11th Hour
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11th Hour:
11TH HOUR
I walked into the pastor’s office and I met him sleeping. He has placed his head on the table and slept off.
“Sir, it’s time for the worker’s prayer.”
I quietly tap him. He raised his head and what I saw was the scariest thing I have ever seen. The first time I saw a powerful man of God crying. His eyes were so red and swollen.
“Okay, tell them I’m coming.”
He uttered with quietly. This very Pastor Stanley, adored by all, has earned a deep affection for his remarkable contributions to the church. Under the church’s banner, he established numerous enterprises aimed at assisting fellow churchgoers. He uplifted every street hustler in the vicinity, harnessing their talents and abilities to transform them into a source of blessing for both themselves and the community.
Imagine Mufutau now Bro Matthew, is presently an engineer who repairs the church generator and other electrical faults in the church and in the community. He was no more that tout, but a responsible man.
Should I keep track of the number of people this man has financially supported to start their own businesses? The graduates he has connected with his influential friends to secure suitable jobs? And the widows and their families he has taken care of? The examples of his kindness and generosity seem endless.
It’s no surprise that his church is always overflowing with people. Little did anyone know that our pastor was simultaneously dealing with three major crises. Nevertheless, he never let his struggles show. I can vividly recall the moment when he held my hand, looked directly into my eyes, and gave me a reassuring smile.
Having been close to him, I have had the privilege of hearing him pray. He converses with God as if the Almighty were seated right there, attentively listening to every word. He is nothing like what one might expect at first glance.
“I am going to miss you, Ramsey.”
He said to me. I saw his eyes still welling up with tears. He took me in after my parents abandoned me with sickle cell. He has been the only family I have. We are five living under his roof. He feeds and takes care of our needs like we were his children.
“The government is coming to demolish the church today as well. But, I have also received the letter to vacate the church too. Some elders said I have made their children to stay far away from them because I got them jobs in far places. They reported me to the G. O and church administration.”
I sat down with him talking until another Usher came to call him. As we were going into the church, he held my hand and looked into my eyes;
“People are selfish. They want to drink water without minding if the source is faulty. And if you stop giving, they will castigate you for it. I have saved enough money for all of you to start a good business of your own. My friends will take it from where I stop. Promise me you will not stop praying to God. If you stop, the angels will report you to me and if they do, I will send Gabriel to bring one of your ears.”
He quietly joked before entering the church. I ran to the bathroom to cry. I couldn’t hold it.
Not long after I began hearing noises emanating from the church, my curiosity compelled me to rush over and join the gathering. As I entered, I discovered a group of fellow workers, their mournful wails filling the air. It became apparent that the cause of their distress was the announcement of someone’s departure. In the midst of this emotional scene, Elder Timothy’s son unexpectedly leaped to his feet.
“I have the video footage of all the elders planning to remove Pastor Stanley. My elder brother just finished theological school. My Dad and other elders want him to take over from Pastor Stanley. I told them it’s wrong, but they shut me up.”
I recorded everything he said and dropped into the youth WhatsApp group. The majority of them were Pastor Stanley’s proteges. And they started chatting with me. I told them everything he was going through.
Suddenly, the rumbling of a truck and the deafening sound of a demolisher reached our ears, and we instinctively knew that the moment had arrived. The entire congregation, filled with a mix of fear and hope, gathered, engaging in fervent prayers and desperate pleas. Two men adorned in yellow headguards emerged and began making their way towards our sacred church.
An air of apprehension hung among the elders, their gaze shifting nervously between one another. Amidst the tension, some women found solace in singing hymns and passionately exclaiming their faith. It was then that I spotted Mr. Charles, the son of one of the respected elders, stepped out of his car and approached the pastor with determined strides, eager to exchange greetings and speak to him.
“Do you know me, sir? Or are you not Pastor Stanley?”
He asked. The pastor smiled. He hugged our beloved pastor. He knew our pastor was still trying to recollect him. He pulled him away from the crowd, but trust me, I was close by.
“During my NYSC in Lagos, you saw me walking in the hot sun on a Monday afternoon, I will never forget. I remember the clothes you put on that day. You pulled up and called me. You asked what I do, and I told you I was an architect. Not only that, but you gave me your friend’s contact. You asked me to tell the person I was from you. I did, and now the rest is history. That your friend respected you. I met a few others too. They shared with me all that you did for them. And now, I know why it is good to be good. One person from this church called my Dad, who happened to be an elder in one of the branches of this same church, that I should come and buy an abandoned site to build a petrol station. They told me the church has been closed down for two years.”
Everyone was shocked. Pastor Stanley just stood there without surprise. He was used to things like this.
“To preserve the current state of this church, it seems you have prioritized the well-being of its members over enhancing the physical structure. I am familiar with your intentions, and I have a proposal. I will arrange for the same engineer to be sent here, who will construct the church according to your preferences. The design will include underground shops and a restaurant. I will provide you with the plan, and please rest assured that you won’t need to worry about the payment. God has already taken care of it. Once again, I apologize, sir, and thank you for profoundly impacting my life.”
He concluded, gave him another hug and left with his demolishing trucks. The shouts and celebration was behind normal. As if that were not enough, our G. O’s Personal Assistant walked in.
We quickly rushed the service and handed the mic to him during the announcement segment. He collected the mic and sighed more than five times.
“Greetings to all of you from our beloved father, the General Overseer (G. O) of this ministry, and our mother in the Lord. I am here to bring you an important update regarding the news about Pastor Stanley’s departure from this church, which your pastor has shared with you. While that message may have seemed accurate, the G. O felt the need to seek God’s guidance on this matter, and the Lord has intervened at the last moment.
Only a foolish leader would allow a dedicated, honest, and humble servant to leave based solely on hearsay. Certain mischievous elders in this church attempted to undermine the work of God, hoping to manipulate the ongoing activities here. They seem to have forgotten all the good that Pastor Stanley has accomplished. However, I am pleased to announce that Pastor Stanley will remain with us. We should all thank God for pastors like him.
Allow me to highlight some of his remarkable contributions. Pastor Stanley has built three schools, providing church members’ children with a 30% tuition fee discount and free uniforms. He has also established two pure water industries, offering employment opportunities to your jobless children. Additionally, he has conducted numerous training classes in the field of technology and many other areas. His selfless acts toward humanity go beyond the ordinary.
The G. O has instructed me to inform you that Pastor Stanley’s position will no longer be that of a Pastor but rather the Head of the Zonal Headquarters. Furthermore, he will serve as an Assistant to our G. O, overseeing matters related to education and entrepreneurship.
Now, let us all rejoice and shout, “Hallelujah!” for this wonderful news.”
The entire church was filled with a flurry of activity as people scattered about, joyfully jumping up and embracing one another. Amidst the commotion, I spotted someone dear to me and rushed towards him, tears streaming down my face as I sought solace in his comforting embrace. At that moment, I understood the reason behind my tears. Everything around us has transformed, yet one precious thing remained unchanged. However, it remained a secret, known only to me.
Then two gentlemen walked in. They were in black suits. They inquired about the pastor. He met them and it was another mighty testimony.
Sir, I have been dispatched to escort you to Abuja immediately. We have two potential kidney donors awaiting your arrival. However, before proceeding, our organization would like to conduct a thorough assessment to determine the extent of damage to the kidneys.
He dragged me into his office and began to roll on the floor. He was filled with praise. All three problems were solved at the same time, on the same day. Tears continued to stream down his face, and at that moment, I knew where the help came from. Among the guys he had helped, some of them were doctors and wealthy individuals. I kept quiet and just smiled.
There was never a Sunday like that again in our church. He left for Abuja and two weeks later he returned stronger than before. He just kept smiling. As he walked in, we all gave him a standing ovation, to the Glory of God.
“When you next encounter me, simply address me as Wonder. Firstly, a church building that was initially slated for demolition underwent a transformation and was instead renovated. Secondly, my predicament took an unexpected turn and turned out to be a promotion. And thirdly, well, there is absolutely nothing that our God cannot do. Hold unto Him.
I almost lost faith in Him, but I persevered. Prepare yourself for what I’m about to express, as it may catch you off guard. We encounter a greater multitude of temptations compared to all of you. Moreover, it’s essential to remember that we, too, are humans with our vulnerabilities. Each day and night, tears stream down my face as I wait and yearn for God’s presence, hoping that He will intervene in my life. Alas, it seems as though He has not done so, as He intends to manifest His wonders in His own divine timing, which is truly remarkable.
When I received the news that I had a stage three kidney problem. Something died in me that day. Although I had witnessed miracles through my prayers for others, I began to think that perhaps God had forgotten about me. However, when I underwent the final test, I received astonishing news. Listen, if you want to serve God, serve Him wholeheartedly. Trust Him unwaveringly.
I was told that my kidney was in perfect condition. No cancer, no stones, nothing! Instead of relying on someone else’s kidney for survival, He chose to completely heal me! Isn’t God deserving of all our praise? Yes, undoubtedly, He is!”
Do you desire a miracle from God, regardless of what you are going through, He will see you through it all. You don’t need to run anywhere, God alone is enough and He is the surest Deal.
Happy Sunday.
My name is Amusan Tolulope Writes, and I am your impeccable writer.
