Mrs. Femi, fondly known as Iya Tobi and some women were also in support of their husbands in the fight that the pastor must go. The sad part is that some of them didn’t even know what they were fighting for.

Mrs. Femi on her part, hated Pastor and his wife so much that she could no longer stand Pastor’s preaching. She started avoiding church services and other weekly activities that she knew that Pastor would preach.

On a particular Sunday, they had a guest minister so she was so happy. Immediately after church service, as she was trying to step out of the church gate, she saw Iya Ayo.

“Iya Ayo, are you already going home?”

“Yes, I’m on my way home.”

“Alright let’s go together”

“But we are not going the same way” Iya Ayo told her.

“I am taking your way today.” Mrs. Femi responded.

“It’s even better. Let’s go together. Today’s service was so great. I really enjoyed myself.” Iya Ayo said.

“Of course. That is the way it would always be whenever we have guest ministers. There is always a different between live and leave even though they sound the same.

Whenever you see a true man of God, one that preaches the undiluted word of God, there will always be a different. Can you tell me the last time we experienced such in this church?” Mrs. Femi asked.

“Last time we experienced what? I don’t understand. You were in church last Sunday when Pastor preached. The word came powerfully and I was truly blessed.” Iya Ayo answered her.

“I am talking of the atmosphere. As the man of God was preaching, I spoke in tongues. I can’t even remember when last such happened to me,” Mrs. Femi explained further

“So speaking in tongues need special type of atmosphere and preaching. We are not push and start vehicles,” Iya Ayo responded.

“Let’s keep jokes aside. My heart is bleeding because of what is happening in our church. The rate of tribalism is alarming. You cannot get certain positions if you are not from Pastor’s tribe. Even if members should vote you into such position, he will be victimizing you. My husband is not happy with the way things are going. Even when he tries to advise Pastor, he will not take. We really need prayer,” Mrs. Femi lamented.

“I am not in church for leadership position. As far as I am concerned, our pastor is not tribalistic. I have never seen a trace of that in him. He treats his members equally whether big or small. I remember what happen the first month that he was posted to this church. That was when my husband was involved in motor accident. His efforts are evergreen in my mind. It was after that incident that my husband started following me to church. My sister, to describe such man as being tribalistic is not good at all.”

“If he does that, it is his duty. In fact, my husband is fighting tooth and nail to ensure that members are taken care of. That is why members are paying offering. Is it not fair, that such member would not be taken care of when the need arises? I know that the elders would have ensured that he does that.”

“For your information, everything he did for me was his money. It’s not church money. The elders told me that they cannot help me, because my husband was not a member of the church. The day I went meet the elders, they were questioning me as if I committed crime. Pastor intervened and told them to let me be. He pleaded that I should be helped but they said that it is not done. I left in tears. Later that same day, Pastor visited us in the hospital to offset the bills. For a long while, we never had a pastor like him who takes the burden of his members as his personal burden. He can go without food just to ensure that his members feed.”

“Please let’s leave Pastor alone and discuss church matter. What is your thought concerning the harvest committee that was just inaugurated in church. That committee is not balanced at all. Many church members are complaining. I intend to call Pastors attention to it. I believe the committee was set up in a hurry that was the cause of the mistake. Somebody called my attention to it, that majority of the members of the committee are from Pastor’s tribe. Though I told her that Pastor would not have done that intentionally. But the one that baffles me is that many people I thought would be in that committee were not there . Ehee , lets I forget, do you have a problem with Pastor?”

“God forbid. I will never have a problem with any man of God. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know how true it is anyway. Someone told me that me that while they were inaugurating the committee, they mentioned your name but Pastor said no. when the person pressed on, Pastor blatantly refused. He said that he don’t want people that will end up turning as a burden to the committee. That if they make you a member of the committee, you will carry all your problems to them.”

“You mean someone actually told you this?”

“Of course. This is someone that does not talk anyhow. I was hurt. Is a man of God not supposed to protect his member’s secret. This the last thing my husband will ever do. I know how many members we have rendered help to. We never allowed anyone to know. Real men of God will never reveal their member’s secret. Anything you tell them is buried forever. But our own pastor is different.

That is the matter being settled in the church elders committee now. One of our members have incurable disease. She revealed it to Pastor and requested to be prayed for. Afterwards, Pastor told his wife. Pastor’s wife relayed the information to her children. From there, half of the church members have heard. The sister got angry and told my husband that she was not coming to church again. My dear sister, that is the kind of Pastor we have.” Mrs. Femi concluded.

“The one that I am really interested in is the one that concerns me. Please, I want to know the name of the person that gave you that information?”

“Ha! Do you expect me to reveal the identity of someone that gave me an information in confidence. It’s not done. It is even because of the love I have for you that made me to reveal it to you.”

“No problem but next time, when you are bringing such information, let it be complete. The name of the person that told you should accompany it. The truth is that I will meet Pastor to ask him why he said such. Because you have refused to give me the name of the person that told you, I will tell him that you told me.” Iya Ayo threatened.

“Why do you want to meet Pastor? Did I do wrong by telling you what was said about you? If that is the kind of person you are, I will never do you a favour again. Let me warn you, if you ever take this matter to Pastor I will deny you. It’s like you are an ungrateful person. Please don’t extend it to me. You were saying that the elders refused to help you when you had a problem. If this is your lifestyle, how will people help you? If I ever hear anything about you in future, do you expect me to tell you?”

“No. I don’t expect you to tell me. Go elsewhere and practice your witchcraft.

I have been hearing about you and your gossip lifestyle. I never knew that that you are this dangerous. May God deliver unsuspecting members from you. The truth is that your case needs urgent attention. Let me advise you, go and kneel before the man of God and ask for forgiveness concerning the lies you formulated against him.”

“I don’t blame you. I was the one that belittled myself to be talking to you,” Mrs. Femi told her and hastened her steps to go home.

Iya Ayo was left behind. She was baffled by what transpired between her and Mrs. Femi. “Father deliver your children. We have many versions of this woman in our various churches. They are there, to cause confusion. How can someone be spreading false information against his Pastor, his shepherd, his father in the Lord? This same person is expecting God to have mercy on her and answer her prayer. Ignorance is truly a disease.”