CHAPTER 3 – BATTLE OF THE BRETHREN
©OPEYEMI AKINTUNDE
AS INSPIRED BY THE CREATIVE ONE..
Murmurs After Midnight
You see ehn, some things don’t happen in broad daylight.
They happen after midweek service, when everybody has gone home, church is quiet, and WhatsApp starts to buzz.
That night, I was in Mama’s parlour, helping her pick fabric for the upcoming women’s conference. She had brought out four different lace materials, asking which one screamed “not-your-regular-Mummy-G.O.” I was just about to vote for the royal blue one when her phone buzzed.
She glanced. Then she paused.
“Mabel… Is the new girl a concern to the Choir Leaders?”
I blinked. “I have not heard anything”
“Then why are they discussing her on the Choir Leaders’ forum?”
Wahala.!
She turned the phone so I could see. And there it was…one of those late-night hot takes that’s always coded like prayer concern.
“Let’s continue to pray for new members… some people carry presence, but not all presence is pure.”
Another replied with a clapping emoji.
Another said:
“Very true. We don’t know where she’s coming from or who sent her.”
And then..a ridiculous one that made me almost hiss out loud:
“Jezebel also looked spiritual.”
“How?” I thought within. “When they won’t read their Bibles. Where is it written in the Bible that Jezebel Looked spiritual or modest?” I continued my thought.
People don’t waste time o. One minute you’re seen as a revivalist, next minute they’re calling you Bible witch. Na wa ooo. They did it for Jesus too, One minute they were shouting ‘Hosanna’, the next they were crying ” Crucify Him!”. Please Lord, don’t let us fall in the hands of men…
Mama didn’t say anything else, but I saw how her lips tightened. She typed something and dropped the Phone..
As for me, I carried the material and folded it. My mind was no longer on colour. That chat had confirmed something:
T.J. had entered their skin. Deep.
By Friday, even the church cleaning aunties were whispering.
“That girl… you see the way Pastor Okey and even Brother Solomon dey greet am last Sunday?”
“Me I no talk o… but I hope she no come scatter things.”
“ Na so e dey start.” (That’s how it always begins.)
By Saturday, During rehearsal Edna started strategizing. I didn’t need to see her planner…I could smell it from her attitude.
During soundcheck, she “mistakenly” told the sound team not to give mic to any new chorister who hasn’t been “cleared spiritually.” She used those words…“cleared spiritually”…like it was immigration checkpoint.
One of the backup singers asked quietly, “You mean T.J.?”
Edna just smiled and walked away.
But her eyes? Her eyes were doing the work.
That night, one of the younger sisters sent me a voice note.
“Aunty Mabel, please ma, don’t tell anybody I sent this o. But they said Sis T.J. is making Pastor Dan act somehow. He now comes early to choir rehearsal just to sit near her. Even Brother Solomon can no longer concentrate in service, They said Sis T.J is possessed with the Seducing Spirit, Is it True?”
I played the voice note twice.
Ah. Pastor Dan…Edna’s second Choice.
Edna lived like the world revolved around her.
You know it has always been preached that marriage is an institution of learning, So just like you would have your First and second choice when pursuing your university admission, Edna had a first and second choice for marriage… I laughed in Spanish, because this Sister T.J had come to shake the very table Edna had comfortably sat on for years. A table she never shared with anyone.
Though people secretly admired Pastor Dan and Brother Solomon, no one dared mentioned it even to their best friends…It was all in their eyes and heart.
But here were the two men seeking the attention of the new girl. T.J was looking like a ministerial threat and an emotional threat to Choir Leader Edna.
I didn’t need a vision to know: fire had entered the bush.
Wahala be like what again?
Wahala be like when Cain dey prepare hin offering and dey use side-eye watch Abel. (Trouble is when a person pretends to be spiritual while boiling with jealousy on the inside.)
But on a second thought, I screamed
“ Grace!”
Grace be like what again?
“Grace be like when the good thing wey others dey chase, con dey chase you” (Grace is when the good things others are running after start running after you.)
“ This girl called T.J is Graced!” I said to myself or is it something else?
I closed my phone and lay on my bed that night. My heart was turning small small. I knew too much. A lot of information I was privy to. I came to a conclusion before sleeping off
Church supposed be hospital for broken people, But sometimes… na the nurses dey carry the infection pass. ( The Church is meant to be a hospital for the broken, but sometimes.. it’s the caretakers that spread the infection more)
What are your thoughts?
To be continued… ( TO PAY FOR THE THE FULL ACCESS TO THE E-COPY of this Story, Kindly Chat +234-9069926797 to pre-order your copy)
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Getting hotter
Replying to @Gbemmy Mark
That last part about the caregivers spreading the infection is 🔥🔥
Its so sad that stories as this is one of the scenario that actually happens in d body of Christ and among d so called brethren. It is well
Waow!
Wow!!!!
This is actually the first time I’m commenting
The story is becoming more and more interesting
More grace to your pen ma and more inspiration from God
I like that word Grace. What others are running after, is running after you
I won’t be surprised if there is a twist to this story. I’d love for Sister TJ to be married to maybe a soldier and maybe her husband went to the field and she chose to come to their church. Wahala be like bicycle.
More grace, ma Opeyemi
T.J be causing sleepless nights for some people lol 😅… Grace is when what others are chasing begins to chase you,selah… Lord may your Grace rest upon us in Jesus name.. more Grace ma
Holy wahala!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sis TJ is highly Graced, and the Grace is conspicuously Gracing, effortlessly.
More grace, ma’am Opeyemi.
Thank you and God bless you ma
This one na church abi war zone?
Wahala 😂😂😂😂😂
Abeg leave Apst Paul.He did very well o.
Haaa😂😂
I’m now believing the gossip small small
Sis T.j you’re a suspect 😂
This is serious ooo
Hmmmm May God help us, when one think He’s working on track that’s when God will open your eyes and you will realize say you have a long way to go, this heavenly Race is too deep oooooo Help Me Lord
Replying to @Paulina
You can say that again, really deep…May God help us run till the end, may we not loose our focus in Jesus Name..
May God save His church from the hands of the so called ‘spiritual people’ that thought they are the only one that knows the mind of God.
Replying to @Omolara Olukotun
Hmmm! Oga. Silent war going on in the house of God. May God help us
I love how the narrator is making this story imaginative. I am already a member of that church in my imaginations. I can see Edna with her heels sef😂
Replying to @Saragleam
😂😂😂😂😂
Ehhhh😂😂😂😂
Don’t give mic to any new choristers who is not “cleared spiritually”
Graced!
“Grace be like when the good thing wey others dey chase, con dey chase you.
Wow…this story is getting very interesting… it’s very intriguing. This exactly how the devil gets so-called brothers and sisters preoccupied with his own assignment in the church, totally diverting them from the primary assignment given to them by God in building His church. May God help us! May God send in a mighty awakening (revival) into His church in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen
Wow…this story is getting very interesting… it’s very intriguing. This exactly how the devil gets so-called brothers and sisters preoccupied with his own assignment in the church, totally diverting them from the primary assignment given to them by God in building His church. May God help us! May God send in a mighty awakening (revival) into His church in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen
Reading the mind of churches today may the Lord deliver us his church in Jesus name.
God bless you real good mummy Oppy for this masterpiece ❤️
This is what we’re seeing in churches today, thanks awaiting more .
Replying to @Idolege Victoria
Sad but true, even the nurses and doctors in this case needs treatment
This is so good. The story is very intriguing. Looking forward to more.
Replying to @Remy
This story is just narrating my story when I just joined a parish when I relocated to a new state. Hope to see the end and how it ends.
Very interesting. I wish the full story will drop at once
Replying to @Goodness
Which one is cleared spiritually 😂
I wish apostle Paul could write one direct letter to this church 🤭
Replying to @Sarah Chola
Abeg leave Apst Paul.E no try😀