My Pastor is Guilty

There was a resounding applause when Pastor Babajide announced that he was retiring as the pastor of our church and would be replaced by Pastor Anthony.

"Please Pastor and Mrs Anthony,can you come to the altar" Papa B said.

Papa B is the nickname the youths of my church,The lifeway Ministry ,calls Pastor Babajide. He has been the resident pastor of the church for 25 years.

"Pastor Anthony is a seasoned minister of the gospel. To show that he has been favored by God and man,the Lord blessed him with a beautiful wife.". Papa B always have a way of making a person feel special and loved.

" Congregation,let's bow down our heads and pray for them that grace, strength and utterance to move this church forward be made available.Please Church pray for him! Pray!!".

While muttering words of prayer for the new pastor,I was carrying out a "spiritual fitness examination" to determine whether the new pastor will fit into the shoe of Papa B. Is he spiritually matured?can he see visions or interpret tongues? So many questions was going through my mind. I was carried away by my "spiritual fitness examination" that I didn't know that the prayer has ended until Adesope,my best friend,tapped me

" Iya Adura, we have finished praying oo,abi there is something the Lord is saying" Adesope said smiling at me. I turned to her and gave her that "leave me alone "look.

Pastor Anthony was called upon to give a short exhortation. During the exhortation,I continued my examination,counting how many biblical verses he quoted offhand, whether he support his message with stories as Papa B usually does. I kept to myself through out the rest of the service. While walking to the carpack with my two best friends,Chiamaka and Adesope, I did not contribute to the gists.

Chiamaka, who is most popular usher in our church due to her sweet personality and captivating smiles, turned to me and said " Iya Adura,what's popping na? Why so quiet? abi did anything happen during the service"

"Nothing o. I just don't feel like talking?" I responded. That was strange because I always have something to say about everything.

Iya Adura is the nickname given to me by my best friends because I am the prayer leader for the youth assembly and before I start any prayer session I would always say "this Adura we must pray it". But my name is Aduragbamila Chioma Oni. My father is from Ogun state while my mom is from Imo state thus my Igbo name.

Chiamaka turned to Adesope " Sope what happened during the service today? Was it Bro Gideon?"

" I don't know but she has been like this since the new pastor was announced" Sope said.

"Adura,shey you don't want Papa B to retire ni? Or do you want him to faint on the altar while preaching" Chiamaka asked jokingly.

"No oo. The issue is not Papa B retiring but that new pastor" I replied.

"What is wrong with that our handsome looking pastor?' Chiamaka asked.

"Are you crushing on the new pastor?" Sope said sheepishly.

"Why would I crush on the pastor when I have Ademuyiwa mi?" Said Chiamaka.

Chime was engaged to be married to Muyiwa,the church keyboardist. Against ethnic barrier,they would be getting married in two months.

"Nothing oo"

Chime and Sope looked at me and whispered "you don't like him?". Ten years of friendship,we can easily read each other from our body language.

"Cant you see?" I answered.

"See what?" They both chorused .

(To be continued)