Gift was gasping for breath but I held her tightly. The president felled on her knees begging me while others held my hands and succeeded in removing it from Gift’s throat. She slumped into the nearest chair, panting.

The church members were paralyzed with wonder. From their look and the things they were saying, it was obvious the scene they witnessed was an uncommon one in the church. They quickly dragged us to the Pastor’s office and informed him that we were fighting.

“You were fighting inside church?” Pastor asked, somewhat alarmed at our temerity.

“No daddy, it was Judy that held my throat. I never retaliated,” Gift quickly exonerated herself.

“Judy what happened, how dare you display such an incautious character in the house of God?”

“Daddy they pushed me to the wall and I was forced to react,” I answered amidst bitter sobs.

“It is alright. Calm down and tell me exactly what happened.”

“I approached them that I want to join the sister’s forum and they gave me a form to fill. I discovered that they were mandating me to take responsibility of every theft that will occur while I am their member. I felt that it shouldn’t be so and demanded for clarification on that. I never talked to Gift. My question was directed to the president who I felt should be in the right position to clear my doubts. Surprisingly Gift took over and was insulting me. It was when she extended the insult to my parents that I lost my cool.”

Pastor demanded for the form and I handed it over to him. I had guided the form jealously. Even while I was holding Gift my eyes were still on the form to ensure that it doesn’t get lost. I know that if I could not present the form as evidence they would deny me. It was obvious that there was something fishy about it.

“Where did this demonic form emanate from?” Pastor asked in anger.

Pat and other excos pointed at Gift.

“Why will Gift be the only person to generate form that you give to intending members. Beside, when did filling of form become a criterion for people to join the Sisters’ Forum?” Pastor was directing the question to the president.

“When Judy told me about her intention to join us, Gift suggested that we should make her sign undertaking that she will not steal. I told her that I don’t know how to go about it. Then she volunteered to produce the form,” Patricia answered.

“Can you listen to yourself? So all the while, you have been a rubber stamp president. You are just there as a television, while your deputy is the remote controller. I am so disappointed. And you Saint Gift, if not for Christ, are you supposed to be a leader among young girls. Having given birth outside wedlock, what is your testimony? You pleaded that you have repented, the church believed and forgave you. That was why you had the opportunity to become a leader. But you feel that Judy is not worthy to be a member simply because she attempted to steal in the past. I want you to be the judge in this case and see how fair you were to her. You generated a special form for her that enlarged her weakness and you are happy. If I, your pastor will generate a form for you that will showcase your past mistake, will you be happy? What you have done is exactly that parable of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 18:23-33.”

Pastor picked his bible, opened the aforementioned portion and handed it over to Gift to read.

23-25 “The kingdom of God is
like a king who decided to square
accounts with his servants. As he
got under way, one servant was
brought before him who had run
up a debt of a hundred thousand

dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the
king ordered the man, along with
his wife, children, and goods, to be
auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27 “The poor wretch threw
himself at the kings feet and
begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll
pay it all back’ Touched by his plea,
the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28 “The servant was no sooner out
of the room when he came upon
one of his fellow servants who
owed him ten dollars. He seized
him by the throat and demanded,
‘Pay up. Now!’

29-31 “The poor wretch threw
himself down and begged, ‘Give
me a chance and I’ll pay it all
back’. But he wouldn’t do it. He
had him arrested and put in jail
until the debt was paid.
When the other servants saw this
going on, they were outraged and
brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35 “The king summoned the
man and said, ‘You evil servant! I
forgave your entire debt when
you begged me for mercy.
Shouldn’t you be compelled to be
merciful to your fellow servant who
asked for mercy?” The king was furious
and put the screws to the man
until he paid back his entire debt.
And that is exactly what my father
in heaven is going to do to each
one of you who doesn’t forgive
unconditionally anyone who asks
for mercy.”

Pastor took over as soon as Gift was through with the scripture reading.

“If you have been showed mercy; ought you not to extend such mercy to your brothers and sisters. This attitude that you people displayed is unbecoming of leaders in the house of God. I hereby suspend your activities as the leaders of the sisters’ forum till further notice,” Pastor ruled.

“We are so sorry for our actions. We promise that it will not repeat itself,” the president pleaded on behalf of other excos.

“I have heard you. But as I said, your activities are suspended. Please, you may go.”

When they left, pastor turned to me.

“Judy if not that you are a new member, I would have disciplined you for the attitude you displayed. If you could do this in church, then I wonder what will happen outside the church. What you did is an extreme disrespect to God.”

“Daddy please forgive me. I am truly sorry.”

“Your plead for forgiveness should be directed to God. It is true that men have been unfair to you, would that make you forget the mercies of God towards you? You are not supposed to trample on the grace of God because man provoked you. For the fact that our Lord Jesus who had no sin was crucified, you and I that are fallible should not expect better treatment from men.
The truth of the matter is that what you experienced today may be a tip of the iceberg of humiliation you may encounter in future. All you need is sufficient grace from God. If you resort to fighting any one that mocks you, how many persons can you really fight? However, I want to introduce you to a God that specializes in shutting the mouth of mockers. That same God shut the mouth of the Scribes and Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery in the book of John 8:3-11. Make him your God and be amazed how he will seal the lips of your mockers. Do you understand me?”

“Yes sir,” I responded in tears.

“I will tell you my story to encourage you. When I was growing up, my parents were very poor. We were so poor that even the poor call us poor. Most times, we begged in order to feed. But amidst the challenges I wanted to be educated. When I gained admission into the higher institution, I had only one trouser and one shirt. Any day that I want wash it , I will do so in the night because I have to wear it the next day. But amidst all this, I held God tight. Do you know that I recieved more humiliation from my fellowship than even my department”

“But daddy, is it supposed to be like that? Are they not children of God?”

” My dear, even agents of darkness also come to church. They are there to discourage children if God so that they will give up on their faith.”

“Hmm! It is well”

“So in the fellowship,they gave me a name. They were calling ‘Mr. One shirt’. At a point, many people don’t even know my real name. Mr. One shirt took over my name. Every day I would be crying to God to change my name. But today, God has honoured me. Many of the people that mocked me are the members of my church today. Listen, every man has a cross to carry. What is happening to you now is your cross. If you can endure, you will wear the crown,”

When I left Pastor’s office I discovered that Joy was waiting for me. She tried to comfort me and told me that everything would be fine.

I looked at her and tears filled my eyes,” I don’t know how I offended her that she hated me so much,” I cried.

“Don’t mind her. She is so full of herself. Her mother is one of the women executives. Another is that her parents are rich. That is why she behaves anyhow. Please try your best to avoid her. If not, she would make life miserable for you. She has made a lot of people to leave the church. Some of us who are wise try to avoid her and concentrate on serving God.”

“Why have they not cautioned her?” I asked

“Pastor have been trying his best to cut her tails but her parents are influential members of the church. They would always beg on her behalf.”

Immediately I left Joy, a little girl came to me and dropped a paper in my hand and ran away. I opened it and read, ” The battle line has been drawn . It is either you leave this church in peace, or you leave in pieces. The choice is yours.”

I looked up and didn’t see the little girl. I quickly ran out of the church premises.

Watch out for the next episode.