The New Comer

Hi guys:)

Hope you are having a fab week? I can’t believe its March 14th already?! Time seems to be flying!!

Reading some of the comments on Kikelomo 2 (thanks for your comments guys!), some people asked for a continuation, that was supposed to be the conclusion lol; I don’t have any more Kikelomo story. It was inspired by a very pretty lady I met who had tribal marks…

I talked about submissions last week; so if you would like to submit a SHORT (FLASH) FICTION to be featured on this blog, please send it with your name to feyisdiary@gmail.com. Please don’t send in a story written by someone else I don’t want copyright wahala oh. 

Enjoy today’s story and please remember to leave a comment.

Peter walked into Good News Assembly some minutes before 10 o’clock after going round the town center in circles. The description on their website was like a maze. Frustrated after walking in the cold for 20 minutes trying to locate the church and was on his way back when he saw two black ladies walking towards him. He caught up with them and asked for the direction of the church and luckily they were heading there.

He heard the familiar tune of Everybody praise the Lord now as they neared the church. How he had missed Nigerian Praise and Worship. He joined in the praise and worship which was spirit lifting. The lady who led was clearly in the spirit. She ushered in the pastor who led the church through another 5 minutes of worship.

He scanned the church and noticed most of them were young which was expected because of the university in town. What surprised him though was the ratio of males to females. It was the norm to find more ladies than guys in church but in all his church going years he had never seen it this bad. He counted about 11 males including the pastor. He was sure the number of females was 3 times that.
The sermon was good, the pastor preached about the Widow of Zarephath, except for the occasional yelling.
‘You have to GIVE in order to RECEIVE, church are you with me? Even if it is all you have left!’ he said pacing around the altar. Someone from the congregation shouted ‘Yes Pastor!’ while others nodded their heads in agreement. Why pastors shouted, he never understood. The pastor ended his sermon with an altar call while the pianist played I surrender all. This was followed by tithes and offering.

‘If you are worshipping with us for the first time in Good News Assembly, can you please signify by waving and rising to your feet’
Oh, he didn’t want to wave but then he knew there was no hiding in this small church. He slipped his up hand and got up. The people beside him shook his hands and smiled at him while the choir sang ‘You are welcome in the name of the lord...’. He was surprised to hear this same song his choir sang back at home.

‘Please can you take a step of faith by coming to the front’
He picked up his Bible and walked towards the altar.

******
Onome smiled as she shook the hands of the new guy that walked to church with them this morning. She couldn’t look at his fingers while they were walking because of his gloves. She couldn’t help but smile in relief when she noticed his bare fingers when he took off his gloves. She watched him from the corner of her eyes throughout the service. He seemed very churchy. He danced during praise, raised up his hands during worship and she was sure she heard him speak in tongues when he was praying. His Bible looked worn out, which meant he read it regularly, she noticed several verses were highlighted.

Tolani smiled at the new comer as she directed him towards the altar. He was tall, dark and very muscular; her kind of guy. She remembered when he walked up to her and Onome asking for direction to church that he was the same guy she saw in Tesco two nights ago. When he walked up to them to ask for their church, the guilt she felt about going late to church because she was straightening her hair was replaced with relief; at least someone was going to notice. From the conversation they had she gathered he had just moved to Loughborough from Nigeria. Whatever interest she had quickly disappeared when he said his name was Peter Maduka. That was a no no, she had no interest whatsoever in non-Yoruba guys.

Sarah noticed the new guy as soon as he walked into church. One of the advantages of being in the choir. Facing the church while singing provided an opportunity to scan the whole church. She was glad Ayo wasn’t in church today. It was bad enough that the whole church was aware of their break up. He didn’t have to make it more awkward by coming to her church. Maybe, just maybe this new guy would be interested in her. He looked like a responsible guy and his bare fingers didn’t go unnoticed.

*******

‘My brother, you are welcome in Jesus name. We are so happy to have you in our midst and would like to know you better. My name is Pastor Ezekiel and I’m the pastor in charge. Please can you introduce yourself to us?’
Peter clears his throat.
‘Praise the lord, my name is Peter Maduka.’

Oh my, that voice certainly matches that face! Sarah thought to herself.

‘He sounds like a serious Christian, he said Praise the Lord, I mean he didn’t have to say that’ Efe reasoned.

‘I just moved to Loughborough three weeks ago on an official assignment and I’ve been looking for a church. I found this church on the Internet and I must say I really enjoyed the service.

‘Church did you hear him? He said he really enjoyed the service. Please let’s give the lord a clap offering’
At this the whole church burst into a round of applause.

‘Please can you kneel down so we can pray for you’ he did as he was told and the congregation stretched out their hands to him. After the prayer, the pastor gave him a welcome pack and pointed in the direction of an usher.

‘Brother Peter, please go with our ushers. I hope we will see you next week? ‘
‘Yes by God’s grace, I won’t come alone next week but I’ll come with my wife too’ he said smiling oblivious to the hearts he had just broken.

Image credit: www.churches-uk-ireland.org

Tagged: church, singleness