IGNATIOUS NJOBVU
It is not common that a sports stadium hosts mysterious events that cannot be explained by science. Normally, stadiums host entertainment. It is a place where people go to in search for fun. This was not the case on one of the days in 2004 when I was a student at University of Botswana. It was in the evening around 6pm when I headed for the library to do an assignment. For my accommodation at UB I occupied a room at the new blocks, by then it was commonly known as ‘Las-Vegas’. From Las-Vegas to the library, there is quite a distance as one had to pass through some old hostels adjacent to the national stadium. On my way to the library, I could notice that the stadium was fully packed. Solemnity music was being played in the stadium. While carrying my books, I decided to turn and pass through the stadium. I just wanted to confirm what was the event and then I could continue with my original plan.
As I entered the stadium, I noticed that all seats were fully occupied on the east, west and north. Some people were even just standing right on the pitch. I joined the ones on the pitch so that I could capture the activities well. There was a stage mounted on one end of the pitch where some choir members kept on singing gospel music. Being a Christian, I couldn’t afford to leave for my original destination, but rather stay and listen to the soul-touching music. At around 2000hrs, there came a pastor to the stage. I had no idea of him. People screamed at his entrance in excitement. When he got to the podium, some people couldn’t control their tears. They were so emotional at the very sight of the pastor. He introduced himself as Prophet T.B. Joshua. In no time, he went straight to reading a verse in the Bible. He took less than a minute and stopped as if he could sense something wrong. He looked at the crowd and paused: there is too much unwelcome spirit around, he said.
He stepped down the stage and started walking towards the crowd. He lifted his right hand facing the crowd on his right and said something that sounded like ‘come out’. Nearly 100 or so people standing on the pitch on the side he was facing fell down and it looked as if they had difficulties standing up again. The kind of dizziness associated with a drunkard. I ran back towards the stadium entrance since I didn’t know what was going on. I knew that the next time he lifted his hands, he would be facing the side where I was standing so I had to stand at a distance. And indeed so, he did lift his hand and faced the group and said ‘come out’. The other group fell as well. After that, the pastor kept on walking within the congregated worshippers. Standing at a far distance holding my books, I noticed that the pastor could call some people by names. Although he could not pronounce their names well, he tried to give a clear definition of them. He could call a person, then describe real situations in their lives including predicting some future on some. Some of these situations where good and some bad. All the many people who were randomly picked did confirm to the pastor’s description of their predicaments. This made me to even walk a bit further away because I was not sure whether I could stand my future realities like I witnessed others do. Imagine if the pastor had predicted that I did not pass my final year exams? Such thoughts made me to stand just outside the stadium.
I went back to my room at around 10pm. My evening changed from studying to witnessing events that I could not explain. That night, I slept in the early hours of the next day because I kept on telling everyone I came across about the events I saw at the stadium. Most people thought that I was just passing time with some made up story. My classmates whom I stayed with could not help but inquire about the progress I made regarding the assignment that we were given. When I told them that I had not done the assignment because I just visited a pastor at the stadium they thought I was joking. And that I just became lazy and could not do the assignment.
This was my first and last meeting with Prophet Joshua. It is indeed painful to learn of his passing-on. The pastor passed on the 6th of June 2021. Painful as it may be, the good man has run his race. He touched a lot of people’s lives in a very spiritual way. Millions looked up to him for spiritual guidance. May his family and indeed the members of his church find comfort in the great works that he did. We should forever cherish his good deeds and character. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
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