Joyce

Scholarship

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  It is a bright Sunday’s morning. Mrs. Evelyn walks to the sitting room.

“Joyce!!!” Mrs. Evelyn called.

“Ma!” Joyce said from her room sleepily.

“Are you still sleeping? It is 6:05am already and we haven’t started cooking. The service starts by 8:00am,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

(Joyce walked to the sitting room)

“Good morning mum,” Joyce said.

“Morning Joyce. We need to hurry up so that we will not be late for church service. Now, go and sweep the compound while I start cooking,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

“Okay mum,” Joyce said.

“Do that now,” Mrs. Evelyn said and the two walked out.

“Well done mum. I have finished sweeping. I want to go and wash the used plates and cups now,” Joyce said and walked away.

“Alright,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

    Soon, Joyce came out with used plates and cups. She starts washing the plates and cups.

“I am done mum. Let me go and have my bath,” Joyce said.

“Okay Joyce. This food will get done soon,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

    However, Mrs. Evelyn and Joyce enter the church. The church is filled with congregation. The associate pastor walks to the altar and takes the opening prayer.

“Oh Lord, we thank you for another glorious Sunday. Be thou exalted in Jesus’ name. Today, being our covenant day of marital breakthroughs and anointing service, we pray these packages will not elude anyone gathered here. We also pray that those that have concluded not to come for today’s service, you will go and give them reasons to be at the service now in Jesus’ name. We start the service in the name of the father, in the name of the son and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for answered prayers. In Jesus’ name we have prayed,” the associate pastor said.

“Amen,” the congregation chorused.

“Now, Let’s clap as we welcome the choristers,” the associate pastor said.

“Thank you Lord for the privilege to be in the sanctuary. Lift up your hands as we worship the Lord,” the choir master said.

“(raise their hands) thank you Jesus,” the congregation said.

“We give you Glory Lord as we honor you.

Ancient of days.

The Lord that created the ancient mountains.

Hallelujah is an heavenly language.

Don’t be through with me yet Lord.

You came from heavens to earth.

We lift your name higher,” the choir master led the congregation and soon entered praises.

“We have come to say thank you Lord.

On the mountain.

Higher, higher everyday.

You and I will praise the Lord.

I have a very big God.

My God is a good God.

Under the canopy

Praise Jehovah, he turned my life around,” the choir master led the congregation.

“A clap for the choir for that powerful session. It is our call to worship time. Our call to worship is taking from the book of Hebrew 11:1,” pastor Jeremiah said.

    Soon, the announcement was made. The offering and choir special ministration followed afterwards.

“It is testimony time,” the assistant pastor, pastor Liberty said.

“Breakthrough time!” the congregation chorused.

“If you know the Lord has done mighty things in your lives in the course of the week, come out to share them with the people of God. A round of applause for them as they come forward,” pastor Liberty said.

    Pastor Liberty prayed for those that shared testimonies. He called the resident pastor thereafter.

“Let a living soul shout hallelujah,” the resident pastor, pastor Kelvin said.

“Hallelujah!” the congregation shouted.

“Good. In your sitting position, begin to appreciate God for the grace to see the light of today. Many are in the graves, many are in the mortuary, but here you are in the sanctuary. Why not heartily return the Glory back to God. In Jesus’ name we have prayed,” Pastor Kelvin said.

“Amen!,” the congregation said.

“I acknowledge God for the grace to stand before you on this exalted altar to give you words of admonitions. I also thank Bishop David Oyedepo and anointed men of God present here today. It is also very important I acknowledge your coming here today. I pray you will go back home transformed in Jesus’ name,” Pastor Kelvin said.

“Amen,” the congregation chorused.

“Now, let’s go into what I have for you all today. I will take you through a topic, faith. What is faith? Faith is a substance of thing hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. What is faith? Faith is when you believe the unseen. Abraham is a practical example of a man of faith. He was childless for years, yet he still believed God for a miracle. We all know that Abraham later received his miracle. Am I right?” Pastor Kelvin said.

“Yes sir,” the congregation said.

“Good. Now let’s consider the types of faith we have. We have: No faith, little faith, great faith and the spirit of faith. The disciples exhibited no faith in the book of Mark 4:35-41. Little faith can be excerpted from the book of Matthew 8:23-26. I beseech you, brethren, to thirst for the spirit of faith. I pray the Lord help us,” pastor Kelvin said.

“Amen!!” the congregation chorused.

“Before we stop for today, let me take you through ways we can encounter the spirit of faith. We can encounter the spirit of faith from the word of God (the Bible). We can also encounter the spirit of faith from anointed carrier of this spirit, this is where impartation sets in. I want you all to stand up now and begin to tell God to bestow you with the spirit of faith. In Jesus’ name we have prayed,” Pastor Kelvin said.

“Amen!” the congregation said.

    The service was ended with benediction and everyone trooped out of the church.

“Mum, how was the service?” Joyce said as Mrs. Evelyn and Joyce reached home.

“It was lovely. I really enjoyed the teaching. How about you?” Mrs. Evelyn said and sat down.

“I enjoyed the teaching too,” Joyce said.

“Take my bag to my room,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

“Okay mum,” Joyce said and collected the bag.

“I hope the food still remains?” Mrs. Evelyn said as Joyce walks away from the sitting room.

“Yes mum. Mum, will I still go to Mrs. Elizabeth's house?” Joyce said.

“It has escaped my mind. Yes, you will still go. Go and get our food so that you can go there afterwards,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

“Okay mum,” Joyce said and walked away.

**********

“Who is at the door?” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“It’s me, Joyce,” Joyce said.

“Wow! I am coming,” Mrs. Elizabeth said and walked to the door.

“(Enters) Good afternoon ma,” Joyce said.

“Afternoon Joyce. Please, sit down,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“(Sits) thank you ma,” Joyce said.

“I don’t know you will come this soon. Darling! Joyce is here,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“Alright honey! I am coming,” Mr. Joshua said and walked to the sitting room.

“Good afternoon sir,” Joyce said respectfully.

“Afternoon Joyce. You have grown big. How are you doing?” Mr. Joshua said.

“I am fine sir. Thank you sir,” Joyce said and used her hand to cover her chin.

“Good. Hope you came for church service today?” Mr. Joshua said.

“Yes sir, I was at the service. It was awesome and remarkable,” Joyce said.

“You are right. Honey, get Joyce something to munch,” Mr. Joshua said.”

“Don’t worry ma. I have eaten before coming here. Mum told me you sent for me,” Joyce said.

“Yes, I did. What class are you now?” Mr. Joshua said.

“I am in upper basic 3, about to graduate though,” Joyce said.

“Is that so?” Mr. Joshua said in surprise.

“She is right Dr,” Mrs. Elizabeth chipped in.

“That is wonderful. How about your WASSCE result?” Mr. Joshua said.

“I made good grades sir. All glories to God,” Joyce said.

“Wow!! That sounds nice. Honey, do you know about this?” Mr. Joshua said.

“Yes darling! Mrs. Evelyn told me some days ago,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“Okay. Without beating round the bush, I have loved your manners and wittiness in church. Keep it up!” Mr. Joshua said.

“Okay sir” Joyce said.

“Will you mind if I put it on myself to see you through the university?” Mr. Joshua said.

“Oh my God! I won’t mind sir,” Joyce said happily.

“(Smiles) Good. As from today onwards, I will cater for your schooling,” Mr. Joshua said.

“(kneels down) thank you very much sir. I am very grateful,” Joyce said euphorically.

“Stand up daughter, you don’t have to do that. You are treasured you know,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“(Sits) Thank you sir and ma. May God reward you for this benevolence,” Joyce said.

“Amen!!!” Mr. Joshua said.

“I want to leave now. Feel at home,” Mr. Joshua said and stood up.

“Okay sir. Thank you once again,” Joyce said.

“C’mon! You don’t have to mention,” Mr. Joshua said and walked away.

“Mum, thank you very much,” Joyce said and stood up.

“You are welcome. Give me a hug,” Mrs. Elizabeth said and hugged Joyce.

“I am overwhelmed with Joys. Where are my siblings?” Joyce said.

“Those children? My husband’s brother has taken them out for a picnic,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“Okay ma. Send my regards to them when they return,” Joyce said.

“Okay, Joyce. Guess you want to be on your way now? Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“Yes ma. Mum, will be washing clothes by now and I need to assist her,” Joyce said.

“That is very good. In that case send my regards to her,” Mrs. Elizabeth said.

“Okay ma,” Joyce said.

“Take this two hundred naira as transport fare,” Mrs. Elizabeth said and handed the money to Joyce.

“Okay ma. Thanks a lot. I want to go now,” Joyce said.

“Goodbye Dr,” Mrs. Elizabeth said and waved.

“Goodbye ma,” Joyce said and walked out.