The Gift of Hope: My Journey with T.B. Joshua -By Patrick Iwelunmor

When I reflect on my encounters with Prophet T.B. Joshua, one phrase comes repeatedly to mind: the gift of hope. Of all the things that can be given to a person—money, opportunities, influence, or connections—hope is perhaps the most valuable because it has the power to transform how we see ourselves and our future. It is difficult to quantify and impossible to measure, yet it sustains people through seasons of uncertainty and inspires them to keep moving forward when circumstances suggest otherwise. Looking back now, years after those encounters, I realise that what I received from T.B. Joshua was far more than material support. I received hope at a time when hope was in short supply, and that gift would leave a lasting imprint on my life.

Between 2010 and 2013, I passed through one of the most challenging periods of my life. Unemployment tested not only my finances but also my confidence, resilience, and sense of direction. Like many young Nigerians striving to build a future for themselves and their families, I found myself caught between aspiration and reality. Every passing month seemed to raise new questions. How would I provide for my family? When would the breakthrough come? Would the opportunities I longed forever materialise? While I tried to remain optimistic, there were moments when uncertainty threatened to overshadow hope. Looking back now, I realise that it was during this difficult season that I encountered one of the greatest gifts a person can receive—the gift of hope.

It was during this period that Prophet T.B. Joshua became a source of encouragement and support to my family. His interventions came at crucial moments, helping to ease burdens that might otherwise have become overwhelming. What struck me was not merely that he gave, but the manner in which he gave. There was dignity in his generosity and sincerity in his concern. He never made people feel like objects of charity. Instead, he made them feel seen, valued, and worthy of care. In a society where many people are quick to look away from the struggles of others, he demonstrated an uncommon willingness to stand with those navigating difficult circumstances. His support was practical, timely, and deeply human.

One experience in particular remains unforgettable. Before then, international travel was something I viewed from a distance. It belonged to another world—a world of people with stable careers, financial security, and opportunities that seemed far removed from my circumstances. During that season of unemployment, travelling beyond Nigeria appeared more like a dream than a realistic possibility. Yet, in an act of generosity that I still cherish today, Prophet T.B. Joshua funded my first international trip to Paraguay in South America.

For many people, it might have seemed like a simple journey. For me, it represented something much greater. It was an affirmation that my present circumstances did not have the final say over my future. It was a reminder that life could be larger than the limitations I had begun to accept. More than the ticket itself, it was the message behind it that mattered: do not stop believing that greater possibilities exist. Sometimes, what changes a life is not merely the opportunity itself but the confidence that someone else’s belief in you can inspire.

My journey to Paraguay broadened my horizons in ways I could never have anticipated. Travelling to another continent exposed me to different cultures, different people, and different perspectives. It challenged assumptions and expanded my understanding of the world. For a young man emerging from a difficult season of unemployment, stepping onto another continent was both humbling and transformative. The journey was more than an international trip; it was a powerful reminder that my circumstances were temporary and that my future could be larger than my present reality. It expanded my horizons, strengthened my confidence, and renewed my belief that opportunities often arrive when we least expect them. Looking back, I now see that the trip was not simply about geography; it was about vision. It helped me imagine possibilities beyond the constraints of my immediate circumstances.

What makes these memories even more significant is the context in which they occurred. At the time, there was no shortage of people willing to warn me about T.B. Joshua. His name frequently attracted controversy. Some described him as a false prophet. Others questioned his ministry and motives. Friends, acquaintances, and observers often repeated stories they had heard and cautioned me against associating with him. Many of these individuals were sincere in their concerns, and I listened respectfully to their opinions.

Yet I also learned an important lesson: there is a difference between what people say about a person and what you personally experience. My understanding of T.B. Joshua was shaped not by rumours, headlines, or public debates but by direct encounters. I encountered someone who consistently showed concern for people. I encountered someone whose generosity touched lives quietly and profoundly. I encountered someone who, during a difficult chapter of my life, became a source of hope and encouragement. While others evaluated him from a distance, I experienced his kindness up close.

This is not to suggest that he was beyond criticism. No human being is. History will continue to assess his life and ministry from different perspectives, and those discussions will undoubtedly continue for years to come. But alongside those debates are countless personal stories that rarely make headlines—stories of families helped during difficult times, stories of individuals whose burdens were lightened, stories of people whose confidence and hope were renewed. My story is one of them.

As the years passed, I came to realise that the greatest impact of my encounter with T.B. Joshua was not financial assistance or international travel, valuable as those things were. The deeper impact was emotional and spiritual. He helped me believe again. He reminded me that difficult seasons are not permanent. Through practical acts of generosity, he demonstrated that compassion still exists and that people can become instruments of hope in the lives of others. In many ways, the support he gave my family during those years was not simply about meeting immediate needs; it was about helping us see beyond them.

That lesson has remained with me. It has shaped how I view leadership, service, and human relationships. It has influenced the way I respond to people facing hardship and uncertainty. Whenever I encounter someone going through a difficult season, I remember those years and the individuals who helped my family navigate them. Their example challenges me to become a source of encouragement to others, just as they were to me. The kindness we receive in our moments of need often becomes the kindness we extend to others later in life.

Today, when I think about Prophet T.B. Joshua, gratitude is my dominant emotion. I remember a man who stood with my family when life was difficult. I remember a man who invested in my future when my own circumstances made that future difficult to see. I remember my first journey to Paraguay and the confidence it inspired. Above all, I remember receiving a gift more valuable than any material possession—the gift of hope. Hope that tomorrow could be better than today. Hope that limitations could be overcome. Hope that difficult seasons would not last forever. Hope that life still held possibilities waiting to be discovered.

For me, that is the enduring legacy of my journey with T.B. Joshua. Beyond the debates, beyond the controversies, and beyond the public narratives, I remember a man whose acts of kindness helped restore hope during one of the most uncertain periods of my life. He helped my family when we needed help. He opened doors when opportunities seemed closed. He invested in my future when I struggled to see one for myself. And because hope has the power to change the course of a life, it remains the greatest gift he gave me—and a gift I will never forget.

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of his transition to glory, I can only imagine the impact he made in the lives of many other people from different parts of the world. And I proudly thank God that I came across a man the world really misunderstand. It is my story and I am compelled by my conscience to tell it to the world.