Pastors

Dear Pastors,

We cannot begin to quantify your contributions to our lives.
All those moments we call you in the middle of the night asking for prayers, the times we refuse to use our brains to solve our own problems but choose to rely on your wisdom, the days we are just too lazy to pray for ourselves, the times we cannot muster any faith at all, but choose to count on yours; are all evidence of all the good things you do.

What about the connections you help us with? Bro Zaki graduated with a third class because he refused to bend down and read. But because of his zealousness and faithfulness in the church, Papa, you helped him.
You placed a call over to Bro Steve, CEO of a multinational company. You explained to him that the Lord had need of him. And that was how Bro Zaki was able to get a job as an office assistant in the company.
We won't talk about how more qualified people were displaced, though. Bro Zaki is happy and so are we.

Daddies, even when we are just unbelievably selfish in our homes, when we refuse to love our wives like the scriptures said, when we are just rebellious like the children of Israel, neglecting our homes and abusing our husbands; you listen. You open your ears to listen to all the rubbish we have to say, and you counsel us. You teach us the word. You shepherd us.

We thank you, Sirs. May the anointing on your heads never run dry.

But, Sirs, we are confused.
Some of you confuse us.
We read the scriptures and we see very little connection between the life of Jesus Christ and the lives of some of you.
And for this reason, we ask for some explanation.

Last week, Sir, Sister Nkechi slung her baby on her back. Braving the scorching heat of the sun, she sat in the dirty mud of the city market.
Her tomatoes were worth just N3000.
Papa, she sat in the sun from morning till evening, intermittently feeding the baby with the pap in her bottle, a faded umbrella providing the only shade.
She could sell only half the wares, Sir, making a profit of only N200.
But, on Sunday, you asked us to sow seed. Sister Nkechi looked into her bag, staring at the N10 she came with. That was all she could afford to thank God with, for his grace on her life.
At least, she wasn't admitted in FMC.
But, you said that he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly. You threatened that the curse of the devourer shall remain in her house, if she refuses to produce more money.
Papa, we are not understanding.
Was it not last month that you told us that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law?
Which other curse are you talking about, Sir?
Please, explain to us.

Sir, we thank God for your new Range Rover. Indeed, we rejoice with you.
But many of our children in the children's department are no longer going to school. They have been sent home for not paying their school fees.
Bro Livinus son is living with sickle cell anaemia. He came to ask for help yesterday, but you turned him away.
Papa, you said the money available was for the church's building project. Chai.
Sir, is it good? Is the building more important than the people?

Papa, in this recession, many of us cannot afford a bag of rice for Christmas.
But you have been asking us to get ready for first-fruit seed in January. We mean, you are asking that we donate our entire January salary to the church, else 2017 will be a cursed year for us.
Haba, Sir! What's with the threats?
Jesus didn't do this, neither did any of his disciples.
Giving should neither be done grudgingly nor of necessity, but cheerfully, says the scriptures.
Why all this behaviour, Sirs?

If we talk, you say touch not mine anointed, a scripture you have deliberately and consistently quoted out of context, to gag us and prevent us from asking questions.
Which kind of thing is this, kwanu?

Papa, some of us are tired of all this nonsense.
In fact, many have lost their faith. We are just coming to church so that gossips and backbiters will not use us as their next topic.
But, inwardly, Daddies, we are tired.

Do you people read the scriptures at all? Or is money now your driving motivation?
When last did you preach righteous living to us, or even demonstrated it yourselves?

Just look at the rot in our government, our suffering being direct results of their evil and corruption. But, they wear their long flowing agbadas, blast our ear drums with their convoy sirens and arrive two hours late to church. You give them the front seat in church and watch us look at the men who have withheld our salaries for months.
Daddies, they give you money and you collect. You do not say anything to them. You do not ask any questions.
Chineke lewekwa unu.

We would have longed to continue this letter, but time and space will not allow us.
The next workers meeting is in an hour's time and we have to be there, else you will give us suspension.

Do send our greetings to your wives, our mommies, whose handbags alone can feed our families for a month and a half.

Regards,
Your members.