SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
Episode 8
Pastor D finally succumbed to Ella’s parents’ decision after he had spent time praying with Ella.
He chose his family and happiness over church and religion.
The ministry he had in the church had been destroyed and his salary was not being paid. What was he waiting for?
The wedding invitation was out the next Saturday. Money made things fast, his father-in-law was ready to spend and be spent for the wedding.
Pastor D held the invitation card in his hand that Saturday night, he started crying. He could not sleep that night, he was thinking about how he had given his best to the church but everything collapsed within months.
He decided to invite the church nonetheless, “I am fighting no one, it’s their choice to come. I will invite well-wishers.”
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
The following day, it was a Sunday, early in the morning before the service, Pastor D was in the church premises. Some who had heard about his wedding greeted him while some pretended because they didn’t want to lose their place in the church.
The church pastor came, that was the former assistant pastor who had become the senior pastor; Pastor D ran to meet him in his car and presented his invitation card in a white envelope.
He received it smiling.
Pastor D was surprised and happy that the man might have changed his mind.
But during the message, the pastor changed the topic of the message. He started by saying,
“Today is very serious.
I want you all to listen to this powerful message titled DON’T PARTAKE IN ANOTHER MAN’S SIN.
Many things are happening in this end time and we must beware…”
The church was dry as the pastor preached on. Every member who had heard about Pastor D’s wedding knew what the message meant. It was so fierce that they were indirectly warned not to attend.
Different reactions followed the message: some vowed to attend while others kept quiet because they enjoyed many benefits from the church.
The wedding was on a Saturday morning at The Cross orthodox Church. It was glamorous, the bridegroom was already seated in a black suit with his best man behind him. Chris was behind him smiling and looking back to see when the bride would arrive.
It was a big event, Ella’s parents were well do and dignitaries were around with all kinds of SUVs parked on the premises of the Church.
Ella’s father sat and by his right was his friend who came with two hefty security men as bodyguards. They sat behind him in black suits and dark shades.
Some of the youth and a few members from Pastor D’s church also came.
Nneka walked into the church with a lady. The lady sat on the left-wing of the church while Nneka sat alone.
Not long, the bride was around with dancing and singing. For like thirty minutes, everywhere was rowdy with a lot of processions.
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
Finally, the old Reverend, an aged man stood to join the bride. After some words of admonition, “Does anybody has any reason why these two must not be joined?” He said looking around the church building.
The church was silent.
He repeated the same thing and the church was again quiet except for a baby’s cry which the mother quickly covered her mouth.
The Reverend looked round the whole edifice and was about to say the same thing the third time when a lady stood up at the left-wing of the church.
The church was quiet and the lady was heard chewing gum.
Ella became nervous and ready to faint, but the best lady kept fanning her.
Pastor D was caught up in fear too, his legs were shaking but he started praying silently.
All eyes turned towards the lady and there was mumbling in the church. At that instance, Ella’s dad smiled at his daughter and put his hand on his chest as a sign that Ella should not worry, then he beckoned the two guys in black suits behind his friend.
The two guys stood up and walked down the aisle speedily. It was a dramatic moment, the church was silent, the two hefty guys were walking toward the lady. Only the sound of their shoes and the lady chewing gum was heard.
The lady, when she saw the guys coming, froze and stopped chewing gum. She actually had some pictures in her hands, she put them on the chair and said “hallelujah!”
She quickly sat on the pictures.
The congregation went into different discussions, some laughing, others talking.
The old Reverend spoke again and everywhere went quiet. The Priest smiled softly and pronounced Pastor D and Ella husband and wife.
Pastor D grabbed Ella and carried her up. Chris ran to the podium to jump on his new parents, there was a roar in the Church.
The two bodyguards went and waited at the entrance of the church. Nneka quickly stood up and was walking out, the lady who stood up earlier rushed out too but she was caught before she could exit the church.
She shouted in pidgin English, “No be me o, no be me oh, she pay me, she pay me.”
She pointed at Nneka who was trying to exit the church premises. One of the guys ran to grab Nneka.
Nneka pulled off her shoes, carried them with her hands and was running fast to escape…
SCATTERED BY FIRE : EPISODE 1 – 10
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