Читать книгу Blessed Trinity - Vanessa Davis Griggs - Страница 11

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

(Philippians 4:12)

“Pastor George Landris,” a tall, burly man with a deep, Barry White-like voice, called. “Good to have you here in the Magic City of Birmingham, my preach-brother. My name is Reverend Paul Knight…but all my friends call me Poppa Knight.”

Pastor Landris looked at the man standing behind him who had walked up without having made a sound. He was dressed warmly enough in his wool, charcoal overcoat, thick, gray scarf, and black Banjo Paterson hat with a reed leather sweatband, perfect attire for the last day in January.

Pastor Landris was looking at a building he was hoping to rent or purchase so he could start conducting church services. Earlier this month, he and Johnnie Mae had discussed what he really wanted to do in his ministry. He told her he wanted to preach God’s Word. God had called him to be a pastor, and he was sent here to start a congregation, but he would need a facility. His plan was to sell the radio station he hadn’t really wanted in the first place, but according to Thomas, there was some snafu that was stalling the deal temporarily. And for some reason, he couldn’t get his money back, at least not at this point. Pastor Landris planned to use the funds from selling the radio station or the refund to build a church.

Johnnie Mae had found forty acres of prime land she believed would be perfect to build a worship center. With the funds from the station sale, money wouldn’t be an issue, but until that became available, Pastor Landris would have to make do.

God had spoken to Pastor Landris and instructed him to rent or buy a small building. This building was a bit run-down, but with some effort, it could be a nice place to get started. He was there checking it out when Reverend Knight had walked up to him.

“So Pastor Landris, what exactly are you doing here in this old place?” Reverend Knight asked. He took off his hat and looked at the walls and the ceiling in need of much repair.

“Looking for a place to start a congregation,” Pastor Landris said.

“You thinking about starting it in this old dump?” Reverend Knight asked as he kicked a place in the floor and began to bounce his heavy frame in a spot that made an irritating, squeaking noise each time his body moved.

“I’m considering it. Why?” Pastor Landris said. “Do you know something I don’t?”

Reverend Knight tried to hold back a smile. “Well, Pastor, I don’t think this place is available for you to rent or to buy.” He placed his hat back on his head.

Pastor Landris looked puzzled. He had seen the “for sale” sign outside when he walked in. He had called the listing agent and confirmed it was still available. She had come and let him in to take a look around as long as he wanted. He had enough money to buy or at least sign a lease for it, although three years was longer than he felt he would need it. He started to wonder what Reverend Knight was doing here, and how he happened to know someone, namely him, was even there.

“From everything I know, this place is available,” Pastor Landris said, eyeing him more closely now.

Reverend Knight pulled out a business card and handed it to Pastor Landris. A photo of a skinnier, twenty-years-younger version of Reverend Knight graced the front of the card. The times of the church’s Sunday-morning, evening, and Wednesday-night services were listed on the back.

“Pastor Landris, I would love to have you come join me in my ministry. I have over 2,500 members in my church. I know you realize how hard that big a congregation can be on top ministers such as ourselves.”

“Excuse me,” Pastor Landris said. “What do you mean by ‘top ministers’?” Pastor Landris placed Reverend Knight’s card in his coat pocket. “I’m not trying to be a big shot. I’m just trying to preach the Word of God. Being a top minister never enters my thinking. If people happen to have heard of me, that’s fine. It just gives me a bigger opportunity to reach more people for Jesus. That’s all fame is for me.”

“Come on, Doc. Don’t try to act so humble. Let me tell you what I’m thinking. Instead of you coming to the city and having to start from scratch, why don’t you consider coming over to The Church of Revelation with me? I would be honored to have you on staff.”

Pastor Landris tried to be polite. “Reverend Knight, I appreciate the offer, but God sent me here to start a new congregation, not to hook up with an existing one. In fact, He didn’t even send me here to take over the congregation of an outgoing pastor. My specific assignment is to start anew.”

Reverend Knight snapped his head to one side twice as though he had a twitch. He grinned. “Can I be frank with you, Doc?” He looked at Pastor Landris to gauge his reaction. “There are too many church buildings here in Birmingham. It used to be a running joke that there was a church on every corner. Now it’s more like three to four churches on every street. What we don’t need is any more churches. All of these places just siphon off members from existing congregations. Not many are going out into the fields to harvest those who have never heard of Jesus and bring in new converts. They wait for people to get mad and leave one place to traipse over to another, only to get upset or tired there and leave again.

“Now, my people are pretty stable. They don’t leave too often. Were you to come on board, I believe we would double in size, quite frankly, and we could then build even bigger. Can you imagine a congregation of 20,000. Think of the power we would possess. With that many people, we could affect outcomes of elections. Politicians would court us. Sure, there are always challenges with that many people, but you expect that. When you become a church that size, you tend to attract the smartest, most successful and accomplished people in the area. Everybody would want to be part of our church so they can impress others. People want to be part of something alive…growing. So why waste your talent duplicating what’s already in place? Let’s team up.” Reverend Knight shifted his weight. “There are only so many people in this town, anyway. Think of the money you and I could rake in together.”

Pastor Landris shook his head. “Rake in?” He couldn’t believe what Reverend Knight had just said.

“For the Kingdom, of course. All for the Kingdom. That’s what this is all about. Raking in souls for the Kingdom. But let’s not play games—it takes money to do anything worthwhile. And I assure you, at The Church of Revelation, all of your needs will be met. And I do mean ALL of your needs, if you catch my drift: spiritually, physically, socially, and financially.” Reverend Knight glanced at his watch. He needed to hurry—the sun would be setting soon.

Pastor Landris nodded slowly. “All, huh?”

“Capital ‘A’, double ‘L’—ALL. You’re not going to find a better deal anywhere. I guarantee that. If you do, come back and see me. We’ll renegotiate.”

Pastor Landris smiled. “Is that right? Well, Doc, I’m afraid you’re a little too late. I’ve already been offered, and accepted, a better deal. You see, I kind of feel like Paul when he wrote Philippians 3:7–8, ‘But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.’ And Philippians 4:19 that says, ‘My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ ALL my need. God handles each need as it arises. We might not see it, but it’s there. Not out of His riches, but according to His riches. Not even you can top that.”

Reverend Knight had a smirk on his face, then touched the rim of his hat. “I see you’re truly as well-versed in scripture as people have claimed. That’s good. Real good. I’m sure it will come in handy with the fight you’re about to have on your hands.”

“Fight?”

“Yeah,” Reverend Knight said as he took out a handkerchief and mopped a bit of perspiration from his forehead in spite of the wintry January air. “Not that I’m one of them, but there are plenty of folks who don’t want you or your teachings here. Righteous brothers and sisters, clearly under the radar, of course. Now I respect your gifts and I would welcome you with open arms. Then at some point, I would proudly turn over everything I have built up over the years to you. Everything. You see, I don’t have a son to pass my church on to like some of the other preachers.”

“Excuse me—your church? I didn’t realize any church belonged to anyone other than Jesus. And what’s this about congregations being passed on like an inheritance…some kind of legal birthright?” Pastor Landris said.

“Come on, Doc. Do you really think for one second these preachers who’ve built these huge congregations plan to let someone from outside the family just come in and take it if they have any say-so about it. Unless it’s under certain umbrellas that keep that from happening, ministers like me have our ways of passing our churches on to our offspring. Or, at least, to a chosen one, especially when we’ve built something from nothing. I can see—there really is much I can teach you. So what do you say? Come on board with me. At least say you’ll think about it?” Reverend Knight pulled off his skintight, black leather glove and extended his right hand to Pastor Landris.

Pastor Landris looked down at the hand waiting to be grasped. He looked up at Reverend Knight’s hat and appreciated how his own dreadlocks somehow kept him warm enough that his head didn’t need to be covered. He looked into the face of this older minister…a man who could easily have been his own father. Reverend Knight looked tired and worn, yet, he appeared sincere.

“Reverend Knight, thank you for stopping by, but as I said earlier, I’ve already accepted a better offer. Now if you’ll excuse me,” Pastor Landris said and nodded as he cautiously stepped over a pile of debris, “I need to finish checking out this place before it gets too dark to be able to see.”

Reverend Knight lowered his hand slowly, then brushed it off on his pants as though it had been badly soiled. “Suit yourself,” he whispered, almost to himself. Then he carefully made his way out the door, just as quietly as he’d made his way in.