillars and all
kinds of objects have been decorated with art work from the Bible. The
ceiling of the church has been inlayed with dozens coloured
representations of Jesus life. Holiness and power of the Holy Spirit
are going together. And to God is given all honour. Thank you,
Jesus!
Want to go there?
But do you have to go there to receive healing today? Yes! When Jesus
went around he looked for the people, but he did not come everywhere.
People had to go to him too. Yes, God can heal you also at home. But in
the present time he has given to some people special gifts, like
prophecy and healing. So in this way He still gives healing.
Go and see
I can recommend everyone to go and have a look by yourself and
experience what the Lord Jesus is doing in 2007. He is the same as
always and is still doing the same things. Do not let anyone or anything hold you back. No sickness or problem is too large or too
small for Him. If you want to receive healing or deliverance, enter your
name at the foundation "Bevrijding in Jezus naam" (Deliverance
in Jesus name).
Click
here...
Links
Journeys from Holland to Lagos: www.bevrijdinginjezusnaam.nl
24/7 Internet-TV : www.emmanuel.tv
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Photographs + Videos
Click on the
photographs below to watch more photographs.
In the church is filming not allowed, but taking pictures is free.
Click below on Prayerline
to watch the spectacular videos of Emmanuel.tv.
Outward
journey...
More pictures of outward
journey...
Tour...
More pictures of
the tour...
Environs...
More pictures of the
environs...
On our way to the Prayer Mountain
we drove through a poor but friendly quarter. It teemed there of
charismatic churches.
Poverty...
More pictures of the poverty...
Dinner-
and study room...
More pictures of dinner
and study room...
The
church...
More pictures of the
church...
The
church inside - the details
Jesus,
Cross, Resurrection, Word...
More pictures of details...
The
church inside - the ceiling
The biblical
pictures...
More pictures of the
church inside...
Video
Later Emmanuel.tv
broadcasted some video recordings about what happened that Sunday
morning in the Prayer line. Watch the pictures:
Prayer Line en Prayer Time
Video...
Videos
of the Prayer Line...
Unfortunately I do not have video pictures of the miraculous
healings I saw happening under my very eyes.
24 hours / 7 days
Click here and watch Emmanuel.tv...
24h/7d prayerwarriors are praying on the Prayer Mountain, that is
the nature area with sand plain. The church also keeps its weekly
prayer meeting on the
Prayer Mountain...
More pictures of the Prayer Mountain...
Return
trip...
More pictures of the
return trip...
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