Written by Glorie Adepoju
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TWENTY-TWO
“You said in your word, father, concerning the works of my hands command ye me. Minister Kofi is the work of your hands. I command you to intervene speedily and deliver him from the snare of the fowler in the name of Jesus!” Pastor Sam’s voice echoed in his prayer room.
He knelt and began to pray aggressively in the Holy Ghost. Crouching, he groaned for hours like a woman in labour.
With the speed of light, he was transported in the spirit.
He found himself in another place. It was clearly a shrine.
Pastor Sam was shocked to realize he was the one literally glowing in the darkness of the shrine, illuminating it.
A voice crying for help pierced the silence of the night.
Pastor Sam recognized the voice, it was Minister Kofi’s voice. Pastor Sam looked around with urgency, the voice was coming from the somewhere in the shrine, but he didn’t know where exactly.
“Somebody help!!!” the voice conveyed a deep desperation.
Pastor Sam looked around again, and his eyes landed on a figurine right there in the shrine.
“Yes, this is it, Minister Kofi has been bound in there.”
The figurine was only a distance away, Pastor Sam tried to reach for it.
“Don’t you dare!!!” came a loud voice that dripped with terror.
Pastor Sam spun around; an entity stood some steps away. Hideous and with a pronounced oppressive aura.
“Kofi Boadi is mine. He belongs to me! The great Aguga, the god with unmatched power.”
“Wrong!” Pastor Sam countered with unmistakable confidence.
“Kofi Boadi is a citizen of the heavenly Kingdom. He is a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar person, called out of darkness into His marvellous light.”
Aguga let out a laughter of pure mockery.
“Indeed!! Let’s take a trip down memory lane.”
A gourd of water stood between them. Aguga pointed to the gourd, the water bubbled noisily. Slowly the surface of the water became a screen. Images appeared and came to life, Pastor Sam watched with intense concentration at what was playing out.
“Pls have mercy, I will do anything…” came the plea from a female, she knelt before Aguga, she shuddered in fear.
“I remain Aguga, the god with unmatched powers. What is the name of your brother?” Aguga questioned, his gaze fixed on her
“Kwesi…Kwe…Kwesi Appiah!” She said fidgeting.
“I will heal him, but in exchange, everyone in your lineage must be sacrificed to me. They will serve as Priest servicing my altar from generation to generation.” Aguga stated, leaving no room for negotiation.
“As you please!” She spoke.
“In seven days, time, bring your brother for the initiation and then we proceed to seal the covenant.” Aguga declared
The images disappeared.
Facing Pastor Sam, Aguga spoke, “Yes, Kofi Boadi Appiah undoubtedly belongs to the Appiah lineage” Aguga said.
“But few years back…” Aguga pointed to the gourd, and the water began to bubble again and it became a screen. Images popped up again and came to life.
Pastor Sam recognized Kofi immediately, he was with an elderly man. They had a facial resemblance, and Pastor Sam guessed it was Kofi’s father.
The man was pounding some herbs in front of an old hut in a village, he and Kofi were in the middle of an argument.
“Egya, No, I’m not interested. I will never do such a thing.” Kofi said angrily.
“Eii Kofi!! This is not a subject for debate! You know very well that our lineage has been sacrificed to Aguga. It’s your turn to take over from me, If you refuse to come for the initiation tonight, the penalty is death. Aguga is merciless and you know it!!!” Kofi’s father replied equally angry.
“The word of God says greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Aguga is no match for my Jesus.” Kofi said confidently
“Give your life to Jesus Egya. Jesus loves you. Jesus can deliver you from Aguga.” His tone was one of a concerned son.
Infuriated, his father hissed loudly and stormed inside, the pounded herbs forgotten.
The images disappeared and Aguga spoke again, furiously.
“Kofi refused to succeed his father! And since then, he has been on death’s hit list. He has to pay the price with his life!” Aguga let out a malicious laugh.
“Never! Jesus has paid the price. Kofi has surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus. He is no longer subjected to your evil covenant. He has been delivered from the curse of the law!!! For if a man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things have become new. The scripture says “The rod of the wicked shall never fall upon the righteous–”
“—lest the righteous put forth his hand onto iniquity.” Aguga cut in, quoting the scripture accurately to Pastor Sam’s surprise
“Of course, the moment He surrendered his life to Christ, the gate of his life was automatically locked against my fiery darts. For so many years, we tried but no avail.”
“At last, he spoke our language and unlocked the gate.”
There came the wicked laughter again.
“He spoke your language? He unlocked the gate for you?” Pastor Sam inquired, confused .
“The language of sin!!, he indulged in immorality, he committed adultery and unlocked the gate for us, activating the potency of the existing covenant.” Aguga said, looking straight into Pastor Sam’s eyes as he said the next words as if to be make certain his words hit their mark.
“He that breaks the hedge the serpent will bite. Sounds familiar?”
Pastor Sam watched the evil dancing in Aguga’s eyes.
“And as you can see the biting has begun…”
Aguga stated accompanied with a malicious laughter.
Pastor Sam was transported again, from the drastic change in the atmosphere, he knew he was back in his prayer room. As he opened his eyes, he confirmed he was truly back to his prayer room. His heart beat wildly at the deep revelation he had just encountered.
Minister Kofi has defiled his matrimonial bed?
Jesus Christ!
Aguga’s last words continued to ring in his spirit.
“He that breaks the hedge the serpent will bite. Sounds familiar? And as you can see the biting has begun…”
Pastor Sam sat up,
“Flesh and blood have not revealed this. Thank you, Jesus, for revealing this to me”
Several questions lay in his heart as he began his routine for the day.
He was not certain of the correct answers, but he was certain of one thing. That ruthless and hideous demon, had a legal standing and it was only a matter of time before Aguga snatched Minister Kofi’s life.
If any thing was on their side, time was not. They had to act fast.
He placed a call to Sister Ama. After confirming she was home, he decided to include in his plans for the day, a quick visit to Minister Kofi’s home. He informed his driver and in a few minutes time they were on their way.
Although the driver had parked inside Minister Kofi’s compound. Pastor Sam remained in the car, Does Sister Ama have any idea that her husband had been unfaithful all these while?
What if she has been aware of it all along?
Has adultery become Minister Kofi’s lifestyle or was it a one-time event?
Pastor Sam was troubled by the unanswered questions that plagued him.
He sighed, braced himself and stepped out of the car.
Sister Ama welcomed him in, and updated him about Minister Kofi’s condition.
She said he woke up last night, coughing out blood and since then hasn’t been unable to move a single part of his body. She ushered Pastor Sam to the master bedroom.
Minister Kofi lay on the bed, his face expressionless, blood-stained toilet rolls were on the stool beside the bed.
One look at Minister Kofi and Pastor Sam could not believe how fast his condition had deteriorated. The devil was indeed merciless.
Sister Ama looked like she needed sleep, a lot of it. She had probably interceded all through the night just like he had.
He told her with vivid descriptions, the revelation he had, not missing out a single detail. He watched the emotions displayed on Sister Ama’s face. First her eyes went wide with shock, and for several seconds she remained that way. Her mouth twisted in disbelief; she opened her mouth no words came out.
Her reaction was a clear indication that she was clueless that her supposed loving husband had not been faithful to her and their union. Pastor Sam’s heart went out to her, he knew better than to spare her that part of the revelation. She needed to know it all, however painful. In the middle of such fierce battle, they couldn’t afford to be fighting blindly.
“Kofi, a…adultery?! you have defiled our marital bed?! When?? how??why???!” She said jutting out her chin in anger. She pointed at him, tears streamed down from eyes flashing in anger,
“Have you defiled our marital bed?! Kofi answer me!” She screamed loudly, shaking him violently.
“Sister Ama, you know he can’t answer you.”
“You told me that last night he woke up coughing out blood and since then hasn’t been unable to move a single part of his body.” Pastor Sam said softly, hoping to calm her down, it worked.
“I know, but I need him to answer!!, I need him to explain all these to me. To tell me this is not true!!! To tell me what I did wrong to deserve this.” she said, her body shook as she sobbed.
“Was it the strange woman I saw?” Sister Ama asked, her voice was like a whisper, Pastor Sam caught her words and guessed she was thinking aloud.
“What strange woman?” He asked her.
His guess was right that she had been thinking aloud because she looked up at him, surprised he heard her.
“I had a dream sometimes back, where I saw Kofi with a strange woman” she said with a sigh.
“What did you do about it? Did you inform him? did you both pray about it?” He asked eagerly, all in one breath.
A look of guilt clouded her expression
“No sir, I disregarded the dream, I thought my husband could never do such a thing. I even believed the devil wanted to use the dream to plant seeds of discord in my marriage. And I didn’t tell my husband, because I… I didn’t want him to feel I was accusing him of anything.” she said
Pastor Sam’s heart fluttered, and he let out an exasperated sigh, annoyed.
“Just look at how you both played right into the enemy’s hands. What a pity. We desperately need a prayer for mercy.”
“Sister Ama, don’t let unforgiveness hinder your prayers. Pls the devil is not taking chances on this matter. Your family, Minister Kofi’s life is important to me and to God. Pls don’t let us allow the devil to win.” he said.
“Yes sir;”
“Let us pray.”
…to be continued…
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TWENTY-THREE
The clock chimed; it was 1 a.m. Ama lay wide awake in the guest room. For hours she had sought sleep but it completely eluded her. Her troubled mind was the culprit.
“Infidelity, oh Jesus, Kofi! How could I have been so spiritually insensitive?” she asked herself. The tears threatened to surface again, she kept them at bay. Her head was hurting after crying her eyes out.
“Could it be someone I know…?” She mused.
Ruminating, she searched her mind and a memory flashed back to the night Kofi had come home late after counselling Mrs Frimpong.
“You were there since 8 p.m.?” Ama had asked cautiously.
“I am telling you; it was so tiring” Her husband replied.
Have I truly been blind to the obvious?
She thought as her mind flashed to another event once again. This time it was that afternoon when she entered Kofi’s office as he was having a supposed counselling session with Mrs Frimpong.
She remembered how she knocked once and she pushed the door open, a perfect time to catch her husband and Mrs Frimpong holding hands across his table. Kofi had snatched his hands immediately.
The vibration of her phone snapped her back to reality. Ama blinked as she picked her phone. Caller ID, Jackie. Ama picked up,
“Hello Jackie.”
Jackie’s voice flowed through the speaker, sounding very worried
“Hello, Aunty. Finally, I got in touch with you.” She sighed in relief.
“I have been trying your line for weeks now since I travelled back home. Aunty, I have been worried, you haven’t been picking up. Dad has also been worried.”
“I’m sorry about that. Jackie.” Ama said and then proceeded to express how she truly felt about Jackie’s sudden behaviour.
“I’m sure you know that I’m not happy with you, immediately after you finished your exam, your dad said you still had a few more weeks to stay if you wanted to.”
“Instead, you packed your things and left that morning. You didn’t even wait for me to get back home. You just left a clumsy note saying goodbye, and that you are sorry. Sorry for what Jackie?” Ama questioned but got no answer.
Jackie suddenly went silent, too silent; “Hello, Jackie are you there?”
Ama heard a ruffling sound, and Jackie sniffed.
Jackie is crying? What exactly is going on?
“Aunty, I have offended you. I can’t stand to look you in the face. You have shown me so much love, just like a mother, and yet I… I’m sorry Aunty.”
“Jackie, what are you talking about? I deserve much more than an apology. I deserve an explanation dear. I’m completely lost.”
“Its about your… Aunty, I pray that one day God will give me the courage to tell you. And when I do, I pray you will have the heart to forgive me. Pls know that I always love you. Goodnight.” Jackie said, and then the line went dead.
“Jackie, hello? its about my what??…hello?” Confused, Ama dialled the number again.
“Switched off? What is happening? What has Jackie done that is so bad she can’t even tell me? What exactly is she sorry about?” Ama asked herself, rocking back and forth on her seat.
“My what? …could it be…my husband Kofi, Jackie and Kofi?” She stilled as if the possibility was unimaginable.
A past event replayed in her head, a conversation she had with Jackie.
“I can’t imagine my husband involved in such a thing.” Ama had muttered back then, thinking aloud.
“And I wouldn’t mind your husband, he is so cute.” Jackie had said feigning dreamy eyes, it was then Ama realized she had thought out loud. Ama had stared at Jackie in obvious shock, Jackie burst out laughing.
“Common, Aunty I’m just kidding. I could never imagine doing something like that with Uncle Kofi, I’m not a monster.” Jackie had said on a more serious note and Ama remembered she had relaxed a notch.
Ama tucked the memory away, “But Jackie is a child of God. Or was that just pretence?” She asked, the tears steaming down her cheeks once again.
“Eii, Akua, you warned me!” Ama lamented bitterly.
A particular warning of her friend lingered and replayed, she flashed back to Akua’s response after she told her about Kofi’s involvement with Mrs Frimpong. Ama had told her about the dream she had about a strange woman.
“Let me remind you Ama, your husband is a man!” Akua stated.
“I know, but I can’t conclude just like that! What if I’m wrong?!” Ama had countered defensively
“OK fine, maybe you shouldn’t conclude, and I’m not asking you not to trust your husband. But Ama! you must tighten your security. Shine your eyes. These women are all getting close to your husband, even that Jackie girl in your house.”
“God is sending you a message through this dream.” Akua had said and the memory fizzled away
Ama clasped her hand over her head, shaking her head.
“You warned me about strange women Akua, but I wasn’t careful enough. Now look at me”
She lamented, her heart heavy with pain.
…to be continued…
Check out “The Marriage Bed is Pure” here
TWENTY-FOUR
Ama parked her car, and stepped out.
Pastor Sam and his wife were a strong pillar of support in this raging storm. Ama was beyond grateful for their selfless show of love and compassion. Early this morning, she received a call from Pastor Sam and Pastor Mrs, requesting that she come over to their house as soon as she could. They didn’t mention why. She obliged and left the hired help to tend to Kofi in the meantime.
Did something worse happen?
She wondered as she made her way to Pastor Sam’s front door. She pressed the bell, and in some minutes Pastor Mrs opened the door. Her bright smile was inviting.
“Good morning, Sister Ama.”
“Good morning Osofo Maame.” Ama said forcing a smile. After a brief hug, Pastor Mrs led her to the living room. Pastor Sam was there.
After she had settled down, Pastor Sam spoke; “Sister Ama, I’m sorry you had to leave your husband in someone’s care and rush down here.”
One could never tell from Pastor Sam’s voice whether something was wrong or not. His voice was always composed as usual, giving nothing away.
“Oh, No problem at all sir.”
“Yesterday whilst I was praying with the intercessors, the Lord said He has something to show you, Sister Ama. I don’t know what it is myself. The Lord instructed that you should come over to our house this morning.”
“OK sir, thanks so much Daddy and Mummy for your ceaseless prayers over my family. Despite our extreme carelessness.” Overwhelmed, she burst into tears. Pastor Mrs. came over and pulled her into a bear hug. Ama relished the comfort.
“Sister Ama, I know this is a trying time for you as a wife. I can imagine how devastated you feel now. Yet I also know you have been blessed with inner strength. I want you to know we are here for you. And God will not forsake you.” The soft voice of Pastor Mrs was so soothing and calming, the words of consolation hit their mark in her soul, and she felt peace wash over her.
“Thank you Mummy…the–” a loud pounding of the door interrupted them
“Osofo!!!!!!” a voice cried desperately.
Ama recognized the voice immediately.
Akua?
They all exchanged glances. Pastor Sam rushed to open the door, Akua burst in, dropping to her knees at the centre of the living room, crying for all it was worth.
“Osofo, help me!”
“What is wrong?!” Pastor Sam asked, he pulled her up and he led her to sit. Yet, it did nothing to lessen her agitation.
“It’s my daughter, Ohemaa!!!”
“What happened to her?” Pastor Mrs asked, voicing Ama’s thoughts.
“She was running a temperature last night, I gave her some drugs to calm her down…” Akua’s voice cracked, her eyes brimmed with tears, she swallowed and continued.
“This morning, she started gasping, I rushed her to the hospital. She is presently in the hospital, unconscious. Pls Pastor you need to come with me now!” Akua began to cry profusely.
Akua was usually the stronger one and Ama had always been the emotional and sentimental one. Ama had never seen her friend in this state before, but then again, Ohemaa had never been in this state before.
Pastor Sam sprung to his feet, his wife and Ama follow suit. Suddenly Pastor Sam stopped in his tracks, “Thank you, Holy spirit” he said and smiled faintly.
To their utter amazement, Pastor Sam resumed his sitting position.
“Pastor pls, there’s no time to waste!!” Akua cried out.
“Everyone sit” Pastor Sam instructed confidently.
Ama was shocked, so was Pastor Mrs. Akua reluctantly sat.
“Your daughter’s condition is nothing physical” Pastor Sam said his attention solely on Akua.
Another spiritual attack?
Oh Lord what is happening?
Ama thought, troubled.
“Your daughter’s teeth is set on edge. Ezekie18:2. “The Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. Does this scripture ring any bell? The Holy spirit is saying you have something to confess to sister Ama.”
Pastor Sam’s words confused Ama, Pastor Mrs. looked just as confused.
“I…I don’t understand sir.” Akua stuttered.
Ama heard warning bells ringing in her head. The Akua she knew never stuttered, only if she was guilty.
Pastor Sam’s next words came out in a very firm tone, “Now listen Sister Akua, your daughter’s life is hanging on a thin thread right now because of what you have done. Maybe if you confess, God may choose to spare her life.”
“My Daughter!!” Akua exclaimed, dropping to her knees instantly, frantic.
“Osofo pls don’t let my daughter die, pls. I will confess.”
Confess?
What confession Akua? Ama wondered in total shock, Akua was evading her eyes deliberately. Ama sorted through her mind to find out what her friend might have done that could be so bad she couldn’t look her in the face.
“Kofi and I have been deeply involved in adultery.”
For a second, Ama felt she had lost her ability to hear or reason properly. It had to be either of the two because Akua couldn’t have meant what she had just said.
“What…what did you just say Sister Akua?” Pastor Sam asked stunned.
“All the times Kofi mentioned that he was going for that exclusive Minister’s conference. Where he was actually going is our regular meeting point in Koforidua.” Akua said.
“Jesus” was all Ama could utter. The sharp stab of betrayal piercing through her heart, shredding it into a thousand pieces.
“I always travel under the excuse of taking Oheema to my mother. Our strategy whenever we wanted to meet without going to Kof town was to use Mrs Frimpong as a good cover. That night Mrs Frimpong’s son called Kofi, and he actually went to counsel her. But he had finished with her since 9pm, he spent the other hours at my place.” Akua said with her shoulders slumped.
“How long has this been going on?” Pastor Mrs demanded sharply.
“About a year after his marriage.” Akua said, head bowed in shame
A year? That long?
“Akua!” Ama exclaimed her temper rising rapidly
“Sister Akua, this is the height of heartlessness…eiii…and you are supposed to be a child of God.” Pastor Mrs said, disappointed.
“How dare you?! Akua how could you!!! You, my best friend!! I trusted you completely not knowing you were busy snatching my husband behind my back!” Ama screamed slamming her hand on the surface of the stool in front of her at the same time springing to her feet. Hot tears streamed down her eyes in rapid succession,
“You snatched him from me first!!!” Akua countered fiercely, standing to her feet.
Ama froze. Pastor and his wife were dumbfounded.
“Kofi saw me first. When you travelled out of Kumasi to study. I was dating Kofi. He wanted to marry me, but I wasn’t ready. He was willing to wait.”
“Then you came home and he saw you and changed his mind!!! He suddenly believed you were God’s will. He chose to marry you, in my stead!!” Akua said angrily, her face twisted in anger.
Ama could not believe the level of contempt in Akua’s eyes as she stared back at her. Ama was infuriated.
“How could I have known you both were lovers??! Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought He was once your fiancé.” Ama said, even as she said it, it sounded strange in her ears, “Akua, you drove a knife straight at my heart without even blinking, and still smile with me everyday. How could you?” Ama asked hands on her left chest, where she indeed felt a physical pain.
“I was desperate!!!” Akua said, her voice broken
“I’m a single mother, my chances of getting a good husband were too slim. And then, my friend’s husband, the only man I ever loved makes advances at me, how do you expect me to say no?!!” She said, and her words were like salt rubbed on an already bleeding wound.
“Sister Akua, are you by means trying to justify your acts. You and Minister Kofi engaged in an abominable act; you both unlocked the gate for the enemy into your lives.” Pastor Sam said authoritatively
“Listen, you better cry to God for mercy, because If anything happens to your daughter, you caused it. You brought the wrath of God upon yourself.” Pastor Sam said firmly.
Akua trembled violently, sobbing loudly.
Ama sank into the chair, drained and suddenly numb, even her tears refused to flow. Ama wished she could trade the entire world to turn this entire escapade into a bad dream that she could simply wake up from.
…to be continued…
pEn&pApEr
GLORIEADEPOJU
…..
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