

HELL HOUSE

ON

BROADWAY

I was only trying to make the church attractive to the World

MICHAEL MBUKO

This is a work of fiction. All the names, character, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and not to be considered as real. Any resemblance of actuality in events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.

An imprint of

Literal Guide Publishers Lagos, Nigeria.

+2348064308507

Literalguide@gmail.com

HELL HOUSE ON BROADWAY: Copyright © 2018 by Michael Mbuko

Religious fiction

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work in any form whatsoever, any entity whatsoever must request for a permission in writing from the author or publisher. Except for brief passages in connection with a review.

DEDICATION

Dedicated to the Church in Nigeria and Africa at large.

CHAPTER ONE

MYSTERY OF HOPE

Its a beautiful world I think, I felt that the best way to bring the dark to the light is by firstly shutting out the light. Its not a theory, I did it but did it work? Someone would ask. I let the hell loose when I told the world that living morally right is an illusion. I think that's the reason a billion Facebook citizens would make a quote on integrity and only one will keep to it but I know vividly well that no one can make progress by leaving God behind but for sure, I didn't know how because my measurement tool was based on money.

For the records, my name is Samuel Ochuko, yes, actually Pastor Samuel like my members used to call me. My phone just rang a while ago, it was my previous friend, it was Kunle inviting me to preach in his program, we became friends when I was in the university, I use to carry out this kind of assignment for him, sincerely many were liberated but how liberated am I?

Today is my big day to undo all that I have dome. The hotel I chose for the radio interview was a 5 star, with high class designed cushions, all classic to behold but the room was really boring for a sanguine like me. I quickly took my bath, changed my black suit to grey and went down to the bar to chill there for some hours in wait for the radio personnel. The class of the hotel didn't make the place look godforsaken. Its really a cool place to be, serene and peaceful with Oprah playing away at the background.

That was around 3:39pm shown by the large classic clock on the creamy marble wall. I sat on the cushion and was watching premiership football match while nursing a bottle of fayrouz as a soft sound played in the background. I was there when the bartender came to meet me.

Hello sir, I think I know you"

"Oh really,"

" Yea, I saw you preaching in a crusade I mistakenly tuned in today." If not for a mistake, I wondered what a bartender would be doing with a crusade channel when MTV still play youthful vibes. I still have my preaching being aired on televisions. I think I need to take them down now that I am a changed man.

"Ohhh! Really, but you didn't keep up to watching it?" I threw the question on him. He wondered for a while and made a smile for it. I continued,

"Are you a Christian,"

"Yea"

"You young people are missing, with Christ a man is with no understanding, he can't separate what is wrong from what's right." I explained to the bartender who listened to me with rapt attention with his eye repeatedly going to my bottle of fayrouz."

"Yes, but my papa said Christ died poor so that I may be rich. His death on the cross is the gift that have been paid for, I just need the believe which is in form of a coupon, gift card or ticket to claim the riches and thats how my believe works."

"Wow, if it works like magic without work, then why is it that even after everything, many are still poor in the nation?"

" Unbelieve!!" He responded.

"A generation that seems like only evil is paying came to be when people's faith was pleased on riches as against faith and believe in God and they went after it using various unhealthy means, as it became scarce, alot of people suffer for lack of it."

"How do you mean."

I think there are still people who are suffering for Christ. Those who do not want to bend to the standard of bribery, corruption and cheating, which tend to be the only option the Nigerian system had to offer them, they prefer to rather be seen as fools so that they may share in God's glory when the chips are down than compromise to feed their bellies." I just quoted 2 Corinthians1:5 without knowing.

I nodded and continued. "There are some prayers our attitude can give answers to also. Many are suffering due their bad attitudes militating against them while others are suffering due to their own errors and that of others working against them. "

"Are you trying to say we rely on God for everything even praying He averts the effects our unwillingness to do the right thing, the things he said we should avoid caused?"

"Yes exactly"

"Then what are you doing here,"

"I came to be interviewed by a radio personality. I want to restitute the things I have done and own up my wrongs,"

Just as I said that, a lady walked into the bar, I assessed her within a glance. She seem to be the On Air Person.

"Young man whats your name" as I stretched out my hand to shake him.

"Sir, my name is Lekan" the young barman whispered trying to get my attention but he had lost my gaze, I have my attention on this elegant woman just walked into the bar.

"I used to know one Emeka who worked here previously"

I replied the bartender and continued "Excuse me for a sec, I need to catch up with this lady" I excused myself from the bartender, he was surprised I wasn't nothing like what he envisaged I would be. He stared at me as I walked towards the lady's direction.

She was a pretty girl indeed in her late twenties, full of life and energy, but I think something happened to her that had ruined her day. Because her countenance wasn't bright.

She walked into the launching bar, its at a little after 4:05 pm in the evening and she virtually collapsed on the empty chair, which lay at the left hand corner of the opposite end of the pool. The delicious aroma of grilled fish and sharwama filled the air.

She was an average stunner with a moderate height, she wore a slightly faded black suit, that fitted her well, she wasn't comforted staying at the pool side, she stood up and walked pass the bar and entered into the walls of the exotic restaurant, with the way she walked, I knew it was her first time there, though, her elegant dress suited the scenery at the background.

The sunlight was disappearing in the sky and the waters were still, she lay hunch back on the chair, she wanted to stay like that for a good long while, she was in no mood to dance, to swim, to dine or to eat, her mind was a dark fog of misery, a tear drop escaped from her eyes every now and then. She was too weary to wipe them away.

At the opposite end of the hall, the immortal voice of Michael Jackson electrified the speakers and rang down the corridor, 'invisible' was being played, it was the perfect music for her, she wanted to be invisible, she wanted to be immune, she wanted to be untouchable, she wanted to cease being the victim.

As evening approached the scenes of the sky, the hall was filled to the bream with young men and women who came for one business or the other in the executive hotel. Today had been a very long day for her, that was my only guess. I really can't curtail why my attention gravitate around her.

Maybe she had just lost something so dear to her.... and her face was crumbled with so much anger, frustration, anxiety and fear.

She wanted to pretend it was all a bad nightmare, she needed a tranquilizer, more than ever, she wanted a stimulant, she wanted an escape, she needed alcohol or whatever they had, she wanted it strong.

I sat on the chair beside her unknowing of her. The barman came over to her, carefully explaining the menu, it was all noise to her, her mind failed to make sense of anything, she wanted to be in the care of someone, she wanted to let go but she couldn't.

She sat with a weak smile, in front of the tall good looking bartender. Finally, choosing a menu seems like a huge truck she can't pull over, because after few minutes, she was still bent over, in confusion, hesitating on the wine, she didn't know what choice of wine to order.

"Having trouble with the menu?" That was my voice asking her from behind,

"yes sir" the bar man gave her away.

It was a rude Yes, the bar man was already out of patience, could only contain his impatience with an effort.

"No I'm not having any trouble," she countered, her ego was getting in the way. "She's confused on the brand to take," the bar man exposed her once further.

"Oh!" My voice again quipped, I paused and continued.

"Give her Ice Tea in my bills",

"Hey, who asked for your help" She bumped, turning to see who it was.

Her emotions were tensed up, she had put up her hostile face.

"I guessed you had a long day," I was still on my grey suit, I paused and continued...

"I thought I should help out ," I smiled, then seeing her frown, I added,

"did mama tell you not to take anything from a stranger?"

She made a little face at this, she laughed a little, thinking about her mother and then her heart registered a lighter note.

The bar man went away, and came back with the menu. I offered to join her on the set.

"What's the matter? I know a face as beautiful as this should do better with a smile, OH GOD!! did you have a bad day, was it the economic crush, who lighted the gas line?"

It was a flood of question, but She detected a caring note behind it all. She exhaled,

"I just lost my dad" she confessed,

"so sorry, over here, " I was offering her a white handkerchief, then I continued...

"That's a big one," I paused, rubbed my face a while longer and continued,

"though not big enough to take away your joy and happiness, you can do without a bottle of wine, do you believe in God?" I ventured using the name of God to win my way with her.

"Yea I do," She managed to say

"He knows best" I added.

"Oh Jes," the words had dawned on her,

"Are you preaching to me! did you say, do without a wine, what for Christ sake, what are you doing in a bar?"

She had noticed, I wasn't the regular fat bulky men that frequented the bar and she knew I had no power of examples to back up what I was saying but she is unwilling to desist from the discussion, she was carried away by my appearance instead.

She noticed that I wasn't perhaps going through a mid-life crisis. I stood tall and was looking smart, poised, handsome with clean stocks, my suits were immaculate, my smile was perfect, I appeared like every ladies dream.

"You look too good to be here," She stated flatly," the music had changed, to the new age rock and roll music, if we ever meet again, Katy Perry and Timberlands' auto tuned voice, was coming down the hall way, the deejay had altered the sound, the beat was fiery, this had set the club ablaze, the young fellas were dancing to the hyper rated beat, all this she had noticed, and the thought was interfering a little with her mind, I tried to imagine what it would feel like, dancing with such a beautiful lady but I think she will object given her situation. So, I didn't even bother to ask.

"What is a man like you doing in a place like this?" she asked, quoting the lyrics of the song, and dropping it on me.

Whew!! I blew my cheeks. "I've been right here waiting, waiting it out for you to come," I flirted right back,

"Where have you been all these while", she asked firmly

"Never mind that," I said, then continued

"I am Samuel" I began to introduce myself

"ohhh Samuel the preacher I should interview, I didn't recognize you sir. Sandra is my name, Sandra Adejumo" she replied in exchange.

"Never mean to poke into your privacy, but I'm the caring type, how did you manage to lose your dad, was he sick or something? How did it happen?" I asked.

Sandra gave me the popular line. "it's a long story,"

"it's okay dear, I don't mind, just loosen up, you can talk to me," I urged.

Sandra stared into my eye, trying to determine if I could be trusted, she was uncertain, but she spoke out anyway and told me how it happened ...

I pulled up a sad knowing smile and told her to sip the ice-tea that have been waiting in the cup.

"So how do you plan to get on with the funeral?" I asked, then she lifted up her eyes,

"Hmmm, No clues for now," she gave a faint smile... but the sadness and the sorrow had just returned.

"Well, if you say so, it will be such a bad idea to leave you all alone to yourself at this god-forsaken place,"

"don't worry about me, I will be fine," Sandra said, but her voice was shaky.

I won't take no for an answer, I pulled her up to her feet, minutes later, we were walking off from the bar.

We departed together outside, it was drizzling slightly outside and I offered her my jacket, the men at the bar made a knowing face at me, knowing that I was a pastor of one of the big churches in Nigeria. We went to my car and drove away.

CHAPTER TWO

THE DRIVE WAY

As we drove, evening was highjacking the day, the time was 5:30pm, I imagined how time ticks away into the threshold of history, that a moment could slip out unlived. We both were silent for a while until I broke the silence.

"Hello Sandra, you now know that I am the Pastor for the interview, can we still have the interview today prior to what happened to you"

She thought about how many mega church pastors would like to offer to make a confession of their errors. It happens once in every hundred years especially a Nigerian. Its a big news and she won't let it slip. "We have to make it work today sir."

I grinned "was your dad old enough? I asked

"My dad had advanced in age, infact I am the last of eight children and he really had given us his best."

We both smiled. I began to ponder. She had advanced her fair complexion with a toning cream and flaunts her cute physique as if the world revolves around it.

She began once more,

"He had given us a good education if not that I have been in the labour market for 2 years after my NYSC, despite all the applications I submitted to companies and after making 'jobberman.com' my friend, yet it seems luck wasn't on my side and I began to wonder whether the reason for my unemployment was diabolic. I would've advanced in my carreer."

"Maybe your qualification wasn't enough." I asked.

'Even after I had gone to acquire professional certificates and job seekers seminars to improve my chances of getting a job but the organizers practically created their own jobs from the unemployed and built their income around deceiving the massive unemployed youths. Its working for them anyway."

She exhaled, I took a moment to look at her while still on the steering "then didn't you thought of starting up a business?" I asked.

She continued ..

"I had debunked all suggestions to become an entrepreneur because I saw the snaps of my classmates... posing with clean suits in various offices and I wanted to test that office glory too. Without minding how much their salary was worth and what they had done to keep the job, I started making advances towards that direction. One of my friend told me how she had to exchange fake currencies with real one in the bank and get a share for it."

"Wow, really."

"Yea, and she pays tithe with such monies."

I adjusted my sit belt a bit, she continued.

"But why do pastors collect just any money as blessings from God without knowing its sources?" Sandra paused, I knew the question was on me directly.

"We run mega-churches, how can we possibly know the source of all of our member's funds?" I replied her, though I know we made our local assembly a user friendly church, fixing every program that caters for the flesh of our members than their spirit and I know we are just about the church attendance than we are about the members and after the amount they dropped than the source of the income."

"Thats true" Sandra replied still wondering.

"You know daddy Friz is about this same thing on the radio too." I declared.

"You mean that freaky radio presenter like Dan Brown, he is dealing on heresy to enhance his popularity?

"Whatever you call him, he is winning souls too in his radio pulpit, I am so concerned about the preachers who teaches more about demons and its operations; than they witness about God's good deeds. 'People of Israel, you are my witnesses; I chose you to be my servant, so that you would know me and believe in me and understand that I am the only God. Besides me there is no other god; there never was and never will be...Isaiah 43:10 GNB"

"You know the Bible also said, we shouldn't judge" Sandra exclaimed.

" the scripture in 1 Corinthians 5:12 said ' It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.' Even in our natural world, when we forbade the truth, we break natural rules and there would be consequences." I quoted...

"Hmmm, I am speechless."

"You know people now use 'Don't judge me syndrome' as an exit point from facing the truths of reality and wonder why same thing keep happening to them."

"You mean, they refuse to change the information that created the previous outcome with their excuses and negligence."

"That's right, when we can't separate evil from right, vice and virtuous, good and bad because we rely and decide based on what feels good and bad, we make lots of errors that affects us and many others" I replied as I looked at the side windows wondering how smart Sandra really is and I changed the subject immediately.

"How come you are so smart and intelligent with religious outcomes" I asked.

"You know I was about asking you the same question. I attended a Christian seminary institute somewhere in Lagos where truth is being taught. Infact I haven't heard truth that way anwhere else but its just that I am a lazy Christian to be firm, I think all of this firmness is meant for pastors."

Sandra paused looked at me, I chuckled "but we are all called to be the light," she smiled and continued again.

You know, in history and sociology class wayback then in school, we come across the foundation of invention and the making of great societies, and we saw that men who invented great machines where basically Europe and America at about the same time Christianity was flourishing in those regions"

"You are right, in Theology, we were also taught that those inventors were true Christians who were members of a local assembly but got inspired by the Holy Spirit because of their urge to solve problems of mankind."

"Why then is that same Christian not capable of solving the problems of humanity in Nigeria whilst other nations used the forces of light from the scriptures to solve problems from management, to technology to societal issues." Sandra asked.

"One of the CDs of my mentor that I listened to said that Christianity in Nigeria is wide but lack depth and even in the church, government, schools and individual businesses, we want to solve our personal needs first before solving problems for humanity only to be overwhelmed with our own problems, so the corporate problem never get solved."

"Hmmmm" Sandra exhaled.

"I am a victim of this, imagine, those days I was engrossed with a search for a job that will be able to solve my needs while some people suggested I should become a baker and event planner to help people plan their events on low budgets but I wanted to become a banker, so I always gave excuses of lack of oven, lack of shop and lack of capital and how much my proposals to my uncles wasn't considered at all. Fearful to take risk.....I didn't want to start from home and manage the local means of baking until I can afford the means to acquire the right tools.

I know I am gifted as a wardrobe manager and fashion counsellor. Many suggested I should go open up a make up outfit, become a stylist or a fashion designer, you see, instead of teaching people how to dress beautiful but covered rather I was always complaining of not having a make up kits and a well furnished shop and I'm a law graduate and should work in a chamber and not in fashion house or a fashion adviser.

Also, I have a talent in singing but I really do not know how to harness that talent that lie wasting. So I became champion in idleness sitting back at home watching African magic and Big Brother Naija and complaining about Buhari's incompetence in providing a job for me. Can you imagine."

I changed the gear of the ride to enable me climb the slopy road, then I continued. .

"Do you know why it seems like you were confused and didn't know which train to join.? I asked.

"No" Sandra replied.

"From that same audio recording I listened and it said "our foundation was destroyed, from age 1 to 10, our parents ought to have discovered what we will be, from 10 to 17, we would have started out in what we ought to be, from 17 to 25, we ought to have known our environment and gone deep doing what we're meant for. But here in Africa, a 10 year old is still in the sands playing, at age 25 is when we had started looking for a pay job, looking for money we negate to find ourselves and the purpose of our existence."

The car ran into a bump and galloped. We felt the shock but continued anyway. I continued

"Who will function in the area of our calling, if humans are a loaded delivery van, when a delivery van didn't deliver whats meant for an area, that area will suffer lack.." I admitted

"Wow, does that then explain the reason for so much scarcity in the nation? People stop looking inward hence do not delivery whats loaded inside of them by God"

"Thats it"

"But why are there no pastors redirecting people to their purpose other than praying for them to get jobs that no one is creating"

"We like to subdue and not replenish. Besides, it could be a difficult task to point someone to the directions they are not seeing."

"It meant everyone likes the shortcut including the clergymen."

"I didn't say that, sorry for the divergence" I stirred at her but she smiled and continued her story.

"I later enrolled for masters to further my chances of getting a job and completed it after a year and half. I managed to get a job with a pharmaceutical company as a marketer after one year of waiting. Because my salary wasn't enough to cover my personal needs, I normally collide with the accountant to side-line the drugs subsidized by WHO meant to be distributed in rural villages, only to sell them in the local market and at the end I get a share for it."

"Someone is making confession"

"We need to do what we need to do to survive in a nation that cared less for its citizens"

"You know, we are all selfish, both the leaders and followers. Each of us are looking for shortcuts to solve long term problems. We call ourselves Christians, we pray to God for help yet go back to use the devil's tool to solve our problems. How many people had to suffer just because you want to get satisfied and Galatians 6:3 said If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody."

"Hmmm" she exhaled, then continued

" Does it mean its a crime to get satisfied."

"Its not a crime to get satisfied but getting satisfied on whose expenses? Is it on the expense of those Christ died for?" I paused for a while and continued.

"What if your grannies where in those villages; what if a boy needed those drugs to stay alive? I have had my fair share of both sides but...."

"Please pull over, here"

"Here"

"Yes here, this is our media house" Sandra said pointing at a beautiful three storey building.

I pulled over to the side of the road, she dropped.

"Are you not coming in?" Sandra queried.

"You didn't invite me in, maybe you have forgotten we just met." I joked..

"You can come in, I understand we are Nigerians and we are too presumptuous and suspicious people, we are plagued by our trust issues."

I made a laugh and opened the door to climb down from the car. We entered the compound and approached the entrance door, as she entered the reception, I followed after her. The receptionist greeted us as she walked pass her front desk and beckoned on me to follow her. She reached out for her keys and unlocked the door of her office.

We entered her office. The office gave away more than she meant it to. Over the mantle are pictures of a man that looks just like her even at his old age, it might be her late dad I thought. Around it are smaller pictures of the two of them, birthday parties and the likes. Everything else is of her mother. Every decoration is feminine, there are those ubiquitous statements of love and friendship engraved into plaques on the wall. She idolizes love but cannot replicate what she has lost. The office had a desk and a book shelf.

Inside her is a void, one she needs to fill. But to be honest I'm not sure if that's me going to fill that void. I've never exactly been the dependable type, even as a pastor, I only know the scripture but lack the grace to put them to work. I was bleased when I met one who can and so far, I had learned alot from him.

And I'm not sure I could ever fill the shoes of the guy on the picture on the wall, no doubt his wonderfulness is already enhanced by the rose tinted glasses of her selective memories. Who could ever compete with that?

"Please sit" she pointed at a blue cushion, you can see traces of tear drops on it. she ran in to get to the fridge within the office, I told her not to worry, then she went back and sat on the cushion close to mine and started our conversation.

"You know I wondered why people could stand the scorching sun to look for clients in an open street for 'Dracula employer' who feed their account on blood and sweat of their employees but I feel so ashamed to start out my own business at home and very small.

Truly, aIs of that time my colleagues and I called those employers pagan monsters and yet Christians were devoted in slavery for him and I still enjoy the bribes that comes from the side-line just to service my bills."

"I can possibly relate. The slaves are riding on horses, while the kings are trekking, you never know who you are selling into slavery because of the bribe you took. And when we come to preach that Christ died on the cross to free people from slavery, or maybe drop fliers for people to follow us to church and we wonder why they won't respond." I paused for a while and continued.'

"I believe even your neighbours do wonder why is it that you are still a slave to your pagan employer who has no conscience but only over work you out and pay you so little to keep you alive."

"I can deduct that we Christians claims to be the light of the world but we dropped our crosses to pick up crumbs as daily bread. carrying a torch without illumination; can't you see how darkness had taken over our nation yet we brag that we are the light, . do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel? Mat 5:15b "

We sat there dumbfounded until I broke the silence. " You know, even at that we are lost in the sins that corrupts virtue and the darkness that overshadows the truth."

"How did you find your way to being a pastor, you know so much? Sandra asked me. I smiled and began my tales, the real thing we drove all the way from my hotel room for... Sandra asked the camera men to stay alert.

CHAPTER THREE

MY CONFESSION

"Someone said People judge people for sinning differently, that saying is true. The worst anyone could do is to exonerate themselves of the mess our errors had caused. I adjusted the mic attached on my shirt.

Before I ever thought of becoming a pastor, I had been through a lot, sincerely setting that church at that time was a waste of grace." My conscience nudged me, I knew I didn't set up the church by God's pattern and calling. In fact my belly called me. Sandra smiled. I continued.

"I remember another person said looking for a job is a job. In Lagos, carrying a large envelope became my first job. In Nigeria, once you become a graduate, everyone removes their hand of help on you and all the aid is cut short. Hope of younger ones will be beamed on you rather and you must deliver or else you become a laughing stock to your mates. I saved little money from all the monies that was remitted from family members meant for my final year school project. In Nigeria, every undergraduate knows that times to write project are their final moment to tax money from family and friends. They maximizes the opportunity to collect more from family members. During my project time, I actually made list of family members to approach for funds and I was taxing them one after the other. I even visited some of them and they gave generously. After graduation, with the money I have saved, I entered Lagos immediately without even having a place to lay my head. I quickly ran to Yaba to get an okirika suit, trousers and shirt ( used suits and shirts) which I planned to wear for interviews as I apply and submitted applications in firms and banks hoping to get employed.

At night falls, l found a nearby flyover to lay my head, then the following morning, I looked for a church that will accommodate me for the time being till when I will finally get a job. I went to a popular church close by but I was denied access because I was a member of another church that is not theirs, so therefore the resources of that particular church won't be spent for a member of another church. I was so tired, other churches saw me as a liability since I would not be able to afford to pay tithe, so therefore they couldn't attend to me. One of the churches couldn't trust me and thought I was a thief. Some Churches today are so suspicious and I wonder what happened to discernment. Are we fast becoming spirit-filled and not spirit-led?

l was embittered, the rejections I got threw punches on me, it weakened my resolves to hold fast to true Christianity. It weakened my faith and believe in God. I wanted to take the path of easy resistance, I felt shattered but my responsibilities was there waiting for me.

It was certain I was only chasing after success the way my intuition suggested even if it made me dubious, but since the church refused to build heaven in my inner world. Hell took charge of it. I now took away my hope and trust on church and picked up the pieces of my disjointed bones and walked again with my head up and eye focused on other people's pocket, to steal, loot and cheat others."

I paused for a while, then continued where I stopped.

"I had persevered enough. This is the moment I make drastic moves anyways.

I marched on this time without pity for anyone, I must take the city at any cost but whereas the reverse was the case. The city had actually taken me slave to do its dubious biddings, I thought I had no choice, so I followed the only option my corrupt mind could refer.

My heart pricked every time I made money wrongly, then I then shift my reliance on alcoholic drinks, beer parlours and on drugs to quench my raging conscience and to drown my pain but my pains learnt to swim.

Visionless I lay, betting became my hope of becoming a millionaire someday as I gave my best shots but all was in vain. Its either the game will be shorting one or two to become complete and make me a winner.

Every now and then, the bet advert shows winners but it never came to my favour. I kept hope alive and wasted money on it though. It's about perception, they show us the winning side to lure us. They used team stars who had made it through their football playing talents to also lure us. We were helpless than to follow the trends.

I also placed hope on my phones which I use in connecting friends on Facebook. My inbox was usually full but I still feel empty, I remember posting selfies of me on beautiful buildings to cover up my shame and what I was really going through. I do go to malls, banks and hotels to snap, only to show off. My friends would call to tell me that am really enjoying but whilst none knew what I was going through. Most ladies fell for my make believes without knowing they are all traps.

I remember I met a girlfriend on Facebook, invited her over to a hotel I lodged most weekends and I set her up for a ransom. People called me wicked those times but they didn't know the story behind the wickedness they are seeing.

I had been surviving as usual but my money was depleting greatly since my expenditure was greater than my income. I was always thinking of how to get more and more, cyber crime was added to my means of income. I scarcely eat when I had no money. Arm robbery was what I wanted to graduate into when election approached.

The politicians in the verge to perfect their deceptive gimmicks approached me to help them win elections either by thuggery or rigging or even by using my voter's card to vote them in. I knew that I was selling my future and that of many others. I know this is not going to bring about change but rather recycling the bad government in office again. As selfish as I was. I had to do my best to make use of those chances to gain from them since their best shot is to invest during election and use their tenure to recuperate their capital and profit. Its all about deception.

You know even the lecturers are deceiving undergraduates, by using outdated lecture notes to lecture, with such notes, they are practically not training the undergraduate to become relevant in the future. Even their professors still wear talisman on their waist and play dirty departmental politics and you wonder where refinement traveled to.

Anyways, since some pastors too are deceiving their members with adulterated doctrines. Since none of the professors and pastors I have seen had shown good examples, I decided to become part of the deceptive mechanisms in the hands of the politicians where I could also gain privately.

As a survival, I didn't see any other option than to accept the money the politicians had to pay which wasn't even enough to get me a clean apartment and I wasted the money on my bad habits of alcohol. I was really in desperate need of cash as of then but since government had failed to give the society hope of a better and civilized nation. I had to cease the opportunity of making myself better off through them.

Whenever I managed to attend church, I see the church blaming the government and they forget that the church is the only government Christ left on earth for mankind to bring heaven on earth with the governance of love and taking responsibility to protect God's interest on earth."

Sandra listened to me with rapt attention, it seems like I was delivering a lecture.

"I think the government inherited unrefined Christians collectively from the irresponsive churches who are morally incapable to imbibe godly values on their members to keep clean hands, clean motives and clean records." Sandra added.

"Instead of churches to come together to share Christ, every local assembly is leaving Christ behind to share their church to a weary and dying world in great need of Christ.The major reason is that people pay more attention to church building instead of the truth, they pay attention in flaunting great choristers instead of Christ, they center on prosperity and show less of work ethics and attitude of love. No wonder we are poor in time management." Sandra made a point. Instead of arriving to the fruits of the spirit, the masses chases after the gift of the spirit and tilt towards selfish hunt for success and prosperity at all means producing unforgiveness, manipulation hatred and wickedness.

People want God's success but neglect His patterns, instructions and direction. They make errors going their own way and faced with its effects. Now, miracle and deliverance becomes a bait for them who want to avert the effects of what they had caused. Many who yearn for prosperity without work, those who want a definite outcome without the process; directions and instructions.

As everyone pursues after the affluence they see on the pulpit. People wearing coloured spectacles of religion now focus more on the charisma of the ministering Pastor instead of his power of examples..

With no truth in our believe system, a market woman tilts her scale and bend her measurement cup, the energy filling station tunes their meters to cheat another in claims of the prosperity they heard was theirs from the pulpit.

On Sunday all road leads to church and tithe and offering is paid to a fat growing pastor building information centres all over without chastising his members for the fear they will change not their bad attitude but their church(Amos 10:5). There are competitions everyone and the people now have options of where opium is served and dread where truth is given. People now keep more than 7 churches they attend all for 7 different purposes.

And churches who are interested in crowd and not Christians, mount all system and struture to fish for the deceived and not the disciples. We now build cell units across board instead of mission conscious gatherings to administer the forces of light, power of goodness and sharing love to the people. Fliers became a powerful tool in the hands of church members than their power of examples and power of goodness. As wickedness abound.

Sincerely, those period, I was only lured to the church that won't talk about my faults and my evils even if the testimonies printed at their fliers were true or not. I have no time to probe, I love those ones who talks about my desire to make more money without looking into the means by which I would make it.

I prefer the church the pastor won't care about my whereabouts and never interested in my source of income. I prefer the church that the pastor that are less accountable of their flocks, those of them that justifies sin so that I can continue with my dubious means of making more money at other people's expense and even the people I steal from prefer that same church with other numerous reasons known to them.

When the persons I steal from cries, they become more frustrated and more wicked on others unconsciously. Evil multiplies. They shout and curse more at their family members out of anger because their mouth serves God but their heart is set on the money and on things they had lost. The lack of things keep zapping their love tank and they keep festering on other people emotionally. I am the opposite of Christ, only multiplying wickedness and doing no one no good."

"Is this really a confession, how do you know you were doing wrong" Sandra asked exhaling really hard. I winked, filled with urge to say more.

"When I recognized my errors, repented and returned. I was opportuned to attended Christian conference my mentor organized. It loaded my heart with a lot of light. Though as of then my conscience was nudging me to do right but I lacked the ability to do the right thing, I let my circumstance strip me of that ability." I replied, smiled and continued.

Then, I felt overwhelmed by the troubles of my followers and I moved to help them without understanding, I landed in falsehood because the people no longer wants the truth but lies, because Isaiah 30:8‮-‬18 GNB said..‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

God told me to write down in a book what the people are like, so that there would be a permanent record of how evil they are.

They are always rebelling against God, always lying, always refusing to listen to the LORD 's teachings.

They tell the prophets to keep quiet. They say, "Don't talk to us about what's right. Tell us what we want to hear. Let us keep our illusions. Get out of our way and stop blocking our path.

We don't want to hear about your holy God of Israel." But this is what the holy God of Israel says: "You ignore what I tell you and rely on violence and deceit. You are guilty.

"Also Hebrews 13:17 said Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.' But the people don't want to be held accountable, they don't want their souls to be watched over,"

"That is not an excuse to stop tending to the sheep and start milking them, so that you will be comforted by their offerings and overlook the sorrowful state of their soul." Sandra quip.

CHAPTER FOUR

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

Sandra was still sitting listening to me. I continued the story.

"I applied for INEC ad-hoc electoral officer. Fortunately for me I was employed, I got lots of money from the politicians and one promised me job connections in the bank after they win the election but who can trust these politicians, immediately they win, all promises is being swept under the carpet.

"How come we then trust ourselves in the hands of the politicians to pilot our nation into a desired future?" Sandra attended.

"Thats what we do, anyway I doubted the politician until he introduced me to a bank manager. I got the offer from bank at Ikoyi but the job is only going to last for 6 months, I took the job anyway, at least I finally have something to keep my mind and soul together. The party that gave me a job won in my unit prior my rigging the election for them and I was happy I had used this chances well enough to bargain for a job but angry protesters won't let me know peace, they sent angry mobs at me since I wasn't living around there, I managed to escape with several hurts on me but at least I got a treatment before I began to work in my new job.

Work was really tedious, I was handling the job of ten men. At night I do hang out with other men in an inn called the beer parlor. Its a hell kind of place that drilled a hole in the pocket of men.

I was returning from the beer parlour where I usually relaxed to my favourite sleeping spot under the bridge as I looked for a paid apartment but couldn't find any which could measure up to my financial strength. One of the days, just far away to my usual corner underneath the fly over, I sighted notorious men smoking hemp and planning to rob.

I was scared and confused at the same time because I had gotten used to that pedestrian bridge and had no other spot to lay my head. I strolled reluctantly along the road beside a market devastated. The raw odour from sewage filled the air. I tried to walk away to a place where the odour had no power, I got to a point and stood there perplexed feeling dizzy. I heard a noise not quite far from where I was, I became scared. The night had stolen across the sky and alongside the flicker of hope to sleep from my heart.

I peeped out and realized that was the sound of people dropping their cartons underneath a table in the market. It was gala, handkerchief and popcorn road hawkers who were arranging their goods for tomorrow's sells and was getting ready because its Friday, a mega church closer to TBS always organises crusade every Friday.

So this sausage roll sellers and their cohorts will go in to steal phones from tired career men who often sleep off as the crusade lingers. It is another source of income for this homeless boys.

I saw them running, as they hurried towards the church, I followed them not minding the floor, my feet stamped the tarred road as I ran.

I got in and was well welcomed by a clean usher waiting at the day. This gala boys wasn't looking bad too. So they were counted as faithful Christians by appearance. Immediately they gained entrance, they dispatched in formation and commenced the operation.

They were fifteen of them. This church was filled with professionals who are avoiding their nagging wives, workers who are looking for miracle promotions so they weren't wearied by the day's hustle, the church also had ladies and gent in search for spouse, then the gala boys who were there to do away with careless phones and the kinds like me who attended with high hope of sleeping under the air conditioned atmosphere the church provided. The pastor who organised the vigil to accommodate Lagos workers' busy schedules was sincerely fishing for Christians to turn to disciples but his church was conditioned to attract the deceived because everyone is coming for one thing or the other and not to relate with their heavenly Father. No father would be happy to be treated like an ATM where prayer is the only ATM card to connect and make withdraws. People are usually lured to be given things and they are shown gods and not God. God is after sons who through relationship with Him become like Him. It is only through becoming.. that their character is built and they attract things. For no one gets what they wish for but what they are.

The Pastor sincerely wanted everyone in church which was his reason for fixing a vigil but the attendees had their different reasons which is militating against the passage of the pastor's delivery of the word into them. Now, everyone is available to be preached to but everyone have what they are looking for not really his sermon.

As the usher was busy taking census of Christians who were present in church, the gala boys were busy sneaking hands into people's pockets, bags and pouch and making away with their phones and money.

It was quarter to 5 am when I woke up and saw people looking for their phones in the church, a place supposed to be a holy place but because their where no shepherd who identifies and separate the wolves from his flock, it keep harming others. I checked for mine too and it was intact so I moved on to get ready for work because I was mandated to be at the office on Saturdays.

I dressed cute with my nice tuxedo like I own the bank where I worked. on getting to my place of work, I saw a relief letter, the six months contract have exhausted. I was dazed, I glanced upward, my mouth paused but slightly open and loose. My eyes are fixed as if I am looking at something a yard behind the bookshelf with one hand on my waist and the other holding the letter.. The unfold of everyday phenomenon had made each day run faster than usual.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE HYPNOSIS

I had been saving money but it won't be enough to start up a life, though I have left the flyover to start squatting with one of my male colleague in work place. Since I had been relieved of my job, I wondered whether to rent a house but I had no source of income to service the rent... I decided to rent a shop without thinking of what to sell in it, civilization in the banking hall had rubbed off on me, I have come to love books because of the influence around me. I opted to sell books in there. The shop was quite large, its like a mini warehouse.

I do pass the night in the shop, then there came this particular rats I couldn't even control with pesticides that came in to devour the books which were rendered unsellable by the rat's every bite. I nearly cried, I had began to supply books to churches and encourage people to read not for their own good but at least so that I can find a means of survival until this tragedy happened.

I managed to rent an apartment. It looked like a college hostel but I had to manage it still. One of those day, I was watching TBN cable channel. There I saw my friend Kunle on Television the other day, my friend's church had become large filled with members and I regretted why I didn't join him by that time he beckoned on me to join him.

My mind went memory lane within split seconds. Within those moments I was still in school, this time I managed to stand from my bed, my fellowship pastor appeared from the blues as he entered my room. I sat up and stretch forth my hand to shake him. He is a tall charming young man on his black pant trousers and a purple fitted shirt. He looked pale, maybe he had been fasting for seven days. "Pastor Emma" I shouted in awe. He had come to beckon on me to join him in the fellowship as he had plans to set up a church immediately he graduates.

Maybe I could help him build up the church and become a shareholder in the church but I really don't have interest in growing things. I don't have that patience. Pastor Emma hinted me how he was going to take a short cut of attending a theological school then acquire a license from a mega church to setup another branch of that mega church around the area.

I didn't listen to him, all that he said fell on deaf ears. I saw it as a waste of my precious time because if I agree to work with him, we will have to battle soul winning which is not an easy task no matter how much one tries. I considered it but didn't see it as a viable means to succeed immediately and start making my financial breakthrough. Despite all the reasons of making it big, Pastor Emma hinted me, yet I didn't listen. I found a way to put my mattress and other belongings on sell and I had readied my books the previous night since I had no food to eat, when the television suddenly became more louder, I blinked my eye open, I had been thinking but I felt so bad about my decisions lately.

Kunle now have a big bread factory in Lagos called "Our Daily Bread, a school and a church." I felt I was trapped in my small mindedness, it felt as if there was a glass ceiling over me. I left that apartment for good.

I went to Emma's house, it was a duplex, a very big one. Emma encouraged me to open up my own church as a source of income and promised to support me. I asked him how to go about it and he said,

"Samuel, thanks to God you are able to make it out of the streets alive, now look at how I started my own church.

I firstly branded my church and went over to the bars I frequents before and invited the beautiful waiters as the ushers of my new church, this waiters attracted men to church.

I thought so much about how to market a once considered foolish and repulsive product which is the gospel of Christ to the people who felt its irrelevant to their life and business, then I came across 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-23 GNB which said:

"For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles;"

Given my intention that was geared to win crowd which was more in the forms of Greeks and Jews in our society, a set of people who yearn for miracle and the other set who yearn for knowledge and wisdom but denying the power. It was another task I must examine and research well enough, if for certainty I wanted to succeed.

I strive to study the Greeks and Jews represented in our society and I realized their area of interest and passion, goals and obstacles and how their mind works and I gear towards making Christianity relevant to them by removing the cross from the message.

After each service the waiters I hired as ushers and choristers were paid and I used the remaining money to print 2000 posters knowing that it will lure 20 people to the hell house I called church. We targeted the workers and because I knew that Lagos workers go to board buses from 4 am heading to work. I will go out early to board buses with them. To preach, share flyers and collect offering.

I know of the unemployment rate in the country, I targeted job seekers by organizing programs I called "Miracle jobs" to lure job seekers, these meeting lured Seun and many others who I considered smart graduates who have spent years in the labour market. I knew how people wanted money without work, so I organized "PROSPERITY GALLORE, BUSINESS BOOM." I was literally taking advantage of their thought loops and area of ignorance of most Lagosians. I only taught them the principles I read from the book and not what I have practiced and experienced, I taught them money making and not obedience to the word of God.

I know how people wanted success, I organized "Miracle Success" and there were great turn ups. I wasn't teaching people the ways to creatively open the economic doors the government had locked with their greed. I was practically arming people to become potential cheats to leech on one another. It made the stronger great and made a nation a state of nature where might is right. Wealth creation for smart individuals who can outsmart others. I sowed the seed of competition and not communion and it is ripping the society apart. And my packaging works especially for those who follow their filthy bodily lusts and despise God's authority. 2 Peter 2:10A GNB

In my greed being one of the false teachers in the land, I made a profit out of telling them made-up stories. That's the reason prosperity preaching that had lasted more than a decade did not engender economic prosperity for all and couldn't reflect in the country's GDP, it only reflected in the account of few.

I played into people's area of needs, an angle they think their life needs a quick fix. When they come, I remove Jesus which is what they need and I displayed myself and my lies and deceit to them, I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ just as Rom 1:16 said that is still the power of God for salvation but that truth about Christ was being rejected out rightly by many, but they were willing to buy into psychology of tailored Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of need, philosophy and quick fix miracle and because people now see the gospel of Jesus as old fashioned affair. Besides, I cannot give what I don't have, out of the well of my ulterior motive I drew what I offered to my members which was majorly materialistic coated with bible passages with no atom of truth in it.

My "Miracle Weddings" programs climaxed and recorded a large number of ladies in great demand for husband, single connects was arranged for single people to connect and relate with themselves which majorly designed to lead youths into unguarded relationships, most woman fall into the trap and come out of it bartered and broken by men with unbalanced Christian life.

For each program I organized, I usually invite guest speaker as a machinery who would mandate every attendant to sow seeds of all the money they have regardless of who they are or what they have. We never told them to sow seeds of goodness into lives, seeds of doing the right things no matter how inconvenient it seems. Its about feeling good and not being good. Its more about stress reduction than salvation. I dispense more of therapeutic measures than to encourage members to carry the old and rugged cross, mine was more like an experience industry, I pay less attention to doctrinal purity and pay more attention to style of music and my flow of sermon.

When I opened up the church, my first members were Seun, and Naeto. I was now able to call my shop a church with their loyal services.

When they came, using my psychic awareness, I made them believe that I know who they were by telling them their likely problems which they confirmed and believed my gimmicks.

These were few among the numerous programs I organized making the deceived and not disciples, replacing doctrine with deceit. I know the people want options, choices and convenience. So I started with service duration and timing and sermons was greatly based on what the people will enjoy and not what will cause them to do the right thing, I packaged worship to entertain them and in other hand I was demanding cash for prayers, promising miracle, selling holy water, handkerchiefs, salts and so on, using fear to hold members captive.

I began writing books on various subjects and became rich by baiting, luring and draining cash out of Lagos Christians. I used the few members greatly, I attached imaginary blessings to soul winning and promised them that each person they bring a person to church is an added blessings for them. This motivated them to win people over to my church but whereas I was interested that the seats in my church auditorium be filled and the tithe and offering be increased. I induced them to search for members appealing to the gullibility of the people, promising them all manner of miracle and things and they delivered. Each member returned with two or more people to church. People would stand in roads and street corners with my fliers and not attitude of love and godly examples.

I then started packaging the church with flat screen TVs and other equipment that will attract people into the church. I quickly gave Seun a position in the church. I made Seun in charge of the bread company I had started as reward of his loyalty.

I made Naeto my personal assistant. He had free access to my office and I was also thinking of making him the head master and principal in the new school I was building. I was practically following the seven characteristics of church growth by Schwarz which highlighted empowering leadership, gift oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship, holistic small groups, need oriented evangelism and loving relationships. I believe that if I get the world to like my church, they will embrace my Saviour but its vice-versa.

"Wow, all these he told you." Sandra bumped.

"Yea, every business had a secret, he gave me his secret."

"So did you followed his counsel then" Sandra asked, looking interested to hear what I have to say but i quickly checked my time, it says 6:05.

"Oh, am late, I need to go now. I should be back to my hotel room, we will continue our discussion later."

She understand I was dodging answering the questions but she kept calm, she saw me off to my car, I entered and left."

CHAPTER SIX

MY LEVERAGE

Before the shadows of the night gave way for sunlight to take over, the darkness was thicker, but as the light creep in, the blackness jogged away in an unimaginable slow motion. The morning was beautiful, I woke the moment the sun threw its light into my eyes. My phone had rang 5 times, its from Sandra, the journalist. I think she want to know if I am ready for today's meeting with her.

I went to the bathroom to shower before I started preparing for the day's interview. .

The bathroom is a white hall divided into two sections, one on the left and the other on the right, the one on the right holds the toilet while the other side is where the bathroom is situated, the bathroom as designed with white glass marble tiled on it from up to down. I entered one of the compartment, before I closed the little door behind me, my toe stepped on the ceramics, within split seconds, the ceramics sent chills up to my chest. My feet twitched and it was followed by a sneeze. The blue liquid soap trapped in a transparent container smelled nice.

As I turned on the stainless like shower knob, droplets of lukewarm liquids started dropping on me like avalanche of glass pebbles. I remembered my university school days, how I do miss going for 7 am class and reading till its morning. I missed going to the library and seeing that strict librarian who searches thoroughly until she sees books we are trying to sneak out for assignment because we usually don't have library card, for a while I stood still and allowed the water drop generously on me as it dampen my hair and ran through my head down to my chest and rolled down to the floor.

When I was through bathing, I stepped out and dressed up ready to leave the hotel room to the media house where I my confession was being aired. Behold Sandra was already waiting for at the hotel lobby. We strolled to the restaurant to have some food and she wanted me to start up my story where I stopped. We place orders for food and we continued.

"What hope do our youth have left."

"If only we will stand firm to tell them the truth just as the National Anthem said. This reminds about the youths meeting which I was invited to speak on to teach the students who have been converged, I remember the topic was

'God's soldier is ready at all time.' I thought about what sermon to deliver. If I can convince these people that Christ died to meet everyone's need, people would queue to enter the church but I must undermine the value and purpose of Christianity to get my aim achieved.

Given my ulterior motive, the value and purpose of Christianity doesn't matter, as long as my desires for winning the crowd is achieved. I taught these students on how to kill the power of guilt sitting in the throne room of their conscience. I taught them how Christ became a saint so we can keep sinning. I taught them that the love of God made Him send His son, that the grace that was released on the cross covered multitudes of our sins so we can go on with our sins. The students cheered me on in excitement. I knew even the slightest mistakes affects others, let alone a deliberate act of evil. I also know that whatever a man sows in form of actions or inaction he shall reap. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

GALATIANS 6:7‮-‬8 AMP‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As I proceeded with my evil intent, without minding that my preaching was leading the youths in the path of easy resistance, just because I wanted to win them over to the Church and not to Christ. Then, the Life losses its depth, God became an opium to be dispensed, faith become a recreational activity of 'see more to get more' and no longer obedience to the word of God even when it doesn't make sense. Imagine being a general to an army whose soldiers are still babies.

The waitress brought our meals and we began to eat. Everyone was quiet for a while before I continued.

My intentions succeeded in making the church a club for like-minds' amusements.. making the masses to troop in their numbers into my church, I brainwashed the crowd to drop offerings and sow seeds for more blessings and prosperity, people gave willingly not to God but to ameliorate their guilt given their various wrong sources of income. Others who grumbled about the virtual persuasion on giving, gave anyway to feel accepted.

I stopped

After the meal we left the hotel and headed to the media house to continue the interview.

* * *

I can only tell you about my final day in school, when I left for Lagos. I stepped out and dressed up ready to leave the school that taught me theories of life that I was going to face its practical's. As I left to the bus stop, I saw signpost of different churches with different names and programs packed for that week in just one street. It could even take you an hour to read all of what is written on some signpost of some churches. Some of the crowds at their back was only for the show, whilst most sampled the smooth photo shopped face of the pastor and his wife like the posters of most politicians. I shook my head at how men is blackmailing Christ and making Him less acceptable to pagans and men who have vow never to attend the church anymore, because of the mischief and injustice in the church today.

Getting to the bus stop. I was the last person needed to board the bus. The journey was long and worthwhile. I arrived Lagos to hustle out a living, I never had anyone in Lagos to accommodate me anyway but I believe in so many fly overs that Lagos is consisted of. I would find a habitable shelter afterwards. So, I slept under bridges at night and prepared myself for job search during the day. "

"wow, this is something else" Sandra quipped.

"It have not been easy, Though I am looking for ways to right my wrongs but it seems like starting all over which is am not ready to trace my paths back."

"You are really an honest man, but I think there is a place of certainty." Sandra said.

"That place of certainty is very hard to attain for us who took the short cut in." I added.

" But why did You choose to be sincere with me, didn't think of making me a member of your church?."

"You can think its easy carrying this burden of conscience all alone? Did you know how much I want to share but can't share it with any of my members, for you,"

"What role did Seun play in your ministry

"Okay, Seun, the young man my friend Pastor Kunle sent to assist me build a formidable church. I had to place him in charge of the church whenever I was gone outside the state for a crusade.

Sandra excused herself for a minute.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE ILLUSIONIST

She returned, "please you can continue your story sir"

"Lagos, a no man's land, housing the young and restless, bold and daring, the makers and takers of dreams. The street guys and slay queens patrol the city of sleepless nights as the yellow Danfo lock in traffic on the highways of the mainland. It was 9 pm, the playboys and high rollers compete for the nightlife of the city against the crime underworld. Seun, a tall black skinned guy, tan black short cut hair, he is in his early thirties sat at the set as the disco lit spread colors across the bar in The Stripped Hibiscus Casino and Suite, Lekki. The voice of Adele rang out of the electrified speakers. The smell of flavored alcohol filled the air as men drank to kill their sorrows which sway in their conscience.

The Stripped Hibiscus Casino and Suite, Lekki, one of the grand palaces of the city's great and mighty, here people gamble their easily made wealth... of course there is an harem of beautiful strippers and waitresses to entertain the guests, who were like the life of the club, Seun had eye on one of the waitress called Helen. She was a law school drop out, she is lively and wealthy men flocked around her. She is a real entertainer, she has this infectious vibe she spreads: She always make everyone laugh, She do get along with everyone, She is the life of the club always making out time for her clients. Lot of guys usually wants her number. She also has a golden voice.

As evening approached the scenes of the sky, Seun monitored her movements. He wanted to lure her into our Lekki branch. with a lady as her, we would pull lots of crowd to the church.

Though, I think she's living two lives, no one really know her inside, I can tell that she's going through pain but never showed that side. It is the side she hides from the world but maybe people never asked, never cared, never loved, even the guys who drove her around town on expensive rides, never rode close to her heart.

She has everyone to text but no one to talk to, everyone to follow but no one to walk with. When her phone goes down, her reality comes up. She have lots of friends even in the club yet feels no one really knows her.

The guys in her life thought quality time was Rolex hence they can't afford to pay attention. She had masked her sadness with what looked like the ideal life, she is always flying high in the outside but feels low on the inside. Her inbox was always full but she feels empty within, she's happy on the outside but struggle with depression and anxiety within. She have an addiction that everyone call "Lifestyle" whereas she is struggling with a mental health. The people are just occupied by her physical appearance: her curves and edges, her beautiful face and trendy clothes but she needed more. She needed affection, attention and protection. Now, she drank to drown her pain but the pain learned how to swim, she is sick of crying on the outside and bleeding on the inside, what she needs was Christ but all I could afford was connection to work in our church and not the Christ she needed.

Don't forget the Hibiscus is also famous for its variety of expensive wines and champagnes from Chandelle to Screaming Eagle.

Seun who was formerly a good and vibrant Lagos Christian brother was fervent for God. He had joined the church I was Pastoring and he had helped me build it into a large church. I made sure I taught him my misconception about the gospel which was set to win the world for Christ by making the church look worldly. If we must win the world to Christ, then we must win the world's favour, I taught him that sermons are judged by the people and based on his ability of delivery and not his content. Though I know it doesn't work for the kingdom, but it can work to win the crowd into the church. Even when the doctrine didn't go so well with him but he accepted it anyway and we preached it too. I won't forget Pastor Emma also told that he knows most humans do not want to struggle to know what's right and what's evil. What's bad and what's good. What's vice and what's virtuous. Most African only follow their emotional barometer and tilt our attitude towards what's feels good and bad and towards the angle of those we seek validations from. Hence I followed his teaching.

Hence, sermons of substance was replaced by emotional appealing ones. I made sure we replace doctrine with tales and our performance become more important than what was taught. Just the way children wouldn't like to listen to their teachers but would rather listen to cartoons and animation. Image was being projected and that wasn't the image of Christ but the image of the preacher and the church auditorium and the comfort it promised. And we forgot the bible passage which says

"God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we are not be discouraged. We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience," Yes, we went contrary to 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5 GNB which says: For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

We know that as a people, no one wants to think and analyse with the help of the Holy Spirit, we have lost our intelligence and purpose as Christians. We respond more and intuitively tilt towards clever manipulation of our emotions. So we packaged faith with foils of entertainment for the people who are now our consumers. It will be a sin on our side to bore our potential customers with boring sermons of what they spiritually need rather we work hard to cater to their insatiable appetite for amusement. I wasn't concerned about what this people would become. I would rather make them appear in the form of Christians but lacking the substance of Christianity, as long as conviction replaces the thrill we offer, we are good.

As the church grew, Seun's rank in the church grew as usual. He became the welfare officer in the youth church. He became interested in the journey because it was yielding results and wasn't stagnant and repulsive but as Romans 10:2 put it I know what enthusiasm he have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

Irrespective of the Lagos holdups, he meets up church service on time, he motivates jobless church members and encourage them to always stay put to serve God with their time since they don't have money and they adhered to what he says.

He is the one who usually mobilize professional band groups who entertain church members every Sunday and week days never minding the rascality of these boys. He was fervent to learn what works and what didn't and we worked to draw crowd with our music performances, also we made sure they play nice tunes that makes the members so uplifted and most times they play tunes in worship that makes them cry, exactly before I step in to commence the preaching of the day. We are literally having a revival of feeling but not the knowledge of God. My church was more guided by feelings than conviction of truth.

We value enthusiasm more than informed commitment. We become sets of Christians who depend on musical styles and superficial sound features which arouses certain desired emotions in people then call them out for altar call and demand they repeat a passage of the scripture without taking them through the process of Genuine conversion. The process of Recognition, repent, return and restitution in Luke 15. So we do not watch out for genuine conduct (brokenness) because of our mega church.

So rather than depend on the grounds of truth and seek after the honour of God in our songs and musical combinations, we end up entertaining people. As long as fun seeking becomes a criteria people chooses church they attend, we now focus our worship moments on the worshipper than the worshipped. Our worship become performance order than praise.

Seun who was looking for God and wants to serve him with his money, time and resources but had not yet attain a place of certainty because myself being his pastor is after my belly, in various preaching I presented the presence of God as a felt experience as people cry and wail at worship times but I know their immediate change is not eternal...so it won't reflect in the society around them. Thats why wickedness and not love is the order in a nation with more churches than cinema houses.

I truly lack the explanation, if what was felt was from the region of imagination or the favourite meal they ate last night and in all God is not understood, not known only used as a means to a crowd growing ends. If luring the people will keep me still in business, then I keep fashioning for its trendy means without its spiritual growth in my members.

Democracy in my country was still tender and young but categorized by rigging and fraud. During election times politicians will do all they can to win, given to how religious my country is, politicians will pally with churches that have much population to induce and deceive their members to vote for them. Then when a politician enters into government, they shun good governance then make living standard hard and unbearable to the masses.

Given the inflation bad governance caused due to the irresponsibility of the government who bought their way through to government and feel that they are accountable to no one and not even to God since ministers don't too, some of these ministers prefer to waste God's resources on buying things instead of building lives which was the primary aim of the church. Since the church do not have good examples to give those in government, then they get busy practicing what they copied from the church which is going for things instead of building lives and the society. We blame the government and forget that the people who service the government emanated from different churches in Nigeria, if they were taught well in family and in the church, they would have produced good governance. Here, ethnic and religious hate drive policies and we wonder how those policies will lead to progress.

This flaws in the political superstructure usually affects the economic substructure of the country. It puts industries, firms, SMEs and banks in a tight corner, and the only escape route this companies sees in their desperate need to save cost will be to retrench workers and make the few workers to work real harder than usual with even added tasked time and lesser pay to enable the bourgeoisie to keep amassing more profit at the expense of the emasculated workers hence making many alienated from family, life and from having time for themselves.

Majorly due to the availability of labour at the excess, the motivated workers had to put in their all because there are people hanging on waiting to take their position, and due to the desire to meet up pressing needs and wants, the companies takes advantage of its staffs.

Due to the competition to work for the few companies available. These peasant workers are now willing to bargain very cheaply with the bourgeoisie on matters that hinge on time and task. The few gets richer, many become poorer even after putting in a lot of work.

Pain killers become a remedy for stress, social media becomes the only place family and friends meet and greets. A heart deprived from love and tasked so much emotions without deposits becomes wicked and plagued with hatred."

Sandra was just shaking her head and she added "You know what, I read somewhere that Politicians think of the next election, leaders think about the next generation."

"You are right Sandra, because there's no leader among the politicians and pastors, then no one among them was watching out for the next generation. No one saw the time transitions from industrial age to an information age to encourage a paradigm shift, just as Romans 11:9 put it and I paraphrase 'their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. their blessings cause them to stumble. their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and their backs grow weaker and weaker to bear the burden of their members."

"Wow, no wonder they serve opuims capsuled in sermons and preachings because they are blinded to their solutions. They can't see that companies now operate without humans, automated machines, robots and Androids are now manufactured to replace human labor. These had made millions of people become unemployed. Now, companies control the world just within a garage with a super computer, softwares and apps. There are now beyond classroom learnings and virtual teachers. Nano technology is advancing, virtual presence is being enhanced, teleportation being introduced; man is working really hard to become omnipresence. Instead of pray God for a pattern, we organized bead making, facial makeup trainings etc. With our un-renewed minds we languish in our crude thinking patterns.

With our religious minds, we are now leaving technological inventions in the hands of pagans who does not fear God. without understanding they create harmful things in forms of Genetic engineering, biological weapons, sex dolls, mutations in different forms and sizes claiming to solve problems; the world is going wild and the church is retrogressing with its doctrinal orthodoxy.

We have been handed stereotyped doctrine that make Christians heavenly minded but earthly useless. Movie and media industries are now occupied by the world feeding our teenagers with junks that corrupts their mind than it lifts their minds up. Just as we have miracle centers for exam candidates which promises students get good grades without having them to sit for the exams, churches now became miracle centers to get what they don't sow."

"But how come you know this but refuse to forge a different path for your church" Sandra asked

" hmmmm." I exhaled,

Although thats not an excuse but our fathers in the Lord had gone blind, we now had no true examples to follow except the old way that uses wealth to justify God's presence."

"Its not too late, to stand out. You know,"

You are right, God led me to a man who is clean all round with clean heart and motive towards ministry. I am under his tutelage. Some where in the bible within Isaiah 56:10‭-‬12 God says, "All the leaders, who are supposed to warn my people, are blind! They know nothing. They are like watchdogs that don't bark — they only lie about and dream. How they love to sleep! They are like greedy dogs that never get enough. These leaders have no understanding. They each do as they please and seek their own advantage. 'Let's get some wine,' these drunkards say, 'and drink all we can hold! Tomorrow will be even better than today!' " I quoted the Scripture. Sighed and continued

"You know the bible is true and right, the church was blind, Instead of repackaging our information system to advice Christians to become relevant to the community, to bridge that gap of becoming employers of labor in this age rather we packaged the gospel to make sad people who are battling needs and joblessness to feel good with our church experiences. Instead of encourage our members to change their perspective from looking for a job to creating work, we tell them to pray more for the jobs that are not there. When they didn't receive a desired outcome, we blame their lack of faith. We are interested in building hundreds of seat capacity church auditorium without building capacity into our audience. God have never carried out any assignment on earth without keeping His friends informed. Noah was aware of the flood. He built an ark. The fall of Sodom and Gomorrah was related to Abraham. Lot was saved. Joseph become aware of the 7 years of famine, He built a storage. We say we are a friend of God, yet we find it difficult to get raid of the psychological noise of 'more seeking' for a second and incline our ear. GOD always keep His friends INFORMED. Who knows what solution I will be intended to pioneer if truly I become the true friend of God.

"thats true... like I said before, its never too late" Sandra sipped the drink in a cup on the table and continued.

"Yea, its not that easy, people have evolved, science replaced superstition, people now think the church have outlive its usefulness, there are people who can't add up the connection between the religion and invention." I paused and continued..

"The youths are dead in their day dreams yearning for a good life without viable and attainable steps to become solutions. People even with so much money feel broken and lost, they are searching for purpose, the truth about reality, the right way to live. "

"You think broken and purposeless men and women now take seats in the church. You think people have become more problems to the church, government and public with their fast paced life, easy money and quick riches. Instead of help them with the real problem. You used getting jobs is as a miracle, getting visa to run away from sufferings in the land becomes a bigger miracle churches now advertises about." Sandra quipped.

"I think that's why we use our preaching to ameliorate their problem of stress and not solving the real problem by helping them discover themselves and their life's purpose, encouraging faithful entrepreneurs, building agricultural centers and rehabilitation facilities which could partner with divinity to create employments and mop away stall waters. Rather what we did was like giving people painkillers instead of healing the injury. Comedians now grace our pulpit making jokes with our Jesus.

We fix 100 days fasting which never reflect in the building of Nigeria or remove the nation from the miry clay of corrupt nation or end its reign as the headquarters of poverty and the bible said.. The people ask, "Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?" The LORD says to them, "The truth is that at the same time as you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass, and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that? "The kind of fasting I want is this: remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. "Then my favour will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never runs dry. Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses."

Isaiah 58:2-12 GNB

And we want to solve this problems using our human strength and not with God, it will always be overwhelming" I explained

Sandra exhaled...

CHAPTER EIGHT

PATHS OF LESS RESISTANCE

My smiles and curling lips reflected my underlying emotions. What it would likely take my thoughts to turn on the excitement switch within me are well and truly set on motion.

I had registered for MMM, the reigning ponzi scheme at that time and had introduced my church members to this scheme. I used the trust they had on me as a pastor to win them over to play big in the ponzi scheme and today is my pay day. For this reason am so excited right now.

My fellow pastors had gone from nowhere in the league to climb all the way to the national championships in material possessions but with this millions I was going to claim from MMM, I know I can measure up with them. MMM was like a game changer for me. Excitement gushed out from me like sunshine during dawn and it shone through my fine white linen; I glowed from the inside out.

I know that the main purpose of Christianity is to please God but we packaged everything to please the weary crowd in other to reduce people's stress level. We now left the gospel of Christ to preach MMM, our songs became entertaining targeted to gratify and bring pleasures to members other than focus on God's glory.

I saw that the companies are really taking all the time, energy and attention of my church members but I lacked the balls to encourage people to become entrepreneurs because I understand how tasking the foundation would be. If Christians are not encouraged to set up companies from the scratch, how do we start Christian enterprises that will be a salt indeed to treat people well and not use them instead as companies and firms do now, how do we build shock absorbers for our economic wheels galloping on capitalism. Sometimes the only bribe we take in a lifetime are the salaries we are paid to forget our dreams and purpose of existence.

How will we be the light of our nation to solve employment cases in Nigeria if we collect salaries and forget our God given vision for the benefit of many who will come in contact with it. I also know that entrepreneurship would give my members time and liberty to serve God and mankind but I won't do that. Instead I sought for the shortcut that will be of convenience for me. So I went ahead to pioneer Friday vigil. I also started four Sunday services consecutively so that people who need to report for work can get a piece meal of the bread of life within the time frame suitable for them before they set out to work. It became an edge I had over other churches and they started adopting it when they started losing members to my church. Whereas the crumbs they take does not satisfy the yearnings of the soul longing for a whole bread. No wonder the famished soul cannot stand a chance in wrestling against physical lust of the eye, proud of life and lust of the flesh.

I announced that everyone that have appointments on Sunday should feel free to go but should not forget to remit their tithes, its like GTbank telling its customers that they can operate a zero account. I placed Church above family and work above God.

As I was scavaging to fortify my knowledge bank, I came across this audio recording of the same servant of God who had a clean motive towards ministry and I saw his teachings to be true. He said there are order to things that must be followed or else chaos sets in. This order is a set priorities we must not misplace for smooth running of our lives.

We must set a balanced priorities in our life or else unconsciously we will notice how disharmony will suddenly set in. We might be sensitive to notice the problem but we might not see the cause.

The order must be as follows:

God

Family

Church

Work

Leisure

God should be the first in your life, because in Him you live, move and have your being. When God is the first, everything works together for you.

You must put family second. Family was first created before the church was created. So family comes second after God. And you must not put church programs above your family. Some women respects church activities more than they respect their Husband. They clean up the church more than they clean up their home. They feed their pastors even more than they feed their family. This must not be. Despite how hard the man is, love could be the gentle chord that draws him to God.

Church comes third after family. You can still find family in the church. Then work follows. Some men will rather abandon their family for months for work which should be the fourth in their priority list. Some will even choose work above church and above God. To some people, work comes first. When your priority list is dysfunctional, there is bound to be a problem, your family misses the fatherly, brotherly or motherly or sisterly care and lessons and starts picking up junks from their surroundings or from maids.

Your leisure is your free time which is the fifth in that list and that is the time you welcome friends.

Dysfunctional priorities is the reason for divorces in the world today."

"How does compromise affect other lives" Sandra asked. I paused and decided to tell her another side of my story but this time it involves Seun.

* * *

Seun was promoted to a manager in "Our Daily Bread Nig PLC" a reputable bread company in Lagos owned by Pastor Kunle. These bread factory is known for quality bread but the sudden economic atmosphere which was negatively affected by the new political policies led to a high cost of production. Companies had to flag up retrenchment plans and initiate new mixing formulas that could cut cost but hazardous to the community. Seun a man diligent in his work place found himself in the eye of the storm of helping the bread company make the much needed profit at all cost.

One day Seun came out of the boardroom panicked, sweating profusely from hair to toe. His white shirt was soaked like water was poured on him. He was fidgeting and couldn't think straight.

His sweaty buttocks draw a map on the back of his trousers like he had to urinated on it. Every of his subordinate avoided him because he was coming out in full rage and fury.

He have been threatened to be sacked by the board members of Our Daily bread Nigeria PLC, whereas his wife was pregnant and his house rent was due since last month and he needed that salary to meet up.

Concerned about the complaints of the stake holders on issues of low profit by the bakery. Seun just knew what to do to yield cash increase. He quickly included an increase in yeast to increase leavening, Bromate to make the bread fluffy and saccharine for sweetening. A mixture he knew was dangerous to the health of the public but would increase bread turn out and increase income.

Seun then came to meet me for counsel, as he knocked at the door, I ordered him in, he entered the room, which is my well decorated office, then I ordered him to have a sit which he did. Then he started recounting his encounter with the board members in his meeting with them.

"What decision did you want to take now?" I asked.

"I haven't taken any decision so far sir"

"My dear, do you know that there are no longer jobs anywhere if you quit the one you now have?" I said.

"I thought as much sir." Seun answered

"You know that your wife is pregnant and she is closer to delivery?."

"Yes, of course sir."

"How do you wish to sort her out when she is in labour?"

"Hmmm"

"How do you expect to serve the Lord with your income?" I bent on questioning him.

"So that means I am to keep the job and do as I was asked to do." Seun responded.

"Are there no Christians in that board of directors?"

"Yes there is, Pastor Kunle is even the Chairman."

"Are you more spiritual than they are?"

"I don't think so."

"Ain't they the ones persuading you into this?, God almighty will hold them responsible." I said sarcastically because if he afford to leave the job then that means my tithe will be on hold for some time and his responsibilities will be on the church which I won't let that happen because we have church building project in Lekki. We need Lekki customers, those guys are wealthy.

Filled with curiosity and uncertainty Seun ask "so I should continue?"

"Yes continue with it." I replied him bluntly, throwing away my sarcastic face. As Seun left, I opened my bible and the very first passage I saw was what Hebrews 5:14 which says

Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

I struggled to read it because it was pricking my conscience.

* * *

Eze Obiajulu is an intelligent cyber criminal, he uses bread mixer as a disguise, he is in the same bread company Seun was the manager. I knew because I had monitored him. I know Seun cannot lure him to church so I set Helen at him to lure him to church.

Naeto who always claim to be the light of the world never knew his test was coming.

Seun brought the new bread formula to the table of Eze and persuaded him to use the new formula.

Eze didn't like the boss' idea and new arrangements. He saw the new policy as against law. He considered it unethical as it is endangering the life of the public but he can't question the authority because they are doing what they had to do to survive and he knew that his cybercrime was also denting the image of the country yet he is doing what he needs to do to survive. So he turned blind eye away from the harms the formula will cause.

At first, his mind posed a resistance when his belief system reminded him of the implications but the fury on Seun's face showed there was a lot at stake. His job was on the line. His boss Seun was just not approachable, so he couldn't discuss the ills of the new bread mixture. Though Seun knew the implications but he was ready to put lives at stake to protect his job because at least the said man of God had given him a go ahead and since he knew that resisting the boss' ideas is going to label him a rebel and he will be perceived an insubordinate employee.

But he has bills to pay, he has brothers and sisters in higher institution to send money to. If he resigns what would he resort to? Which company will possibly employ him in this period of recession that companies are laying off workers and there are millions hanging for one vacancy." Eze wondered.

As he considered all odds, the light of his Christian influence was being shut off one after the other by the shadows of his fears.

He pretended not being part of what seems wrong to his Christian faith by shutting his mouth against the formulae but rather delegated another to do the job because he was scared of losing his job.

It was Friday, all road leads to the Church for night vigil and both Christians, Eze and Seun hurried into the church because they hold different post in the church. Their self-justification was never ameliorating the guilt, their heart keep nudging them of hypocrisy but they had their tithes to bail their conscience. They claim to be the light of the world but never knew how much their light is being put out by the cares of this world.

He accepted the mass suicidal bread formula but decided not to join in the mixing of the ingredients, rather he gave it to his subordinate to mix. "After all i wasn't the mixer," Eze knew he was wrong but he found excuses to justify himself acting indifferently. But that day in church, I noticed how gloomy everyone was so I decided to remove the concept of right and wrong and preached a message loaded with fun to appeal to their boring state and clear their conscience like we clear trash bins. I made an altar call and people came out, I picked interest on Eze, I drew closer to him and told him to see me in my office.

"You are a great man sir" I paused and watched him, he was moved, then I continued.

"What is your name young man?.

"My name is Eze" the young man replied.

"Prosperity is your portion"

" Amen" he replied.

CHAPTER NINE

THE MIND GAMES.

The bread was successful but sickness increased in the land. People who ate the bread didn't know what was wrong with them and very little knew that it was the bread that was the issue.

Emeka a young man who quit from working as a barman in a hotel now owns a printing press and who is a member of another church, he went one day to buy bread and it happened that it was Our Daily Bread, he bought it and ate the bread and was terribly sick and he visited me.

He was brought to my church, I didn't recognize him but he did recognize me.

I examined the case and branded it a spiritual attack. I listed the spiritual condiments he is to get and gave him some days to fast also. Emeka was battling with his sickness and wasn't struggling to obey the Pastor, he got all that was required. When his sickness increased because the solutions was wrong and Emeka wasn't aware. He went back to the Pastor who accused him for lack of faith and instructed him to increase his faith. Emeka wasn't learned on how to increase his faith, he inquired more but he was told to increase his prayers and fasting.

Helen attended the church for the first time service . I knew she had gotten tired of her lifestyle and was sincerely looking for God but I had other plans.

She saw that the band was good, the singing was also impressive. She had just started a blog as a means of passing time. The environment of the church looks modern and the air conditioner gave a relaxed mode too. She left that day without seeing me because I had other engagements so I couldn't attend to Her but I meet with her another time.

* * *

Mr Emeka prepared and visited my church where he saw many people worried about their stomach.

After some series of prayer sections and the people weren't getting healed. I didn't know what else to do but to go into the market to hire boys and ladies who will pretend they had similar issues and these people made it to the altar one Sunday morning pretending to have stomach disorder and I prayed for them and they all acted like they have been healed. It was all pranks to make the people believe. When that have been done, everyone believed. I changed the story and started accusing the others for their unbelieve which made the sickness remain there. I told them that they doubted God so much to the extent that they never to have faith on the prayers.

I then summoned them to go for one week fasting and three days vigil or pay fifty thousand for someone else to fast and do the vigil on their behalf. They accepted to pay the cash.

That day I called for alter call and put miracle money on auction. Whosoever wants to be rich have to sow a seed in financial terms to claim it. I started the auction with one thousand dollar then declined to hundred dollars retrogressively. And people ran out to sow the seed in cash, in cheque and in kind. I wanted everyone to participate in my loot guised as miracle when I reduced the money the more till the whole church emptied to sow the financial seed. I made a proclamation and a declaration that they would reap as much as they have sown. Helen and Seun sowed too and that Sunday I accumulated much money than I expected.

* * *

I was really glad and got myself a Forbes magazine to keep kindling my fire to drive towards greatness and riches. As I was reading the magazine that Sunday evening I saw the wealth and prosperity of other pastors and their private jets and for sure I coveted it to myself but Galatians 6:4-6 that says "Don't compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours," Keep judging me and also :2Cor 10:12

"For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding."

But none of this scriptures stopped me I was covetous of what I saw and I decided to make sure I acquire the luxurious cars and planes too. Then I started making plans to build the kind of wealth I wanted. I think its time to reveal to Sandra my game plans.

Firstly, I examined the corporate world wanted to come to church and they have their money and tithes to give but they had problems with the scarf and sacred ways of the church. I then modernized the church, I removed the sacredness for everyone to see my church as attractive. Behold, I saw it was good. I took the gospel to their offices. I went there to pray for them and to bless them and afterwards I sent them flyers introducing my modern church with five church service at stretch and I designed it to the extent that it can accommodate everybody's busy schedules and they were elated and thanked me for making provisions for them in the house of God. They told me that they had been praying for a reformation in God's house and they thanked the Lord for answers prayers and that they thought the gospel had forgotten them but they are so glad for the changes. Hence no body knew my agenda and my plans was to fill the attendance of my church but you know what, at the end it will only be my motive that will be revealed.

I tilted his gospel even more and couldn't tell the people the truth of my innermost motive. I preach along the material desires of people and not the truth of the word of God. As I market my church, it didn't market Christ, I didn't present His gospel, Christian ethics and character was side-lined and the meaning of life and a Christian's holistic role in the society to bring about civilization was moved away.

I told ladies they can wear what they wanted, spirituality is a heart concept and not a physical fragrance. I advised them to fix anything. I even encouraged the zealous one among them to be nude to the pulpit.

The Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.

Isaiah 29:13 GNB

The one I selected now conducts morning prayers and adoration. They brought their friends along next Sunday and the whole place was exciting.

We invited the media and we made the news. The more people condemn us the more popular and unstoppable we become because even ladies from the brothel was encouraged to come to the house of the Lord, but can the church hide its true identity without losing its character and the gap it stands in fashioning a people that is faithful since faithful men builds nations.

More people called for more branches across their locality. My plans was working. I was moving with my understanding even when the scripture says in Prov.3 Verses 5 to 6. [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I never acknowledged God in all my ways, I only acknowledged what material wealth I sought. I only think, as I called His name was enough.

I never knew how wicked I had become. Instead of give people Christ that will give them peace, freedom and rest. I took from them either with my brainwash every Sunday and one day, I came across Psalms 10:2‮-‬7‮, ‬11‮-‬13‮, ‬15 GNB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The wicked are proud and persecute the poor; catch them in the traps they have made. The wicked are proud of their evil desires; the greedy curse and reject the LORD . The wicked do not care about the LORD; in their pride they think that God doesn't matter. The wicked succeed in everything."

Really I succeeded in everything I did, it worked as I had planned it but I did not understand God's judgements;

I said to myself, "I will never fail; I will never be in trouble." my speech was filled with curses for those who dare leave my church, lies to keep people to keep giving to me, and threats to those who dare challenge me;"

Everything I did was because I had thought to myself that, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!"

Even the counsels I gave to my members was filled with my wisdom and motivated by how they could make more. It wasn't based on righteousness and wasn't based on absolute truth of God neither.

My phone rang, it was my friend Eze Obiajulu,

"Good morning pastor, how are you and the church"

"We are all good Eze, what wind made you ring me"

"Pastor, I need a trusted person to employ, a person vast in law, my job needs that services."

"Ok, I will text you a number of a lady, you can pick up from there." The call dropped and I was so glad the appointed time is close. I sent Helen's number to him.

* * *

After the job seekers training, Helen was approached by a guy who was ready to employ her with a whole lot of money. She was having double mind to work for him or not. If She accepts the job, she will be entitled to trips abroad, in fact, whenever her new boss goes, she will follow. She knew the job description can be tasking on her as a believer but the money is way too much to end her misery.

She was in a state of dilemma, her face creased, her hands held her jaw like pillars. As she tap the wood tiled hard floor with her hilled Channels black shoe. She was looking for validation from someone else. I was her only option. She knew I will tell her what she wants to hear and not the truth. She just need someone who will approve of what she was going to do.

The next morning Helen came to my office. my office had a modern outlook with current technological gadgets, my pad was on my table with my apple desktop. I saw just in front of the table. The melodic voice of Hillsong electrified the little mp3 player.

Helen looked astonishing and I was surprised too. She was looking lushly cute with a short black skirt that revealed her well sized hips that crested on her waist. Her top was flowery water with fluffy pattern designed around its collar down to her chest region. I looked at her colourful face, instructed her to sit and demanded the reason for her sudden visit.

Ok Sir, there is no problem, off course I appreciate your sparing me your time despite your busy schedules and preparing fir sermons."

"You are welcome dear."

I want to discourse about my relationship with a guy, he is into cybercrime and he is Eze by name, he offered me a slot in his business as his lawyer to write legal documents for him."

"Really, I think I know the guy called Eze. What's his surname please"

"Obiajulu"

"He used to work in a bread factory before.

"Really?" Helen questioned me

"And what's your job description?"

"It only entails preparing letters and documents for him using legal language and terms which he possibly know am good at.

" Is that all you have to do for him?. " I enquired.

"Yes pastor" she said seductively to win my sympathy .

"You mean no names or addresses of yours on the documents. Just prepare the draft for him and use your lawyer's language and that's all?"

Yes sir, besides he guaranteed that I would buy a car within a month with the amount of salary he would pay me. I didn't doubt him because he has built houses at choice places in Lagos " Helen said.

My eye popped from my eye immediately.

"His offer is very tempting and highly irresistible, you know you are still struggling and not getting any younger . I mean you are still hustling." I said to her.

"So sir should I declined!" Sandra asked

I thought about the tithe she could pay with such money and also sow prophet offerings to me, fire nearly gushed out from my eye as I eyed her angrily.

"It was a tough decision to make but why did you want to decline." I asked.

"I want to decline because of the fear of God and Faith."

I laughed sarcastically and starred at her again.

"I want to decline because of the pains and sorrows my legal skills would bring to others far away. I want to decline because I know that what I sow I must reap, either today or in the distant future by me personally or by my offspring's."

"Anybody that say's YAHOO is bad need to be flogged...these boys are just colleting our grandfather's salary that these white men refused to pay them." I said subtly.

"To be honest sir, a part of me wished I 'd take it (after all, my name and address would not appear on any of the documents),"

My dear, if you reject this offer you will regret it and the guilt will sit on your shoulder. just take it after all, your name and address would not appear on any of the documents. The Whiteman have stolen from us enough, we are only taking back what's ours."

"But sir we don't pay evil with evil"

"Shhh!" I placed my index finger on my mouth instructing her to stop.

"Here you are searching for a job and I have been praying and God is offering you a clean job with no stress and you are panicking, do you want your former boss to laugh at you?

Helen said "no" Though Helen wasn't convicted with my response but such words coming from a man of God such as me could be right'

"Is he married, I asked

"No" Helen said lavishly.

"Why not you and this man start attending my church, at least, you guys could start something. He is looking for a helper and I see his help-meet in you or maybe its time to reap the seed you have been sowing all this while."

Helen smiled and nodded remembering the seed she sowed the other Sunday could be bearing fruit of this employment, then she left my office very happy. But I know I was wrong only taking the truth from her and giving her lies and the benefits for working to promote the interest of hell and not heaven and Malachi 2:17 NKJV would say :

You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him? " In that you say, "Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the Lord , And He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of justice?"

* * *

Yes I rather hope people maintain a secular lifestyle, then tell lies, become dubious and keep their positions and job in their work places, then pay tithes later than for them to keep their Christian identity, tell the truth and loss their job and become liabilities in my church. How will the church grow when there are more liabilities than funders? How will we make saints when people don't even have patience to wait on the Lord to renew their strength?. They want a quick fix of their finances and every problems they have. People want to follow the bandwagon even though it is constraining others right, and privileges. People want wealth, so they can abuse power.

People who were battling the doctrine of not wearing trousers in their church saw my church as the best for them and they showed up. I was presenting a gospel that appeals to their fallen state of man to entice them to church, so that people feels good about themselves in my local assembly.

Some who didn't see their pastor mandating ladies to use scarf saw my church as a replacement for their previous church. Most people who got angry because their Pastor corrected them had seen my church where everyone is free to live all kinds of life that sorts them without being accountable to no one, they call such freedom that have no element of responsibility.

My church became robust, filled with worldly giants but spiritual cripples. I had been attending seminars on church building, crowd management and diction classes to enhance my personality and to improve the church experience. The church had grown from using hirelings as choristers to sponsoring ambitious singers for singing trainings. This folks returned singing their hearts out and arousing all manners of emotions in the mind of church members. I made it competitive so no one will be redundant and complacent.

I know people seek feelings more than they seek convictions of truth.

These set of singers set the mood of my members aright before the sermon commences. With the right music and their talents, they can tune the mood of each member. If I want sober and tearful, happy and excited, reflective and motivated people., the music can give me that before I commence sermon. Music in the hands of my able choristers is capable to create all these moods and many others. But is setting of mood or atmosphere the biblical purpose of Christian music? Colossians 3:16 GNB said that

"Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct each other with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.

Singing which is suppose to partner with the teaching of God's word is rather used as a tool to enhance man's feelings. My major concern shouldn't be on how the songs make people feel but rather if it is aiding the word of God gain passage into their heart and to help the Word dwell richly within us. Just as Ephesians buttressed "Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts."

Ephesians 5:19 GNB

But I didn't mind, I went ahead to encourage the singers to keep making the sounds to trigger feelings in the members which makes them surrender all they have materially to the pulpit except their lives.

Many a times my conscience will prick me that I am deceiving people but the maintenance of my new duplex, the church auditorium upkeep and the servicing of my beautiful cars keep nudging me to ride on and enjoy the fast life after all the deceived can never know that he or she is being deceived.

I accumulated all the money in my possession and I moved to open up a new church branch which Seun was going to become its pastor. The day I hinted Seun about it. Seun confessed about the bread ordeal haunting his mind but I encouraged him to let it go and forgot the guilt heaped on his shoulder, that he did what was required in a tight corner. Seun didn't ask for God's forgiveness, he didn't make any restitution. He has his mind made up to go the way of less resistance even as a pastor. Everyday big pastors keep appearing in Forbes magazines and this nudged me forward because I desire to look like them.

I desire worship, I want my members to respect me and honour me and the only way to get that from there is by acquiring more so that they will be seeing my material results and believe in me but as I dwell in men pleasing, claiming spirit filled but not spirit led.

So the material wealth in my possession was not satisfactory because it lacked the power to satisfy. I had a void in my heart that only Christ can fill but I was trying to fill it with possessions.

I needed more. I felt like I was dragging many to hell fire by exchanging the identity of Christianity based on the attitude of Christ and replacing it with civilization based on modernization without understanding but my earthly glory was more important to me and I was striving for it. By bringing the church to the world, I had made the church worldly with my tool of deception.

People came to church to make job and contract connections. Some singers came just to maximize our overwhelming crowd to sell CDs, writers came also to sell books.

My church became a marketplace for business men and women. I designed posters with my church labels to aid solidarity so that each can patronize another. I made sure the poster was expensive and they patronized awesomely. I changed evangelical meetings which was meant to sieve the repented from the hardened sinner into church service due to want of crowd.

As long as my conscience kept on judging me that what I was doing was wrong, I then gave into drug substances to calm my ranging nerves and sometimes I settled with other women of my church members to seek pleasure and forget the ills I had caused the world with my deceptive mechanisms..

I knew the fervent jobless Christians in my congregations and I plan to use them as cleaners, ushers and choristers and feed them alone giving them hope of helping them wax a song but I keep changing them when a new and better singer arises. I refused to show the replaced ones a way to skill acquisition because they might go get consumed with their work and won't return back to the church. I blocked their ways of doing the right thing but defeating the ability to do right in their heart all because myself couldn't follow after righteousness. I declined that sin is good because Christ died a saint so that we might keep sinning, which was deceit. I needed to supress my guilt and shame and I make brethren of sinners, at least the people do not know that the church should be in business to protect truth and guide people towards the path of truth and not for my own gain alone and not also for individual profit but for the benefit of all. People think its all rosy being a Christian like we preached and we forgot that it was the holy spirit that led Jesus Christ to the wilderness. We think that as a child of God we don't have to face circumstances.

CHAPTER TEN

THE SELF MADE TRAP

Emeka the man who owned a printing press survived his stomach upset caused by the bad bread formula when he visited the hospital and stayed there for some months, when he got out of the hospital, he examined my church and noticed how it is heavily bumming so he went to meet me to give him his flyer printing jobs.

He introduced himself as the former barman in the 5 star hotel and that he decided to quit his job to set up a printing press and he believe he wants to take up the printing of my hand bills

I didn't agree to do that because he is already a member of another church besides my church already have a member who is doing that for us.

But he didn't relent, he showed me beautiful designs though I know he wanted to leverage on my potentials as a pastor with a big church. He saw a huge market for his printing job.

He brought suggestions to publish my latest book which would be made mandatory for every members as devotional manuals. He made me see another money making avenue and I bought into it.

Emeka took over the printing job and became big doing it and as he does the printing, he set his eye on other mega churches with bigger market to transfer his services and products to. He wasn't after God, he was looking for a bigger market churches had to provide.

* * *

Elections were approaching and parties were still busy with campaigns and looking for churches with the largest population to ally with to enable them win elections. I mobilized the whole church into a massive evangelism to win members at all cost. My ambition lacked patient, so instead of training my members in righteousness and truth for them to win souls with the attitude of love, forces of light and power of goodness rather we resolve towards printing testimonies in flyers and persuasively luring people to church. Our style failed to make any pagan repent, rather it is structured to be competitive, it was designed to pull other church members from their respective churches to our church but how will church be relevant if we all fight ourselves and tag other churches names to be able lift ours up.

Promising each member supernatural supplies as reward for each member that they lure to church. I had built a mega church and withdrew all barriers and doctrines that hinders unholy people from coming to church. I modernized the sounds and beats and their dressings.

I organized breakfast Sundays to lure the poor orphans, widows and destitute in their numbers not as if am interested in them or trying to fulfil what James 1:27 GNB says:

"What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world." But I needed them in the count to boost my population and add to my glory as one of the churches with the largest members in the world. I pledged to help business people through prayers and laying of hands on their business proposals. The next Sunday, attendance was massive. I was intuitively looking for crowd and not Christians.

My parade and show of crowd send waves across the nation. I achieved this through my weekly publications and TV programs which attracted many followers to me because my preaching was centred to appeal to people's material desires, dreams, ambition and I also watered the concept of grace abusing the truth.

The people are gullible in the areas of their desires and when packaged with religion makes a lot of sense to them.

The church census was taken every Sunday and newspapers carried the figures in their daily gossip and I maintained this figures for five Sundays and it attracted the interest of the incumbent political party and they beckoned on me to come over to their office for official visit. The presidential aspirant who was actually the incumbent head of state invited me with him on a trip abroad. If my motive was right, I would've been a present day Samuel to talk to Saul or the present day Nathan to bring David to order but I was self seeking, I coordinated myself well and enjoyed the glory of rolling with the president. Newspapers carried the news with snap evidence, it was added to my CV. It became an achievement with such level of affluence I won many heart to my church they believed God had brought me to dinner among kings but it was my desires driving me and not God.

To the presidential aspirant, he was primarily waving a propaganda through perception adjustments to deceive the people to vote for him. Being seen rolling with holy men of God showed the people that he is a godly man. The goal was to bank on my influence and to prime the masses to vote him. It is all perception adjustments.

The aspirant booked a visit to the church and I was so glad to be welcoming Mr President but the other contestants were watching me meddle with politicians. The government was deceiving the people, the companies was doing the same thing too manufacturing things with harmful and toxic ingredients and the church that was meant to be a poor man's last hope was also inducing the people financially and giving them opium in religious forms. A poor man remains hopeless in this lonely world, some of this poor people are majorly the ones who desire to follow God sincerely but due to their inability to get to a point of certainty. They remained deceived and taken advantaged of.

Mr President came to my church and I allowed him the opportunity to use the pulpit for campaign. He donated a large amount of money to the church and everyone clapped their hands and were happy. He also gave the church a large space of land in a choice area in Abuja and I was so glad and commenced building a massive structure in that location. My congregation clapped heavily for the church and boasted about it everywhere. To them its a manifestation of God. Its an evidence that God called me but I know they were all wrong. I intended to make history for myself, just like the tower of babel builders in Genesis 11, I began to build the largest church in the whole world to my own glory.

I invested in the building and started using Emeka's outfit without paying him and he was eager to work for me because he had sized the potentials of the project I was involved in and calculated his benefit before hand. I induced my members the more to finance the building project. I encouraged him to use his company to be of service to the Lord.

I increased the school fees of the higher institutions and secondary schools to acquire more fund for the project. I told the members that the school belongs to them even the parents whose children couldn't attend because they can't afford the fees believed me and was justifying the increments against anyone who raised an eyebrow against it. I only hid my motives but flouted the lie for them to believe. Slaves love lies and son alone deserves the truth.

The election came but Mr President who I meddled with failed the election. The other contestant who won firstly accused me of joint looting of the state treasury. The new president seized the land given to the church by the previous president when the building in it is almost complete. The government argued that it is the state property after I had emptied the church treasury and had thrown it all into the project. I was confused and devastated and needed more money but another adversary had risen on the radio condemning sowing of seeds and tithe. He was making secret disciples of my members accusing me of deceptive moves. I know the radio presenter was as well a deceptive mechanism but there was nothing much I could do because the problem is not collection of tithe but my purpose for collecting tithe was wrong but I won't say it because its like exposing myself.

The tithe wasn't enough anymore to support my court cases and the lawyer's bills was way too expensive. My private jet in the hanger was accumulating more expenses for me.

I cried to God but I have done my own thing without God's involvement and I had tangled my way and calling Him to help me out of it. I had never believed in God in church building I had believed in money and, the politicians I believed in had failed me.

As I was in my office wandering with thoughts how I would come out of the big mess I was in,

I turned on the Tele to listen to the news...

The new president accused the previous president of theft and I was called as the president's cohort. God told me to make restitution and expose all my hidden motives, make plans not to go back to my old ways that He will save me but my pride didn't allow me. I considered the shame it will bring upon me, that I spent many years building a hell house specialized in the business of leading people the Broadway.

The next day I was jailed and the church that I have been building scattered...... it came to my mind what the Scripture said in Malachi 2:1-2 GNB

"The LORD Almighty says to the priests, "This command is for you: You must honour me by what you do. If you will not listen to what I say, then I will bring a curse on you. I will put a curse on the things you receive for your support. In fact, I have already put a curse on them, because you do not take my command seriously."

CHAPTER 11

MY SOBER REFLECTION

* * *

As the beacon of sunlight faded away, the ocean of blackness flooded across the sky, not in sudden encroachment but by an unknown and unseen take over.

As time rolled back moments into trash cans of memories, the stars sailed like floating diamonds on the black sea of the night. I have lost the sense of time because I have no time device in this airless and unkempt apartment.

I was laying on a tiny bed-bugged infested mattress, and using my hand as a pillow for my head encroached with my midnight black, thick but bushy hair. I was reflecting back on my deeds in time past when a mosquito bit me on my neck, within split seconds I stroked my hand on my neck and felt thick liquid on my palm, "its blood" I quipped. I blinked at intervals and noticed the unpainted walls covered with graffiti in my mind's eye. The uppermost part of the wall in the east wing bore a little opening of a window that looks like a giant ant hole, it throws in star sparkles at intervals, that was my only source of light in the dreaded night.

I was covered with gross darkness in an airless cell that is stuffy and filled with stench of human sweats and faeces. The only entrance was locked with thick iron bars. As I strike a match, there was a flash at the end of the stick in my hand, I lighted my candle and the light chased away shadows. It dawned on me how much we needed such light in the church and in our society.

I started to reflect on what I did in time past. I meddled with things unknown to my members. It's as a result of my "motives" to win souls for God and to build beautiful edifice of a church with branches scattered overseas; which to me was not wrong but the end result reflected my deepest motive of seeking financial solvency and personal glory. I demanded for pen and paper and I began to write.

You know the church have spent lots of time pursuing the devil that we chase less after God. Now, people know more of the ways of the devil than the ways of God. Selfishness, Hatred, hypocrisy, suspicion and presumptuousness abound in our heart. And the only approach we know to express love is through wickedness.

Every preacher and member wants to get results. We give it a trendy means but not considering the spiritual ends, while fulfilling hell's mandate and not protecting the interest of heaven.

At the end we created a people who are unwilling to obey instructions but are too quick to avert the effects of their disobedience in prayer rooms and in miracle convergence some churches have come to organise but God can never be deceived (you can see Gal 6:7-9), whatever life a man sows, that he will reap. I was found in this lane and I write this as a letter to the church to make amends telling my story and how I contributed to the mess we are into today....

As I write from this jail, I commend you that this is age of deception, I do not honour God with the things that I do, I only did what pleases me.

Please read your bible for yourself and seek the truth and the church that still believes and speaks the truth with godly examples. The word of God that was meant to purify our inside man and with constant renewing of our mind we make, unmake, remake and Innovate is now taken for granted as people other continents advance higher in human reasoning and civilization, Africa still remain the least.

I write to open up your eyes because the deceived never knows he is being deceived. The lost coin never knew it was lost. Only God the owner of everyone knows that even me was lost. Many will justify themselves and their pastor but I commend you still to look for godly example and not charismatic showmanship. The church I was building was based on the sinking sands of foundation of polls, surveys and latest techniques instead of the Word Of God. Mine crumbled. We created a spiritual starved people who, who depend on us than they depend on God. Our teaching withdraws from them the ability to discern truth from error. So when appealing errors coming raging, they fall flat to it. We meddled with mysticism which adds experience and psychology... a fashioned human wisdom. People are usually gullible to swallow all.

And Where do all the fights and quarrels among us come from? They come from our desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within us. We want things, but we cannot have them, so we are ready to kill; we strongly desire things, but we cannot get them, so we quarrel and fight. we do not have what we want because we do not ask God for it. And when we ask, you do not receive it, because our motives are bad; we ask for things to use for our own pleasures.

James 4:1‮-‬3 GNB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye.

Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, And with Hell we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves."

Isaiah 28:15 NKJV

When you become fervent as a Christian. People notices Christ in you. You will start making secret disciples, they follow your way of life and read your post. They will watch you closely as you lead them unknowingly. They will amend their life or think of amending their life as they learn from you. The day you miss your track, that same day you are loosing disciples in your lead and even those who are still thinking of converting.

Floods will come, tempest will come but build fortitude in Christ and always remember that you have people in your leadership.....sailing might seems difficult but going down will make many to go down with you.

LORD , do good to those who are good, to those who obey your commands. But when you punish the wicked, punish also those who abandon your ways. Peace be with Israel!

Psalms 125:4‮-‬5 GNB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In life, there is always how to walk. Since no one can comfortably walk backwards, the only liable way to walk becomes forward. As our movement pattern remains forward, there is still how to walk on a bumpy area, there is how to walk on a sloppy area and how to walk on slippery surface less we fall.

Even in your Christian journey there is how to walk too. We must walk according to instructions not according to our suggestions from our thoughts or environment. We must walk in line with the instructions written in the word of God and prompting and nudges of the Holy Spirit for that's the only way to make reasonable progress in our Christian life.

People attach importance to themselves hence that determines the place they worship. Since they are proud and their decision is based on appearance. We design the place to suit their aesthetic sense and proud about it. We forgot what 2 Samuel 22:28 said "God rescue those who are humble, but His eyes are on the proud to humiliate them."

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Sometimes what seems right in our eyes is affecting the next person beside us. It could be right in our own eyes but it is actually cheating others. It is only right because our selfish side or our present need can justify it as right. I was reading my bible and Matthew 23:23 was revealed to me and it says...

"How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give to God a tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin, but you neglect to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty. These you should practice, without neglecting the others.

Matthew 23:23 GNB

I fell on my feet and cried out to the Lord for help. Determined to obey all that he would ask me to do even when it seem inconvenience. Even when it seems unfavorable for me it will be favourable to God. When I got up a man on suit was waiting at the other side of the bar. Its Mr Isaac my lawyer.

"Sir, I came for your bail, the court had granted you bail."

I was glad, immediately I leave the cell house, my task is simple, number one will be to find that man whose message I have been listening it. I wonder how a man will be filled with much wisdom of God. He must have an example for me. Then secondly, I am going out to publish the confession that I had written down, all that I have done wrong in my Christian faith and say how I pioneered the hell house. I must restitute and own my wrongs.

* * *
CHAPTER TWELVE

MY SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY

I packed my 2018 Mercedes G-wagon in the packing lot, turned off the humming engine from the ignition and stepped out of the car, standing in front of me is a building walled round with a brown walls. The ground was black, the gate was black. Could this be the place where the servant of God whose message I have been listening to all this while stay.

I walked past the gate, the compound was serene, calm and cool. It had only an ash honda odessy. The building was light brown. I was well received by a receptionist and later introduced to the pastor.

The office was painted white, and it had a small sized book shelf, a cushion and a brown desk.

The brown desk looked modern and on it sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a turtle-shaped paperweight.

In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at medium, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office.

"Good morning sir," I greeted the stout, middled aged man sitting behind the desk. He dressed simple on an orange tshirt and black stripped trousers. Could this be the General Overseer whose message I have been listening to or could is he the regional pastor.

"Good morning sir, I am pastor Paul" he ushered me in and made me sit down offering water also.

"I recognized that name, he is the one." Ohh what a simple man he is indeed. My mind run quickly to 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God."

I became humble at his sight.

"Sir, my heart is heavy with burden. Its like a loaded gun powder ready to explode."

"You can calm down sir, there is nothing the Lord can not take away, be it a Russian missiles" he said with much emotions.

"I heard that you started your ministry more than a decade ago and your words are pure and full of life. I have never heard something like it ever before."

"Jesus is the source of it all. I am only His servant."

"I have been ministry for only a decade, built a mega church that came crumbling all down"

"Omega-minus, the center can never stand"

"Pardon sir"

"Take away Christ and the center can never hold."

"Sir, sincerely, this people are so frustrating, the jobless are becoming too demanding, the family disengagements are hurtful, the youths are going naught with crimes and vices.. evil seems to be paying than good.. How have you managed to stand all this while." I knew he was a busy man so I was straighforward.

"My dear, its as a result of a people abandoning Christ: which is the truth, the way and the life. My stand have been on God first, Christ centered and Holy Spirit controlled life.

"But when we tell people the truth about their life, they easily get offended and won't hesitate to leave our church. People are inflicted with independent mind, they do not want to be under authority"

"You mean you withhold the truth from them"

"Not only that, man of God, I removed sacredness and santity from the church and deliberately become unwilling to say the truth, just to lure people, I am surrendering at your authority man of God be a disciple under you"

Paul laughed and said

"no one can submit to a man who have not firsly submited to the leading of the listening. They start with no beginning and end with no ending.

We don't accept just anybody in our local assembly, they must be persons Christ died for and is sending to us. But you are welcome as an observer and you can feel free to attend our Bible College and conferences to learn more, we are about spreading the Jesus influence than making ourselves famous and our ministry fabulous"

"I am willing to be taught, I am hungry to learn, indeed, there is drought out there."

"We keep pursuing demons in the church to the extent that the networks of hell being waved among us and in us go unnoticed. When you walk in the way of the Lord, you will find out that there will be no reasons to chase away demons, because they don't tread that path. They walk parallel line and can never meet. We tend towards the packaging of Christ, His gospel to sell to the masses with secular trends without sacred ends. Selling opium for the place of truth, the church became an entertainment house and the pulpits get lighted up than the Broadway stage hosting performers and comedians. Christ became a laughing stock."

The meeting was brief but I was blessed, I was glad for the first time in my life, I am doing the right thing, the next is going to be my restitution and I am going to televise it for the world to see.. That's where this book started...

ABOUT THE BOOK

Samuel stumbled into ministry and found out that some group of people felt out of place from the church. He felt something was wrong with the church doctrines that needs to be amended to be able to accommodate all.

His zeal to modernize the church in such a way to lure the lost into church opened him up to the mysteries of life he never knew existed...

Find out how Samuel, a clergy, who was only trying to make the church attractive to the World ended up looking like the world...

Inspired by my mentor , wait for yet another Pilgrim's progress but this time in a Nigerian setting.

I Acknowledge God whose glory we reflect, to Christ our savior and the Holy Spirit the great teacher. I Acknowledge my mentor, MacPaul Ifeanyichukwu Okolo. The original idea behind this book, he only trusted the baton to write this book to my hands, from whose well I drink. I Acknowledge Mr Femi Thomas who constantly review this book to make sure it came out in and with the best of light. Thank you sir for all the insights.

I Acknowledge my wife Mrs Adetayo Mbuko for all the nights I stayed awake to right and encouragements she gave.

