_Chapter 2_
Meanwhile, Rebecca had just finished talking to a mysterious man as she came out of the auditorium.
Their conversation was shot but full of prophetic words, which would come to pass sooner or later.
He approached Rebecca as she was walking in the hallway.
"Rebecca, you are welcome to Pentecostal Holiness Association in short, P.H.A."
"There is something I want to tell you. It is all about your life. You have given your life to Jesus and have decided to be with us. There are, however, battles ahead of you.
Many will come trying to drink water from your cup. Do not give them, no matter how they plead. You will be an enemy of many, but keep your testimony alive and guard it."
With that word, the mysterious man said goodbye and left Rebecca waiting to get her taxi back home.
Back in the pastor's office.
Pastor Benson welcomed the second young man in his office politely and made him sit down.
"Young man, feel free. What is your own testimony?" Pastor Ben cut to the chase.
Victor paused momentarily and said, "My Pastor, my testimony is that there is someone I have been preaching to for a long time, and finally, she came to church." Victor asserted.
"Who is this person?" Pastor Ben enquired. "It's sister Rebecca. I have been doing some door to door visits and even encouraged her to come to the crusade we had last time where she eventually became born again." Victor continued with calmness in his voice.
"Wonderful! That is recommendable." Pastor Ben could no longer hide his excitement over what he heard Victor saying.
"I have a specific question that requires a specific answer from you, and please answer it accordingly." Pastor Benson locked his gaze on Victor, with his eyes fixed on Victor's, searching any elements of mis-information that may proceed from him.
For a moment, Victor felt a surge of weight pressing down on him, the plan to keep his desire for Rebecca secret slowly melting down.
"Yes, Pastor, ask me, and I will answer you truthfully." Victor responded with politeness.
"Very well then, do you have an eye on Rebecca? Like, do you want to settle down with her?" Pastor Ben pressed.
"I do love her. There is something that keeps on telling me that she can make a good wife. But I want her to grow in the spirit first before I can even start to make any moves. I have helped her to get salvation, I want to see her flourish in faith, and then the rest will fall in place." Victor spoke firmly.
Pastor Ben called Mike to come inside as he was waiting outside the office.
Once Mike was made to sit, Pastor Ben cleared his throat to speak to them both, and he said:
"Children of God, you know that in all things we give thanks to God. And everything that happens, it happens for a reason, and sometimes we do not know the reasons." He paused a little and continued.
Both of you love sister Rebecca, the newcomer, and it has been picked up by some church departments like the protocol, who in turn informed me of your situation. You both should stop thinking about her for now, and if God allows, he will give a direction." Pastor Benson spoke with an authority like a leader that he is.
"But it was me that has stood on the gap praying that she should be converted and come to church. As a sign from God, why should Victor fight with me over this?" Bro Mike raised his concern to the pastor, who in turn retorted with yet a question, "Did you preach to her? Did you invite her to church? What if brother Victor here did what you did not do, and as a sign from God for him, she agreed to follow him here?"
With that, brother Mike was short of words, but his heart became heavy against Victor, knowing that the supposed easy path to marriage after meeting Rebecca is now challenged by someone, not God, not Satan but his brother in the Lord.
Pastor Ben dismissed the meeting after counseling them and warning them not to make a rush move towards Rebecca.
Mike and Victor left the pastor's office engulfed in silence as they walked.
No one was brave enough to break the heavy silence between them.
"Brother Mike," a voice cut through and broke the silence.
"The service is about to start. We have youth service today, remember?" Portia called out.
The three went together into the hall while the praise team was singing songs of worship, getting ready for the preacher to take up the stage.
Portia, known for her resolute decision-making, had already prepared three seats for Mike, Victor, and herself. For she had made up her mind that between Mike and Victor, one of them would be a perfect match of hers.
She was all joyous, seeing the two by her sides, one to the left and the other to the right.
"How did the meeting go with the pastor today?" Portia asked without beating around the bush.
The face of Victor twisted as though he had tasted a strange flavor of drink. "How do you mean?" He asked.
As Mike wanted to chim in and answer Portia of her question, his voice was choked by the noise from the front seats as they saw people falling down and demons shouting through them under the anointing of God in the man of God who was ascending the stage to share the Word of God.
At this stage, there was silence, total silence, such that you could hear your own heart pounding in your chest. People could not grasp as to what level of anointing this was?