[STORY] BEHIND CHURCH DOORS (Episode 04)

Episode 04.

At 8:30, we pull up in front of the church just a few miles from Sanna’s home. Sanna has been a member of the Pattern Of Life Church for over two years now. She sings on the praise team, plays the guitar and leads the children’s ministry.

“I still think your outfit is too tight for church,” I say as we walk towards the entrance.
She’s wearing a tight, curve-hugging black skirt that just skims her knees and a crisp yellow cotton blouse.
She smiles, ” We love to keep it real over here. We dress up and look good for these meetings with God.”
“Meetings with God? Is that what you call church services over here?”
She laughs, “Come on.”

I follow her to the front of the church, there are two ushers clad in black and red standing on each side of the door, one ushering people on the right side of the church while the other ushering on the left.
“Sister Senna,” the one on the left smilingly says. “How are you?”
“Fine, thank you Abigail. How’s the morning?”
“The morning is fine, thanks.”
“This is my best friend Tia, she is here for the first time to congregate with us.”
“Hey Tia,” Abigail excitedly extends her hand to me and I firmly shake it. “Welcome to Pattern Of Life Church, please feel at home. If you need anything just raise up your hand and one of the ushers will be more than glad to help.”
“Thank you.”

I follow Sanna to the front of the church and she makes me sit in the second row while she joins her fellow praise team members on the left side of the altar.

Sanna’s church is very big and fancy. And most of the people inside are elegantly dressed, I feel intimidated like I am not supposed to be here. I can tell by the kind of people here that this place is for the rich. This is obviously the kind of church that has people who don’t offer less than five hundred kwacha.

Now I understand why Sanna was putting all that money in an envelope for an offering. I didn’t count how much it was but I know it was a lot. These people are living big, I hope this anointed man of God can pray for my husband and I so we can have this kind of money too.

At 9 when the man of God and his wife walk in, the service starts and the worship team immediately begins to sing. I sort of feel out of place when everyone rises to their feet and they start worshiping by lifting of hands, clapping and dancing.

Everything is different here, we don’t dance like this in our church. We just stand when need arises and sing alongside the choir.

No wonder Zyair said it would be hard for us to blend in. Anyway I make a decision to move with the flow and copy what everyone is doing.

After the worship Session is over, people excitedly get up from their seats with their envelopes which they drop in the basket at the altar.

When that is done Bishop Kingsley preaches a powerful message about Breaking family curses. .
“A curse is an extended evil rope with you tied to one end and the other tied to something in the unseen past,” he says before he adds, “You may be living with a curse if it seems that something repeatedly hinders you or creates struggle in a certain area of your life.”
I pay attention and take notes of the important stuff and verses so that I can go through after the service.

When the preaching is done, Bishop Kingsley extends an invitation to people that want to be prayed for and I stand and head to the front.

Touching my head, the Bishop says in a loud voice, “You foul spirit of regress, loose her right now.”

With that I find myself on the floor slithering like a snake on my back. He prays for over thirty minutes before I begin to throw up and when I am done he helps me up to my feet.
Staring at me intently he says, “young lady the lord loves you.”
“Amen.”

“You had a miscarriage at 6 months and have not been able to conceive again,” he says. I stare at him, my mouth hanging open in both disbelief and pure shock.
“Am I lying or this is true?”
“It’s true,” I reply and the congregation cheers and claps.
“You came to the right place. What you and your husband are going through is spiritual. Someone has tied your progress.”
“What?”
“But do not worry. The Lord is here to break all chains of bondage. You will be free in Jesus name.”
“Amen.”

“I see a light at the end of your tunnel. I see children in your future. I see wealth and greatness.”
“Speak Papa,” the congregation cheers louder than before.
He smiles, “open your heart and be ready to receive that which the lord has in- store for you.”
I nod my head, all this is new for me. The people actually appear more happy than I am. I don’t know how to react. He covers me in prayer before he asks me to take my seat.
When the service is finally over, Sanna leads me to the pastor’s office.
“Come in,” he says after she knocks at the door and we enter to find him sitting with his wife across from each other.
“Hello my daughter,” Pastor Ruth says. “Your singing was amazing as usual.”
“Thank you mum. I hope I am not disturbing you and dad.”
“Not at all please take a seat,” she gestures to an empty couch.
“Thank you,” she says and we both sit down before she introduces me to them as her best friend.
“I am glad you came, young lady. I hope you plan on coming back here again. There’s so much the lord wants to do through you,” Bishop Kingsley says.

This man is not your ordinary kind of pastor. He is stylish and good looking, you can tell he and his wife have a lot of money to their name.
His office was big and beautifully decorated. It’s actually way better than most of these I have seen in companies. For a church office this is extravagant.
I smile, “I will come back.”

“Yes,” Sanna claps her hands. “You don’t know how long I have been begging her to attend church here,” she says.
“It wasn’t her refusing, it was just the work of the devil. The devil knows that when she is planted in a church like this she will succeed hence he tries the best he can to block her from coming over but I am glad she is here now.”
“Amen,” both Sanna and his wife say in unison.
“So I would like to talk to you about a number of things but my wife and I need to rush off for a meeting. Would you kindly come through tomorrow at 10 with your credentials?”
“I haven’t done much in terms of school.”
“Come with what you have.”
“Thank you.”
“We shall take our leave now Papa,” Sanna says as we stand up.
“God bless you child. Continue being on fire for the lord.”
“Thank you.”
“Tia, I will see you tomorrow.”
“Alright.”

And with that, we head out of the office. I wait for Sanna in her car while she chairs a brief meeting.
By 12 we are driving back to her house for lunch and to get ready for the kitchen party.
“You think that man will give me a job?” I ask over an hour later when we are getting dressed.
“I don’t know but anything is possible with Bishop Kingsley. You pray over what you want tonight and let the Lord pave a way for you.”
“I will, thank you.”
“This is your season of change for the better. Embrace it.”
“Amen oh, Amen.”
To Be Continued… . . .

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