Episode 2

Pastor Jim gave a beautiful sermon and the people clapped for him. They love their Reverend and their Pastor so much. And they are always excited to come to church.

Pastor Jim didn't understand why Reverend Leo and his wife were not in church. Reverend Leo had called him that morning and told him to take charge of everything in church that day because he and his wife won't be available.

Though he was worried a bit as of why the Reverend won't be in church. He hardly missed church service unless it was something really very important and unavoidable. And even if he is not in church, his wife, Rachael would be in church, but surprisingly both of them ain't available today.

Jim was surprised but he was happy because this is a free opportunity to do what he wants to do. He quickly called on Mr. Isaac who had also noticed the Reverend's absence.

Mr. Isaac was the Treasurer and one of the planning committee members of the Church.

*Jim:* Brother Isaac, God has blessed us today more than ever.

*Isaac:* MOG (Man of God), how do you mean?

*Jim:* (surprised at his question) Can't you see that the Reverend and his wife are not in church today?

Isaac immediately understood what he was saying and let out a loud laugh.

*Isaac:* Yes o MOG, God knows how to arrange His things.

*Jim:* Let's quickly go to your office then.

Together they walked to the Treasurer's office, everyone had already left and so it was just the two of them.

*Jim:* So, how much is our collection today my friend?

*Isaac:* The total tithes for today amounted to N240,000 (two hundred and fourty naira only) and offerings amounted to N137,580 (One hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred and eighty naira only). Making a total of N377,580 (three hundred and seventy seven thousand five hundred and eighty naira only).

*Jim:* That's a good one, so right now you will remove two hundred thousand naira from the tithe, and one hundred and ten thousand from the offering. Making three hundred and ten thousand naira. We will leave fourty thousand naira as the tithe acquired for today and twenty seven thousand five hundred and eighty naira as the offering. Making a total of sixty seven thousand five hundred and eighty naira.

*Isaac:* (smiling) okay sir.

*Jim:* Send two hundred thousand naira to my account and keep the one hundred and ten for yourself as usual.

*Isaac:* Thank you so much MOG. I always look forward to Sundays because I know my pocket will not run dry.

*Jim:* At least Reverend is not in church today to make things difficult for us. Anyway, hurry up and get it done and over with ok?

*Isaac:* Am on it already.

*Jim:* That's my man. God will keep blessing our members so they keep blessing our lives in Jesus name. Amen!

*Isaac:* Amen!

Pastor Jim walks from the office while brother Isaac scrambles around for the money.

_______________

Leo still couldn't believe the words that came out from the mouth of his wife. He was angry in his spirit, he wanted to lift his hands on her and beat her mercilessly but he couldn't do so because he knew it was wrong.

He just walked away from her and went into his study room where he wept bitterly, crying to God and wishing things were different. He just couldn't imagine that his own wife of many years was asking him to talk to another man to sleep with her and impregnate her. The thought and pains he felt in his heart weighed him down and made it difficult for him to go to church that Sunday.

For three days he remained in that room, not eating, nor drinking anything. When he finally came out from the room he was feeling so weak and exhausted. He walked up to the fridge and got himself a bottle of cold water to drink, as he was drinking his wife walked up to him and stood watching him. Leo finished his water and made to walk away but his wife's voice stopped him.

*Rachael:* I thought you were going to stay inside that room forever.

Leo ignores his wife and kept walking away.

*Rachael:* You can't just walk away when we have a pending discussion. You have to answer me.

Leo stood, he didn't want to believe his wife was still referring to that trash she talked about few days back. He turned and faced her, from the look on his face it was obvious he was very angry.

*Rachael:* Why are you looking at me like that? You can't tell me you are angry simply because I am trying to find a solution to our problem.

*Leo:* And what problem is that? What solution are you trying to find?

*Rachael:* Leo, how long have we been married? How old are we now? Am I getting younger or older? What I proposed is the only solution I can think of for now. I am still strong and well fertile, I can still carry babies in my womb. This is the reason I don't want to adopt any baby. (She starts crying) I want to feel what my fellow women have felt. I want to feel the pains of labour, and the joy of being a mother. I want to breastfeed my baby. Why don't you understand? (She goes on her knees and holds him on his legs) Honey, please I am begging you with all that I have, give me the chance to experience this please.

*Leo:* (angry) To experience what? To experience the touch of another man?

*Rachael:* You know that's not what I mean, please honey, talk to Alfred, we will pay him, I will pay him any amount. I just want him to get me pregnant. It will be a secret between him and us. Nobody will know or hear of it. Please honey. The baby will be ours because we are paying him.

*Leo:* Are you sure something has not gone wrong with your brains? Is Alfred the giver of babies? How come you suddenly lost faith in God and now put your faith in Alfred. What has come over you? Are you thinking at all?

*Rachael:* I am perfectly alright and I know what I am saying. See Alfred has impregnated his wife almost every year. He is very fertile and agile.

*Leo:* So, I am infertile, is that what you are saying?

*Rachael:* I didn't say that.

*Leo:* Why won't you be patient? The doctor said...

*Rachael:* Don't tell me what the doctor said and did not say. Haven't I been patient enough?

Leo knew that his wife was not ready to hear anything and so he ignores her and walks away.

*Rachael:* You don't love me at all, you are very selfish, you don't care about me and that is why you don't understand how I feel over this issue.

Leo ignores and continues to the room. But then he heard a sound and he quickly turns to see what it was all about. It was his wife, Rachael. She held a very long and sharp knife.

*Leo:* Honey what is this? What are you doing with a knife?

*Rachael:* If you won't give me a child, then there is no point living, let me die and let my blood be on your head.

*Leo:* Honey, what has come over you? Will you drop that knife now, please?

*Rachael:* I want my own child. Is that too difficult to ask?

*Leo:* But I am not the giver of children. God is the giver of children and we have to wait on Him please Honey.

*Rachael:* I don't want to wait no more. Call Alfred now.

*Leo:* Baby, please let's talk about this now.

*Rachael:* Leo pick up that phone and call him now or else I will stab myself right this very minute.

*Leo:* Honey please don't do this please...

Before he could finish his statement, Rachael stuck the knife deep into her stomach and slumped to the ground. Leo screams and rushes to her and catches her before she falls to the ground.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 3

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*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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