*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 8

Reverend Leo woke up to see almost 200 missed calls on his phone. He was both surprised and scared because he just decided to sleep for two hours and then this. At first he feared that someone had died but then he decided to change his thoughts to positive thoughts only. He wanted to call the callers one by one but he didn't know whom to start with. Finally, he decided and picked one number. His heart was pacing up and down as he waited for Sister Rita to pick. Finally she picked up.

*Leo:* Hello Sister Rita, how are you? I missed your call.

*Rita:* Hello Reverend, good evening sir, how are you and Mummy?

*Leo:* We are doing great by the Grace of God! I missed your call, I hope all is well and there is no problem?

*Rita:* Of course sir, there is no problem, I called because I wanted to tell you congratulations sir. I saw the good news online.

Leo who was surprised and had no idea what Rita was talking about and decided to ask.

*Leo:* Thank you, but what good news are you talking about?

*Rita:* Reverend the good news about Mummy. I am so happy, after so many years of waiting God has finally blessed you and Mummy. This is a fufillment of scriptures and a proof that they that wait upon the Lord will never be disappointed. Papa you have no idea how you have built my faith and that of so many persons.

Reverend Leo who was still confused, was trying to understand what Sister Rita was saying.

*Rita:* Papa my prayers for you and Mummy is that with this pregnancy, God will give you double or even triplet as a prize for all your waiting upon Him in Jesus name.

It was at this point that Reverend Leo understood what Sister Rita was trying to say. So Rachael was pregnant and he didn't know about it? Who was responsible for the pregnancy? Did she go ahead with her plans with Alfred? Or was he the father of the baby? Leo was so lost in thoughts that he didn't hear the last words of Rita, not until she asked.

*Rita:* Reverend are you there? Did you hear what I said.

Reverend Leo quickly remembered he was on call and answered.

*Leo:* Yes sister, Thank you so much, I really appreciate, we appreciate your call. May God bless you.

*Rita:* Yes sir, my regards to Mummy and please tell her to take plenty of rest, we don't want to hear stories now that God has finally done it for us and answered all of our prayers.

*Leo:* No problem sister, she will hear.

After Rita ended the call, Leo received 7 other calls all of which was to congratulate him on the pregnancy of his wife, which he was not even aware of. He decided to call Rachael who was in the kitchen cooking. They've not really been intimate as husband and wife since the Alfred's saga, they just lived like two strangers in the house. Leo barely speak with her. But after hearing this news he decided to call her.

She grudgingly walks up to him without answering his call.

*Rachael:* So, you still remember my name. I thought you have totally forgotten.

*Leo:* Rachael are you pregnant?

Rachael looks at him. And started rubbing her stomach and smiling.

*Leo:* Answer me Rachael, are you pregnant?

*Rachael:* So, you finally noticed, I thought you would never ask.

*Leo:* So, it's true, you are pregnant and the whole country knows about it except me your husband.

*Rachael:* The whole world. What do you mean by the whole world. I've not told anyone about it.

*Leo:* You've not told anyone yet the whole country is calling me to congratulate me.

*Rachael:* Well, I don't know anything about that.

*Leo:* So, who is responsible? Who is the father of the child you are carrying?

*Rachael:* What kind of question is that?

*Leo:* Rachael, I haven't got angry with you in a long time that I can remember, don't make me get angry now because if I do, it won't be funny, just answer me, who is responsible for your pregnancy?

*Rachael:* It's our baby Leo, yours and mine...

Just then her phone starts ringing. Leo picked up the phone and sees the caller. It was Alfred.

*Leo:* Pick your call Rachael.

She bends and takes the call. Leo listens as Alfred congratulates her, he watches his wife as she smiled and grinned from ear to ear. After the call he spoke with pain in his voice.

*Leo:* So, it's Alfred's baby?

*Rachael:* No baby, it's ours, Alfred may have been the instrument that God used to put in this child but the baby is definitely ours. 

(Leo was staring at her) Baby, nothing has changed. We will just relocate from here and have our baby in peace. Alfred will not bother us. God has answered our prayers, ain't you happy?

*Leo:* Shut up, just shut up!

With tears in his eyes, he stood up and walked away.

________

Leo returned to the house very late at night, his eyes were swollen from crying too much. He went straight into his room and fell on his bed. Not quite long Rachael walks up to him.

*Rachael:* Are you sleeping?

Leo ignores the question and laid still facing the wall. Rachael quickly goes on her knees and starts crying.

*Rachael:* Honey please, I don't want us to live like this anymore. I know you are angry with me but I want you to know that whatever I have done I did for the two of us. I want us to have our own children, I want us to be parents like other people too. You know on a normal circumstance, I will never allow any other man touch me. Please Honey, I am not happy that things went this way but please let's let go and move ahead with our lives. Honey please.

*Leo:* I begged you Rachael, I pleaded with you but you allowed the devil take possession of your heart. You allowed impatience overwhelm you and you lost yourself in sin. The sin of adultery.

*Rachael:* I am so sorry dear, I am really sorry, I was desperate, I was determined.

*Leo:* Now, you are pregnant. This is why you have suddenly realized you are sorry. If you weren't pregnant you wouldn't have come to your senses. You wouldn't be begging right now. You insulted me, you threatened me, you even blackmailed me, you disobeyed and ignored me just because you were blinded.

*Rachael:* I am truly sorry my husband. I have begged God to forgive me and I know he has, so please forgive me too and let's plan our lives together just like we used to. Please Honey, for the sake of our unborn child.

*Leo:* Your child Rachael, your unborn child, that child is not mine and I will never accept it as mine. That child is a product of sin and I will never be part of that sin.

*Rachael:* (angry) Stop talking like that, ah ah. Don't call my child such please. We did this together. We are in it together. Now, I am begging you so that we can come together and ask God for Mercy and build again like we used to, you are bringing in the past.

*Leo:* I am not part of your sin. Don't rope me in.

*Rachael:* But you are Leo, you are. You brought the money we used in settling Alfred, so you are part of this.

Leo smiled and then raised up his head.

*Leo:* Rachael, you are so lost and I will pray for God to redeem your soul. Yes, I took the money from church and I quickly realized and wanted to return it, but you stole the money. You stole it! I never gave it to you.

*Rachael:* You had it in mind and that was why you signed it and kept it carelessly for me to steal. Whatever you say we are in this together. So let go the drama and let's plan on how to take care of our baby.

*Leo:* Your baby Rachael, not mine. And don't you think you will blackmail me once more with the 7million naira from church. Because I already returned it.

*Rachael:* What?

*Leo:* Yes dear, I returned it already. Look outside, I have sold my car, I also took some loans and by the Grace of God, I have returned it same way I collected it.

*Rachael:* But how would you be moving around. You can't be entering bikes or cabs up and down.

*Leo:* I am not like you Rachael, I will wait on the Lord to bless me when He deems fit.

He stands up and walks away.

*Rachael:* Buh, buh buh...

*Leo:* I forgive you Rachael. Ask God to forgive you too, and be truly repentant from your sin and change your ways.

Leo walks away with Rachael staring at him as if she's seen a ghost.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 9

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*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 3

Pastor Jim was seated in his office glancing through the Bible when Chief Ike walked in. The Pastor stood up in respect to the Chief and they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

*Jim:* Chief, Chief, God bless you sir for visiting my office today. I am always excited to have you around.

*Chief Ike:* Yes Pastor, I am glad to be here too. Where is Reverend?

*Jim:* Reverend Leo is currently not available. But I am here to assist in whatever you need Chief. Is there any problem you wanted to see him about?

*Chief Ike:* Yes Pastor, I am having a small issue. And I don't know if you can really help me out.

*Jim:* Haba Chief, this is the reason God placed us here, so that we can be of help to others. What exactly is the problem Chief? (He ended laughing)

*Chief Ike:* Pastor Jim, you see that my small wife, I am now ready to pay her bride's price.

*Jim:* Really? But is she not like your 6th wife?

*Chief Ike:* That is correct. I want to pay her bride's price now and I want the church to arrange a blessed marriage for us.

*Jim:* But chief you know the Bible is against marrying of two wives, not to talk of number six. Our Reverend will not allow it o. And the people might start thinking it's the right thing to do.

*Chief Ike:* Which people? These church rats? When I was donating blocks and bags of cement and spending raw cash on this church building where were they? Why did Reverend Leo not tell me to return all the goodies I was bringing to the church? What about when I pay big money as my tithe? Why didn't they say my wives and I are sinners. Anyway, I wanted to do it here and bring in my fellow Chiefs and big politicians to grace the church and also drop their token during the marriage. But since you people don't want. I can go. I will always see a church that will bless our marriage. (He stands up to leave, but Pastor Jim quickly stops him)

*Pastor Jim:* Haba Chief, you get upset easily. I never said we will not do it o, is it not blessed marriage? What is blessed marriage? We will do it, don't worry, Reverend Leo and I will do it. You are a very important man in this church and if not for you this church wouldn't have been this big and grown. There is nothing we can deny you. In fact let me leak a secret to you. The other day, Reverend Leo and I were contemplating on making you a Deacon.

*Chief Ike:* (laughing) You doing mean it?

*Pastor Jim:* Absolutely Chief, so this one is just a small thing. Erm, when do you plan on having the marriage sir.

*Chief Ike:* Next Sunday is fine by me, if you don't mind.

*Pastor Jim:* No, no, no, I don't mind. Even if you want it tomorrow, it can be arranged sir. Next  Sunday is fine. I will discuss with the Reverend about it and inform him to be prepared.

Chief Ike nodded his head in satisfaction, he put his hands into his big agbada pocket and brings out a bundle of cash and stretches it to the Pastor.

*Chief Ike:* It's okay Pastor. That is the sum of three hundred thousand naira in cash, use it to arrange anything you need to do before Sunday. If you need more let me know. Alright?

*Jim:* (laughing non stop) Chief! chief!! Thank you so much. God bless you so much. You don't have to worry about anything, your marriage is blessed already sir. See you on Thursday.

Chief Ike turns and leave while Pastor Jim broke into a dance at his office raising the money high like a baby. When he hears the sound of footstep approaching. He quickly hides the money inside his bag and sat down quietly.

___________________

Reverend Leo sat beside Rachael in the hospital watching her and wondering what suddenly came over his wife. When he married her she was burning for Christ, she had so much faith and would always encourage everyone around her to remain in faith. And suddenly she has turned into a desperate housewife.

Who would believe his story if he shared it with anyone. Who would even believe that the mummy of the church stabbed herself. As he sat beside her praying that God would intervene in their situation, he heard her make a sound and he quickly turned and faced her.

"Baby!" He called out to her. ''Baby, I am right here, I am right here and you are fine, praise be to God."

Slowly, Rachael opened her eyes and looked around her.

*Rachael:* Heaven or hell? Where am I?

*Leo:* God forbid it, you will not die but live. You are in the hospital dear.

*Rachael:* Hospital? And what am I doing in the hospital?

*Leo:* Honey you stabbed yourself, you used a knife and you stabbed yourself. How could you do that? How could you? Why would you even think of that?

*Rachael:* Who asked you to save me? Who told you to bring me to the hospital? I am asking you.

*Leo:* How can you say that? What was I to do? Should I have left you on the floor to die?

*Rachael:* Yes Leo, you should have left me to die, I told you what I want. I don't want to live without a child. And you know what to do.

*Leo:* Honey stop all of this. We will definitely have our baby in God's time. Stop this please. You were lucky to survive this. Thank God the knife did not hit any vital organ. What would I have done? What would have happened to you?

*Rachael:* Listen Leo, you are just wasting your time. You are going to call Alfred and you will tell him that I need to get pregnant, we need to have our own child and you will pay him any amount he demands to get me pregnant and when I am finally pregnant, we will relocate from here to another state and live happily ever after.

*Leo:* Never! I will never do that? Do you even know what you are asking me to do? I can never do that, Never!

*Rachael:* Never? Did you say Never? Then you wouldn't have bothered to save me because I will do it again. I will kill myself and bid this world bye bye. So that I will know I died without a child and as a sad woman.

Leo stood up to walk away from the clinic. But Rachael suddenly dragged the drip out of her hand spilling blood all over the bed, then she began to disconnect everything that was connected to her body.

*Leo:* What is this? What are you doing? Stop it, stop it right this minute. Have you gone mad?

He tries to stop her but she points the needle from the drip to him crying and sobbing.

*Rachael:* Don't come any closer, if you dare come closer I will stick this needle to my throat and die right here.

*Leo:* But honey you are bleeding, you are losing blood and you could faint and die from this.

*Rachael:* That is what I want. Let me die, I cannot continue like this.

*Leo:* Honey please let me call the nurses, please stop this I am begging you.

*Rachael:* Pick up that phone, pick up that phone and call Alfred now.

*Leo:* Honey...

Rachael carried the needle and stucked it into her legs and she screamed out in pains.

*Leo:* Honey... Stop, you are hurting yourself.

*Rachael:* (in pains) Call him now if not the next one goes inside my neck. Pick the phone and call him now.

Leo was confused, he didn't know what to do. He picked up his phone and dialed the number.

*Rachael:* Put it on speaker, I want to hear every discussion.

Leo puts the phone on speaker, and not long, Alfred picked the call and answered from the other end. Reverend Leo then informed him to come straight to the hospital. He told him he was coming immediately.

When Alfred got to the hospital, he was surprised and shocked at the sight of the Reverend's wife.

*Alfred:* Blood of Jesus, Reverend what happened to mummy. Mummy what happened to you?

*Rachael:* (to Leo) Tell him.

*Leo:* Honey, please don't do this, I am begging you.

*Rachael:* Tell him now if not...

(She raises the needle to her neck)

*Leo:* Okay, okay, okay, I will tell him. Just drop the needle.

*Rachael:* Tell him first.

*Alfred:* Tell me what?

*Leo:* (with tears and pains in his eyes) My wife wants you to get her pregnant.

Alfred was confused. He didn't understand what the Reverend was saying.

*Alfred:* Reverend, I don't understand. Get her pregnant? How? I don't understand.

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, you know my husband and I have been married for years and we have not been able to bear any child. So my husband and I concluded that you should help me get pregnant.

*Alfred:* (confused) help you get pregnant? How? I still don't understand.

*Rachael:* Honey, please spill it out to him, instead of weeping like a child that lost the mother.

*Leo:* She wants you to sleep with her and get her pregnant.

*Alfred:* Jesus! God forbid! Sleep with who? God forbid! Mummy, daddy, how can you even think of such? Are you not the same people that teach us to have faith in God? What then happened to your faith? Or are you among those that don't practice what they preach?

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, I know it's a difficult thing to ask, but my husband and I are begging you, please. We will pay you, any amount please. Once I get pregnant we will disappear and you won't see us again. I am begging you please. Honey beg him na.

Leo was just looking at his wife, without saying anything.

*Rachael:* Brother Alfred please, my husband will pay you 2 million naira, please.

*Alfred:* I am sorry mummy I can't do this. I am sorry. (He turns to leave)

*Rachael:* We will make it 4 million. I will even make it 5 million. Alfred please. I am begging you.

(Alfred stood and started thinking, 5 million will change his life and story forever)

*Alfred:* How are you even sure that if I sleep with you, you will get pregnant, am not God na. What if nothing happens, and you've dragged me into this terrible sin.

*Rachael:* I know I will get pregnant. I just know.

Alfred thought for a while and turns to leave again.

*Rachael:* Alfred if you don't do this, tomorrow you will hear of my death. My blood will be on your head.

Alfred stood confused. He looked at the Reverend and then to his wife.

Leo: She stabbed herself because I refused to call you, I know she will do it again.

A confused Alfred sits on the chair, the money was tempting and now threat to life has been added. "What should I do?" He thought to himself.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 4

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