Wounded Soldier

By Esther Okikioluwa

In between the pursuit of God, Fame and lust, Ian Allen, the pastor of a large congregation must decide which pursuit is worth taking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Esther Okikioluwa
• Release date: Jan 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005825577

Esther Okikioluwa

Esther Okikioluwa is a writer and gospel singer. She loves to talk about God's words using stories.

Book preview

1

Chapter Separator

His appearance created a sensation. Everyone in the whole place had been waiting and seemed to know instantly that the anointed man of God had arrived. All activities halted. Several ministers of God caught up with him, adding bulk and gravity to the small group of influential personalities that were seeking for special blessings.

People clapped slowly, at first, then gathering energy. Another miracle had happened. The anointed man of God had prayed for a lame man and he got up instantly. It was now after service and everyone needed a touch. By the time they got down the stairs, they made a parade, shouting hallelujah! A group of reporters poured out of the auditorium and started snapping pictures, and the ushers made no effort to stop them.

‘So this was how it felt to walk with royalty and prestige; the pleasure of the spotlight, the beauty of his voice talking with the press.’ Pastor Ian thought.

That was last Sunday. Pastor Ian Allen still felt the stiffing air. He opened the church windows. God had just used him to raise a lame man who lost his leg ten years ago in an accident. Cherith County was going mad about it. His name was all over the papers, internet and local news. He could no longer walk or drive on the street where he lived without someone seizing his breath by publicly announcing him, he either prayed for those who called him or said ‘bless you’ to those that greeted. The tide had changed since Pastor Ian Allen received a transfer letter from the local church at Toperkas to this miracle-crazy county. No much church in Cherith County except for a few, including Gospel Evangelical Missions where he pastored as the resident pastor. The church recently had grown into a congregation of three thousand and the number was still increasing and he had received much popularity among his equals in the mission church. The church was one of the fast growing in Cherith County and Pastor Ian still has much vision of growth for the church.

Delighted with his miracle working-self -that’s how he felt- Pastor Ian Allen closed his opened Bible and wandered happily inside the auditorium. There are so many ways to invent a church growth, he thought, forgetting obviously who the real church growth officer was, he was even unknowingly trying to get a replacement. His new vision was to increase church growth to five thousand with different fascinating investment which he would discuss with Imma when he gets home tonight. He stared into the dark busy main road beautified by the flashing cars that passed on it. What a delightfully perfect place to live a life of prestige after all the pains suffered at Toperkas! This was where God wanted to reward his faithfulness in the service. He thought about breathing a prayer of thanks, but somehow, Ian was not aware that he hadn’t done that ever since God started using him for these signs and wonders. A larger part of his mind reeled with excitement and love of the status that came with his works in national gospel magazine, so, unfortunately he had omitted giving thanks to God who did the real thing; though from the beginning he wasn’t a type who forgets to say thank you to the owner of the power of gifts. He bent his head for few minutes and said something to God about helping him achieve his church growth vision. As he prayed, something niggled vaguely in the back of his head- something he should have done…. But he was too tired to work it out. He closed the prayer, carried his Bible to go instead. It wasn’t the most restful night of his life.

* * *

Imma, have you noticed something lately? Pastor Ian Allen asked his wife who thought over his question

At home or in church?

In church.

Except for increase in attendance. Why?

"You haven’t noticed that the building no longer contains our attendance?’’

Yeah…. Imma realized

That set me thinking we need a church growth plan as quickly as possible. What do we do?

Imma studied Economics at York University. She had a postgraduate course in Finance and was the bank’s Vice President for four years before she gave her life to Christ and got married to a full time pastor in the ministry.