THE DRUG ADDICT

He ran out as the pastor gave the altar call.
Everybody in the hall was stunned.
He was very popular in the neighborhood, everyone knew him as a bad guy.
He smoked, inhaled & injected everything.
He was drugs personified!

But he gave his life to Jesus that day.
When he walked into the church that Sunday morning, some people walked out.
He was trouble & they didn't want to be caught in any cross fire.
He was the center of attention.
Even the cameras were focused on him.
The pastor knew him & had been praying for him.
He was a big fish...
If he could get converted, the other small fish around would easily do so too, the pastor thought.
So, when he walked into the hall that morning, the pastor was elated!
He knew he had an opportunity to land a big one for Jesus.
He gave it his best shot- he preached with his all..
And he made the altar call.
The guy stood up, tears streaming down his face.
He ran out.
17 people gave their lives to Jesus that day.
But he was the one on everybody's lips.
It was like Satan Iscariot himself becoming a Christian!
Pastor was overjoyed!
Everybody was happy!
He started attending Church regularly.
He was slowly but surely changing within.
The word of God was touching him, chipping away the old man, revealing the new.

But there was a problem!
He was having a difficulty with drugs.
He found it hard to stop!
He'd stay off for a week...
But he'd see himself going back to it again.
He wept.
He fasted.
He prayed.
He told the pastor about his challenges.
The pastor prayed for him.
The pastor took him as a personal project.
He wanted to see him grow up as a sound Christian.
His testimony would be great, he imagined!
After about 6 months of oscillating between victory & failure, he came to see the pastor.
He had a request:
He wants to be a Church worker.
The pastor asked which department he would want to work in.
"The Choir, sir. I want to use my voice to glorify God", he responded...
Pastor knew he had a very good voice.
He wouldn't even need much training.
He'd be a good addition to the choir, pastor thought.

But this drug addiction he doesn't seem to have the power to break totally from...

How would it look?
What would people say?
It'd be bad optics!
But then, pastor knows this guy is genuinely saved.
His problem is known & seen: drugs.
Everybody knew he still took drugs once in a while.
But the other people in the choir may not necessarily be any better- nobody really knows what they do when nobody is watching...
Now, f you are the pastor, what will you do?
Will you allow him join the choir & not be concerned about the bad optics?

Or if the pastor asks you for advice, what will you say?
Or if you're a member of the church & you hear this guy wants to join the choir, what will you do?
🤔
What really is the criteria for being in a visible ministry in church?
Would you rather such a person joins the "Grounds & Parks Department", where they just direct traffic?
Or even the "Decorations Department" where he wouldn't be seen?
What are your thoughts?

Let's do this!
😇

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More from @harrydaniyan

Apr 9
"Calm down! CALM DOWN!"
She was talking too fast, I couldn't understand her.
But I knew she was hurt.
And ANGRY!

She called me that evening, around 7pm.
From the background noise, I knew she was in traffic.
"Please park, let's talk", I advised.
"I'm not driving", she replied...
"I'm in my car, in front of Cash & Carry".
I asked her to take a minute to calm down...

My mind went back a few months earlier when she got married to the love of her life.

When I saw her call, I had assumed she wanted to tell me she was pregnant or something...
Hearing her so agitated set an alarm ringing in my head.
What in the world could be wrong, I wondered.

When she calmed down, she told me a bizarre story.
A week earlier, her husband had suggested they buy a new TV and move the one in the living room to the bedroom.
She agreed...
Read 9 tweets
Mar 27
"She said Africa is different because we are more fetish and diabolical than other continents
She said accepting Jesus and the Holy Spirit is not enough..."

I've heard this submission countless times.
And it's amazing how a lot of Christians believe this NONSENSE...
There's a Nigerian Church that teaches "Sanctification" as a doctrine: when you get Born Again, you still need to be "sanctified" BEFORE you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit, they teach.

Yet, Cornelius & his household got baptized in the Holy Spirit BEFORE they got Born Again!
When you show them SCRIPTURE that renders their sanctification doctrine false, they tell you, "THIS IS AFRICA!"

Like Africa has a way of making SCRIPTURE less powerful, Africa has a way of making the resurrection of Jesus less effective!

O ye foolish Nigerian Christians!!!!
Read 16 tweets
Jan 31
A couple got married.
After some years, things fell apart & the centre couldn't hold.
So they went to the Court to part ways legally.

Now, the pastor who joined them in Holy Matrimony heard & was aghast!
"No! I have NEVER joined a couple that got divorced! This won't happen!"
He was more interested in his reputation as "The Pastor Who Joins Couples That Never Divorce" than the interest & feelings of the couple.

As far as he was concerned, "Stay married & keep my reputation intact!"
Even if the man was going through hell & the wife was running mad...
It didn't seem to matter to him.
If Pastors are not careful, they will shift their focus from MINISTRY to REPUTATION.

I once heard a Pastor say, "none of my Church Members will die in Jesus' Name!"
I just smiled.

Your members are young, Bro! They're aged 17-35...
Read 16 tweets
Jan 21
Many years ago, I read a book on relationships; "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman.

Gary listed these Languages as:
*Quality Time.
*Acts of Service.
*Gifts.
*Words of Affirmation.
*Physical Touch.

He described each of these languages in detail.
Very interesting book... Image
Gary explained that people would have better relationships with their spouses if they understood the language their spouses speak.

For example, if my spouse's Love Language is WORDS OF AFFIRMATION, I would be wasting my time buying her GIFTS, thinking I'm pleasing her...
She would be happier with me if I just say "I love you, Sweetheart... You're the best thing that ever happened to me... You're the most beautiful woman on this PLANET & the ENTIRE UNIVERSE..."

That will make her happier- & cheaper for me: saves me the money I spend on gifts!
Read 19 tweets
Jan 17
Years ago when I worked in a Bank, one of the Marketers had a very hot exchange on her phone in the Office.

When she was done, one of her colleagues asked, "Who was that on the phone?"
She replied in a very loud & angry voice: "IS IT NOT THE IDIOT I MARRIED?"

Woah!!!
😳😳😳
Everybody was shocked!
She stormed out of the office & slammed the door.
That was sometime in 2006, 18 years ago.

She later reconciled with her husband & they moved on.
But as many of us as heard her call her husband an IDIOT didn't forget!

It became a joke in the office...
😊
When we close from work & he comes to pick her, you'd hear people saying, "Awwww! The IDIOT has come to pick his wife!"

She NEVER knew her indiscretion in the office that day would turn her into a laughing stock.
She became the butt of jokes amongst her colleagues...
😄😄😄
Read 9 tweets
Jan 10
K had an accident & was rushed to the hospital.
His friends rushed there just in time to see him wheeled into the theater for an emergency operation.

One of K's friend, B knew one of the Doctors in the hospital & he called him up.
Then they all started praying for K...
The doctor went into the theater and came out after a few minutes.
He pulled B aside & shook his head.
"I'm not sure K will make it! It will take a miracle for him to survive this!"

B went to the others who were praying.
"What did the doctor say", they asked...
"Bad news! He said it will take a miracle for K to make it!"
The frienda became despondent.
"Does anyone know any members of his family?" They started making arrangements for K's demise.

In that moment, another friend, J rushed in!
He asked, "Guys! How far? How's K doing?"
Read 8 tweets

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