Church Ladies

By Sydney Wells

Three elderly women-Mildred, Essie, and Dora-are hyper-religious zealots who believe they have been called to keep their church free from sin and corruptibility, all the while not realizing they are the ones who are corrupt.

Using scripture to support their cause, their misappropriation and misinterpretation of the Biblical text launches t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Sep 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781952835971

Sydney Wells

Sydney Wells is the author of Church Ladies, Unapologetically, Lies in Lancaster P.A., Everybody Has Secrets, 13th Juror and Immeasurably, she began writing after retirement while attending college. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Wells call the Denver area home. You can visit her online at www. https://sydneywell5.wixsite.com/sydney or on Twitter (@sydneywells).

Book preview

Introduction

It has been proven repeatedly that the ways of God are beautiful, and wonderful is the journey if you follow his beloved Son. No matter what you have done in life, he loves us with an unconditional love because He is that kind of God. We can ask him for forgiveness, and he always-yes, always-comes through with total forgiving, remembering the sin no more because He is that kind of God. Those who has violated the child, killed his wife, stole from their parents, lied to the authorities, injured the one crossing the street and, kept going, snorted drugs, or put the drugs into their veins, in Him you will find a love that most humans find hard to give under these circumstances. If we allow His beloved Son to have our hearts, mind, and, spirit, we can love unconditionally because He is that kind of God. We all need love in and out of sin so too those who are lost and those who struggle with sin, we, who are in Him, can lead them only by love, as Christ is the perfect example of love. God’s beloved Son He gave us because He is God.

Quotes

Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded [woman] purchases its own spiritual death on the instalment plan.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A man who was completely innocent, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including His enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.

Mahatma Gandhi

Prologue

Mildred, Essie, and Dora became the infamous Church Ladies. Feeling directed by scripture and mission, they set out to keep the church, community, and world clean from sin and disobedience to the Word. Crystal Kane has been a reporter for the Lancaster Gazette for a little over three years, this is one of the most bizarre stories she has ever covered.

As Crystal waited to interview Mildred, she looked around the room; the dull, dingy paint on the walls made her sad, uncomfortable, and depressed. That old color of aqua green was now two, shades darker and dirty; in some places the paint was peeling. The floor was cold with chipped corners in spots of the twelve-by-twelve squares of the outdated linoleum that was not as clean as it could have been. The prickly bench she was sitting on could use a little sanding and varnishing. The room was cold with no personality. Crystal just wanted to complete the interview and get the hell out of here.

Crystal prepared herself to be alert and aware in this interview with one of the infamous Church Ladies. She was a little nervous to meet Mildred. Crystal had been waiting at lease twenty minutes, here at the Lancaster County Prison for women.

Crystal, could hear the slamming of iron bars opening and then closing, followed by the loud sound of keys jingling on a large metal ring. Then a repeat of the steel bars opening and closing. The footsteps were rhythmic, and the repeating sounds of the footsteps grow louder and louder as they came closer to Crystal. From a distance, she could see two large women guards on either side of what appeared to be Mildred. They took large steps and had a no-nonsense look that was militantly alarming. Crystal was surprised to see Mildred not shackled. Mildred had aged well, considering her case and its drama.

Mildred was five feet nine and heavy for her height. Her skin is a dull coco brown and looked as if she could use a moisturizer. Her fingernails are long, brown, and unmanaged. She had strength in her face and hands. Her hair color was gray with a few strains of black. She is Jamaican and American descent and Her long legs allowed her to keep up with the guards. No doubt this was what made her the leader.

The prison bars opened, and Mildred walked in. crystal stood and introduced herself to Mildred. She thanked Mildred for agreeing to see her and to tell her firsthand the story of what happened two years ago.

Mildred, Essie, and Dora were strict Christians; they were fun loving, and they believed they were the overseers of their church. They were guardians, protectors at large. Everybody and everything must abide by, the rules of the Bible. If not, the consequence was death by default.

Mildred sat down looked at Crystal and asked, Are you a Christian? Why, yes, Crystal answered, I am.

Mildred then asked, Where do you go to church?

Crystal answered, I attend the Brighter Side Baptist Church.

yea, says Mildred as she looks Crystal over. A Baptist-huh?

Yes, ma’am. Crystal replies.

Okay, Mildred said, what do you want to know, child?

It was as if she gave Crystal an approval on the interview face-to-face. So Crystal turned on her tape recorder.

Crystal asked Ms. Mildred, will you start at the beginning and tell me how it all began?

Okay, Mildred answers. I will tell you everything from the beginning.

The Adulter and the Adulteress

Every Thursday morning, the ladies and I-that’s Essie, Dora, and me-would clean the church. You know cleanness is next to godliness just like it says in Psalm 51:12, NIV. You know I was seventy-eight, Essie was seventy-seven, and Dora was seventy-five when we excepted our call to