*AYOMIDE*
Part 4
He knew instantly God was speaking to him.
“Me? An elderly woman?
“The bread seller” the voice said
But father, she’s a bread seller. I am a mechanical engineer with a first clas-s degree. You can’t allow me to marry her sir. What will people say sir?
She’s my daughter too. She’s the only one that will complete you. I cannot give you what is bad my son. Stop listening to people and start listening to me son” the voice said firmly and authoritatively.
Bro. Kola rushed back to the house, sat on the chair and supported his head with his hands.
” Father Lord, don’t do this to me. Why can’t you approve sis Tolani for me? Is she not your daughter? Are we not doing the work together? With her as my wife, we will do great exploit for your kingdom”
He tried to argue with the voice but the voice had since kept quiet. He looked at the time on his wristwatch, hurriedly, he rushed out of the house. He got to the office but sat gloomily not contributing to the discussions.
When he returned from work, he took his Bible and started reminding God how he has been faithful in his service to Him. He asked why God would give him an illiterate, a bread seller for that matter. Who would respect him with a wife that sells bread. Taaaah! He told God he doesn’t want the bread seller but Tolani. Immediately proverbs 16:25 dropped in his heart. Quickly he opened his Bible and read.
” There’s a way that seemeth right unto a man: but the end therefore are the ways of death”
As if stung by a scorpion, bro Kola quickly dropped the Bible.
—————————————————————
Bro Kola stood outside, waiting for the bread seller. Not that he wanted to buy bread but to have a conversation with her. He has been standing outside the gate for the past 30 minutes, when he saw her approaching. He took his time to look at her very well, trying to as-sess her. He saw her stopped to sell to her customers before coming towards him.
“Good morning sir! Aren’t you buying bread?
“Actually yes I am buying” He helped her to bring her goods down.
“Which one are you buying sir?
“Anyone is okay for me”
“It’s your money that will determine what you want sir. Please pick the size you nee-d and I will tell you the price”
Ordinarily, bro Kola will not buy Agege bread. He prefers Queen’s meal bread but because he wanted to converse with her, he picked the biggest size and she told him the price.
“You speak well” he told her. “Why are you selling bread?
“I am a graduate sir. I am just helping my sister. This is the trade she depends on and right now she’s sick.” She said sadly
“O so sorry to hear this”
“I just graduated and waiting for my letter of posting. I don’t know where I will be posted for my primary as-signment”
“My name is Kola. I am a fire fire brother. I like the things of God” he told her
” I am Adenike” I love the things of God too. “Alright sir, some other time.”
” Don’t be sad, I will pray for your sister’s healing”
“Thank you so much”
—————————————————————
Bro Kola couldn’t hide his excitement when he saw sis Tolani the following day.
” I have met her!”
” Met who?
“Adenike!
“Oh! God is not a liar bro Kola. Thank God for your life” she said excited too.
” I have also met mine too. You know bro Segun?
“Yes.”
“He is my better half. It pays to follow God’s instructions to avoid regret. Well congratulations bro Kola.”
“Congratulations to you too.
Brother Kola and sis Adenike got married and it *was elaborate. In the course of their courtship, bro Kola discovered so many beautiful things about his wife to be. It is always nice not to judge a book by its cover. Sis Adenike was a better prayer machine than bro Kola. Where he stop* is where she’s starting. Bro Kola would have missed his package if he had disobeyed God and listen to his flesh. Sis Adenike is a radical evangelist. Throu-ghher so many souls held captive by the devil have been won to God. The things of God excites her. Alot of sisters who felt there was nothing special about her began to envy her. Some deacons and elders in the church began to tackle her and bro Kola. Why would bro Kola marry outside the church? Are there no beautiful and spirit filled sisters here? What is so special about Sis Adenike? They felt bro Kola failed and disappointed them.
Pastor Ezekiel was always there to encourage them. To worsen the situation, Adenike joined the Choir.
“Are you sure about this?” Kola asked ” mouth will wag. Let’s not give them chance to gossip us my love” he told her
” My service is to God and not to man. If I look at the way they have treated me, I won’t be able to serve God. My dear husband, this voice God has give me, will be used to sing beautiful songs for Him”
*AYOMIDE*
Part 5
Adenike was never late or absent on Saturdays for rehearsals yet she noticed how the choir mistress would as-signed roles to choristers who didn’t even attend rehearsals. Most times they mess up on the stage. She never complained to anyone yet she felt the choir mistress was punishing her for something she didn’t no. Notwithstanding, she wasn’t deter by their actions and attitude towards her. Whenever any of the chorister was leading, she will tune her antenna to heaven and sing joyfully. This was going on for long until Sis Martha, the pastor’s wife visited them during rehearsals one Saturday. Without wasting time and talking too much, she told the choir mistress that she was obeying an higher authority. Sis Adenike should be allowed to minister on Sunday or nobody should minister.
“Are we not singing well mummy” she asked
“I never said you’re not singing well. What I am saying is that an higher Authority sent me here today and I will be doomed if I dare disobey.” The pastor’s wife said ” moreover, sis Adenike joined this department for almost a year now but I have never seen her minister. Does she not sing well?”
“She’s okay ma”
“Anyway whether she is okay or not is not for me to determine. May God forbid that I should disobey God. I want to sis her minster tomorrow”
“Alright mummy” she said with a big scowl on her face”
The pastor’s wife was about going out when she paused at the door.
“One more thing, treat everyone equally with love. It’s not nice to discriminate. One day someone else will be in this position where you are. Last week, I was driving into the church when she ran into the church” she said pointing at one of the choristers. “You were almost throu-ghwhen she rushed in yet you gave her the lead role the following Sunday. Even if I didn’t see, God sees. Let’s be careful” she said again walking out.
Immediately the pastor’s wife left, all eyes looked accusingly at sis Adenike. The choir mistress accused her of reporting issues of the choir to the pastor’s wife. They insulted her and one of them called her an “empty barren” who can’t even produce any sound in her home.
“You dare report us again, you will see the other side of me” choir mistress threatened. “As the choir mistress I have the right to as-sign role to anyone. Why are you causing us problem sis Adenike?”
For Adenike, rehearsal’s had closed. She picked her Bible and hymn book and walked out of the church. She got home and explained everything to her husband. She begged him not to act based on their actions. She told her husband she will never listen to them but will develop a tough skin.
———————————–
Ministering throu-ghsongs wasn’t a big deal for Adenike. During her University and NYSC days, she do minister in the church, she has never handled the microphone because she wasn’t as-signed any role. She knew some of the church members hated her. It wasn’t her fault that her husband married her. Why are they blaming her? She had always prayed for a good man and God answered her. Why are they so envious of her? It has been almost 2 years of marriage yet no child and they mock her already. Doctors said she and her husband are fit medically. She always believe God will not disappoint her.
This very Sunday, she will use her God given voice to worship God and no hatred is big enough to stop her. Sis Adenike dressed to kill. She hurried her husband out of the house. She never liked going late to church and it will not start on the day she was to minister.
Immediately after Sunday school, she went to the section allotted to the chorister. She noticed that apart from the instrumentalists, only the choir mistress and two other choristers were present. When it was time to minister, she stepped out and handled the microphone. It didn’t take the pastor’s wife long to know why God instructed her that sis Adenike should minister. Sis Adenike has one of the most beautiful voice. As she sang, the glory of the Lord descended upon the church. Depression was lifted. People were falling un-der the anointing of God. Only few could be seen standing. Some were rolling, screaming. Tears were falling.
” In nine months time, you’re going to testify. You will carry your twins, she told the choir mistress”
Adenike was no longer singing. The Heaven was open upon her
” I see angels giving out Children. Yes, God is healing your br£-$t. He has taken away the cancer” she told a woman in her mid forties.
For the few minutes sis Adenike ministered, miracles, healing and deliverance that has never been recorded in that church happened. By the next Sunday, the church was packed full. Chairs were not enough to accommodate people. Some stood outside just to see the woman God was using.
Bro Kola laid on the church altar one Sunday after church and started praying.
” Father, I have come to return all the glory to you for you great wife you gave me. Indeed she’s a blessing to all of us. She’s is more than I asked father. You gave me a full and complete package. She’s too loaded. Thank you for not allowing me even in my stubbornness to miss her.”
Tbc