Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises

By Sylvia Brown-Roberts

We all want to be happy. For many, that includes a loving relationship with someone. Fortunate ones find that person. Those even more fortunate have friends who want the best for them, too.

Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises, the third of author Sylvia Brown-Robertss Church Doors series, tells us the story of Nikolis McQuaigecalled NikkiMaca teacher in Trenton, New Jersey. Shes a single woman in her early forties. NikkiMac has been a faithful member of a local church congregation for several years. Her blossoming relationship with assistant minister Adam Greene brightens her days. For the first time in her life, shes dating a man according to Gods boundaries. NikkiMac wonders if marriage is in their future or if some dark issues from the past or present conflicts will stand in their way? Can any relationship withstand her best friend Jacees need to compete for NikkiMacs attention with a new friend or Sister Chloes attempt to destroy her reputation in the church? Or the threat from a dangerous character from her childhood who forces his way back into NikkiMacs life?

In Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises, NikkiMacs gritty urban community and the local congregation hum with joy and obstacles, but through it all, she relies on Gods grace to love, care for, and forgive others. Its a lesson we all should learn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491783405

Sylvia Brown-Roberts

Sylvia Brown-Roberts is a retired public school teacher. She is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A.) and Rider University (M.A.). Her four earlier novels in this series are Behind Church Doors, Beyond Church Doors, Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises, and Church Doors Book 4: Won’t Quit!

Book preview

BEHIND AND BEYOND CHURCH DOORS

PROMISES

Copyright © 2016 Sylvia Brown-Roberts.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8338-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8339-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8340-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015919437

iUniverse rev. date: 12/21/2015

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1   Take Me to the Water

Chapter 2   Is Someone There?

Chapter 3   A Friend in Trouble

Chapter 4   A Violation

Chapter 5   Miss Lucy Bergamot and Princeton

Chapter 6   Wedding Bells

Chapter 7   Home Again

Chapter 8   Sister Chloe’s Church Guest

Chapter 9   Brother Adam Opens Up

Chapter 10   Tasha Pace and NikkiMac

Chapter 11   For the Children

Chapter 12   Sister Chloe’s Game Night

Chapter 13   Lucy Bergamot and the Church Ladies

Chapter 14   Isn’t That a Shame?

Chapter 15   Tea and Talk with Angeleese

Chapter 16   The Double Date

Chapter 17   Cupcake on a Mission

Chapter 18   Cletus Catches a Break

Chapter 19   Repentance

Chapter 20   Church Talent Showcase

Chapter 21   Wednesday Night Bible Study

Chapter 22   A Friday Night Proposal

Chapter 23   Happenings at Lucy Bergamot’s Salon

Chapter 24   Another Wedding

Acknowledgements

I thank God for His mercy and His grace.

Thanks to my family, friends, and readers who’ve traveled with me on this

Church Doors series journey.

Peggy Brown and Pamela Washington, I owe you more than thanks for your professional assistance and wonderful encouragement.

In loving memory of the late Rita Cook

Introduction

My name is Nikolis McQuaige. I like to be called NikkiMac. I’m a Christian. I’m in my very early forties and I’m single. For the last several years, my focus has been on living a faithful life in Christ.

I’ve been blessed to begin a chaste dating relationship with the assistant minister of our congregation. I wasn’t looking for it, but one day Brother Adam Greene asked me if we could learn more about each other. According to him, he noticed my efforts in teaching our children at church as well as my work in other church projects. So far, our Friday Date nights have been going well.

I teach in a public school in Trenton, New Jersey. Jacee Fontinetta Jackson is my best friend, a fellow teacher, and my sister in Christ. Anna Maria DelGrosso is a newer friend and a coworker of mine. She’s been attending church with me on a regular basis. I pray that she’ll accept Christ soon.

My parents died when I was in my twenties. Brother Foster Pace, I call him Poppa Pace, has been my father figure by choice for many years. He’s an older and faithful Christian brother who has looked out for me since I met him. My friend Cletus is a brother in Christ who is important to me. He used to be the neighborhood drunk, but now he’s an example of how Christ can change one’s life for the better. My circle of friends continues to grow.

God has strengthened me. Consequently, there are only a few people who get on my nerves. One of them is Tasha Pace, the wayward daughter of Poppa Pace. She tries to annoy me whenever she can. I think it’s because she’s jealous of my positive relationship with her father. Although I haven’t seen her much lately, I do pray for her. At church, Sister Chloe doesn’t like me. I’ve tried to fix our relationship, but she won’t let me. Also, I haven’t been able to completely shake the feeling that there’s a certain someone watching me, and not for a good reason. I just can’t put my finger on who it is.

I try to handle troublesome people the way the Bible tells me to, and not according to my will. I’m getting better about allowing God to help me improve. I’m determined to be who God wants me to be in this life. I’m still a work in progress.

Chapter 1

Take Me to the Water

Excuse me, NikkiMac, but didn’t you wear that same dress to church last week?

I pause on the church steps and spin around to see who’s trying to work my nerves on this fine Sunday morning. It’s Sister Chloe Shasheem, my self-proclaimed church adversary. When I open my mouth to reply, Anna Maria beats me to the punch.

What’s it to you, Sister Chloe? We’re here for worship, not for a fashion critique.

Sister Chloe remains quiet. She rolls her eyes at me first, then at my friend Anna Maria.

I don’t know how many times I have to tell Anna Maria that I can fight my own battles. Thanks, Anna Maria, but I’ve got this.

Okay, NikkiMac. Anna Maria stops talking but she doesn’t go inside the church building. She stands with her hands folded across her chest and watches Chloe. I face my nemesis.

For your information, Sister Chloe, this is a different dress, but even if I wear the same dress for two, or five, or fifty Sunday worship services, the Lord approves of the fact that I’m here to worship.

Amen to that, Sister NikkiMac! Brother Carlos moves ahead of us and holds the door open for Anna Maria and me. Come on in, ladies. Chloe narrows her eyes and looks like she has a bad taste in her mouth, but she still doesn’t say anything. Anna Maria and I walk into the lobby.

NikkiMac, when is Chloe going to get over herself? You don’t want Alex Carson. That relationship has been over for the longest time. Why doesn’t she act like a Christian?

Every Christian doesn’t act like one. I don’t plan to let Chloe steal my joy. We enter the auditorium and an usher leads us to our seats. There’s the sound of soft conversation as people settle in for the opening of service.

Brother Flowers taps the bell on the podium and announces, Good morning. It’s time for us to begin our Sunday morning worship service. Let’s bow our heads for opening prayer.

After a short prayer, Brother Flowers asks, Are there any special prayer requests?

I’m surprised when no one stands up, because this is the part of service that a number of members live for. They often bare their souls, but I think some of them give out too much information in this large group setting. A few of the nosy members rely on the prayer requests to gather items for out-of-church chat fests:

Did she say her husband was out of work? Well, why is he driving that new car?

He had to put his teenager out of the house. Sounds like that child is on drugs again.

They have problems in their marriage? They should, because they both work all the time.

Just when I think we’ve escaped the prayer requests, elderly Sister Blake raises her hand.

Yes, Sister Blake?

"Brother Flowers, thank you for recognizing my hand. Please excuse my seat. I just got my walker situated and I don’t want to move it out of place."

That’s fine, Sister Blake. What’s your request?

Well, you all know that besides Jesus, my best friend is Cat, my dog. He’s been with me going on ten years. Cat is my constant companion. About the only place I don’t bring him with me is here to church. While I’m here, he sits on the back of the sofa in my living room, looks out the window, and watches for me to come back home.

I wonder how Sister Blake knows what Cat does when she’s not there. Brother Flowers looks like he wants Sister Blake to get to the point.

Yes, you want to request prayer about your cat, Sister Blake?

No, about my dog, Cat.

Dog is a cat?

No, Cat is a dog. Please pray for me about Cat, my dog.

Brother Flowers looks confused, but he presses on, even though whispers now travel around the auditorium. Okay, Sister Blake, we’ll pray for you about your Cat who’s really a dog.

He’s really Cat.

Okay, we’ll pray for you about him. What’s the nature of his illness?

He’s not ill, Brother Flowers. Cat is dead. My dog, Cat, died last night. Please pray for me because Cat, my dog, is dead and I’m going to miss him so much. He was the only company I had. She sniffles and then pulls out a balled up handkerchief from inside her sleeve. She wipes her crinkled eyes.

Anna Maria whispers, Oh, that poor lonely old woman has lost her best friend. She goes over to Sister Blake and places her arm around the elderly lady’s shoulders. My eyes fill with tears for Sister Blake. She’s usually a mixture of feisty and sweet, but today she looks broken.

Brother Flowers finds his words. Sister Blake, please know that the hearts of your fellow church members hurt with you in the loss of your beloved pet.

Amen, Sister!

God bless you, Sister Blake.

We bow our heads and Brother Flowers gives a sweet prayer of comfort for Sister Blake. The church says, Amen. Sister Sharlette Johnson, our minister’s wife, moves to sit next to Sister Blake, who seems to welcome her presence. Anna Maria returns to her seat next to me. Our song leader starts singing Leaning On The Everlasting Arms and we follow along. This is probably a perfect hymn for Sister Blake right now. After two more hymns, we take communion, and then sing O Thou Fount of Every Blessing. During the last chorus, I feel a light tap on my shoulder. The touch is from assistant minister Adam Greene. He often does that to me when he walks to the front of the auditorium. Adam’s charming attention always makes me joyful. I draw in a deep breath and watch him as he passes by me and takes a seat on the front pew. My mind wanders from the hymn to my growing relationship with the assistant minister.

Anna Maria notices my reaction. She smiles and shakes her head before she whispers, You’ve got it bad, NikkiMac.

I really don’t care what she says, because for the first time in my adult life, I’m dating a man the Christian way. Adam and I share affection, but we don’t cross the line. We’re definitely attracted to each other, but we know that God wants us to honor Him in our relationship. We’re not husband and wife, so we don’t behave like we are. We’re taking the time to know one another outside of the bedroom. Actually, Adam is better at this self-control thing than I am. However, when my mind wanders, I reflect on what the Bible says about purity, and that makes me stronger.

NikkiMac, stop daydreaming and pay attention. Our minister’s about to speak to the church. Anna Maria gives me a mischievous wink before she opens her notepad and picks up her Bible.

Minister Obadiah Johnson stands before the congregation. Good morning to all of you. God’s grace has enabled us to come together to hear His word and to have fellowship together. We ought to praise Him for all His blessings. We need to have a spirit of thankfulness. Isn’t that right, church?

Amen! Amen!

Praise Him!

Remember, church, praising God is more than calling out words. Our daily walk should give praise to God. In all our everyday situations, our behavior should be Christ-like. Turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19. There’s the familiar, comforting sound of pages turning. Please read this passage with me. After we read, Minister Johnson continues.

Let’s review this incident involving Jesus. On His way to Jerusalem, he entered a small village. Ten men with leprosy met him. Because of their severe skin disease, they were considered unclean and had to stay away from others, who feared they might get infected. As a result, these ten men didn’t walk right up to Jesus. They stood away and called out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus listened to them. He showed them mercy, and told them what to do and where to go to be cleansed. The ten men obeyed and were cured. However, only one of the men returned to Jesus, praised God, and thanked Jesus. Only one. Isn’t that a shame, church?

Yes, preacher!

A shame before the Lord!

Scandalous!

Minister Johnson waits for quiet and then asks, How many of us act like the nine unthankful lepers? How many of us neglect to praise God daily for His tender mercies to us? We see in this passage that Jesus expects us to be thankful and give praise to God.

Amen!

That’s right!

Praise God!

While Minister Johnson reminds us more of the ways we can show thankfulness, I take notes to help me in my personal Bible study time.

Church, in my closing, I encourage you to praise God and give Him thanks always.

Amen! Amen!

Glory to God!

Minister Johnson stops speaking and bows his head. The twins, Sisters Lelah and Lolah Maze, stand up and clap their hands. Sister Melody waves her hands in the air. Some brothers on the front pew stand and bow their heads. Others in the auditorium continue with verbal praise to God. This is the closest we come to shouting in this congregation. The group’s expression is spirited, but pure and orderly. The praise isn’t focused on the minister, but on God. My eyes get moist as I think of all my blessings. In particular, Anna Maria DelGrosso is still a friend. She hasn’t been added to the church, but she attends and participates like she’s a member. I glance at her. She looks like she’s praying.

Minister Johnson gives the call of invitation and Brother Vincent asks us to stand. He leads us in I Surrender All. The next thing I know, Anna Maria has hold of my arm. She whispers, Come on, NikkiMac. I’m ready.

What did you say? I’m in a daze, but I hear the church sing the third verse of I Surrender All.

I told you, NikkiMac, that I’d get baptized when I was ready. Well, today’s the day. I want you to walk up front with me. Let’s go! She grabs my hand and we walk down the aisle to meet Minister Johnson.

He wears a joyful smile as he announces, Praise the Lord! Miss Anna Maria DelGrosso has come forward for baptism. She’s been attending services and helping out with church activities so often that many of you probably thought she’d already been baptized. We’re thankful to God that she’s answered the call.

Amen!

Yes, Lord!

I step away from Anna Maria and Brother Johnson addresses her. Anna Maria DelGrosso, if you believe, please repeat after me: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Anna Maria repeats the confession in a clear, strong voice.

This confession brought death to Christ, but will bring life to you after you’ve completed your obedience through baptism. You’ll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to help you live faithfully. Continue to worship, study the Bible, serve the Lord, and it will be well with your soul. Please follow Sister Longstreet to the dressing room. She’ll assist you with clothing for baptism.

Brother Johnson, may Sister NikkiMac come to the dressing room with us?

Of course, Miss Anna Maria. Your request doesn’t surprise us, does it, church? There’s some warm laughter.

People here know that Anna Maria and I have become dear friends. I’m thankful she’s decided to put on Christ. At least this time, I don’t have to wear my orange lifeguard uniform to a baptism. That was the case when sweet and special Angeleese insisted I be prepared to save her in case of a problem during her baptism. She had a fear of drowning, so she asked me, a trained lifeguard, to stand by the baptism pool in my lifeguard gear. That way, she felt safe enough to be immersed. What can I say? It worked, praise God. Now Angeleese is a faithful member of the church.

In the dressing room, I watch Sister Longstreet gather the thick, white cotton pants and the white tunic. She hands them to Anna Maria, who then goes behind a curtain and quickly gets into the white outfit. She returns to the dressing room, twists her long hair into a topknot and covers it with the swimming cap. She hands me her gold earrings and bracelet. Anna Maria doesn’t appear nervous, like lots of people do at this point. She looks peaceful, like she knows she’s about to enter a wonderful and new spiritual life.

As two brothers collect the offering, the hymn Take My Life, And Let It Be rings out from the congregation. Brother Sanders offers thanksgiving for the collection and prays that we use it for the glory of God.

Then, Anna Maria winks at me and nods that she’s ready. We walk to the steps that lead down into the pool. My Poppa Pace is in the baptism pool and he guides Anna Maria down the three steps until she stands in the pool next to him. I look down on them and caress a thick dry towel. One of the ushers opens the curtain. Poppa Pace stands facing the audience. The people see Anna Maria in profile. Poppa Pace places his left hand on her back and raises his right hand.

Anna Maria DelGrosso, in light of your confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. He leans Anna Maria back and immerses her in the water, and quickly lifts her up out of it.

Amen!

Praise the Lord!

Hallelujah! Another soul saved!

The curtains in front of the baptistery close as Anna Maria and Poppa Pace step out of the water. Poppa Pace goes to the men’s dressing room. I hand Anna Maria the towel to dry her face and we return to the women’s dressing room. Once inside, I don’t care that she’s