It was Christmas. One of the best moments of the church. Elder Femi sat, humming to the familiar tune of “Silent night, Holy night and O! Christmas tree” being sang by the church choir. A cold wind occasioned by the harmattan season was blowing softly across the congregation. It is obvious that the church was in the mood of the season. It could be seen from the Christmas lights strung on all parts of the church auditorium.

That year’s Christmas celebration was special. It was on a Sunday. Preparations had been on, in readiness for the celebration. The church wall was repainted with an immaculate white colour which left everywhere glowing. They took their time to ensure that everything was put in place. Broken chairs were replaced with new ones.

The old wooden offering box was discarded. A modern one which befitted the church was bought .A lot of work was put in, to transform the church. Every bit of effort was worth it because the church looked completely different from what it used to be.

An anxiety which had been off and on in the mind of elder Femi crept in again. He had been an elder in the church for more than a decade. A senior one, for that matter. He had a domineering aura. Being an outspoken and daring person he had always had his way in major decisions being taken in the church. The former pastors, who had pastored the church since he became an elder has done their best not to displease him.

A new pastor was posted to the church, he was to take over the piloting of the church affairs from that Christmas day.

Somehow since the General Overseer brought the pastor and introduced him to elders of the church, elder Femi had been feeling uneasy. There was a silent whisper in his mind that things may not remain the same. He tried his best to dismiss the fear but it kept reoccurring.

All the feelers he has gotten from the enquiry he made revealed that the pastor was a real man of God who does not tolerate sin. In fact many of them have been congratulating elder Femi, while wishing that the man of God was posted to their church. They assured him that the church was going to experience lots of growth spiritually. The information, increased the fear in elder Femi’s mind. However, as he looked at the pastor again where he sat calmly, he convinced himself that all was well.

The choir was done with their song ministration and it was time for ministration of the word. First, the new pastor needed to be introduced to the church, so the senior elder in the person of elder Femi had to do the introduction. He quietly climbed to the altar, counting his steps and marching delicately at the ground as if it will break if he apply the slightest pressure. He took the microphone, surveyed the congregation before he started talking.

“Praise the name of the Lord!”

“The name of the Lord be praised,” the congregation echoed.

Today is a great day for us. It’s a remarkable day in the history of the church.

Today is Christmas and this same day, a new pastor is here with us .” Shouts of joy filled everywhere. The shout lingered for a while before it melted away. And the speech continued.

“The man of God, sent to us is one of the best in the region. He is a child of God, he fears and obeys God. With him, we are assured that the presence of God will remain in this church.”

His statement was interrupted by one of youths.

“Who did it?” Ben shouted.

The congregation echoed.

“Jesus! Oh my God! Wow!” Elder Femi quickly took it up from there.

“Yes it can only be God. If not, he will not be here with us. There was a little drama that happened concerning our new pastor’s coming. Many of us are not aware. I will tell you this story to really emphasize the fact that it was God that brought him. At the time that Pastor was transferred from his former church, his members protested. In fact they marched to the General Overseer and threatened that if the transfer was not reversed, they would quit the church.

It took the special wisdom that God gave him to appeal to his members to allow the will God to be done. They had to obey him because of the love they had for him.

Secondly, at the time of the transfer, two churches were vacant, our church and the sectional headquarter which every man of God wish to be posted to. He was called upon to make a choice of where he would like to go. He told the General Overseer to give him time to pray. After the prayers, he chose our church through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Please celebrate this humble man of God.”

Elder Femi paused for the congregation to clap before he resumed the introduction.

“He is a man that is greatly loved in the district. Little wonder the sectional headquarter members protested the fact that he chose to come to our church. They told the General Overseer to reverse the decision. At the end, the will of God prevailed.l Please join me to celebrate and welcome a man who God has used to plant many churches across the district, a man greatly loved by all the former members he has pastored, a man who is the will of God for his church at this time, in the person of Pastor Ephraim Chukwuma.”

Everywhere caught fire. All the church members rushed out as if a sudden flood swept across the church. That kind of love has never been poured out in celebration of a man of God in the past. The new pastor and his wife never saw it coming. It was so sudden that they didn’t know when they started shedding tears of joy.