 |
| TB Joshua's wife cries at his funeral. Photo: Legit.ng/Emmanuel Osodi |
Prophet T.B. Joshua's wife, Evelyn, couldn't hold back tears while paying tribute to him on Tuesday, the second day of the weeklong funeral service currently being held in honour of the controversial televangelist. Her speech came on the heels of an electrical fire that briefly disrupted the candlelight service on Monday.
Describing the late cleric as "TBJ, the man in the synagogue", Evelyn stated that in her 31 years of marriage to Joshua, their lives were "not without trials and tests".
"You taught me to know that tests and trials are the soils on which our feet flourishes". The seemingly heartbroken widow further stated that her late husband's vision "became to me clearer with time". As the crowd gave her a round of applause, she praised Joshua for his efforts in growing the church from "an eight-membership assembly sitting on a mat" to the large Synagogue it is today.
"You have grown me to the woman I am today, and in your words, for gold to become gold, it must pass through [the] fire," she said, thanking the celebrity pastor for choosing her to be his wife and for loving, nurturing and caring for her.
"Thank you for being a good father to our children. You were not just a father who merely provides but a father who wants the best and gave out his best at all times."
"I thank you for shielding me from those who came to our home with ulterior motives and because you could not give in to their ill desires. They were bent on soiling your noble name, yet, you were undeterred."
While concluding her speech, Evelyn promised to "keep the fire burning and keep your dreams alive by God's grace"
"Till we meet to part no more", she added.
Visibly shaken at this point, the 52-year-old described as unfortunate the fact that "I, Evelyn, will not be able to see you physically again."
TB Joshua's daughters, Promise, Serah and Heart, stood by their mother, and each eulogised their late father.
In photos: TB Joshua's lying-in-state
TB Joshua's wife cries at his lying in state service. Photo: Legit.ng/Emmanuel Osodi 
TB Joshua's wife. Photo: Legit.ng/Emmanuel Osodi
 |