“I don’t really understand what is going on. We all agreed that we should reduce the amount of tithe and offering that we were paying. We thought that it would affect Pastor negatively. But instead, he is even progressing the more. He has removed his last child from her former school and enrolled her in a better school. If I tell you how much he gave to Nelson to support his business you will never believe me. At least we are aware that just last week, he dedicated a car, bought for him by a member of his former church. My question now is what do we do? ”

That was elder Gad talking. They had gathered at elder Femi’s house on Sunday evenings to further plan on how to frustrate Pastor to leave the church.

Elder Monday could not believe what he just heard. “Are you trying to tell us that the car was bought by a member of his former church? That means that they are the people he is pastoring. No wonder he does not care about us. He does not invite prophets that will prophesy blessings into our lives. He wants us to be wretched while only him will be progressing. That will enable him to be treating us his servants,” elder Monday complained.

“My elders, I am beginning to look at this thing from a different perspective. I think God is trying to prove to us that he truly called this man. We thought that if we stop giving things to him, he will suffer. Instead he is even progressing the more. Look at other members that are loyal and faithfully serving God under him, they are all doing well. Elder Kehinde who people were mocking initially has turned a millionaire. If you seek my opinion, I will suggest that we end this cult activity. I am tired and hungry,” Nwando told them.

“Did I hear you well? You and who are involved in cult activity?” elder Femi shouted at him.

“What else do we call what we are doing. It is cultism. If I decide to go and tell Pastor whatever we said here, you will not be happy. Most of the things we do or say are enshrined in secrecy. It is a sort of secret society. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong?”

“Who invited this mad man to my house? If you don’t leave this place now, they will carry you to your house” elder Femi threatened.

Nwando got up and left.

“Elder please don’t be offended. Henceforth we should be careful of who we welcome into this forum. We should beware of betrayers, they are many in our church. All the same, let’s not be discouraged by the activities of this betrayers . By the time we achieve our aim. We will put them in their place,” Mr. Friday advised.

“Sorry my elders, Mr. Friday said: ‘when we achieve our aim’. What is really the aim of this movement?” Yemi asked.

“Silence is the best answer to a fool. So you don’t know what you have been fighting for. Now get out of my house. Get out and don’t come back,” elder Femi yelled at him.

“My people, there is already tension in the house. I don’t think that we will continue with this meeting. It is better that we reconvene another time to conclude the discussion,” elder Gad suggested.

They dispersed.

After three days, they reconvened. After many deliberations, elder Femi raised the issue of Taiwo, the youth president.

“There was an issue that was pending the last time we met. That is the issue of the youth president. I hope we have not forgotten the insult that the small boy meted out to us the last time we met. We have to show him that we really own this church. He should not mess around with us.”

“You are right. That boy is a bad influence to the youths. If we continue to allow him to lead the youths, all our agenda will be thwarted. I think the next line of action is to make him leave that seat. The question now is how do we achieve that? We definitely need Pastor’s support” elder Gad said.

“There is nothing to fear. Are we not the elders of the church? We will simply tell Pastor that the regime of the youth president is not achieving the desired result. Look at the way our youths are leaving the church. Is that not enough reason to look for a better leader?” elder Femi asked.

“You are right we have to present this issue to Pastor in the next meeting and convince him to do our bidding” elder Monday corroborated.

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

The leaders of the church were having meeting in the church. After the exhausting the agenda of the day, elder Femi decided to raise the issue of the youth president.

“Sir, something has been of a great concern to me in this church. That is the issue of the youths. I remember how vibrant we were as youths . We were on fire, working for God. Planting churches, doing exploits. But when I look at the youth of today, I shake my head. There is no zeal, no passion for the things of God. The worst is the leadership. I think one of the problems that youth is facing is from the leadership. The youth president is so lousy.”

“You have just hit the hammer on the head. That youth president is an unfortunate human being . 99% of the problem of the youths is his fault. See how are youths are leaving our church and joining other denominations. The worst is that he does not care. Go and check their programmes. There is no youth oriented programme . The spiritual aspect is zero %. That youth president’s leadership style is an ill wind, it blows no one good. I suggest that we relieve the boy of the position before he ruin things for us,” elder Gad suggested.

Elder Kehinde felt that the youth president has tried his best as far as leadership is concerned. So, he quickly came to his rescue.

“I am not holding a brief for Taiwo. In fact I was one of the people that was not happy that he emerged as the youth president. I felt there were better qualified candidates. If not that it was through election, I would never have supported his emergence. However, I must confess that since he become the youth leader I have noticed positive changes. My children are now more interested in godly activities in general and even in youth activities. Just last two weeks, the youths were in church for a week prayer retreat. They are always engaging in sports and other recreational activities. Of course the just concluded talent search is still fresh in our memory. He might not be a perfect leader but he is trying his best. Most importantly, he is a child of God. I think we should be patient with him. Everything will fall in place.”

Elder Femi was so infuriated by what Elder Kehinde was saying. Since he was sitting closely to him; he touched him several times to make him keep quiet but elder Kehinde did not mind him. He decided to interrupt his speech.

“Those things you are saying are not the issue. We need a spiritual leader. Our church is a spiritual church. We should never embrace worldly life style. Imagine a youth leader wearing jeans and T shirt to church. Did such happen in our time?”

“This is not your time. Beside your children were jeans too and even dress half naked on the road. When did wearing of jean become sin in our church? Even your fellow elder and friend Gad wears jean. Have you ever reprimanded him for it? That boy is a child of God I don’t know exactly what you are dragging with him. Every time you will be making noise about ‘your time’, what exactly happened in your time as a youth? You impregnated your sister in the Lord, and was forced to marry her. Apart from that, what else happened?” Elder Kehinde tackled him.

Elder Gad smiled faintly and pretended to be nonchalant.

Pastor became so uncomfortable at the line the discussion was taking and decided to intervene.
“Elders it is okay. I have heard all our contributions. I believe all we are striving to do is ensure that the work of God moves forward. They are our children, so we owe the duty of always watching their back to ensure that all is well with them.”

“Of course that is just what we are doing,” elder Femi interjected.

Pastor gave a faint smile before continuing his speech.
“All that we have said are noted. It will surely be considered. We all prayed before that youth election was conducted. Ever since then we have not seized praying for them. We will keep praying counseling and watching over them. Whenever we notice anything that is not in tandem with our doctrine, we will never condone it. Before you relieve anybody of his position in this church, there must be an established fact of sin or gross incompetence. As your pastor, I have not sensed that. Though you are my eyes and ears in extension. I will always listen to you. But the Holy Spirit remains the ultimate guide.”

That was how the meeting was brought to an end. However elders Femi and Gad were not happy about how the discussion ended. They were discussing the outcome of the meeting on their way home.

“I must confess that I am not happy with the outcome of this youth president discussion. When I did not see Paul in today’s meeting I was so happy. I didn’t know that the devil will use kehinde today,” elder Femi said.

“My brother, Paul and kehinde are the major problem we have in the elders forum. I don’t know why they don’t reason along with us,”elder Gad corroborated.

“I actually regret our approach. We never fine-tuned things before launching forth. Another is that we never considered those two foolish elders. I don’t know why they like working against us. You know very well that Kehinde never liked the youth president from onset. How could he turn 360 degrees today and was talking rubbish. I was totally confused.”

“I was confused too. But what exactly brought the wearing of jean into that discussion.” Elder Gad asked him.

“We all know that Pastor like people that wear suit and tie. So I thought that bringing in the youth president’s dressing will help drive home our point.”

“You didn’t even remember that I wore jeans to the meeting. I was really embarrassed when you talked of jeans.”

“My brother please forgive me. I was carried away. Don’t mind Kehinde. It’s like he has started learning how to talk. Imagine him bringing you into the matter, even saying that my children dress half naked. As if that was not enough, he also said… In fact let me not talk of that one.”

Elder Gad busted out in laughter.

“What is funny?” elder Femi asked.

“My brother, Truth is always bitter,” elder Gad told him amidst laughter.

“Have you joined them? In fact I have to leave you here, my wife is waiting for me at home.

” He left elder Gad and hastened his footstep to go home.