Episode 8**A CHURCH GIRLS TALE

*Episode 8*

*A CHURCH GIRLS TALE*

After the action,  I locked the door behind him and started weeping. I wept till my
eyeballs turned red and my head began to ache. I was confused, I didn’t know what to do, I was just weeping. I couldn’t even pray, I never thought I could do such a thing. i thought I was strong enough to stand. Oh my
God!…How wrong I was!!.

The next day was Friday, I couldn’t go to school. I had headache, so I called my HOD to inform her I would be
absent. She promised to tell the Principal and wished me quick recovery. I couldn’t attend d burial nor singing practise on Saturday, I just locked myself up in my room and was weeping from time
to time.

On Sundays, I was unusually absent from church. Some choir members came to check on me after service. They met me under my blanket, shivering. Now I had developed emergency fever.
One of them quickly called Pastor Williams who rushed down to my place with his wife.

They took me to the health centre. I was treated on
malaria, given some drugs and injection, and was told to come on Monday and Tuesday to complete the injection.

The Williams brought me back home and asked if I wouldn’t mind to go with them to their place, so I wouldn’t be the only one at home, I declined. So, they left after praying for me.

I slept off and woke up late in the night. Now I felt like eating
something. I looked at my phone, it was 11.17pm.
I got up, ate bread with fruit juice and went back to bed.
I couldn’t sleep. I was turning from right to left, left to right
on the bed. Again, I remembered *“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed, lest he fall”* I started weeping again. I thought I was standing, now I have fallen. I so much trusted myself, I was so careless. I opened my mouth and began to pray “Lord, Forgive me….have
mercy on me….”

I didn’t even know when I slept off. When I woke up, I knew I had a dream in which I saw Pastor Mrs Williams talking to me, but I couldn’t remember a single word out of everything she said.

As I was trying to recollect what she was telling me in the
dream, I heard a gentle voice in my spirit, "Go and open up
to her" ….
“Ahhhh!.How on earth would I be able to do that? I cant
Lord!.I cant!!.”.

I didn’t hear the voice again, at least at that moment.

The next thing I heard was a knock on my door.
“Who is that?”..I spoke softly.
I didn’t hear any response from the other end.
I moved to the door, unlocked it, and opened.Guess who was standing there.

Watch out for Episode 9

EPISODE 9**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE

*EPISODE 9*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

It was Pastor Mrs William. She was on her way to school that Monday morning as she taught in a primary school at Oyan, but she quickly branched at my place to check on me.

She came with a basket containing pepper soup, jollof
rice, vegetable soup. She said she didn’t know the one I would love to eat, but I
should try and take the pepper soup as it would deal with that malaria fever. She told me to warm them that as I could see she brought them out of the freezer that morning, and couldn’t wait to warm them before leaving the house to prevent her from getting late to school. I collected the basket from her, appreciated her and sat on
my plastic chair. “Can I drop you at the health centre for your injection?, since its
on the same route to my school”.She asked.
“I’m not ready yet ma, I will take a bike. Thank you ma”.
“It’s a pleasure my dear. So, how are you feeling now?.”
“I’m better today ma”.I answered.
“Oh!.Thank God. My mind was with you throughout the night. I really couldn’t sleep soundly. I started blaming myself for
allowing you to stay here all alone, I should have forced you to come with us yesterday. But, hope you slept well, and….”

I switched off!..I was hearing in my spirit “Open up to her!.Open up to her!!”.
Then I heard another voice contrary to that one saying “Dont try it!.You’ll disappoint her. You can see how she loves and cares for u, she’ll withdraw the gesture..What if….”

Suddenly, I felt Pastor Mrs’ hand on my shoulder. She tapped me and said “Are u okay?.I’ve called you twice, but you didn’t respond.
What is bothering you? What are you thinking of?.Feel free to share it with me, I’m a mother..”

Before she could finish her sentence, I cut in “Nothing ma”.
“Hunhun!.Don’t tell me there’s nothing when obviously
there’s something. That’s a lie, and I don’t expect you to tell one, if you don’t want to share it, just say you don’t want to share it, instead of saying there’s nothing when
there’s something.”
I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know when I said “Okay ma, I
will tell you later”.
“That’s better my dear. See you later then. Hurry up so you can go for your injection on time. Make sure you eat before you go.” She said.
“Okay ma. Thanks mum.”
She left.

I got to the health centre that morning and saw Bisi. She was surprised to see me, and also to hear that I didn’t attend the burial of Bode’s dad. When she asked why I didn’t go, I told her I was sick, but didn’t tell her beyond that.

As I was getting back home, I met Bode coming out of the
Corp members’ quarters.
I was a bit shy to look at his face, remembering what
happened between us. I was no longer free with him. I wish I didn’t see him.
He gave me souvenirs of his dad’s burial, and said his mum sent her greetings, and that she promised to come and visit me as soon as she could go out. I took those things from him and thanked him. Then he said “Sis Sewa, I’m indeed very sorry for what
happened last week. It’s the devil. Please, forgive me..”
He wanted to hold my hand, but I didn’t allow him.
I said “It’s fine! It’s fine!! Just go!!!”

But what did he really have in plan?

Watch out for Episode 10 .

*Episode 10**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE

*Episode 10*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

I didn’t attend choir practice on Saturday nor church
service on Sunday because I didn’t want to see Mrs Williams. I had made up my mind not to tell her anything and I knew she would ask me if she set her eyes on me.
I didn’t know I was only adding more petrol to a burning fire.

Some choir members came again after service to check on
me, thinking I haven’t recovered fully or not strong enough toattend service. Of course, when I saw them, I pretended to be weak still.

Bode came later in the evening when everybody had left. He said “I knew you didn’t come to church today because of me, not because of your health. You refuse to forgive me despite my plead. I told you it was the work of the devil, please let’s be doing as we used to
do before..please now”. He began to weep. I was moved with passion when I saw him weeping. I went to him, gave him a gentle pat on the back, and said “That’s okay. Stop crying. It wasn’t only your fault, but mine too. We
both need to ask God for forgiveness and to make sure it doesn’t happen again….”

Before I could finish my sentence, he got up, held me close and began to kiss me. Every attempt to rescue myself out of his hand failed. At a time, I surrendered, and again,…it happened!.  This time,  we were both deeply involved in the act than before. Oh Sewa, I have tasted the forbidden fruit,  and here am I, sliding deeper and deeper into this evil act.  Before I could put myself together, Bode dressed up and ran out of my room.

I started weeping.
“Lord, I’ve done it again. I disobeyed again” For days, I was praying and weeping, asking God for forgiveness and for what to do, I didn’t hear anything as I heard it earlier. More so,  I was so fearful of pregnancy because I was in a period of my ladies cycle where I believed pregnancy can develop. But then,  I was so naive of any preventive measures. What can I do,  and who can I open up to. I can't imagine myself, a holy Mary, asking my fellow corpers of a preventive measure.

It was so obvious that something was wrong
with me, as I was a shadow of myself. Even my dressing
changed, a 60 year old woman would dress better.
Everybody was asking, “What’s wrong with you? Hope there’s no problem. Are you still sick?”. My usual answer was “No problem, all is well”..but within me, I knew nothing was well. I wasn’t attending mid-week services also. I would prefer to be in my room, and be thinking. The thought that bothered me
most was “Will God ever forgive me?.
If the first one was a mistake, what about this one?”.
Mrs Williams called me one Wednesday evening after having prayer meeting in church. “Sis Sewa, I noticed you were not in church today for the prayer meeting, how are you?. Are you not okay yet?”. “I’m fine ma”.
“Then, why have you been keeping yourself away from church?”.
“Nothing ma.”
“You’ve started again. Oh!. That reminds me, you promised to tell
me something the other day, will you come and see me tomorrow after school?. I will be waiting for you at the church office.”
“What time ma?”
“Let’s make it 4pm”.
“Ok ma”.
She hung up.

My heart began to beat very fast. I could hear the sound.
What will I say?. Maybe I should just cook up a
story. But, what if she knew it’s all lies. Oh my God!. What
mess have I gotten myself into?. How will I get out of this now?.

As I was pondering over this, my phone rang.
It was my dad. I picked it.
What did he say?.

Watch out for Episode 11.

Episode 11**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

*Episode 11*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

Daddy said he would be celebrating his 60th birthday on 30th of May, and would want me to come and grace the occasion with him and other members of the family.
I promised to come, but after the conversation, I started
praying that I would have gotten over the mood I was before going to Lagos, because I didn’t want anybody in my family to have an idea of what I was going through.

The next day I had an appointment with my pastor’s wife. I decided not to go as I didn’t know how to tell her what was wrong with me.
Fortunately for me, she called around 2.30pm to inform me that we would have to postpone the meeting as she needed to attend to a matter urgently. I was very happy to hear that. To avoid people coming to my house again, I decided to attend Sunday service the following week, only to discover that Bode was absent. I didn’t even ask of him as I preferred not to see him, but I overheard someone telling the pastor he had gone back to school.

Immediately after the service, Mrs Williams sent an usher to
tell me she was waiting for me at the church office. When I got there, she asked me what was bothering me. I was too scared to tell her the truth, so I said “It’s family
matter ma, my dad and mum are not in good terms, and it’s
seriously affecting me….”
She said “Are you sure?”
“I said “Yes ma”.
“Anyway, if that is the case, don’t let that affect you. There’s no
marriage without its own crisis. God will be glorified in that union it doesn’t have to bother you, after all, you know how to pray, just pray for them, and everything will be well.”
Then she paused,and looked at me “Sis Sewa, are you sure this is what is bothering you?.I’m having a feeling you are not telling me the truth.”
“That is it ma.”
“Okay. Let’s pray.”
She prayed with me, and I left.

As I was going home, the thought came to me.”Hunnnn!.You have just told another lie!!.That’s another blunder..Go back and confess your sins.”
I refused to go back.
How would I face her to tell her I told a lie, after asking me
twice if I was sure I was telling the truth, and which I answered in the affirmative?.

About a week before my dad’s birthday, I fell sick. I was
throwing up, nothing stayed in my tummy, in fact, I couldn’t eat. “But I just treated malaria, why this again?”.I said to myself.
I became very weak.
I decided not to call anybody’s attention. I was fighting it
alone. Then, very early one Saturday morning, Pastor Mrs came to my house. I was so surprised to see her.
“What’s wrong with you Sis Sewa?”. “Just a bit weak ma”.
“Just a bit weak? When did it start”.
“About a week ago ma”
She looked at me closely, and said “No, it can’t be. Let me see your eye and your palm”
She checked both.
“You are pregnant!”.
“No ma, I’m not, it’s malaria”.
She sat on my bed, and was looking at me.
“I said you are pregnant!.I knew it last Sunday when I saw you, but I didn’t want to be too fast. Okay, if you are not sure,et’s go to the clinic.”
“No ma, I’m not pregnant, I’m sure I’m not”.
“Now, tell me, what did you do?. Did you sleep with any man?”
I didn’t answer.
“Oh my God! You of all people? I’ve been using you to counsel sisters in church, I saw you as a role model to them….”
She bursted into tears.
I started weeping too.

But then, who was really Pastor Mrs Williams?

Watch out for Episode 12

Episode 12**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

*Episode 12*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

I sent a message to Bode immediately Mrs Williams left my room,informing him about the pregnancy. I expected his reply throughout the night,but he didn’t.

The next day was Sunday.I didn’t feel like going to church. I was too ashamed to see anybody’s face,though no one knew about it yet, besides The Williams. I imagined what would happen when the news went viral among church members that I was carrying Bode’s baby….having denied that I was in a relationship with him earlier..
Oh my God! How did i find
myself in this mess?.
Then i thought of my dad.
Eeeeh!.My dad!!.
He trusted me so much.
I was his pride,his angel,the apple of his eyes.
How would he take it?.
I have disappointed him.
And my two elder sisters.
None of them had a child before marriage,even Sis Tiwa
was still trusting God for d fruit of the womb then,its only Sis
Temi that had a baby girl,expecting d second one.
Oh!..I’ve disappointed many people.
And Bode’s mum?.Wouldn’t she think i lured her son to
sleep with me?.Wont she see me as a cheap girl?.

As i thought of these things,tears was flowing freely from my eyes. Mrs Williams came to tell me to get dressed for service. I told her i wasn’t feeling like going to church.
She said “okay,its fine. Just make sure u seek d face of
God for forgiveness,mercy and the way out.”
I said thank u ma.
They left.

I switched off my phone.
Then i started thinking again and again,weeping and
asking God for forgiveness.
I also prayed for His mercy and way out,as Mrs Williams
told me.
After the prayer,I put on my phone,and almost
immediately,Bode’s message came in. I read the message which went like this..”I was devastated by your message. I think the only solution is abortion. I thought about it through out the night and that i think its the only way out. I’m
very sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you.”

I threw d phone on the bed.
I said to myself “how i wish it was that easy.” As a matter of fact,maybe i would have agreed with him, if this woman was not involved,but now, i just have to bear the
consequences: The shame,reproach,rejection and anything that comes from it.
I threw myself on the bed, covered my mouth with a pillow and screamed into it.
JESUS!.JESUS!!..Pls have mercy on me….this is too much for me.

While doing this, i heard the Pastor’s car moving into the
compound. I quickly got up, wiped my face and pretended to be fine. Soon Pastor Mrs was in the room.
“How was your day my dear”.
“I was praying ma”.
“And weeping at the same time”. She said, smiling.
I didn’t answer.
I showed her Bode’s message.
She read it n said “i knew it. I knew that would be his
option.”

Then she sat beside me on the bed,hugged me n said “Listen
my darling,there’s nothing new under heaven. Many people have gone through this route before,and many will still go through it. I’m sure if not for divine intervention,you could have considered abortion as Bode suggested. But sometimes we offend God while trying not to offend man. Don’t use sin to cover sin. God is the Ultimate. Once He has forgiven you, it
doesn’t matter if anybody doesn’t. Now,i will tell you the story of my own life.”

What did she say……?

Continues in episode 13

VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PASTORS TO READ AND TAKE NOTE

*VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PASTORS TO READ AND TAKE NOTE*
The recent exit of Pastor Pete Wilson of Cross Point Church in Nashville is breaking the internet. The Cross Point Church is a church of over 7,000 members in five locations.

FACTS:
👉 50% of pastors exit the ministry annually.
👉 Pastors are not superhuman, they can get to breaking points.
👉 Most pastors don't have people to pour their hearts to (no one to share their problems with).
👉 The only army that shoots its soldiers and lieutenants without any tangible offence is the church.
👉 Pastors neglect their own needs to meet the needs of others but have no one to meet their own needs.
👉 A man of God is an ordinary man in the hands of a mighty God and is considered ordinary hand to be used and dumped by the powerful ones in the Church.

😣 *WHAT CAUSES BURNOUT*?

* Ministering without being ministered to by people who care less whether the Pastor and his family starve to death.
* Lack of delegation of responsibilities. The Pastor is seen as a labourer who must do all the work. If he is not there, he did not like us.
* Giving in to accusations and criticism by cliques within the Church who think they must have their way.
* Zero retreat
* No leave or vacation
* Indifference to hobbies and recreational activities.
* Un-supporting partners who wanted their partner to do other profitable and much prestigious jobs than 'Thankless Church service' by people they fast and pray for.
* Frustrations for personal needs
* Uncooperative team and associates
* Oppression from "fathers" in the ministry
* Prayerlessness
* Walking alone in ministry
* Satanic counter attacks

*HOW TO AVOID BURNOUTS*

* Have a mentor that you can pour out your heart to.
* Take time out from time to time to listen to what happens to others.
* Cultivate a Pattern of relaxation by engaging in some recreational activities.
* Know when to retreat so that you don't surrender.
* Delegate wisely and defend your juniors in the face of attacks by those who wish them to fail or envious.
* Don't be a lone-ranger (wisely relate with other ministers and ministries) you can't survive alone, but be wise.
* Relate well with your wife and children, they are your inner circle.

*ACTION*
*Send this message to every minister of God that you know.
*And to all responsible members that you also know so that they too can be of help and courage to their Pastors.

May God sustain true servants of God that labour day and night in His vineyard.

Can you please be a helping hand to your Pastor and remember to share with him this season?

#copied and edited.

11 TIPS MAKING RESOLUTIONS REALITIES

11 TIPS MAKING RESOLUTIONS REALITIES

1. Make a list of your goals and select the top three to five that are the most important to you. Pray for God’s guidance in the process. He knows best.

2. Be realistic. Reaching for a goal should stretch you, but it should also be doable. Decide on a reasonable time frame for reaching each goal.

3. Don’t try to do everything at once. Focus on your top goal for a set period of time. Then move to goal number two, while maintaining the progress made toward reaching the first one, and so on.

4. Pray. Prayer brings into play the spiritual help you need to reach your goals.

5. Work with God. Change involves overcoming past thought and behavioral patterns. This is never easy, but change for the better is possible if you ask God to help and follow His lead. “With God nothing will be impossible.”

6. Chart your progress. Keep track of how far you’ve come, using a journal or chart. Keeping records and reviewing them periodically can also help you to identify weak spots.

7. Get help from others. Share your plan with a friend and ask for his or her help. Being accountable to someone will give you added incentive to stick to your resolutions even when it’s tough.

8. Don’t be discouraged by your mistakes. You will have some setbacks and “off” days. Take these lows as a reminder that you can’t do it on your own. Draw closer to God and depend more on His help. Tomorrow is a fresh chance to do better!

9. Be in it for the long haul. If you are truly serious about making a change, you will be willing to see it through, no matter how long it takes.

10. Visualize victory. Periodically visualize what your life will be like once your goal is reached. Picture the advantages you will gain and how much happier, healthier, or more productive you will be.

11. Reward yourself for each goal you reach. The real reward will be the feeling of accomplishment and the benefits you’ll experience from the change you’ve made, but having a physical treat attached to a specific goal can make it even more enjoyable.

—

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Proverbs 4:21 ESV – Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

Job 38:4 ESV – Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)