It’s been one year since the new pastor came. His activities have been a thorn in the flesh of elder Femi. Unlike other Pastors who will single him out and give him preferential treatment, Pastor Ephraim treat all elders equally. All the loopholes that helped elder Femi to be making money was closed. That made him really uncomfortable.

So, he started a campaign which he tagged “Operation Pastor Must Go”. The first thing he did was to try to recruit some of the elders into his camp through propaganda. The first elder he got was elder Monday. Later he was able to recruit his friend; elder Gad into the group.

Elder Gad sells electrical materials and had being supplying the materials to church. The church needed electrical materials and Pastor told people to bring quotations for the things that they wanted to buy. Elder Gad’s quotation was so high compared to that of others. Pastor and majority of the elders decided that the person with the lowest quotation should supply the goods. That was after verifying that all the goods were of the same quality.

Elder Gad was also in agreement with the decision but elder Femi kicked against it. He claimed that elder Gad should be considered because he is an elder of the church but Pastor felt otherwise.

“All the people that brought quotations are members of my church. The main thing we are looking for is quality and affordability. That we have gotten from Lazarus.

If elder Gad can supply the materials for the amount that Lazarus is selling for us, no problem. But if he can’t , then we buy from Lazarus,” Pastor insisted.

“Daddy I am okay with your decision. Lazarus is selling at that price because he has old stock. It is an advantage for us, so let’s buy from him,” elder Gad said in support of Pastor’s stand on the matter.

*********

Elder Gad went to visit elder Femi because he was sick . Elder Femi’s mood was not a friendly one. Elder Gad stayed for a while studying his friend as he kept on hissing and sighing.

“Is like the pain is really much on you,” elder Gad asked, feeling so concerned.

“My brother, the pain of the heart is more than that of the body,” elder Femi answered.

“What are you trying to say? I am finding it difficult to understand you,” elder Gad probed further with great concern.

“My brother, we all have eyes and we see with it. Are you comfortable with what is going on in our church?”

“If I tell you that I am not confused, then I am a liar. What exactly are you trying to say?” elder Gad asked again.

“Okay let’s go this way. Before our former pastor left, he called me and handed over the church to me. He told …”

His speech was interrupted by elder Gad.

“Why would he hand over church to you, Are you God? Don’t allow me to believe what some people are saying. They said your hands are not clean.”

“Gad, I am totally disappointed in you. What kind of statement is that?”

“I am sorry, if I you are offended by what I said,” elder Gad apologized.

“Of course what you said is totally wrong. You shouldn’t be listening to gossipers in church. Now let me explain what I mean. Before our former pastor left, he told me to work with other elders and ensure that things run smoothly in church. He also advised me to support the new pastor.

That is what I have been doing. But I have discovered that our pastor is a tribal bigot.”

“No o, I don’t think so,” elder Gad quickly protested.

“You don’t believe me. Okay, let me shock you. Pastor told me to support him, because he want to give the contract of supplying electrical materials to Lazarus. I told him that I can’t do that. I tried to remind him that you are doing the same business and you are an elder yet Pastor did not bulge. He later sent Lazarus to my house to come and offer me bribe. Why do you think I was confronting him the way I did in the meeting. Have you ever seen me confront a pastor in that manner before now? I had to do that because he has sold his respect.”

“Tell me that you are joking,” elder Gad said in shock.

“Why should I joke with such a thing? Do you remember the day you met Laz in my house?”

“Yes, I remember vividly. Immediately I came in, he left.”

“Exactly. He later called me on phone and was begging me. But I told them that I can never support evil.”

“But what does he stand to gain? There is even no much gain in the supplies he made to the church.”

“They are looking at the long term gain. Pastor has made him the church official supplier of building materials in church.”

“That cannot happen,” elder Gad vowed.

Elder Femi laughed hysterically.

“It has already happened. Almost everything needed for the renovation of the parsonage has been bought. Laz bought them. This same Laz is same tribe with Pastor. Can you read the handwriting on the wall?”

Elder Gad nodded in affirmative. It was as if scales just felled from his eyes.

“ Femi, you really have a point.”

“Thank you. I am happy that you understand me now. Pastor wanted people to think that I was fighting him for nothing. Some of you even believed him. Do you remember the day you were advising me that I should always love and respect Pastor? I was just laughing.

The General Overseer sent money to the church to fix cctv camera, Pastor confiscated half of the money. That was why I was not happy with the installation of those cameras. ”

“I thought that Pastor bought it with his personal money,” elder Gad asked.

“Who dash monkey coat? Where would he get that kind of money?”

“If you are sure of this, then let’s confront him,” elder Gad suggested.

“I don’t do things like that; I strategize before I attack. Besides, it’s late; we can’t do that now. At the point that I wanted us to do it, no one supported me. You, elder Kehinde and Paul warned me not to disturb an anointed servant of God. I had to respect myself so that I would not be seen as a trouble maker. I will advise that we forget about whatever has happened in the past and focus on the future. But if we are not careful, Pastor will sell us and put the money inside his pocket.”

“It will not happen, not at all,” elder Gad said, stamping his foot on the floor.

“That is the spirit. Pastor cannot lord it over us, we will fight to finish. I am happy that you and Monday have understood what is going on. We will organize ourselves and launch a full blown war against Pastor,” elder Femi boasted.