PASTOR ADRIAN

My legs forced me out of the house. I don't know if I was running from myself or from my inquisitive son. At this rate, there was no how I would sit and answer his numerous questions.

How my wife and I were able to flow in the same realm scared me. Because whatsoever that was going on with me, I honestly didn't want to involve my family.

Brenda's breezed past mine. I suspected she was also heading out. Since Jacobs episode, we haven't said more than ten words to each other. Wasn't as if we were fighting but a friction suddenly grew between us.
       
         I honked as I caught up with her down the campus drive lane. She forced a smile and zoomed off. I ended the race at the church.
As usual, people were waiting for me. Even though today wasn't a counselling day, people still sat around waiting.

I rushed into my office, ignoring people's greetings. I wanted to be in my element. Somewhere I felt safe and my office was that to me.

Isaiah's call came as soon as I made it to my closer end office. Soon I was speaking into the phone. "What is it?" I growled.

            "They are here sir." Came his careful voice. I croaked a smile. They boy knew when not to cross my rage path.

           "Who?" I bellowed.

           "The Ministers. He paused and rephrased his sentence. " The young ministers are here Sir. "
I swallowed the forceful angry rant that was rushing to my mouth. "Get the situated. You know what to do."

I paused, waiting for the next thing to say. "And give me thirty minutes before you send up the list of people for counseling.

         "Yes sir." Came his muffled voice.

Once he was off the phone I relaxed on my seat and reminisced on the events of the past ninety six hours. From Unique, to Femi, to the 'Fives' and now my family.

      "How does one gather this much ants infested firewood and expects not to be stung?" I asked my ever accommodating office.

The device on my table glowed again, I hissed at how it made a vibrating noise on my table. "Who again?" I yelled before capturing the thing in my hand. Unknown number!
I watched I vibrate non stop on my hands before dumping it on the table. Whoever won't call a inscribed number shouldn't bother calling. I was too angry for nonsense.

      It buzzed again. I almost flung it to the wall. Stealing another glance at the screen,  Still unknown number. I allowed it to ring out before I shut my eyes again.
Then the landline went off. I pulled the recover to my left ear angrily.

            "What is it?"

           "Oh thank God you picked. I wanted to make sure the young ministers have reported at your church." Came the voice of Bishop Abraham.
A sigh escaped my mouth and I nodded as thought he could see me.

        "Are you still there?" He asked anxiously.

          "Yes. Yes. In fact they got here over forty minutes ago. We are settling them in the hostels as we speak.

The old man chuckled. "Thank you Jesus. Well let me let you be, we'll talk later okay?"

         "Alright. Thank you Bishop."

As soon as I dropped the phone, another call came in. "Pastor, there's a situation here!" He yelled.
Knowing Isaiah and his phobia for unnecessary noise, I decided to rush out front.
Fitting my foot back into my shoes, I walked to the reception area. A woman was sprawled lifeless on the floor. Inwardly, I groaned. It was always women and unnecessary drama.

       "Thank you! Lord thank you!" A lady ran towards me, falling at my feet. We've seen and heard what God is using you to do, that's why I brought her." She pointed at the woman on the floor.

If not for people in the waiting area, I would have gone back to my office. Here I was needing someone to pray for me and yet these people brought a case too complicated for me...not complicated for God. But for me.

         "Please get up." I pulled her up from the floor. "Now tell me, what is wrong with her?"
         "Pero faints without a reason and when she does, she be out for days. This one is the most recent episode. She's been out for seventeen hours."

I nodded, hoping she could say more. "Go on."

        She glanced at me in surprise. "Won't you pray for her first? They said you see it before you even lay hands."

I stifled a mocking laughter that could have makes headlines if I attempted it.  "Go on." I insisted.

           "We were watching your program at Enugu online when she passed out." My ears stood like that of a rabbit. "Did you say she passed out during the program?"

The lady who identified herself as the sister of the afflicted nodded. I smiled. "Food don land!"  I knew what was wrong with her, but I couldn't tell the little crowd that was gathering now.

          Swiftly, I walked to the woman on the floor and laid hands on her speaking in tongues. She glowed on her wrist, then the charge went through her body. I pulled my hand away. She was me. She was like me.

I had only seen people glow on their wrists, never the entire body. As the current hit me, I almost glowed but I stifled the rising stranger in my body. Quietly, I whispered, "Not now. Not now."

Instantly, she stood up and smiled at me as though shed known !e for ages. Glancing at her family and the people, she shifted her gaze back to me. "Thank you!"

          Everyone danced and celebrated God. But I was so sure God had no hand in what transpired.
And of course, I really didn't do anything, I only connected and recharged whatsoever that was wrong with her back into her, like a regurgitation. I myself, couldn't even understand what I did.

It had also come to my knowledge out understanding that I couldn't pray for the glowing people. In such deliverances, I would refer them to my pastors or the prayer missile team.

         The warmth in my office was getting on my nerves. I'd been pacing since the 'healing'. Something was busy condemning me in my head. I prayed, begged, bit it won't leave me alone. When it clocked 6pm. I sat back in my chair, restless.

My plan was to ditch today's midweek service, but again, pride rose in my heart regarding the event of the morning. I squashed the voice that's been convicting me and pushed it to the background. Then I went against my resolution and decided to be in the service. 

With that in mind, I instructed Pastor King to leave the ministrations to me.
Immediately he was done with the message, I mounted the altar and began to pray in the spirit. People stood in front of the podium waiting to give their lives to Jesus.

           After I made the prayer of salvation, something moved me to lay hands on them. I tried to block it but it kept moving my fingers as though it vibrated.

There was no way I could bring myself to lay hands on over a hundred people. I argued with it my head but it began to rise, fighting to take control of my body, so I agreed.
When I spoke, it was it forceful and intimidating. Surprisingly, I did not sound like me. Again I let it use my vocal cords, changing my originally planned words.

           As my hands rose to touch their heads, I saw the glow flash round  my wrist like a bracelet. I withdrew my hands and waited. I Lifted my hands again and it wasn't there.
So I began to quickly lay hands on that much number of people. Soon I was done. Some people scattered chairs and broke themselves.

But I knew it was all for show. But who am I to Judge people who  willingfully tossed themselves on the floor.
Even in my recent spiritual dryness, I still knew when the spirit of God was at work, and when people gamed it.

           Quickly, I moved past those people manifesting under whatever power. I just didn't have time for nonsense. When I was sure everyone had been touched, I walked back to the podium.

Turning around to finish up the prayers, what I saw almost paralyzed me. Every single human that I laid hands on were now glowing like myself.

            "Jesus!" I shouted in horror. "Did I just turn all these people?"

            "Turn them to what?" The voice spoke. I turned again and yet it was still me standing alone on the altar.

I gasped at what I had potentially done. Because, from my experience, i was well aware that whatever that was sitting inside of me was deadly. Then how much more a hundred of them in one church!

But yet, the people didn't catch on. They thought I'd seen a vision or communicated with God. But indeed, I was reeling at how a hundred people just became me.
But there was one person who wasn't blind. Jacob Abujan. He was my nemesis and my salvation. His eyes were full of tears when I stole a glance at him.

         Suddenly, People started shouting "Hallelujah, hallelujah!" I searched the auditorium, a lady who was just answered the call of salvation was jubilating.

           "I can see! I can see!" She screamed while jumping up and down.
Smile faded off my face when I saw her wrist glowing like mine. All these people, yet they didn't even know what had transpired spiritually.

Next thing I heard in my ears was. "Thank you Adrian, this was a huge harvest!"
I swirled around to see who whispered to me but there wasn't even anyone on the altar but me.

The microphone shook in my hands and my breathing increased. I couldn't act up now, I just couldn't. With all those cameras watching, I knew that any belligerent action could become my end.

I stood there staring at the congregation as they stared back at me. A prolonged Silence ensued, stifling even movements. Then, my mind went blank.
I quickly recovered and was about to say something when Jacob began to lead in hot praise songs. Sound found my voice again as I encouraged people to move with the counselors.

At this point, I knew, my mission on that podium that night was over. As usual, Jacob took over while I ran back to my office embarrassed.