A few weeks after the burial service, we had a leaders’ meeting. During the meeting, Pastor Derick informed us about his intention to go on two months’ leave. We all encouraged him to do that since that will give him the opportunity to reflect and eventually get over the death of his wife. As we were getting to the close of the meeting, Elizabeth my wife’s friend who introduced Miriam our house girl to her knocked on the door and anxiously entered the meeting room as she drugged Miriam along with a baby girl at her back. She was soo furious, at that moment my heart beat faster than normal; I knew I was in serious trouble.
Pastor Derick asked that a chair be given to our uninvited but anxious guests. “Madam, you are welcome, my name is Pastor Derick the head pastor, my assistant Pastor Samuel and our elders. You looked distressed and anxious, what may we do for you?”
At that moment, I started sweating profusely, as if I had just completed a five thousand meters races. Elizabeth shouted, “I am so disappointed in some people who claim they are men of God. Pastor Derick if this is how some pastors are doing the work of God then I am afraid many people will stop coming to church.”
I could tell the elders were in a state of suspense and confusion. One said in a low tone to the other “Which of our pastors is this woman talking about?” I was still and wished I had magical powers to disappear from their midst.
Pastor Derick tried to calm her down since she was shouting and asked her to take her time to explain herself. She continued somewhat in a calm voice,
“Osofo Derick, I introduced Miriam, this very lady sitting beside me to the wife of Pastor Sammy, who needed a housemaid desperately. Asaafo maame (pastor’s wife), later called to thank me for the choice I made for her since Miriam proved to be a very dutiful and dedicated young lady. After some months, I was saddened by the news of the sudden departure of Miriam without any prior notice. After several months of search, I was surprised to meet Miriam yesterday at Makola market carrying a heavy load on her head with this beautiful baby girl at her back. Frankly, I was furious with her for treating Pastor Sammy and the wife in that manner, upon further interrogation, I found out that she was now a kayayo (head potter), and she had to survive by carrying heavy loads to the lorry station at a meagre fee. When I enquired why she left Pastor Sammy and the wife unceremoniously, the answer Miriam gave me, gave me goosebumps and the shock of my life.”
At this time, all the people in the room had opened their eyes wide and were eager to hear the reason Miriam left. Pastor Derick, edged her on to continue after Elizabeth had paused in awe of what she was about to spew out.
“Miriam is not a child,” she said; let us hear the reason for her departure from the horse’s own mouth. I began to gaze sternly into her eyes in anticipation to dissuade her from making any further statements. Miriam began to weep pitifully and began to talk.
“I said to myself I was never going to cross paths with Pastor Sammy after I left his house. Prior to the time I left, Pastor Sammy had been making sexual advances at me but for the fear of God and the respect I had for madam, I refused. The very day I left, I had just returned from the bathroom and was dressing up when suddenly Pastor Sammy, who I believe before the incident was hiding behind one of the window curtains in my room. Before I could wear my pant, he attacked me like a lion and had sex with me under duress. I felt robbed of my dignity, I knew Asafomaame won’t take it easy when she hears about it so I left the house to go far away from them. I later realised I was pregnant and had to go through it alone. I went through hell, during this period. I slept on the street, begged for food and lastly had to join the Kayayo trade since that was the only means of survival available to me. By God’s grace, I gave birth and the child you see before you now is the result of the irresponsible action of Pastor Sammy”
She paused and wept bitterly, Pastor Derick, consoled her and assured her that the leaders of the church will handle the matter appropriately.
“I am soo disappointed in you Pastor Sammy, you don’t deserve to lead people, you are heartless!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
Pastor Derick asked in a stunned voice, “Pastor Sammy, what is your response to all the ladies have said about you?”
For about two minutes, I was not able to say anything, Pastor Derick asked two more times and I remorsefully replied
“Yes, all that Miriam said is true and I am deeply sorry”.
All of a sudden there was a thunderous hullabaloo amongst the elders and Immediately I sensed a bad omen. Pastor Derick politely told Elizabeth and Miriam to go and allow the leaders to handle the matter; however, Elizabeth made it clear that she will take care of Miriam and her daughter regardless of what the future holds.
Pastor Derick asked the gathering of leaders, “What shall we do about this case concerning our brother and Pastor Sammy?”
Elder Minta one of Pastor Derick’s unknown enemies raised his hand to be given the opportunity to talk, he hitherto had supported me in my secret escapades against Pastor Derick. I felt relieved because I knew he had always supported my actions and views.
“My beloved in the Lord!” he said passionately to draw the attention of the gathering at the meeting,
“You all know that Pastor Sammy had served the church right from the time he began fellowshipping with us. He had been an inspiration to many youths and continues to do his work diligently”
I knew I had people who will support me and shield me no matter the circumstances, his comment gave me a sigh of relief and hope but what he said next made my saliva taste bitter.
“Pastor Derick, regardless of all the good things Pastor Sammy has done we shall not tolerate this kind of hypocrisy and immoral behaviour from him as a man of God. I wish he is immediately rendered redundant till further notice.” Mr Ofori, another person who was my firm supporter immediately raised his hand and was given the opportunity to say his view on the matter. He said,
“No, Elder Minta, Pastor Sammy has benefitted from the Church, we cannot dismiss him like that, at least we should send him off in a way that will serve as a lesson to the whole church, he should be brought before the entire congregation and his shameful act exposed before he is dismissed!”
I had the shock of my life when Elder Minta and Mr Ofori had finished speaking. My mother broke down in tears and began begging the leaders and Pastor Derick to handle the matter more leniently and not to disgrace me in front of the whole church.
Elder Sosu who advocated that I was more qualified than Pastor Derick to lead the church further kicked me on the foot when he said,
“I am indeed sad and short of words, Pastor Sammy, you have misled some of the members through your double standard life, with all these atrocious acts, you had the moral right to talk about Pastor Derick’s wife and was responsible for sharing her leaked sex videos, oh oh oh, Pastor Sammy, you can only be described as a snake and a disappointment.”
“What?! he was really involved?” exclaimed most of the elders in disbelief.
Pastor Derick, confessed, “I heard Sammy was involved in the woes of my wife and me but I never believed it because I could not even think of him in such manner, what a blow from a colleague and a brother in ministry?”
I felt stupid and betrayed by the same people who had stood with me all along; I sat down like a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
Mr Boahene, also requested to speak, and that got me more worried, I impregnated his wife and perhaps he was going to further expose me. He asked gently, “Pastor Sammy please is there any other thing you would want to confess to the leaders? Although you have done some wrong things, we don’t want people attaching things you have not done to further damage your integrity, please tell us of anything we need to know”
I became so confused, could it be that he knew I was responsible for her wife’s pregnancy but kept it a secret and wanted me to now voice it out myself; there was no opportunity to speak to his wife to ascertain any information. At that moment, all eyes and attention were on me, I could tell they were ready for more surprises. Hiding something will not make any difference since it was obvious my image has been seriously marred and irretrievable. When I attempted to talk my mouth began shivering and I could hardly hear myself talk. Pastor Derick for the first time, raised his voice at me and commanded me “speak up Sammy!”. I quickly gathered courage and said,
“Mr Boahene, I am sorry, please forgive me,” he appeared rather amazed that I was apologizing to him. I said in my mind, could it be that he sincerely is unaware or he is further trying to expose me as a liar since he would still expose me if I lied. This was one of the most intense and frustrating moments of my life.
“Pastor Sammy if you have anything to say please address the meeting, I am only helping you to come out clear, I am sad this is happening to the man of God who had been with my family in very trying times. You were all aware of our childlessness but with the help of Pastor Sammy’s spiritual intervention we now have a child of our own, beloved in the Lord, please let us be lenient with him.”
Since I was not too sure about the trap Mr Boahene was setting for me, I spoke up, “Mr Boahene, I am responsible for your wife’s pregnancy, we had an affair and the child she has now is mine I am sorry sir”
Before I could blink, Mr Boahene attacked me and held my neck and began squeezing the life out of me but for the intervention of the others I was rescued. “Pastor Derick, we can’t take this anymore, our hearts are in shock and in pain,” Some of them said in anger.
I watched my mum helplessly weeping and was being consoled by one of her friends in the meeting. Pastor Derick dashed out to his office and came back with the church constitution and read it.
“ Beloved Article 18 clause 6 says the office of a pastor shall be vacant by reason of (a) Death or permanent incapacitation (b) Removal from office for serious misconduct. (c) Retirement. On behalf of the entire church, I hereby declare you unfit for the office of a pastor in The Redeemer Cares International Gospel Church due to this serious and gross misconduct. You have up to tomorrow to handover all church properties and documents under your custody”
My mother, upon hearing Pastor Derick’s pronouncement went into comma and was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention. She eventually regained her consciousness but she won’t stop weeping and asking endlessly “Sammy why, why have you brought shame and pain to me, Sammy!” I was unable to speak a word to her, I drove her home from the hospital and left for the house, that day was my darkest day at church since I became a pastor.
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