*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 5

Reverend Leo sits in his office lost in thoughts, his wife already wrote the cheque of seven million naira from the church account and gave it to him to sign. He placed the cheque in front of him looking at it over and over again not knowing whether to sign or not.

While he was there contemplating on what to do, the door opens and Pastor Jim comes into the office. Reverend Leo quickly hides the cheque inside his Bible.

Pastor Jim greeted him and they shook hands before Jim took his seat.

*Pastor Jim:* Reverend Leo what happened? It's been long we saw you. Hope all is well? How is Mummy?

Reverend Leo managed to put on a fake smile as he answered that everyone was fine and okay.

*Leo:* Pastor, I heard about the wedding or marriage in church, why didn't you inform me about it?

*Jim:* I tried to do that, but you didn't pick calls and there was no way to reach you and Chief Ike wanted the wedding urgently.

*Leo:* Are you aware that it was his sixth wife that he got married to?

*Jim:* I am aware Pastor.

*Leo:* And you went ahead to wed him in the church? You know it's against the word of God and people may get the wrong impression that the church supports polygamy.

*Jim:* Pastor are you really going to start listening to side talks? These persons talking and complaining what have they contributed to the church. Who are they in the church. Relevant people don't have time for gossips, those poor church rats are the ones grumbling and complaining.

*Leo:* Why are you talking like this?

*Jim:* Pastor listen to me, we don't need those church rats in the church. The likes of Chief Ike and rich capable men are the types we need in the church. Persons that can support the church in times of need. Pastor imagine that I turned Chief Ike down and refused to go ahead with the marriage. He would have gone to another church and another Pastor would have gladly do it for him. Do you know how much we got from that marriage? We got almost a million naira from it because of the calibre of persons that came for the marriage. Those persons complaining now can they give kobo in the church?

*Leo:* Almost a million naira?

*Jim:* Yes o, nine hundred and thirty eight thousand naira. How many Sundays do you think we will use in gathering the fifty kobos and nairas from these self acclaimed grumblers. They have nothing to offer. I don't want anything to offend Chief Ike o, which was why I went ahead with the marriage o. The Bible says wisdom is profitable to direct. The church has needs and I just used wisdom to handle the situation.

Leo was silent as he didn't know what else to say to Pastor Jim.

*Jim:* In fact Pastor, I came to suggest to you that it is high time we make Chief Ike a deacon in this church.

*Leo:* Deacon?

*Jim:* Yes o Pastor, gone are the days when we put poor men in position, simply because they can pray. Their prayers cannot build the church or raise money for the church, we need men who are rich and capable like Chief Ike to be in position of things, their money commands respect.

*Leo:* But you and I know that Chief is not duly committed to the work of God. He is polygamous and drinks alcohol, he is a womaniser how can we make that kind of person a Deacon in God's house.

*Jim:* Reverend, it's God that is the judge and not you or I. The ways of God is not the ways of man. God said we should build His house, it's an assignment to us and Chief Ike can help us do that.

*Leo:* Honestly, Pastor, my head is not really clear at the moment and I can't think clearly, I have a lot in my heart bothering me, but I believe you will be able to make the right decisions when it comes to this church. And so for now, I will leave everything in your hands. But please make sure you pray and hear from God before you act please.

*Jim:* (smiling big) it's okay Pastor, trust me God is in support of everything I'm doing and I will not do anything to jeopardize His work. You can trust me my Reverend.

Leo tells him he wants to be alone to think and have a quiet time. And Jim gladly leaves him. He was happy that he was able to convince Reverend Leo with the money the church made from the marriage. The actual money he got was three million and some hundred of thousands. Together he and the treasurer had collected more than two million naira for themselves before bringing in the balance. He smiled again, satisfied with himself as he walks out of the office.

Leo who didn't even really think on whatever Jim had said, quietly removes the seven million naira cheque from the Bible where he had hidden it, took another look at it with tears gathering in his eyes as he signs it.

Leo was tired and exhausted from crying all through the hours in his office. When he got home he fell on the couch not bothering to check on Rachael whom he believes would be in their room.

He had signed the cheque and kept it in his bag. He was waiting for Rachael to come out so he can give it to her. He was not ready to look for her. She had been calling and texting him just to remind him not to forget to come home with the cheque. And when her calls was becoming unbearable he had texted her that the cheque was already signed and in his bag. He tries to take his mind off Rachael and rest a bit before she will come down with her troubles. And just as he was about to doze off, the gateman knocked and came inside the house.

*Rev. Leo:* Yes Usman, what is it?

*Usman:* Oga sorry, Aunty Alex bin dey ask for you.

*Rev. Leo:* Oh Alex, let her in.

(Rev. Leo tries to adjust himself on the seat.) 

Alex is a member of the prayer band in the church. Quiet and reserved and referred to as the fire brand kind of sister. It didn't take long before Alex stepped in.

*Rev. Leo:* Sister Alex!

*Alex:* Reverend, good afternoon sir. How are you sir? And Mummy?

*Rev. Leo:* We are very fine dear. Please take your seat. And tell me what I can offer you.

*Alex:* Oh thank you sir, I don't really want anything. I am on a seven days fast program and this is just the fourth day sir.

*Rev. Leo:* Oh beautiful, that's a nice one. May our good Lord answer every of your heart request in Jesus name. Amen!

Alex answered "Amen!"

*Alex:* Reverend, there is something our Lord Jesus Christ asked me to tell you.

*Leo:* Really? (Sitting up) And what might that be. Hope there is no problem?

Just then Rachael who was woken up by the sound of people talking and was coming out to join them stopped half way and listened to whatever Sister Alex was about to say.

*Alex:* Daddy, the Lord said I should tell you not to do it?

*Leo:* Not to do what? (Leo asked surprised)

*Alex:* I don't know sir, The message was to tell you, NOT TO DO IT! that in His time he will make things beautiful.

Leo put his head down as he quickly understood the message. He managed to smile as he knelt down and prayed thanking God for putting Him in his heart and then promising that he will do nothing to hurt the Lord.

Alex was very happy with the way Rev. Leo responded and even though she knew nothing of what the Reverend was going through, she prayed in her heart for God to see him through.

After the prayers she decided to leave and Rev. Leo stood up to see her to the gate. Rachael understood all that was happening because she heard every of the conversation they had. She quickly rushes to Leo's bag and searched for the cheque. Luckily for her she found it and quietly took it. Then, she sits waiting for Leo to return. Finally he came in.

*Leo:* Ah Honey, am glad you are awake, I was about coming to the room to get you.

*Rachael:* Well, I wasn't asleep and here I am. What is it you want to tell me.

*Leo:* Honey you remember Sister Alex from church, she was here and she just left. God gave her a message for us. He said we shouldn't do it and in his own time he will make things beautiful for us. Honey do you know what that means? It means God is answering us soon and we don't have to pay Alfred or collect church money for anything.

*Rachael:* What do you mean by that?

*Leo:* Honey listen to me, Alex came with a message from God. He said we shouldn't do it. God is not in support of this. He said we should wait on him. Do you know what it means? It means our waiting is over.

*Rachael:* Meaning?

*Leo:* Honey, it means we don't have to do anything. I will return the money back to church. I will have to tear off that cheque that I wrote for you and we will call Mr. Alfred and let him know we don't want anything from him.

Rachael looks at Leo from head to toe, and without saying a word, she steps out of the house with one of their car keys and drives off.

Leo was wondering why she didn't react or say anything. But he really didn't care. He knelt down and prayed for God to forgive him for almost falling to sin. He was at peace with himself for the first time in a long while. Tomorrow he was going to tear off the cheque and then try to find the family of that girl and confess the truth to them. He picks up his bag and walks into his room to catch some rest.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 6

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