Page 9 of June: When Gangstas Collide

I had arrived at the church to find contractors waiting for me. I quickly hopped off my bike and rushed over to let them in to get started. As soon as I opened the church doors, I directed them to the nearby bathroom, which they could use if needed. One of the guys walked up to, “My guys have been waiting for an hour, so we will be cutting this an hour short to—”

“I’ll cover the extra hour, and you guys can leave an hour early, brother. I’ll be in the back if you need me,”

I told him.

He nodded as he walked off. I fumbled with my keys to my office when they hit the ground. I had gone to pick them up when my eyes landed on two pairs of old church lady heels. I lifted to see two older women standing before me. One I saw before, and the other I didn’t know who she was. I pushed my glasses up on my face, “Ladies,”

I greeted them.

However, something was off.

“The spirit tells me that you two aren’t here for a prayer, so how can I help?”

One of them smirked, “The spirit told me to come and see who was leading the Gospel in the Cove.”

“Oh, did it? Or did the spirit tell you that there was a young pastor, and you wanted to challenge the spirit and see for yourself?”

I wasn’t sure what the purpose of the conversation was, but the word 'intimidation' is what I was feeling. I extended my hand to the ladies.

“I’m Pastor Kingston and you are?”

The lady I had seen before accepted my hand, “Cynthia Mercier, and this is Sandra Black, Pastor of Saints Baptist church over in Lake Hill.”

Now it made sense. I’d noticed the mega church when we moved here. I thought about joining, but God led me to do other things, and that was to preach the word to a falling community that needed it. It wasn’t about money or how many people I could get to join my church, but rather about my ability to reach people, even if it was just one person. The goal was to get saved and be saved.

Cynthia Mercier's approach to me was odd, but if I know anything else, it's that people with money and mega churches often harbor dark spirits. Chevy’s feelings about his grandparents were warranted. Sandra Black’s eyes scanned the church.

“Why this church?”

“Why not?”

I shot back.

“Listen, I have things to prepare for, so if you guys are done being looky-loos, then may God bless you both.”

Cynthia stepped forward.

“I want to invest in your church. I can cover all the expenses you need. The contractors, the bills, the—”

I laughed.

“The Devil is a lie. What do you want in return? Me selling my soul to Pastor Black? For me to turn my back on your grandson? What is it because what you’re offering isn’t free.”

Before she could respond, a familiar voice stepped into the church, “Sorry, I’m late, Preach I,”

she paused. “Ma?”

I shook my head because it would be me who runs across someone whose parents didn’t like me. Sage stepped further inside the church as she came around and stood beside me. When I walked into her shop to leave my flyers, I didn’t know that she would be the person I needed to help me around the church. She knew the bible just as much as I did, and all the while, her mother was a goddamn pastor.

Her mother glared at her, then at me.

“Sage, what are you doing here?”

Sage fumbled with her hands, so I placed my hands on hers to put her at ease. I’ve been in the same position when challenging a strict Christian parent, despite my age.

“She’s helping me, pastor.” I smiled.

Pastor Black tossed her hands on her invisible hips, “Help!”

she yelled.

“Yes, Ma, help,”

Sage responded.

Pastor Black went to say something, and I held my hand up.

“Remember, pastor, we’re in the house of the Lord. Whatever it is you want to say, I rebuke it in the name of Jesus. Listen, ladies, I would love to talk more, but God is calling on me. Yes, he is.”

I could see Pastor Black stepping backwards until she was outside the church door.

“Oh, I don’t like his ass.”

Cynthia Mercier’s eyes tore into me. She was the one I needed to watch out for, and I needed to tell Chevy about her. That nigga was already crazy, but it made sense because his grandparents were just as fucking loony. Chevy was going to have to either put them down or strip them from everything. I wasn’t sure how he was going to do that, but I knew my nigga would figure it out.