“This Is Our Forward-Looking Year!”
That was the emphatic prophetic declaration by the leader of The SCOAN, Pastor Evelyn Joshua, as Year 2025 broke in The Arena Of Liberty during the Candlelight Service 2024. Only a couple of hours before, thousands had gathered inside the Auditorium and the Overflow Section to magnify the name of the Lord for the enduring mercy and grace that brought them deliverance, healing and blessings throughout 2024. Across the world, millions more stayed glued to Emmanuel TV, taking part in the praise and worship session.
As it was in The SCOAN Lagos, so was it in The SCOAN Ghana and The SCOAN Akure.
Led by the choristers, the people sang and danced to their hearts’ content as they gathered at the feet of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Indeed, in unison did they stand to worship and pray, joyful to be counted among the living. In a composition by the founder of The SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua, the people pled, “Take More Of Me, O Holy Spirit,” as they intensified their worship.
And the aura of the Holy Spirit soon overshadowed the atmosphere, causing various expressions in congregants!
Along the line, the choristers gave a dramatic presentation – a sketch on changing one’s story by depending on God and God alone!
Our Forward-Looking Year
“It can only be God,” declared Pastor Evelyn Joshua when she joined the people for The SCOAN Candlelight Service 2024.
To further boost congregants’ spirit, she asked them to proclaim: “With Jesus Christ I move.”
The woman of God prayed: “Father Lord, we bless Your holy name. Jesus Christ, we honor You. Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Father, we thank You for this hour, this moment and every other time. Almighty God, the I Am That I Am, King Of Glory, Spirit of the Living God, we ask You to come and lead us, come and teach us, come and guide us, instruct us and fill us.
O Lord God Almighty, we know that the human spirit fails unless the Holy Spirit fills. Father God Almighty, enkindle us with Your love. Enlighten our mind with the knowledge of eternal peace, eternal life. Father, teach us on how to bless You in every situation, in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Reading from Proverbs 4:24-27, Pastor Evelyn Joshua shared a word of exhortation with the people. She focused on the importance of wisdom in human affairs, describing it as “a very important virtue.” A demonstration of this virtue, she hinted, is understanding that Jesus Christ is not bothered about our past life of unfaithfulness and disobedience.
As such, the woman of God encouraged believers to focus on their future, in line with Jesus Christ’s nature as a Tomorrow Thinker. According to her, “Jesus Christ is not so much concerned about your past or present as your future.” She further said, “If satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future destruction and stop taking journeys into the past” She therefore urged the people to be forward lookers who are faithful through their doubt.
Accordingly, while offering the opening prayer for the year, Pastor Evelyn Joshua declared 2025 as “Our Forward-Looking Year”. She prayed: “Father, give us the grace to avoid the trap of looking back, in the name of Jesus Christ!”
With their candles lit and The Arena Of Liberty in a confetti-filled celebratory mood, the people received gifts of The SCOAN Anointing Sticker for 2025!
A Night Of Testimonies
Delivered From Strange Voices
In the year 2020, Duri started to hear voices whenever she was alone. The voices were those of her favourite cartoon characters. “Those voices followed me everywhere and I started to talk to the characters,” Duri disclosed on December 31, 2024. The problem affected her classes. “I became a loner in boarding school,” she went on, “and had to switch to day school.” Although Duri tried to stop watching films, more voices crept into her head. “One day I got off the school bus and walked home alone,” she said.
Concerned, Duri’s mother brought her to The SCOAN for prayer on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Following a touch in the name of Jesus Christ, the teenager fell to the floor as the Holy Spirit worked on her. On getting up, Duri did so as a new creature. Since then, she has stopped staying away from people and talking to herself. She advised young people to beware of what they watch on television. Her mother advised parents to monitor their children’s screen time. Duri’s brother also expressed delight at the deliverance.
Bartholin’s Cysts Flushed Out By The Anointing!
On September 14, 2019, Sam had attended The SCOAN Living Water Service. There he had prayed for his family. The following day he got a call from his wife, Sharon. “She was feeling severe pain in her private part,” Sam said on December 31, 2024. He asked her to go to the hospital, as he was still in Lagos while she was in Bayelsa State. “You will need surgery for the removal of your Bartholin’s cysts,” the doctors had told Sharon. A day later, Sam arrived home and found Sharon in excruciating pain, crying.
In faith, Sam ministered the Living Water on his wife. “Within minutes she felt relief,” Sam recalled. Subsequently, Sharon expelled all the growths that had been causing her pain. “For many minutes, thick blood flowed out of her,” Sam added. By the time Sharon returned to the hospital, on the day she was supposed to have the surgery, doctors confirmed that her cysts had vanished! The soft-spoken Sharon confirmed the miracle and urged others to believe in God’s power.
From Hopeless Bricklayer To First-Class Graduate!
Right from childhood, Mawuli from Ghana had known and lived in poverty. He barely managed to finish secondary school via self-help and the support of kind-hearted teachers. “There was little or no hope for me, especially after I finished secondary school,” he told the church on December 31, 2024. Along the line, he managed to save up some money for university. “But I had to give up the money to save my father’s life,” he disclosed. Someone then introduced him to Emmanuel TV. From then on, Mawuli started to have dreams in which he received divine help.
In the end, having been attending The SCOAN in Ghana, Mawuli miraculously received sponsorship from the woman in The Synagogue, Pastor Evelyn Joshua. Throughout his four-year programme, the young man received support in cash and prayer. “I finished with a First Class in Telecommunications Engineering,” a smiling Mawuli told the church. For the glory of the Lord, he presented pictures of his journey through life. “I decided to start keeping records of my life, as Prophet TB Joshua did,” he continued. He has also been offered a job at his university. “Never give up; draw close to God,” he advised others.
“I Was Virtually Dead But God Brought Me Back To Life,” Says Young Woman Healed Of Hyperthyroidism
On July 16, 2023, Sarah received prayer over the problem of hyperthyroidism as Pastor Evelyn Joshua ministered. Although she had used to be a ‘good girl’, Sarah suddenly took to vice of all sorts, including smoking, drinking and prostitution. “I wanted freedom so badly that I was happy to disobey my parents,” she said on December 31, 2024. She recalled going abroad and sinking further into waywardness, eventually coming down with an illness that was defying cure. “I managed to return to Nigeria, having been to several hospitals in that African country,” Sarah said.
By this time, Sarah could barely walk. To the glory of God, however, she received prayer on the Emmanuel TV Prayer Line. “I gained strength after the prayer on the phone,” she said, “and God perfected my healing after Pastor Evelyn Joshua prayed for me at The SCOAN.” Since then, Sarah has been receiving material and moral support from Pastor Evelyn Joshua. “I was virtually dead but God brought me back to life,” said a sober Sarah. She advised other young people to stay close to God, just as her father urged children to listen to their parents.
