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The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is a popular Christian church in Lagos, Nigeria known for controversial claims of “faith healing” and “miracles” led by the pastor TB Joshua. To visit SCOAN and experience the sermons or offer a prayer in person, you must first request an invitation from them. If you show up without an invitation, you will not be allowed to visit. When you receive an official invitation from the church, then you can make accommodations and travel to the church for your visit.
Steps
Requesting an Invitation
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1Fill out the questionnaire on the SCOAN website if you live outside of Nigeria. The only way you can attend SCOAN if you live outside of Nigeria is by filling out a questionnaire of personal information. Complete all the fields on the online questionnaire form and answer all the questions fully. Fill out any medical conditions in the bottom boxes of the questionnaire so SCOAN knows if you have any issues that you want “healed.”[1]
- You can fill out the SCOAN questionnaire here: https://www.scoan.org/visit-us/questionnaire/.
- Have everyone you plan on traveling with fill out the questionnaire as well, and list their names in the appropriate section of the form.
Warning: There are no other sites where you can get an invitation or fill out a questionnaire for SCOAN, so do not provide any information to other sites that claim to be affiliated.
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2Email SCOAN if you're from Europe and planning a group visit. SCOAN regularly plans for groups of European travelers to come to the church in June, August, October, or in December during New Year's Eve. Send an inquiry email to info@scoanvisitseurope and write the main reason you would like to visit SCOAN. Include any health issues you may have in the email so SCOAN knows if you're looking to get “healed” during your stay.[2]
- Don't send an email if you live outside of Europe since you won't get a response or be considered for the invitation.
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3Call SCOAN directly if you live in Nigeria or are Nigerian. People living in Nigeria or Nigerians living in other countries are able to reach out directly to the church to request confirmation. Try calling any of the numbers for SCOAN to speak to one of the church representatives to confirm your visit. If you don't receive any confirmation, then you can't go to SCOAN.[3]
- The phone numbers for SCOAN are +234 (0) 706-486-5517 or +234 (0) 705-807-9083. You can call any number to get confirmation about visiting.
- You may be able to travel to Lagos without an invitation from the church if you call once you're in Nigeria, but it's risky since you don't know if you'll be able to go.
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4Wait for an invitation email before making any other travel plans. After you fill out the questionnaire, a representative from SCOAN will send an email to continue communicating with you. They may ask you to clarify any information or let you know your invitation has been accepted. Once you reply to the emails for your invitation, you're able to make your travel accommodations.[4]
- It may take several months or years for SCOAN to reply to your questionnaire since they get a large number of requests daily.
- The email address the representative will use will be info@scoan.org. If you receive an email from another address about SCOAN, then it's a scam.
Making Travel Accommodations
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1Get your passport if you're traveling from outside Nigeria. In order to travel to different countries, you need to first get your passport. Fill out your passport application, provide photos or yourself, and bring other forms of identification, such as a driver's license or birth certificate, to the nearest location that processes passports. After your application is accepted, your passport will arrive in the mail within the next few months.[5]
- If you already live in Nigeria, then you do not need to get your passport.
- You can pay an additional fee to get your passport within 3 weeks if you need it sooner.
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2Apply for a Nigerian visa if you live outside of West Africa. Fill out the tourist visa application form for Nigeria completely and click the “Submit” button when you're finished. Pay the fee listed for your application with a credit or debit card and wait for a scheduled interview date in your email. Visit your country's Nigerian Embassy at your scheduled date and time to interview with an official about why you want to visit Nigeria. If you're accepted for a visa, then you'll receive the visa so you can travel.[6]
- Be sure to bring all of your personal documents with you when you meet with the Nigerian Embassy or else they won't approve your visa.
- You cannot apply for a visa unless you have an invitation from SCOAN or someone else that lives in Nigeria.
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3Schedule a flight to Lagos, Nigeria and let SCOAN know about your arrival. Search online for flights that fly into Lagos, Nigeria and search for the best price. Compare the available airlines to see what they offer and any amenities they have on the plan. Then look for a departure date about 1 week later that goes from Lagos to the airport closest to your home. Book your flight a few months in advance so you can get the best deals.[7]
- A member from SCOAN will be able to transport you and your group to SCOAN or your hotel so you don't have to rent a vehicle.
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4Make accommodations at SCOAN or at a nearby hotel. SCOAN has multiple locations nearby and on-site that have rooms and food service available. Communicate with the SCOAN representative over email to find out the prices and the extent of what they can offer. If you'd rather stay in a nearby hotel, make a reservation for the amount of time that you plan on staying and visiting SCOAN.[8]
Warning: One of the guesthouses on SCOAN property collapsed in 2014 and killed over 100 people. While SCOAN denies negligence to the building, the accommodations on-site may not be safe.[9]
Taking the Trip
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1Pack loose and comfortable clothing to wear during your stay. The temperatures in Lagos, Nigeria is usually 80–95 °F (27–35 °C) and humid, so be prepared for warm weather. Pack light, breathable fabrics to bring along with you and wear while you're visiting SCOAN. Make sure your clothes aren't revealing since you'll be in visiting a church during most of your stay.[10]
- Look for clothes made out of cotton, linen, or chambray since they're light and comfortable in the heat.
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2Bring cash to buy things from the SCOAN shop. While many things may be included with your accommodation, you may want to purchase items from the church shop or additional food. Visit the shop at the church to see what products they have available, such as books, CDs, or DVDs. If you're on SCOAN premises, you can also buy food and drinks outside of your scheduled meals.[11]
- The shop accepts a variety of world currencies, so double check with the shop to see if you need to convert your cash.
- Telephone and internet services may cost an additional charge.
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3Try the different church facilities while you're on-site. Visits to SCOAN usually last 1 week, so you have a lot of time to try different things. During your visit to SCOAN, check what services are available to attend and what facilities the church has to offer. You may spend time watching faith-based videos, listening to testimonies from other people, and listen to sermons by TB Joshua. Attend as many of the events as you can to get the full experience from your trip.[12]
- You can also access the Faith Resort Ground, which has prayer groups and huts where you can experience “faith healing.”
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I get anointing water?
Community AnswerOnly by visiting Scoan as it is not couriered or posted. Do not be duped by people asking you to send money and they will deliver, it is not delivered. Only Scoan issues the Morning Water. -
QuestionIf I come on a Saturday, will my family and I get an accommodation to stay Sunday as well?
Community AnswerYes, but you need to make arrangements with the church representatives beforehand. -
QuestionI applied recently for a visit, and this week I received messages from someone who says they represent SCOAN. What should I do?
Community AnswerBe careful and be sure your are dealing with genuine people. Call and ask for more details. If they emailed you, check and make sure the email address is registered with SCOAN's official domain.
Warnings
References
- ↑ https://www.scoan.org/visit-us/questionnaire/
- ↑ http://scoanvisitseurope.com/
- ↑ https://www.scoan.org/visit-us/
- ↑ https://www.scoan.org/visit-us/
- ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/how-to-apply.html
- ↑ https://portal.immigration.gov.ng/pages/visaguidelines
- ↑ https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-tips
- ↑ https://www.scoan.org/visit-us/
- ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/who-tb-joshua-nigerias-mega-preacher-accused-criminal-negligence-426036
About This Article
The Synagogue, Church of All Nations is a controversial Christian church in Lagos, Nigeria, known for its claims of miracles and faith healing. You can only visit the church by invitation, but you can fill out a questionnaire on their website to register your interest. Alternatively, if you live in Europe, you can email the church. Tell them why you’d like to visit the church and tell them about any health issues you hope to get healed. Once you’ve filled out their questionnaire or emailed them, you’ll have to wait several months or years to hear back, since the church gets a high volume of requests. If you’re accepted, you’ll need to apply for a visa to visit Nigeria and book a flight to Lagos. For more tips, including how to pack for your trip to Lagos, read on!
