*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 6

Leo had slept off before Rachael returned. He had a dream that he was playing with three beautiful children. A girl and two boys, and the kids called him daddy. They were running around in a garden. Suddenly a woman came in and the kids ran to her shouting Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!, Leo was trying to see the woman's face when he suddenly started hearing his name.

*Rachael:* Wake up, wake up Leo.

He opened his eyes to see a long faced Rachael looking at him.

*Leo:* Oh sweet Jesus! So this was all a dream.

(Excitedly he jumps up and held Rachael by the hand) 

Honey, God has shown me, God has revealed it to me. I saw our children in my dream. A girl and two boys. I told you Honey, I told you the time was near and God would soon answer us and just now He in His infinite wisdom revealed it to me.

*Rachael:* You are just talking nonsense. Do I look like a fool to you? Leo listen to me, you can't back out of this. We are in this together. We are doing this together do you understand?

*Leo:* Doing what together.

*Rachael:* You can act naive for all I care. All I know is that we are in this boat to-ge-ther. Get that straight into your thick skull. We will get this done over and for all and we will move out of this place together. The plan is still in tact and nothing you do can change it. Do you understand?

*Leo:* What is wrong with you? Here I am telling you of the wonderful vision that God has shown me and here you are talking nonsense. I thought I told you about the Lord's warning through Sister Alex, why are you acting like you didn't hear when I told you the deal was off?

*Rachael:* You lie Leo, the deal is not off, in fact the deal is perfectly on. And if you must know, then know now that Alfred will be here anytime soon and plans will kick off. So, I came to tell you that if you know you cannot stand me with another man then you should step out of the house for a while. But if you know you can be a man then stay and let's get this over and done with.

*Leo:* I can see you are stupid. Alfred is coming to which house? I don't think it's this my house.

*Rachael:* It's this house and he is already on his way. So make your decision fast. You stay or you leave.

*Leo:* (laughing) Look at you, I will never give you that cheque. You will never be able to get that money. In fact let me show you something.

Leo rushes to his bag and searched for the cheque. He wants to tear it before her but he was surprised that the cheque was gone. He started contemplating if he had brought the cheque home or forgotten it at the office.

Rachael suddenly burst out laughing.

*Rachael:* Listen Leo, I am always one step ahead of you and you can never catch up. Are you looking for the cheque you have signed already? Please don't bother because I already caught the money and delivered it to Alfred.

My side of our deal is delivered. It's left for Mr. Alfred's.

*Leo:* Rachael you can't do that, you have to return that cheque, I want to return it.

*Rachael:* Ouch! So sorry Leo, it is too late. You will not be returning anything, because the deal has been signed, sealed and about to be delivered.

*Leo:* Rachael you can't do this, I will report you to the church and to your family.

*Rachael:* Go ahead Leo, go ahead and report me and watch what will happen to you. I already went to the police to complain that church fund is missing and we may decide to open the case or forget it but we want to give benefit of doubt to whoever took it for the time being. So, if you dare do anything contrary to our plans I will not only make sure you suffer I will make sure you spend the rest of your life as a prisoner.

*Leo:* What? So now it has come to blackmail?

*Rachael:* Even the Bible clearly stated that the violent takes it by force. I am only trying to take my children by force and anyone who would try to stop me would suffer deeply for it. So don't dare me please.

Just then the door bell rings and Alfred comes in. Rachael welcomes him with a big smile before turning and looking at her husband.

*Alfred:* Good evening Mama, good evening Papa, are we ready please?

Rachael looks at her husband before talking.

*Rachael:* What is it going to be? Are you staying or you are leaving.

Leo who was utterly confused couldn't say anything. He just picked up his phone and walked out of the house. While Rachael leads Alfred into their bedroom.

_______________________

Another Sunday and Rev. Leo was absent again. Pastor Jim who was always delighted and happy whenever Reverend was not in church gave a beautiful sermon. The Holy Spirit moved like never before. There was great deliverance, testimonies and miracles. This motivated the people to even give more than before because the man of God made them understand that giving opens the door to your breakthrough.

After the service, Brother Isaac the treasurer was seated in his office counting the offering and tithes and seeds sown by the members. He came across a huge envelope and he opens it. It was filled with dollars and a short note attached to it.

*''God has used this Ministry to bless my life and my family. Reverend Leo stood by me in prayers and encouragement and I wouldn't be where I am today if not for him. Today my family and I are in the US because of the lessons I learnt and followed from this great church. This is a token from my heart to God. Let the house of God be built from it. Once again, thank you Jesus and thank you my able Reverend Leo."*

Brother Isaac took a look at the envelope, there was no name or forwarding address attached to it. The money in it was huge and so he knew that it was a reasonable amount of money. He looked round to see if anyone was coming, and when he saw no one, he quickly dipped the envelope inside his bag and kept the bag a little bit far from him but at a very visible point where his eyes can always be on it.

Not quite long Pastor Jim walks in excited.

*Jim:* Isaac my man, how far? What do we have for today?

*Isaac:* Pastor I am still counting, the people really gave today.

An excited Pastor Jim sat down and helped brother Isaac with the counting, with Brother Isaac stealing a glance at his bag from time to time.

At the end of the count, a whopping sum of 1.7million naira was received. Pastor Jim jumped up and started dancing round the room.

*Isaac:* Pastor why are you dancing?

*Jim:* I should dance my brother, God has blessed us. Since the history of this church, never have we gotten this kind of money on a Sunday service. Never! Except during programs or raising of funds. Never!

*Isaac:* But we do get this kind of money sometimes. Not very often but sometimes.

*Jim:* Ehn! It's possible, you know I really didn't put interest in church money and offerings until last two years. I didn't care. You know na. That our Reverend is the only one in charge, collecting and syphoning all the money. Greedy fellow!

*Isaac:* Ah, ah Pastor, Rev Leo is not like that. He has never taken money from the church purse, except for a project in the church and he makes it open for all the committee members of the church.

*Jim:* See you, will you know? How will you know if he collects money. This is how someone outside will say, Brother Isaac has never collected a dime from church money since I know him. Or do you go out to announce that you took church money?

*Isaac:* No oooo, how can I do that?

*Jim:* O o o oh! That is how Leo will not tell you if he collects money. See ehm, Rev. Leo is greedy. He is making money from this church. Didn't you see he changed his car? And bought a new one for his wife? Do you know how much those two cars will cost? If I am not mistaken those two cars will cost nothing less than 7.5million. Where do you think he got the money from?

*Isaac:* I still doubt Pastor, all the money pass through me, and you and I always collect more than half of the money that comes into the church. So where and how did he gather that kind of money.

*Jim:* Shut up there you don't know anything. Okay fine, let's assume he is not collecting the money what is he now doing with it? He is not building the church anymore. There is no project on ground. What is he doing with all the money?

*Isaac:* He pays church workers na.

*Jim:* How much? How do you think I got frustrated to start collecting church money? It's because of Reverend's greediness. He collects huge offerings and tithes from church yet pays us meagre salaries. How much is my salary you think? N30,000, miserable thirty thousand naira. If I his assistant is receiving 30,000 naira, how much then do you think other church workers are receiving?

*Isaac:* Mine is N18,000.

*Jim:* Minimum wage, you see? You see what I am saying? How can a church be receiving hundreds of thousands every Sunday and yet paying peanuts to church workers. Is that not wickedness? And then you expect me to feel guilty when I am collecting church money? Never, I am only paying myself the salary I am supposed to receive. Abeg share this money let's leave here abeg.

*Isaac:* How much do we keep for the church?

*Jim:* Erm, bring 1.5million. keep 200k for the church.

*Isaac:* But that's too big sir.

*Jim:* It's like you don't want money. My workers are working in my site o, I need to pay them. Anyway, if you don't need money, you can leave your share with the church.

*Isaac:* Noo ooo, I have big responsibilities too o.

*Jim:* No you don't have. Two hundred thousand Mayra is too small for the church. What are they doing with the money? Abeg give me 900k and keep 600k for yourself.

Isaac wore a big smile on his face. As he quickly separates the money and keeps two hundred thousand in the church safe, keeps 600k for himself and gives Jim his share.

*Isaac:* My Pastor, the correct man.

*Jim:* Make sure you record on ground very well o, 200k do you understand?

*Isaac:* Trust me Pastor, that's my job. I know what to do.

*Jim:* Good, I am going home. Pack up and leave.

Jim steps out of the church and Isaac heard the sound of his car driving off. He quickly rushes to check his bag if the envelope of dollars was there. After making sure it was there, he smiled to himself as he packed up to leave.

He drives off quickly to meet his aboki friend that normally changes dollars to naira. And demanded that the dollars be changed for him.

It was a total of 5million naira. Isaac almost fainted, but he composed himself, lifted the Ghana-Must-Go bag in his car and zooms off.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 7

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*ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH:*

EPISODE 9

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred sat at the dinning table enjoying their dinner. The children have all gone to their various rooms, some were watching TV in the sitting room. Mrs. Alfred was the one who started the discussion.

*Mrs. Alfred:* Honey have you heard?

*Alfred:* Heard what?

*Mrs. Alfred:* Chief Ike is set to take another wife, the number 7th wife.

*Alfred:* What?

*Mrs. Alfred:* Yes dear, he wants to take another wife. An elder in the church and yet no one is talking to him.

*Alfred:* Who will talk to him?

*Mrs. Alfred:* The Deacons and Deaconesses, the Pastor, the Reverend. Someone ought to talk to him.

*Alfred:* You are making me laugh. Chief Ike is like the pillar of that church, nobody will tell him anything. You want him to angrily leave the church? Who will sponsor the church, who will support the church. Haven't you heard him brag that his tithes alone is enough to settle all the members of the Church for life?

*Mrs. Alfred:* Are you serious? Na wa o. I don't understand our church these days. Pure and physical sin like this and no one will rise and speak about it. Not even the Reverend.

*Alfred:* Which Reverend? Abeg talk of something else.

*Mrs. Alfred:* Talking about the Reverend, I heard his wife is finally pregnant. After all the years of waiting.

*Alfred:* I heard it too.

*Mrs. Alfred:* Thank God for her o, I am very happy for them. Especially for our Reverend. Thank God for them.

Alfred's phone started ringing, he looks at his wife and then picks up the phone and steps out. Mrs. Alfred has been noticing him for some time now, he has been acting funny especially when his phone rings.

Not quite long, he walks back in and gave his wife a peck and told her he was coming and needs to meet up with a client. Mrs. Alfred was not happy because this attitude started recently. But she said nothing, she watched him step out.

Hours later he returned. Mrs. Alfred was still very much awake, but she quickly pretended to be fast asleep as Mr. Alfred took his phone and replied a WhatsApp message that came in and then falls on the bed, and few minutes later he was snoring so loud.

Mrs. Alfred got up and picked up his phone and went through it to see the client that called her husband that evening and kept him so late till this time. She went through the call logs and saw the number saved as Mr. Wale.

Then she went through his WhatsApp chats and she got the shock of her life:

*Mr. Wale:* Thank you for being such an amazing lover. I had fun tonight.

*Alfred:* I had fun too sweetheart. Please no more messages I am off to bed. I will see you tomorrow.

*Mr. Wale:* No problem, I am home already and about going to bed. I hope you are home too and your wife has no suspicion.

*Alfred:* No dear, she is already here snoring like a cow.

*Mr. Wale:* Hahahaha. See you tomorrow Darling, I promise to give you treats that your wife has never and can never give to you. Good night!

Please delete these messages from your phone.

Mrs. Alfred was surprised and furious. The last message from Mr. Wale came when Alfred had probably slept off, because it was not yet read.

Mrs. Alfred was angry, she thought of what to do to her husband whom she has concluded is cheating on her, she wanted to wake him up, slap him or even hit him with the phone but then she thought again, *"who is this Mr. Wale?"*

Obviously, it's not a Mr., it's definitely a woman, and so she picked up her phone and copied out the number and dialed it. What she saw almost blinded her. Boldly written on her phone, *"Mummy Reverend"*

"It can't be!" She muttered. 

"It's not possible!" she repeated. 

How can her own Reverend Leo's wife be having an affair with her husband?

Mrs. Alfred wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, different emotions overwhelmed her, she wanted to go crazy but surprisingly she was just there unable to do anything.

__________________

It was almost 7pm, but Reverend Leo was still seated in his office staring into nothing and thinking of how far his family had grown apart. He and his wife have suddenly become strangers in their own house. He had stopped eating her food and she has moved into another room in the house. They barely even see each other except on Sundays when they pretend before the church and smile to the congregation.

Everyone will be fooled that they are the perfect couple. Rachael's smile sent a lot of messages to the movers who are always ready for gossip. Some believe that she looks more beautiful and younger now that she is pregnant. No one sees the inner pain from the Reverend. He has lost a lot of weight due to staying hungry and always praying for a miracle to happen in his home, despite his looks and unhappiness no one seems to notice the pains the Reverend is going through. Instead they come to him for prayers and advice and even marital problems.

Now he had no one to go to for advice on his own marriage that is falling apart because he is the one the people normally come to. As he sat in his office thinking and brain storming, Sister Tina walks in. 

Sister Tina is one of the very active members of the church, she was always in church from time to time, sweeping and cleaning the church.

Reverend Leo sat up when she came in and greeted her warmly.

"Reverend, how are you? I came in to tell you I am about to leave. Ain't you leaving yet?" She asked.

"Oh, thank you so much Sister Tina, but I will still stay a little while before I leave." The Reverend managed to say.

"Reverend, I hope all is okay with you, I've been noticing you for days now, you come here sit alone in your office and leave very late at night. You ain't the cheerful Reverend I used to know. I also noticed that you don't send me to get food for you anymore like you used to. You don't eat or drink. Or are you on a fasting program? Because I know you are not. Whenever you are on fasting program, I always hear you praying from your office. But lately, I know you have not been praying. So, what is wrong Reverend." She asked.

Reverend Leo looked at her, he needed someone to talk to, he was almost tempted to open up to her but then he held back for reasons he didn't understand. 

"Thanks for your concern Sister Tina but I am fine, the Bible says the temptation a man cannot overcome will not come his way, and so whatever it is I am passing through will pass soonest by the power of the Almighty."

When Reverend Leo made this statement, it sounded like a confirmation to Tina as she had been watching him for sometime now and she suspected something was wrong. The other day, she had suspected that Reverend Leo had slept in the office because when she came in the morning to sweep, she saw him at exactly the same spot where she left him the previous night. But she couldn't summon the courage to ask him. Even though she heard the Reverend well, she decided to push forward.

Reverend Leo was a man she admired so much and before he got married she had shown him the green light severally but he refused to notice her. She had taken the job of cleaning the church just so he would see her everyday and notice how serious and devoted she is to the work of God but still he went ahead and married Rachael. She would have left the church when he finally got married but she decided to stay so she can be close to him until she finally gets her own husband. She was happy all the years the Reverend and his wife suffered because of childlessness and she sometimes wish the Reverend's wife will just die one day so that she can get his full attention and probably marry him and bear him beautiful children.

The news of the Reverend's wife being pregnant broke her heart terribly and she really would have left the church but she somehow felt again that the Reverend's wife might just die during child birth and so she decided to hang on a while longer.

Seeing how sad the Reverend looked, she had decided to try her luck tonight.

"Is it your wife? Is she the reason you feel so lost Reverend?" She asked.

Leo was surprised because his wife was the exact reason why he was like this.

"How did you know? Because of a truth my wife is the reason I am like this, but how did you know?"

Tina smiled before answering, and as she spoke she moved closer to the Reverend putting her hands at the back of his neck.

*Tina:* Reverend, I am a very spiritual and dedicated member of this church, I have devoted my life to the things of God alone and so sometimes He reveals things to me that others don't know. You should have known but you don't ever notice my presence in this church.

*Leo:* Ah! Sister Tina don't talk like that. Everyone sees you and what you do in the church and God will surely reward your good works. I notice you, I see you and I always pray for you.

Tina pushed her effort forward by rubbing his cheeks and trying to show off her cleavages to him.

*Tina:* Reverend about your wife, I want you to relax and not let whatever she does bother you. Sometimes, women are like that. But instead of you to be weighed down you can always call on me and I will take care of you just as I take care of the church.

By now, she was rubbing her breasts against the Reverend, who quickly jumped up and pushed her away.

*Leo:* Sister Tina what do you think you are doing?

*Tina:* Reverend please relax, I am not doing anything, I am only trying to make you relax and calm your nerves from all the stress your wife is putting you through.

*Leo:* Stop that rubbish. Calm my nerves by trying to seduce me? What is the meaning of that?

Tina unbottoned her dress exposing her bra to the Pastor.

*Tina:* Reverend in honesty and truth, tell me when last you felt a woman's touch. I know your wife is stressing you, I just want to ease up some of that tension.

*Leo:* Put on your clothes and leave my office now.

As the Reverend was talking, Tina let the dress fall of her body exposing her thighs and buttocks.

*Leo:* Blood of Jesus!

(Reverend Leo shouted as he picks up his phone and runs out of the office outside) 

Sister Tina I can see that something had possessed you. I bind that spirit out. I am out of here.

Luckily for him, he saw a bike man outside and quickly jumps on the bike straight home. When he got to his house he knew Rachael was not home because the whole place was so dark. This has been her new habit of keeping out late.

He had made up his mind not to ask her anything. And so, he went straight into his room and fell on his bed wondering what just happened in his office.

WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 10

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