Tears flowed freely at The Synagogue, Church Of
All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, on Sunday 12th February 2017 following the
emotional testimony of Praise Sunday, a young boy literally rescued from the
jaws of death.
At the tender age of 12,
Praise’s world came crashing down when armed robbers mercilessly slaughtered
his mother and younger sister before his eyes. The heartless attack, which
occurred on May 8th 2016, almost claimed Praise’s life but for ‘Divine
intervention’
According to the young boy
from Agbor, Delta State, the bandits first bound their feet and hands before
demanding for money from his mum Edith, a widow struggling to run a small
provisions store.
When the meagre amount
available in the house was presented without an accompanying bank card, the
thieves became vulgar and violent.
“They took my sister inside the room, cut her neck and left her
dead on the floor,”
Praise soberly recalled, much to the shock of the
congregation. She was only 10 years old. “They then carried my mum, raped
her and slaughtered her; they stabbed her in so many places.”
The young boy had just
witnessed the gruesome mutilation of his beloved family - but the robbers
weren’t finished.
“They left her dead on the
floor and came back for me. They took me into the room where I saw my mum and
sister lying in a pool of blood. They then cut my neck and stabbed me in the
chest.”
Praise was thrown roughly
on the floor as the criminals took their leave, assuming he had already died.
Hands and feet helplessly
tied with blood spurting from the gaping wound on his neck, it seemed the end
had come for Praise Sunday. Then, something extraordinary happened!
“I managed to open my eyes
and saw something white, sparkling and tall like a human being. It carried me,
took me to my neighbor’s gate, shook it and then disappeared.”
When his neighbour’s rushed
out, they found Praise’s bloodied body dumped at their doorstep, his arms and
legs bound together. Raising the alarm, they rushed him to hospital.
Lapsing in and out of
consciousness and fighting for his life, Praise was taken to the General
Hospital in Agbor before being transferred to the Federal Medical Centre.
“Blood was pumping out like
a shower; they could not control it,” he recalled of the traumatic ordeal.
Although Praise
miraculously survived the attack following emergency surgery and the usage of "T.B.
Joshua’s Morning Water", he was left with his vocal chords severely
damaged and a pipe inserted into his throat. For nine long months, he could not
utter a single word.
After seven operations at
medical institutions across the country yielding no result and several pleas
for financial aid to government bodies within Delta State falling on seemingly
deaf ears, the family decided to pay a visit to The Synagogue, Church Of All
Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos.
Hearing of his
heartbreaking ordeal, T.B. Joshua – well known for his philanthropic gestures –
instantly sprang into action, promising to sponsor Praise’s travel overseas for
more advanced medical attention.
Shortly afterwards, the
young boy left for Cape Town, South Africa with his caring aunt Mabel, “all
expenses paid for by Prophet T.B. Joshua and Emmanuel TV partners”.
There, a four-hour major
operation was conducted at Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town,
overseen by specialists Dr Martin Vanlierde and Professor Mark De Groot.
Given a clean bill of
health after several months of check-ups, Praise returned to Nigeria to testify
that his vocal abilities had been completely restored.
A total of $50,000 (N25m)
was spent by Joshua on Praise’s trip, covering his welfare, travelling expenses
and medical bills.
Surrounded by his extended
family and grateful community members, Praise’s final words spoke volumes.
“I encourage the rich and privileged in society to emulate Prophet
T.B. Joshua and help poor people like me. Then, Nigeria would be a much better
place for us all.”
.
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