Drama in the Church Saga (27 page)

The serious look on Reverend Simms's face spoke volumes throughout the church.

“ ‘Why are you persecuting me?' That's what Jesus said to Saul,” he screamed from the pulpit. “I want everyone here to recognize how some of our ways are displeasing to God.” He slammed his fist down on the podium. “We gossip. Oh! Do we gossip?” The reverend exaggerated his words. “We gossip so much that we'll talk about anybody. We talk about our friends, our family, our co-workers, and we even talk about complete strangers. ‘Look at him with that shirt on that's two sizes too small.' ”

The congregation giggled.

“The things we say about others, whether it's said out loud or private thoughts we keep to ourselves, hurt God. Let me give you an example. Yesterday, the daily newspaper reported a story of a junior high student who died as a result of an eating disorder. When they laid her to rest she weighed a mere forty-six pounds. The reporter talked with family and friends, but the most frightening revelation came from the girl's best friend.” Reverend Simms read directly from the news clipping. “The thirteen-year-old was apparently the victim of vicious name-calling by classmates.
Fatso, hippo,
and
wide load
are just a few of the insults that were hurled at her within the hallways at school. To lose weight she starved herself, purged her meals and allowed herself to only eat two meals a week.”

Reverend Simms rubbed his chin, heavy in thought. “Those children who did the teasing did not set out to intentionally kill their classmate. They thought they were being funny. But the consequences of their words were slowly killing not only her spirit, but also the healing process of her loving herself. They were persecuting her through their speech. My final words—Beware of what you say to others.”

The moment Reverend Simms sat, the women's choir rose to their feet. Clothed in matching button-down blouses and blue denim skirts, they waited for their cue. Danyelle, the soloist, climbed her way out of the cramped and crowded choir box over to the microphone. The piano keys spun a familiar melody that embraced her soul.

Danyelle closed her eyes and swayed her forty-four-inch hips from side to side. Without thinking, she pushed a single braid away from her eye before performing her rendition of “Oh Mary, Don't You Weep.”

The passion Danyelle poured into the song was reflected in the tears she cried. Her strong soprano voice touched everyone. A few members dropped to their knees, while others waved their hands back and forth, thanking God for his goodness. Sister Gardner did her usual insanity act by grabbing the Christian flag, lifting it high in the air and sprinting through the church as if she had just lit the Olympic torch. Afterward, she always claimed Jesus had embodied her spirit.

Once the song concluded and Sister Gardner finished her marathon, Reverend Simms again approached the podium.

“I'm not going to hold you this morning, but I must mention two things. First, I would like to thank Reverend Baxter for joining us again for the second Sunday in a row.” He turned around to give his colleague a firm handshake. Then the congregation rose to their feet and gave him a round of applause. Reverend Simms stepped to the side and encouraged him to speak to the crowd.

The strikingly handsome thirty-something man possessed a close resemblance to Matthew McConaughey. His blue eyes sparkled. Golden locks of hair swept away from his face. His smile was charming. Dressed in black from head to toe, he stepped up to the podium. A tarnished cross dangled from around his neck. “Thank you, First Nazareth and Reverend Simms. It's such a blessing to be in the house of the Lord. Now, I know when Reverend Simms told me to come back soon, he didn't think I'd be back the very next week.” He laughed. “But my family and I”—he pointed to his wife and three young children who sat on the first pew—“enjoyed ourselves so much, we had to come back again.”

Everyone applauded.

“Now I understand why Reverend Montgomery comes into work dancing on Monday mornings. He's filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Reverend Colin Montgomery was First Nazareth's new associate pastor. One year ago the church began its hunt for Reverend Simms's successor. They prayed for a man of God who was not only a counselor, but also a teacher of the Word. Then they stumbled upon Colin at the Philadelphia Bible College. He was a professor there and happened to be looking for a church to call home. Colin was immediately interviewed and hired. His youthful spirit was refreshing, and that helped win the teenagers over to Christ.

“Church, Reverend Montgomery and Reverend Simms are both anointed. It's obvious how much they care about this church and their community.”

The church gave Reverend Baxter a round of applause, and Colin stood to give him a manly hug.

The bond shared between Colin and Reverend Baxter went beyond the usual boss-employee relationship. Colin felt like he could talk to him about anything. Reverend Baxter was a shining example of the kind of preacher he strived to become.

Reverend Simms stepped back up to the podium. “Lastly, the time has come for anyone interested to register for our annual Singles Retreat. This year it will be held at Split Rock Resort in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, and before anyone asks, yes, Reverend Montgomery will be attending the retreat.”

The single ladies blushed, the married women laughed, and the men in the church seemed upset over the amount of attention the new associate pastor received from the ladies. Reverend Montgomery's face turned red from embarrassment. He ran his fingers over his soft, curly hair. His thick eyebrows and heart-shaped lips made him the most sought-after man in the church. Women, young and old, flirted endlessly when in his presence.

“How old is Colin?”

Dean, Olivia's boyfriend, gave her a questioning look.

“I'm asking for my sister,” she quickly cleared up.

“Twenty-seven,” he whispered.

Satisfied with her man's answer, Olivia sat back in her seat with her four-year-old son Bryce sitting quietly on her lap. She nudged her cousin Val with her elbow to get her attention. “Cuz, are you going to sign up to go on the resort with me?”

Without hesitation, her fiancé, Julian answered for her, “Valencia will be a married woman soon, and she won't have any reason to attend a singles retreat.” He wrapped one of his long, thin arms around her shoulders and hugged her closer to him.

Olivia giggled inside. It was amusing to watch how overprotective Julian was of Val. Their love for one another seemed stronger than ever. Three years ago, Olivia thought she would never see them this happy again. The rough time they endured when Julian was drafted into the NBA put a rift between them that seemed beyond repair. The lure of money, women and cars was too much for Julian to bear. He gave in to his lustful desires, and a disastrous affair destroyed all Val's trust in him. Eventually he came to his senses and realized his mistake. Humiliated, he begged Val for a second chance. It took her a while to forgive him, but once she did, Julian wasted no time. He proposed, again. Their wedding was less than a week away.

Julian reached over Olivia and tapped Dean on his knee. “Yo, man, keep your woman in check.”

Dean turned his lips into a loving smile before planting a soft, gentle kiss on Olivia's cheek. She giggled like a teenager in love.

They'd been dating for close to two years, and it was apparent to any bystander that they were madly in love. A day wouldn't go by without someone asking, “When's the wedding?”

Dean West, a devoted Christian, also was raised at First Nazareth and lived on the same block as Olivia when they were kids. Growing up, Dean was quiet, kept to himself and didn't have many friends. Throughout high school he was often found in the library with his head buried in a book. Right after graduation he left Philadelphia to attend Tuskegee University on a full four-year academic scholarship.

Like Olivia's parents, Dean's parents died when he was young. When he was eight months old, Dean's mom and dad were killed in a car accident, leaving him in the custody of his paternal grandparents.

It wasn't until he'd finished school and returned home from Alabama that Olivia appreciated his less-than-average looks. The product of a white father and black mother, his blonde, curly hair and blue eyes were in stark contrast to his full lips, wide nose and chestnut brown complexion. He was nicknamed “Soul Man” after the movie, because of his close resemblance to the main character.

At the onset of their relationship, their love for one another blossomed. Dean treated Olivia like a precious jewel and would do anything to make her and Bryce happy. He loved them both and couldn't wait until they were a family.

Olivia felt blessed to have Dean in her life. He was not only a good man, but also a positive role model for her son, unlike his father. Bryce's biological father, Bryant, was currently doing time in a federal prison for trying to sell their son through an illegal adoption. Olivia would never forget the way he manipulated and used her. By being so naïve she almost lost her son forever.

That experience marked the beginning of a life makeover for her. Determined to make a drastic change, she cut twelve inches of her hair, leaving a short, classy, chic haircut tapered above her ears. Then she upgraded her outdated wardrobe by dressing more like a mom instead of a grandma.

Her final act of independence was noted by moving out of the apartment she shared with her sister. She no longer lived with Danyelle. Her need to be a responsible parent meant putting distance between her son and her sister's weed smoking.

Bryce bounced up and down on Olivia's lap and pointed excitedly. Olivia figured by her son's reaction that he'd spotted Tressie sneaking into church. Late as usual.

Tressie slid into the pew behind her friends. After taking off her coat and hat, she quietly acknowledged everyone before reaching out for Bryce to sit with her.

Olivia did a double take when she glanced back at Tressie. “You colored your hair?”

The entire pew turned around to get a good look at Tressie's honey blonde hair.

“Do you like it?” Her medium-length hair was full of bouncy, vibrant spiral curls.

“I love it,” Val responded. She ran her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. “Maybe I should get something done to my hair.”

“No.” Julian loved everything about Val. Her smooth ebony skin, thick shoulder-length hair and wide hips were what he dreamed about every night.

Bryce flashed the picture he drew in Sunday School class in Tressie's face.

“This is beautiful,” Tressie complimented him.

“It's for you.” His cheeks turned beet red when Tressie expressed her gratitude by kissing him on the cheek.

Olivia was mindful of the fact that her son was a flirt. That was why she prayed daily that he wouldn't grow up to be like his father.

Olivia beckoned Tressie closer with her index finger. “It's nice of you to join us this morning.”

“You know I was out of town on business. My plane arrived late, but I came straight here from the airport,” Tressie replied.

“Every week she has a different excuse.” Val eyed Tressie suspiciously. “Are you sure you're not meeting a man?”

Tressie gave her a ridiculous look. “It's not my fault my job requires extensive traveling.”

“Aunt Tressie.” Bryce tapped her shoulder. “Did you bring me anything?”

“I sure did.”

“Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't make any noise.”

Last Christmas Olivia had made all the girls promise to not buy Bryce any more toys that made any sound.

“I brought you back a drum set.”

The entire pew turned around to see if she was telling the truth. Tressie excitedly nodded her head.

“She's not bringing those drums to my house,” Olivia whispered to Dean before turning around. Then she summoned Tressie to her. “Tressie, will you go with me to the singles retreat? I don't want to go by myself.”

“Julian must have told you that Val couldn't go, because that's the only reason you would invite me,” Tressie sarcastically replied.

When Julian snickered, Tressie knew she was right.

Olivia pleaded her case. “That's not true. I always ask you to go.”

“Only after you ask Val.” Tressie shook her head. “It doesn't matter, because I'm not going. I don't like those singles retreats. The only thing there is saved men.” Tressie held up her hand to stop Olivia before she said something smart. “I already know that we're supposed to associate with saved men, but you know what kind of man I'm looking for. I want a—”

“A thug that knows Jesus,” Val, Julian and Olivia said in unison. The kind of man Tressie desired had been branded in their minds through the years, and everyone knew she would settle for nothing less.

Her infatuation with roughnecks who usually led a life of crime that eventually landed them behind bars was a mystery. Payce, Tressie's last boyfriend, cheated on her, conceived two children and jeopardized her freedom, but that wasn't a deterrent for her. Instead, she remained persistent, faithful and prayerful that God would send her the type of man she longed for.

Reverend Simms rambled on for another five minutes before praying over his congregation and bringing services to an end.

As Dean and Olivia gathered their things, Dean's grandpa approached them. “Don't you two forget, I'm expecting the both of you over for dinner tonight.”

Judge Ernie West, the only white member of First Nazareth's congregation and Dean's paternal grandfather, was a faithful member who demonstrated his love for Christ by helping his community. He took advantage of his power and position to put a stop to the injustices targeted toward minorities. Plus, he promoted programs that encouraged self-empowerment for the youth.