After roaming the street for close to an hour, they saw a sign post which read ” THE SANCTUARY OF PRAISE “.
” very good!, i think this one go make sense! ” James whispered to Peter.
” and fine fine girls go dey this church! ” Peter chuckled.
With that they started tracing the exact location of the church.
They took their far right following the arrow that was placed at every bend to serve as a pointer for those that were coming to the church for the first time.
After turning two more bends they came face to face with the church.
” oboy eh! ” James screamed unconsciously.
” Bloooooooood of Ebuka!!! ” Peter joined in the exclamation. The two friends folded their hands and looked at the church with their mouths wide open. They have never seen a church that was smelling of class like this one before them.
The gate of the church was wide open. And from the gate of the church to the church auditorium were two rolls of flowers. There was a small roundabout some meters before the auditorium, and flowers where planted roundabout it too. There was an ” n ” shaped flower that crossed from one side of the gate to the other side. Even the door of the church had a similar ” n ” shaped flower ranging ten meters from the church door. There was a massive car park that can contain nothing less than 500 cars.
They move closer to the church door. The door opened on its own which resulted to the two of them running back in fright. ” chei! See american wonder! ” one of them shouted in awe.
They composed themselves and approached the door again, this time when the opened on its own they did not run back. They stepped into the auditorium and was more thrilled by the interior than they were at the exterior.
They would’ve stood there the whole if not for the timely intervention of one of the church official that tapped them on their shoulder. Actually the lady had been standing in front of them for about a minute but because these two were so lost in the splendor of the environment, they did not notice that someone was standing in front of them, so the lady had to tap them to get their attention.
She led them to a seat at the back roll of the church.
The Interior of the church was magnificent to say the least. The seats were arranged in rolls like a theatre. The church had a slope like the one in obafemi awolowo university. It was has a white marble wall and the decoration was a simple touch of white and green since it was an independence day. The choir was putting on a white suit and green tie. And were sitting at the left hand side of the church. The ministers were all on a white suit too.
All the instruments were positioned close to the choir. The had several instruments. A motif piano and a yamaha cork seven octave piano, a cello, violin, bass guitar, tuning fork, drumsets, trumpets, saxophone etc. The stand was like an orchestra stand.
They were distracted by the voice from the walls Before they could figure out what was going on. ” oboy na where this sound dey come from?, because i no dey see any speaker ” Peter called his friend’s attention to his discovery
” will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee?. In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And i will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts… ”
James and peter heard the man on the altar saying.
” this must be the man in charge of this church. ” they thought.
” bring out your tithes and offerings, you know that they Which sow sparingly, will reap sparingly and they Which sow bountifully, will also reap bountifully. So package your offerings very well and put on your dancing shoes, choir please give us a danceable song and lets rock to the glory of the LORD ” the man concluded with a smile.
These two have not been to church before, they were just passing by when some breeze blew them into the church, but what we don’t know, is the nature of the breeze that blew them into the church.
Just like a MIRACLE a lady’s voice was heard in the background and before they could comprehend what was going on, the whole church came alive.
The choir was singing ” oh happy day ” and the lead soloists had a soprano voice.
Before their very eyes, people were giving both naira and dollar as offering.
” i don die, this girl voice sweet die!, and see how people dey give money like sey this country no hard! ” James whispered to Peter.
” na so i see am o! ” Peter replied.
When the offering basket got to them James almost grabbed the basket and run away, the only thing that stopped him was the fact that some people were standing close to the door.
………
” oboy that church get money! ” Peter screamed on their way back to the house after the service had ended.
” i been no know sey dem fit give person wey come church food to chop, if not, i for no dey waste my time for house. Na for church i for dey take my morning food ” Peter added.
” guy!, no be that one dey my mind, you see the way that money plenty?. If i fit get that money, my problems don solve. ” James replied with a serious look on his face.
………
TBC………
