Excerpts from the Christian novel LOVE ON THE PULPIT will be posted throughout this month of May!
Read and be blessed.
Feel free to share it.
LOVE ON THE PULPIT – a novel
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
(Day 11)
Then Dave greeted generally, “Good afternoon, everyone.” He said, looking at the other people in the room, and then his eyes fell on Teni, who was still carrying the baby.
Teni! He did a double take and their eyes met. Such a small world. So, she is not busy today! Dave realised he was looking at her longer than necessary and he looked away.
This man is handsome, Teni thought, and the voice … seems strangely familiar. It seemed his eyes lingered on hers.
Dave looked past her back to Jimmy who was just concluding his phone call to the pastor.
Jimmy looked up. “It is settled.”
“Good. When do you want us to start?” Dave asked.
“Four o’clock. We have enough people around.”
“Okay. It’s downstairs, isn’t it?
“Yes.”
“Do you have a programme which you want me to follow?”
“No. Our pastor was to handle everything.”
Dave sat down and requested for a paper and a pen. Jimmy supplied them and Dave jotted some things down on the paper.
As he wrote, Teni noticed his strong hands and the well-trimmed nails.
“What about the names for the baby?” Dave asked.
Jimmy turned to Maryam who opened her purse and brought out a sheet of paper. Jimmy took it and gave it to Dave.
“Do we have anyone who can lead us in songs of praise?”
Maryam looked and pointed at Teni. “My friend here can take it.”
Teni smiled and looked from Maryam to Dave who was sitting across the room.
My, she’s beautiful! Dave found himself thinking again, as he looked at her. She wore a yellow shirt on a long black skirt. She used a neck chain and big yellow earrings, and her hair was brushed to a side. His eyes rested on her again. She was simply dressed but still managed to look like a queen.
Their eyes met again and this time, Teni felt sure he was actually looking at her as his eyes rested on her some seconds longer than necessary. She tried to read his expression but came up with nothing.
“Fine.” Dave said, before jotting down again.
“How many minutes should the praises last?” Teni asked.
Dave looked up at her, “About fifteen minutes, immediately after the opening prayer.”
“Okay.” Teni responded before handing the baby over to Maryam’s sister. From the corner of her eye she saw Dave looking at her again.
She took her purse and got up.
“I’ll be downstairs.” She said and went out closing the door gently behind her.
As she went down the stairs, she felt a little shaken. Who was Dave? And why was he looking at her, back in there? Could it be that he knew her? No, that wasn’t likely as she didn’t recognise him. Could it be that he liked her? Or probably disliked her? Or did she have a smug on her face or something? She rubbed a hand over her face and looked down at her skirt. There was no dirt stain.
Downstairs, she sat alone at a side and tried to gather her thoughts in preparation for her part in the naming ceremony, which would soon commence. She spoke in tongues a little before she began to think of suitable praise songs for the occasion, casting glances at the building as people went in and out.
Then she saw Maryam’s sister come out with the baby, followed by the new parents and Dave. There was a way he walked too, Teni thought. That confidence was evident in his stride.
She got up and went close to them in front.
Dave picked up the microphone and addressed the crowd of about one hundred people. “Shall we all rise for prayers?”
When he ended the prayer, he looked at Teni, who took that as a cue and stepped forward. She took the microphone from him and for the next eight minutes, sang different songs, and danced, full of life.
She ended the praises and started a worship song – You are Lord, You are life, You are Lord over everything, Alpha Omega Jehovah, The Prince of Peace, Wonderful Way-maker worthy of my offering, hallowed be Your name.
As she sang, her voice soared, flying high, taking Dave with it. A powerful presence of God came over him and he felt like kneeling down in worship of God.
Teni ended the worship three minutes later, said ‘Halleluyah’ and handed the microphone over to Dave. She went to the back to sit down while Dave took over, facing the people.
Teni had the opportunity to look at him freely, now. He was about six feet two inches tall and broad-shouldered. Probably thirty years. His shirt and pair of trousers were of good quality and his hands looked strong.
She listened with interest as he spoke in his magnetic voice. He talked briefly about the reason for the gathering before sharing a message he titled – God is a good God, to exhort the people. That lasted about ten minutes and then it was time for him to name the baby. He asked the baby to be brought to him and Teni noticed he was not wearing a wedding ring. If he was not married, he must be engaged, Teni was sure, but yet, she couldn’t help her feelings.
Some forty minutes later, the ceremony was brought to a close, after taking offerings and a testimony from the mother of the baby. Dave brought an envelope out of his pocket and gave the parents.
(To be continued.)
In this novel, you will realise the importance of being led by the Spirit of God.
WhatsApp +234-8023000773
Excerpts from the Christian novel LOVE ON THE PULPIT will be posted throughout this month of May!
Read and be blessed.
Feel free to share it.
LOVE ON THE PULPIT – a novel
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
(Day 12)
Teni had the opportunity to look at him freely, now. He was about six feet two inches tall and broad-shouldered. Probably thirty years. His shirt and pair of trousers were of good quality and his hands looked strong.
She listened with interest as he spoke in his magnetic voice. He talked briefly about the reason for the gathering before sharing a message he titled – God is a good God, to exhort the people. That lasted about ten minutes and then it was time for him to name the baby. He asked the baby to be brought to him and Teni noticed he was not wearing a wedding ring. If he was not married, he must be engaged, Teni was sure, but yet, she couldn’t help her feelings.
Some forty minutes later, the ceremony was brought to a close, after taking offerings and a testimony from the mother of the baby. Dave brought an envelope out of his pocket and gave the parents.
Teni rose from her seat and came to join Maryam, Jimmy and Dave in front. She took the baby from Maryam and listened as they chatted with Dave. She stole a glance at Dave again. He looked handsome, confident and composed. He had such a deep voice and possessed some kind of aloofness. And when their eyes met again, she felt something flow between them, or could she be mistaken?
Is he married or single? Then she heard Jimmy tell Dave, “Don’t worry, by the time you marry and have a child, you’ll understand.”
Dave laughed.
Maryam turned to Teni. “Teni, please take Dave inside and get him food and drink. Give the baby to my mother.”
Teni gave the baby to Maryam’s mother and came back to Dave. “Please come with me.” She said with a slight smile.
As she led Dave in, she was self-conscious. They entered the building and ascended the stairs. She opened the door of the apartment and they entered. Two people were in the living room and some were in the kitchen.
“Please sit down. What do we offer you? Fried rice, jollof rice, or pounded yam?”
Dave sat down. “I’m not sure I want to eat. Just let me have a cold drink.”
“I’ll make an arrangement for that but you have to eat something. How can you leave without tasting anything?” She was still standing.
He raised a hand. “Really, I’m okay. It’s just that I don’t always eat at ceremonies unless I have to.”
“This is one of those special times when you have to, please.” She smiled at him in an appealing manner which almost took his breath away.
Is this not the same person who talked to me on the phone? Dave wondered. He would not refer to the telephone conversations if she did not.
He smiled and said, “Well, you win. How can I refuse when you put it so sweetly?”
She felt happy. “So what should it be, fried rice or what?”
“Yes, fried rice is okay. Not much though.”
“Do you eat snail?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, give me a couple of minutes. And make yourself comfortable.” She said, giving him a smile again.
“Sure.”
There was a newspaper on the center table. Dave stretched his hand and took it, flipping through.
Teni went inside the kitchen. Some minutes later, she came back carrying a tray, followed by a lady who also carried a tray.
She set the contents of the trays down while Dave looked on. She had served two plates of the fried rice, and there was another plate of assorted meats and snails. She left again and soon came back with another tray, which contained cans of fruit juice, glass cups, cutleries and napkins. She served Dave and sat down on one of the sofas across from him, carrying the other plate of food.
As Dave reached forward to carry his food, he asked, “So Teni, how are you?” His smile was fixed on her.
She returned his smile. “I’m fine.” She drawled, shoving down her feelings of excitement.
“The worship song you took back there is one of my favourites. I thought you would take the solos as well.”
Won’t she talk about the telephone conversation? He wondered.
“I don’t really know the lyrics.” Teni admitted.
“Really? I know them. Would you want me to write the words out for you?”
“Oh please!” She put her plate down and produced a sheet of paper and pen, which she gave him.
As Dave wrote, he sang along quietly.
He sings too! Teni wondered.
He finished writing and returned the paper and pen to Teni. They continued to eat in silence, both of them busy with thoughts.
Should he bring the issue up to break the silence? Dave wondered. She was definitely different today. Why was she snobbish on phone?
As he prepared to talk, a lady came out of the kitchen with a plate of food in her hand. She came straight to them, greeted Dave and sat beside Teni, engaging her in a conversation.
Disappointed, Dave concentrated on his food. When he finished, he straightened up. “I’d like to be going.” He abruptly announced, not too happy with the lady that intruded.
“Oh! Okay.” Teni got up too. “Please excuse me.” She told the other lady.
Dave dipped a hand in his pocket and brought out his call card. “This is my card.”
(To be continued.)
In this novel, you will realise the importance of being led by the Spirit of God.
WhatsApp +234-8023000773
Available in bookshops in Nigeria,
And online on Okadabooks & Amazon
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