From the time Pastor left the house till when he came back , his wife was restless. In fact, she had to declare praying and fasting for herself. She prayed that God would grant her husband favour in the sight of the General Overseer. Her challenge was that some members of the church were not happy with them. She desired a situation whereby there would be a turn around. At that point she wouldn’t mind even if they were transferred. She was still in that mood, when her husband came back. She ran to meet him and helped him to carry his bag. Merely looking at Pastor’s face had told her the outcome of the meeting. However, he still inquired so as to hear from the horse’s mouth.

“Dear, how did it go?”

“This is my 25th year in the ministry. I have pastored five churches. Four of them were blissful. Everything was fine. The members love and celebrate me. I have never desired to be transferred from any church. Of course none of the members ever wanted me to go. I don’t know what happened this time. How did I go wrong,” Pastor lamented in tears.

“You have been my pastor for about twenty two years now. You are a good pastor. Nothing is wrong with you. The world today is looking for people that easily change their standard. They prefer people that would see white and call it, black vice versa. They appreciate ‘come as you are and go as you came’ Anything short of that, they call you names. Can you tell me Job’s offence that made devil to be after him? The only offence he committed against the devil was that he was a righteous man. My husband, you are a righteous man. So, you have to expect the devil to tempt you. Having said that, please can you tell me the outcome of the meeting with the General Overseer.

“We are on transfer.”

“To God be the glory!” Mama Ephraim said, raising her two hands in praise.

“This woman you will not seize to amaze me. Are you sure you want this,” Pastor asked in amazement.

“I don’t want it. In fact I have been praying since morning against it. But since it has happened, we have to give God the glory. The bible said that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

As Pastor was listening to his wife, smiles hovered on his face.

**************

The choir had just rounded off their song ministration and Pastor climbed the altar for the sermon. The topic for his sermon was “The Sacrificial Lamb” he took his text from the book of matthew 21:7-11, 27:15-22.

In the sermon, Pastor pointed out that God had a special reason for sending Jesus to earth. That reason was that he was to die for the sins of man. He said that even at a point when Jesus was about to die, he became afraid and pray that if God willed, let the cup pass over him. But the prayer did not save him, his righteousness did not save him rather he was crucified along with criminals. Pastor pointed out that a painful part was that those people he came to save, who were also those that shouted “Hosanna in the highest” were still the people that said “crucify him”
In conclusion he reminded the congregation that every man has a cross to carry. If anyone carries his/her cross successfully, the blessings of God awaits such one.

Immediately after the sermon, Pastor told the congregation that he had an important information to give the church. He paused for a moment and said, “I want to use this medium to announce to the church that I am on transfer.”

Sudden calmness took over the church auditorium till elder Femi suddenly broke the silence.

“Our deliverance has come. Hallelujah this calls for celebration,” he shouted.

Many of the members who loved the pastor ran to hug him weeping while elder Femi and his cohorts were celebrating.

Pastor succeeded in calling the church to order and addressed them.

“I want to appreciate every member of this church for your support and love towards us since the time we were posted to this place. Most of you have been awesome. God will continue to bless you. It is not my wish to leave this church now. In fact, I didn’t see it coming. But since it happened this way, it means that God allowed it. So we have to give him glory. In the course of our service we might have offended some people. If you are among them, please forgive us.”

“That is medicine after death,” elder Femi interrupted him rudely.

Pastor kept quiet and bowed down his head. After a while, he continued with what he was saying.

“Soonest, another pastor will be here. I want to plead with you to give him all the needed support.

Try your best to make the ministry easy for him. If you do so, God will make things easy for you. Do not envy evil doers. If you are doing good, do not be weary. The Lord is coming quickly. His reward is with him, to give every man according to his works.”