EVANGELIST….PART 7

©Temi Akintade

When I saw a slick worm glide its way across the cement floor in the bathroom, I got irritated. It wasn't something I was used to. There were so many things I was not used to. For instance, I am not used to the scarcity of water that now loomed across the town. It was not a thing to worry about at first, but later it became a thing of worry because we haven't had our bath for over 48 hours. The missionaries at first suggested that we should use the water from the murky stream to take our bath that we could boil it but I couldn't use it

The only well in the community was dry and the people had to go to the other community to fetch water from the only wealthy man who owned a modern borehole. The missionaries mentioned that the man was a government official.

"If he is a government official why can't he speak for his people so that they can have tap water bringing in water for them and light as well? How can the whole town be this way?" I lamented. I was currently in the church with the pastors we were having a meeting concerning what was currently happening.

"The country itself has failed us but if the country has failed us, our God can never fail us and that is why we need to build a borehole in the church and use it as a system of evangelism." One of the Pastors said.

It was a good idea but I knew that the idea would remain an idea because there was no money.

"But the church has no money to execute this idea even though it is a lovely idea." The church accountant chipped in.

They began to deliberate and argue amongst themselves on how they could raise some money from the whites and offerings to build a borehole.

"If we touch the thite now. How do we pay the missionaries who have gone to mission fields in thick villages. How do we also build schools and houses for their children and new converts?" The accountant asked again.

"Why don't we collect a separate offering and tag it water project. It will at least motivate the people to give." Another pastor who happened to be the Hausa interpreter of the church said.

"The people do not give. They struggle to pay their thite with grumbling because they think that we are the ones eating their thite." The pastor who's white came to give me food said.

"But why don't you let them know that thiting is for their good. Why don't you let them know that thiting keeps their heavens open while they begin to succeed at whatever they do? Also, why don't you tell them that the blessings attached to thiting are for their good and they are stealing from God when they don't thite. Tell them about Malachi 3:8-12." I said.

"Oh, we only told them that thiting is God's money. Some of them even said God does not need the money that we are liars."

"God does not need the money indeed. However, the gospel is God's business, and using our money to finance the kingdom business is our concern as God's children. You didn't tell them that? I think I need to share this testimony about my friend Dimeji who owns a fruit juice company now in Benue state." When I noticed that they were all listening with rapt attention, I continued. "My friend and I were serving this country when he started to practice deliberate giving and thiting. Sometimes the church would need money for an emergency project and he would empty his account for that purpose. He never failed to give his thite. I was giving my thite too but I wasn't deliberate. Then one day he told me how he got an idea to start a cashew business in Benue state. I laughed and discouraged him but he told me that God told him to start and he began. At first, it wasn't easy because he started small. There was a time he wasn't making any profit but he continued paying his thite no matter the amount of money that came into his hand. Before you know it, God connected him to a white client abroad who landed him a huge contract of supplying fresh cashew fruits and nuts for a factory abroad. He kept thiting, and he told me that after every thite he gives, he would go back and tell God that, God you have opened my heavens now according to your word. Begin to give me fresh ideas for my business and begin to open new doors of opportunities for me."

They all sighed. And I continued. "Now my friend is a big businessman within few months he built his fruit juice factory and he just started operations a month ago. So you need to preach this to the congregation. Let them know that thiting is a commandment. It is God's money because it is for God's business. And thiting has a blessing attached to it and they should activate that blessing by being deliberate and praying. When they don't give their thite, that is why you see some of them treating different kinds of diseases and sicknesses while some of them have unsettled homes. These are the devourers."

They all thanked me and jotted down all that I have said. As I began to the riverside that afternoon, I began to ask God if I should call Dimeji for financial assistance so that I could help the church dig a borehole and the community will be happy again but I felt a nudge in my spirit not to. I became disturbed. Was this how the missionaries lived? They drank dirty water, ate unbalanced meals, and stayed in an unhealthy environment just to preach the gospel?

I shook my head. "Father just bless me enough to give back to the church." I was angry at the wealthy government official who did not deem it fit to inform the government to construct a pipeline to bring in water and effect stable lights supply.

By the time I got to the riverside that evening, several young boys were waiting for me beneath the oak tree. They were seated on the sand talking. There were a few girls too.

When I came, I began to teach about Paul and Silas in the Bible how they prayed and sang and the Holy Ghost came down. Then a thin lanky boy raised his hand.

"Yes, Gabriel you have a question?"

"Yes sir. If Paul and Silas prayed and the prison shook and they were set free. Why can't we pray and sing so that the government can remember us to fix our water and light?" Some of the boys nodded their heads in agreement with his suggestion. "Why is it that, since my 16 years of existence in Rigasa town, I have never drank good water, any good road, no good school, no light! Pastor Chuks you taught us about Jesus Christ that he is the light and when we are in Christ, we have become light automatically. But since we received Jesus Christ our community has been in darkness we need a change!" He fumed.

"When did you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal saviour?" I was angry too.

"A week ago sir."

"Then why are you lamenting as though you have been with Jesus for 10 years and you haven't seen any change in your life or environment? The change has to begin with you first before it can now affect your environment." Their eyes turned sober. I knew they wanted answers to their questions. "God is not a magician. He will do his part, while you do your part for you to see the result. And your part is to pray, study hard and become someone great who will, in turn, come back to fix this community."

They nodded and clapped. "Always have it at the back of your mind that, God will always use a human agent to carry out his work." I spoke briefly in tongues and said, "By this time next month, you will have good water, good road, and good school." They chorused with an amen and we began to sing and dance.

By the time I got home, that was when I realized what had happened. I got on my knees and began to pray to ask God to help bring the word to a manifestation. What was I thinking when I made such declaration that there will be good road and water in a month time? The government will never do that. I was sure because even the main road that led to my family house in Abuja has been untarred for over fifteen years now. I began to think about what I had said.

Soon, I slept off in the room. The missionaries had gone to the other community to live in a friend's house until the water issue was fixed.

It was the knock that jerked me up from sleep. There was a soft knock on the door. I was still dressed in the shirt and trousers I wore from before. I unlocked the door and was surprised to see Kauna. She was wearing a low-cut bra revealing her deep cleavage. I really should shut the door but my hands turned into jelly. She kept smiling telling me that she had filled the drum at the front of my yard with water. I appreciated her and told her to come in. She sat on the road in the sitting room. But before I could say anything, she walked towards me and began to kiss me. Then I began to lead her to the missionaries room to be more comfortable with her when suddenly…

A loud knocking on the door forced my eyes open. That was when I realized that I had just had a bad dream with Kauna in it. I sighed, cleaning my head from beads of sweat. "I will not fall in Jesus name. Satan get there behind me!" But it seems my body was not cooperating g with me because I suddenly had the urge to have sex. I gripped the bedsheets as though they could save me from my sexual torture. "Father help me. I rely on the finished works of Christ. I have self-control in Jesus name." I shook my head. My mind suddenly dashed to Kauna. Maybe I should call her and have quick sex with her. No one would know. Or maybe we could just romance each other but we won't have sex.

I shook my head. "Father help me. I know these ideas are from the enemy." The knock on the door persisted. Then I felt a little peace in my Spirit. It was then that I realized how important the Holy Spirit was to believers. The Holy Spirit is my senior partner who would help me pass through whatever I need to pass through. It was then I also knew that believers can control how they feel, act or talk. It is called self-control and every believer must have it.

I strolled towards the door and opened it. I was shocked when I saw that it was Kauna in the same low-cut blouse I saw in the dream and this time, her blouse was wet from water.

"Hello evangelist, I just filled your drum with water. I am cold because water poured on my blouse. Can I at least change it into one of your shirts? Or can I come in, I'm cold sir." She eyed me slowly.

I wanted to tell her that we were in September and the weather wasn't cold. But my throat went dry.