My Pastor is Guilty (Episode 3)

My alarm rang at about 4:30am for my personal morning devotion. The topic for the day was HONOUR and the Bible text was 1 Kings 19:16-21, which taught of how Elisha,despite his rich background, He was faithful and submissive to Elijah. The result was that he had double portion of Elijah’s anointing. The closing remark was the most striking part of the message: “You cannot be blessed by anyone you dishonor”. This statement hit me but a part of me resisted it. I just closed the devotional and stood up to pray in tongue for thirty minutes as I always do. After praying for about fifteen minutes, 2 Kings 4:10 dropped in my heart. I opened my bible to see what was in it; 

           “Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall and let us set for him there a bed and a table and a stool, and a candlestick and it shall be , when he cometh to us ,that he shall turn in thither”.  

I was confused on what the passage meant but since I was praying in preparation for the prayer session I will be leading, I wrote it down so I can study it when I return from Sunday service. 

It was Thanksgiving Sunday. We were in mood to come out to dance as we usually do. After Sunday school, Pastor Anthony climb the pulpit and made a shocking announcement. 

“The Lord laid a burden in my heart and as a result of that starting from this sunday and the next four sundays, we will be teaching Series.The time for the thanksgiving today will be shortened so we can have enough time to introduce the teaching series. Many of us have not been in church for so long and still not growing. There are simply two things that will help you grow and that is Prayer and the Word of God. We will not just face building of auditorium but Men of stature and relevance. So choir, fifteen minutes for the thanksgiving. We don't have to come out to drop our offerings,the offering bags will be passed around”. 

Throughout the thanksgiving and the sermon, I was not myself. Thanksgiving Sunday was my favourite sunday as it gives me the opportunity to show my dance moves and beautiful dress. I had plans for this Sunday. I intended to show HIM my dancing skills but this pastor just interrupted all my plans. I could not wait for service to come to an end.

After service, I reunited with my girls and I lashed out my anger.

“Why did Pastor do like that naa?”

“You and this your pastor ehn” Sope said laughingly.

“Today was supposed to be Thanksgiving Sunday.”

“But he said that the Lord laid a burden in his heart which prompted the teaching sundays. It is for our spiritual growth.” Chiamaka said.

“But the Bible says, ‘Do not abandon the ancient landmark.’ It is a landmark in this church that every first Sunday of the month is family thanksgiving. Such landmark should be sustained.”

While still pouring out my anger, HE passed and it seemed like the whole air stood still.

“Hey beautiful Sisters.”

“Good afternoon Bro Tokunbo.”

I could not describe the joy that filled my heart.HE is the one I wanted to show my dancing steps during thanksgiving before Pastor disrupted the plan. But it seem Heaven is smiling at me and brought HIM to me. I felt I was floating in the air and I could not stop blushing. The exictment made me forget to respond to his greetings.

“ Adura!!!!!”

Then I came back to consciousness and I met three faces staring at me but the one the made my heart skips was the only one that matter at the moment.

“ Pardon me Bro Tokunbo. Good Afternoon Sir. How are you doing?”

“ Its okay. I am doing great".

“ I noticed you were not at church last week Sunday” I inquired . You would wonder how I knew he was not in church last week considering the large population in our church. But just as the Bible said “ where your treasure, that is where your heart will be”.

“Yes, I had to travel out of town for an official assignment.”

“Alright sir” I said.

I have always wanted to be friends with with Bro Tokunbo from the first day I met him during one of the State Youth conference as he was the State Chief Protocol officer and he did so well. But I didn't have the chance to speak to him. Fortunately his place of work brought him  to our parish. I was so engrossed with his presence that I was too shy to say anything

“Well sisters where are you heading to? Can I drop you off".

Such a perfect gentleman!

“We are heading to Yaba. Ofcourse you can drop us" said Sope.

Alright. Fortunately i am heading in that direction to see my daddy lives around Akoka” said Bro Tokunbo.

I stole a glance on his outfit. His well-ironed shirt, simple but classy . His Perfume is breathtaking. No wonder so many sisters flock around him. But unfortunately he is mine. I hurriedly took the front seat in BMW 2019 model. I saw the way Sope and Chiamaka stared at me but I don't care so much.

“From the Youth Notice board ,I noticed three of you will be celebrating your birthday this week” said Tokunbo.

An observant Gentleman.  I took notice

“Yes ooo."said Chiamaka.

‘So whose birthday is the first”

“IYA ADURA”

“Who is iya Adura”

“Don’t mind them jare. That’s me. My birthday is on Tuesday” I replied

“is that not a public Holiday?

“Yes Democracy day.”

"So any plan for that day" asked Tokunbo.

“As our tradition, we celebrate our birthday together on Sope's birthday whose birthday is the last" I replied.

“Alright can I have your numbers so I can call you on your birthday to wish you happy birthday”

"Sure”

Today is definitely going to be a special day. The rest of the ride was in silent except for Nathaniel Bassey music which was playing at the background.

Tuesday turned out to be the beginning of the end.

(To be continued)