Church of the Moment

By Chidiebere Nwokeocha

The battle for the souls of men is fierce and the battle line is drawn. Global Union Pentecostal Ministries (a.k.a Solution Arena) is the Church of the Moment. The church is marching on, but Capone Diabolos, the gate keeper of hell, is not folding his hands.

The church hierarchy, led by Bishop Charles Richmond, has been infiltrated and many are deceived. The quest for power, position, and prosperity, as well as the focus on miracles, signs, and wonders, has left the church bereft of true disciples. But who will defend the church from the enemy within?

The tares and wheat must come to harvest and every man will be rewarded accordingly, for God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490878294

Chidiebere Nwokeocha

Pastor Chidiebere Nwokeocha is the pastor in charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God—Eternal Life Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. He is also the team leader of Campus Evangelism and Outreach (CEO). He holds a BEng from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an MSc in engineering from Ahmadu Bello University and an MBA from Enugu State University of Technology Business School. He is an associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also an alumnus of the executive programmes of London Business School and the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is married to his best friend Onyinye Chidiebere-Nwokeocha and they are blessed with four children.

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Copyright © 2015 Chidiebere Nwokeocha.

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 publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-7830-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7831-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7829-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906664

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/30/2015

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Act 1

Act 1

Act 2

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5

Scriptural References

DEDICATION

To the Holy Spirit for your continual guidance, help and the inspiration to write.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to appreciate you, Daddy and Mummy, for your sacrifice and commitment in raising me in the ways of the Almighty God.

Thank you to my wife and friend Onyinye, for your love, immense contributions, painstaking reviews, editing and unalloyed support.

I can never thank God enough for my wonderful children Kelechi, Chidubem, Amarachi and Chimemerie for your love and support. You are truly special gifts from God.

Evangelist Edukugho, thank you for your fatherly counsel and guidance. And to all my siblings and friends for your encouragement. God bless you all.

ACT 1

SCENE 1

The finals of the United Nations Football Championship match between the Blood Devils and White Saints is drawn at three all after 120 minutes. The defending champions, the White Saints, haven’t lost the finals in the seven-year history of the tournament. But for the first time, Angel’s Stadium seems set to witness an upstaging—the White Saints appear to have met their match in the Blood Devils, as the match could go either way.

At a viewing center, all eyes are glued to the big screen. The tension is palpable. The only sound is the voice of the commentator.

COMMENTATOR 1. What a match! What a game! Wow, wow! The tension all over the world right now is electrifying. Every television and radio station is tuned to this match. Online reports say this is the most watched event in history! It is confirmed that over three billion people are monitoring this match through all available media channels. Will it be the Blood Devils or the White Saints? Whoever wins today’s match will rule the world! So, who will it be? The Devils or the Saints?

COMMENTATOR 2. Now the teams are selecting the players for the penalty shoot-out. Ah, the fans in the stadium have woken up; the Blood Devils fans have begun to chant in support of their team!

COMMENTATOR 1. Just like the Blood Devils, who spared no expense these last four years to buy the best players, even swiping a few White Saints players in the process, their most loyal fans have spared no expense, coming from all over the world for this match. Easily, the Blood Devils fans are a majority here at Angel’s Stadium, and they’re making it uncomfortable for the White Saints.

COMMENTATOR 2. Yes. White Saints fans are truly in the minority, and their voices can barely be heard now over the cacophony the Blood Devils fans are making! From utter silence a few minutes ago, the noise being generated here now is amazing! Honestly, if this match were to be decided by online voting or democracy, the White Saints would stand no chance.

COMMENTATOR 1. You know, the White Saints have been pushed against the wall before, and they always do amazing exploits. In fact, they seem to do better when they’re pushed against the wall, so this match is far from over.

COMMENTATOR 2. Well, that remains to be seen. We have to cut over to the studio for some breaking news, but we will be right back before the players begin to take their shots. Don’t touch that dial!

The picture of a female newscaster comes on the screen from World Global News (WGN).

NEWSCASTER. This is WGN breaking news. We’ve just received a report of a plane coming down somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. The plane—

Just then, there is a power outage, and the crowd in the viewing centre is thrown into a frenzy.

ACT 1

SCENE 2

Six men enter the room and walk directly to assigned seats. They are dressed in white shirts, black bow ties, and black suits. They are all handsome and clean shaven. A vacant chair is at the head of the table for the Capone.

DON PRIESTLY. Son of the morning! The one who weakened the nations!

The men instantly fall flat on their faces and hail their leader as he strides into the room, resplendent in a white suit.

COUNCIL MEMBERS (chorus). Capone!

Capone Diabolos strides around, examining his territory. He finds a council member not lying flat on the floor and plants his foot squarely on his back, pushing him flat.

He then places one hand on his chin, as if something just occurred to him.

CAPONE DIABOLOS. Come to think of it. I am the son of the morning. Yet man depicts me as an ugly, dumb creature with horns and a tail. Look at me: the anointed cherub who covers, the beautiful one, full of wisdom. You know, the Holy One made me so. He claims I was perfect in all my ways until that failed coup attempt! (Shakes his head bitterly.)

DON APOLLO, from his position under Diabolos’s foot: Boss, it is very good for us that human beings think you’re ugly. It is good for them to underrate you—it is to their own peril. In fact, it is good for business. While they expect a monster, you can always appear as an angel of light to—

COUNCIL MEMBERS (chorus). Kill, steal, and destroy!

Diabolos walks around a bit more and then takes his seat.

CAPONE DIABOLOS. I will yet ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High. My first attempt may have failed, but I haven’t given up. I will battle for the souls of humanity, and I will win! On to business! Sit down!

The council members scramble to their seats.

DON PRIESTLY. This is a strategy session of the Devil in council. The aim of this meeting is to access the level of damage done to Christians and to adopt a refined approach to derailing genuine believers. The agenda, as approved by our Capone, is before you. Don Adram, you’re to go first. Present your field report.

DON ADRAM. Boss, we are intensifying persecution. We are attacking churches, burning them down, killing their members, and destroying member businesses and careers.