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Do not fill this in! === Purported healings and miracles=== Joshua's former chief lieutenant, Agomoh Paul, who left the SCOAN compound after ten years, said that Joshua was a "genius" manipulator.<ref name=NorthcottSpooner/> Paul said that he was in charge of faking "miracles" purportedly performed by Joshua.<ref name=NorthcottSpooner/> Paul and others interviewed by BBC News said that those who seemed to be "cured" at the church were frequently paid to "perform or exaggerate their symptoms before their supposed healing took place" and in some instances were drugged or medicated as part of the "faith healing" process.<ref name=NorthcottSpooner/> Some were falsely told that they had HIV/AIDS but had made a recovery due to Joshua.<ref name=NorthcottSpooner/> Joshua's followers attributed miraculous properties to anointing water that had been prayed over by Joshua, claiming that it healed wounds,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edjewhovbo |first=Benson |date=22 July 2010 |title=Curing Four Year Old Acid Victim |work=Daily Independent |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201007230244.html |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629143729/http://allafrica.com/stories/201007230244.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ndlovu-Gherke |first=Nomsa |date=16 July 2010 |title=By Divine Connection |work=The Voice (Botswana) |url=http://www.thevoicebw.com/2010/07/16/by-devine-connection/ |url-status=dead |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502000736/http://www.thevoicebw.com/2010/07/16/by-devine-connection/ |archive-date=2 May 2014}}</ref> or saved them from explosions or helicoper crashes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Njoku |first=Ihechuwku |date=27 October 2015 |title='How T.B Joshua's morning water saved us from Bristow Helicopter crash' |work=Vanguard (Nigeria) |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/how-t-b-joshuas-morning-water-saved-us-from-bristow-helicopter-crash/ |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091026/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/how-t-b-joshuas-morning-water-saved-us-from-bristow-helicopter-crash/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Orenuga |first=Adenike |date=21 April 2014 |title=How T.B Joshua's anointing water saved us from the Nyanya bomb blast β Survivors |work=Daily Post (Nigeria) |url=http://dailypost.ng/2014/04/21/t-b-joshuas-anointing-water-saved-us-nyanya-bomb-blast-survivors/ |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308021625/http://dailypost.ng/2014/04/21/t-b-joshuas-anointing-water-saved-us-nyanya-bomb-blast-survivors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, four people died in a stampede in Joshua's Ghanaian branch when an unadvertised service in which the water was being distributed drew huge crowds that exceeded the church's capacity. The incident nearly brought Ghana's capital city, [[Accra]], to a standstill, and led to criticism of Joshua.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirsch |first=Afua |date=23 May 2013 |title=Celebrity Pastor Under Fire After Worshippers Die In Rush For 'Holy Water' |work=The Guardian (UK) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/ghana-pastor-stampede-tbjoshua |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608170909/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/ghana-pastor-stampede-tbjoshua |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, during the [[West African Ebola virus epidemic]], Joshua also made headlines when he claimed his anointing water could cure people suffering from [[Ebola]]. He subsequently sent 4,000 bottles of the water and $50,000 to the Ebola-stricken nation of [[Sierra Leone]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tracy |first=Abigail |date=15 August 2014 |title=This Guy Sent Sierra Leone 4,000 Bottles of Holy Water to Cure Ebola |work=Vocativ |url=http://www.vocativ.com/world/nigeria-world/ebola-outbreak-2014/ |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030132/http://www.vocativ.com/world/nigeria-world/ebola-outbreak-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffin |first=Andrew |date=17 August 2014 |title=Millionaire Preacher Sends 4,000 Bottles Of Holy Water As Ebola Cure |work=The Independent (UK) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/millionaire-preacher-sends-4000-bottles-of-holy-water-as-ebola-cure-9674136.html |access-date=15 September 2017 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706124753/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/millionaire-preacher-sends-4000-bottles-of-holy-water-as-ebola-cure-9674136.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A Sierra Leonean politician claimed that the water cured Ebola.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ogbeche |first=Danielle |date=3 November 2015 |title=TB Joshua's 'Anointing Water' Reportedly Curing Ebola In Sierra Leone |work=Daily Post (Nigeria) |url=http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/03/tb-joshuas-anointing-water-reportedly-curing-ebola-in-sierra-leone/ |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=19 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219201807/http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/03/tb-joshuas-anointing-water-reportedly-curing-ebola-in-sierra-leone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lagos State Health officials visited Joshua and asked that he use his influnce to publicly discourage Ebola victims from visiting his church for prayers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moon |first=Ruth |date=29 October 2014 |title=Why Nigerian Health Officials Turned to a Megachurch Pastor When Ebola Struck |work=Christianity Today |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/november/ebola-tb-joshua-healing.html |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101160614/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/november/ebola-tb-joshua-healing.html |url-status=live }}</ref> SCOAN claimed that Joshua regularly facilitates miracles at the church.<ref name="Zambianeye">{{Cite news | title = TB Joshua now releases videos of his early days miracles | url = http://zambianeye.com/archives/1728 | work = Zambian Eye | date = 23 October 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140810120518/http://zambianeye.com/archives/1728 | archive-date = 10 August 2014 }}</ref> Hundreds of weekly visitors to "prayer lines" at the church were prayed over by Joshua, and the church claimed he cured people of HIV/AIDS,<ref name="NigeriaFilms">{{Cite news | title = Prophet TB Joshua Heals A Man Who Has AIDS | url = http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/25317/64/prophet-tb-joshua-heals-a-man-who-has-aids.html | work = Nigeria Films | date = 2 February 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140729160522/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/25317/64/prophet-tb-joshua-heals-a-man-who-has-aids.html | archive-date = 29 July 2014 }}</ref><ref name="harare24">{{Cite news | title = People 'healed' of HIV-AIDS after visiting Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua | url = http://harare24.com/index-id-news-zk-12869.html | work = Harare24 | date = 2012 | access-date = 28 July 2014 | archive-date = 2 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802120638/http://harare24.com/index-id-news-zk-12869.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="theremnant">{{Cite news | title = Prophet T.B.Joshua & The Synagogue | url = http://www.theremnant.com/08-02-01.html | work = The Remnant | date = 1 February 2008 | access-date = 28 July 2014 | archive-date = 2 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802120632/http://www.theremnant.com/08-02-01.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> blindness<ref>{{Cite news | first = Stoyan | last = Zaimov | title = Blind Man Shouts 'I Can See!' at Controversial Pastor TB Joshua's Healing Service | url = https://www.christianpost.com/news/blind-man-shouts-i-can-see-at-controversial-pastor-tb-joshuas-healing-service-180264/ | work = Christian Post | date = 12 April 2017 | access-date = 17 November 2017 | archive-date = 2 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802120633/https://www.christianpost.com/news/blind-man-shouts-i-can-see-at-controversial-pastor-tb-joshuas-healing-service-180264/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and open wounds.<ref>{{Cite news | first = Stoyan | last = Zaimov | title = Jesus shoots protruded anus back to place says TB Joshua Ministries | url = https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/photos-jesus-shoots-protruded-anus-back-place-says-tb-joshua-ministries/ | work = Vanguard (Nigeria) | date = 14 May 2017 | access-date = 17 November 2017 | archive-date = 2 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190802120631/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/photos-jesus-shoots-protruded-anus-back-place-says-tb-joshua-ministries/ | url-status = live }}</ref> SCOAN's claims of "spiritual healing" were the subject of several media reports, including a mention in ''[[Time Magazine]]'',<ref>{{Cite news| first = Jeffrey| last = Kluger| title = Spiritual Healing Around The World| url = http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1878443_1842216,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214175606/http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1878443_1842216,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 14 February 2009 | work = Time Magazine| date = 12 February 2009}}</ref> an [[Associated Press]] interview<ref>{{cite news| first = Carley| last = Petesch| title = Nigeria Preacher: Healer Or Controversial Leader| url = http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nigeria-preacher-healer-or-controversial-leader| agency = Associated Press| date = 19 April 2014| access-date = 1 May 2014| archive-date = 2 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032709/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nigeria-preacher-healer-or-controversial-leader| url-status = dead}}</ref> and an article by ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' detailing the tendency of Nigerians to seek spiritual help due to insufficient medical facilities.<ref>{{Cite news| first = Rowan Moore| last = Getty| title = Only The Synagogue Can Save You| url = https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/04/25/synagogue_spiritual_hospital_nigeria_disease_healing| work = Foreign Policy| date = 25 April 2014| access-date = 11 March 2017| archive-date = 14 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140514220152/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/04/25/synagogue_spiritual_hospital_nigeria_disease_healing| url-status = dead}}</ref> Wide public debate was stirred within Nigeria when the father of abducted school girl Ese Oruru stated his intention to take his daughter to TB Joshua for prayers following her release.<ref>{{Cite news | first = Conor | last = Gaffey | title = 'Abducted' Nigerian Girl To Be Taken To TB Joshua For Healing, Says Father | url = http://europe.newsweek.com/ese-oruru-tb-joshua-432356?rm=eu | work = Newsweek (Europe) | date = 3 February 2016 | access-date = 25 March 2016 | archive-date = 5 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305212941/http://europe.newsweek.com/ese-oruru-tb-joshua-432356?rm=eu | url-status = live }}</ref> Similarly, a leaked report stating the intention of Nigeria's embattled former petroleum minister [[Diezani Alison-Madueke]] to visit Joshua for spiritual support in her battle against breast cancer elicited controversy.<ref>{{Cite news | first = Ludovica | last = Iaccino | title = Sick Alison-Madueke To Seek TB Joshua's Help: Who Is The Controversial Self-proclaimed Prophet? | url = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sick-alison-madueke-seek-tb-joshuas-help-who-controversial-self-proclaimed-prophet-1530285 | work = International Business Times (UK) | date = 24 November 2015 | access-date = 25 March 2016 | archive-date = 18 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160318031622/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sick-alison-madueke-seek-tb-joshuas-help-who-controversial-self-proclaimed-prophet-1530285 | url-status = live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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