DeAndre had set up a meeting with Bishop Boston. DeAndre was going to take his cousin, Jasmine's advice and talk to Bishop. It could not hurt anything to listen to what the man had to say. But DeAndre would leave if the man said or did anything crazy. DeAndre finished dressing and made a dash out of the door to go get into his car.
DeAndre was thankful that he only lived a few blocks away from the church or he would have been late to the meeting. He did not want to give the Bishop the impression that he was late to meetings. DeAndre made it up to the church with three minutes to spare. He blew a breath when he saw that the Bishop was not there waiting on him.
DeAndre looked at his watch. It was 6:00. Bishop had not shown up yet. DeAndre gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was a bishop, so he might have been counseling someone or making a visit to the hospital. DeAndre calmed down and decided to wait patiently.
DeAndre looked at his watch again. It was 6:08. Bishop still had not arrived. DeAndre blew a breath. He was getting upset. He was sitting in his car waiting on this man. He could have been doing something else, but no, he was sitting around waiting on a man who did not realize that folk did not have time to be sitting around waiting on him all day. It did not matter to DeAndre that Bishop was a bishop. The Bishop needed to be conscience of folks time. DeAndre decided to wait until 6:15 and then leave. If the Bishop did not show up, that was it, DeAndre was not going to fool with the Bishop anymore.
DeAndre looked at his watch for a third time. It was 6:27. Bishop was not there. DeAndre kicked a rock as he mumbled, "This is some rotten eggs. I can't believe he kept me waiting like this." DeAndre walked to his car, opened the door, sat down in the driver's seat, slammed the car door, and started the engine. DeAndre was fuming. He had half a mind to call the Bishop and leave him a nasty message in his voice mail. DeAndre backed out of the driveway. As he backed out, a gray Mercedes pulled up into the driveway.
A tall skinny auburn colored guy got out of the car and flagged DeAndre down. DeAndre was half tempted to keep driving, but he stopped the car. The guy sauntered over to DeAndre's car. DeAndre made a face because the guy walked like a girl. "Good grief, he switches more than my cousin," DeAndre thought. DeAndre shook the thoughts he was having out of his head. He did not know the guy. He did not want to form an opinion of the guy before even meeting him.
DeAndre rolled his window down. The guy touched DeAndre's car door effeminately as he said, "Are you DeAndre?" DeAndre had to pause for a second. The guy's voice was higher than some women he knew. DeAndre shook his head and said, "Yes, I am." The guy said, "Well, Bishop is ready to meet with you." DeAndre almost said something smart, but he did not. He pulled his car back into the parking lot and turned of the ignition.
"Ok, Dre, don't act a fool with this man. He is a bishop, maybe he had something do. Just calm down," DeAndre told himself before he got out of the car.
The guy who had came over to DeAndre's car was still standing there waiting on DeAndre to get out of the car. DeAndre wanted him to leave, but they guy never did. DeAndre opened his car door and stepped out of his car. The guy closed the door for DeAndre. DeAndre said, "Thanks." The guy rubbed DeAndre's arm seductively, "It was no problem. Bishop is waiting for you in his office. I can show you the way." DeAndre wanted to ask the guy if the high pitched voice he was using was his real voice.
DeAndre followed the guy to the church. They went in a door. The guy walked DeAndre down a hallway and to an office. The guy stuck his head in the door and said, "Bishop, DeAndre is here." The Bishop said, "Okay, give me three minutes." DeAndre wanted to say, "I have already given you over twenty minutes," but he did not.
The guy turned and looked at DeAndre, "You can wait here. Bishop will call you when he is ready." DeAndre smiled. The guy gave DeAndre a sexy smile, "My name is Braydin Frost in case you were wondering." DeAndre thought, "I wasn't wondering." Braydin touched DeAndre's shoulder, "That's a nice outfit, handsome. See you later." DeAndre leaned in the opposite direction of Braydin. Braydin smiled at DeAndre and walked off. DeAndre made a crazy face, "Oh my Lord, was that nut flirting with me?" He started laughing as he thought, "Jasmine ain't gonna believe this."
"Bro. DeAndre, you can come on in," Bishop's voice said from in the office. DeAndre blew a breath and told himself, "Don't act a fool. Just calm down," then he walked into the office.
Bishop's office was nice looking. It looked as if a professional designer had decorated the office. There was a massive oak desk in the middle of the room. There was a large tall dark brown executive chair sitting behind the desk. Bishop Boston was sitting in the chair. There were some small oak chairs sitting in front of the desk. The chairs had a cushion in the seat, giving the impression that they might be comfortable. DeAndre sat down in one of the chairs. Looks can be deceiving, the chair was not as comfortable as it looked.
Bishop stood up and shook DeAndre's hand. DeAndre smiled as the Bishop said, "I am glad that we could have this chance to talk. I am very interested in each and every one of my ministers. I want the best for them because they are not only representing me and the church, but they are representing the Lord."
DeAndre smiled while he thought, "Did he say 'ME' first?" DeAndre brushed the thought out of his head.
Bishop continued, "As a representative of the Greater Faith Christian Association, the preachers should be excellent men of God. I would hate to get a bad report about one of my preachers."
DeAndre smiled and thought, "Did he just say 'MY'?" DeAndre focused on the Bishop.
Bishop asked, "How long have you been preaching?"
DeAndre smiled, "I have been preaching since 1993, for four years."
Bishop nodded, "That's good. Are you ordained?"
DeAndre tugged at his ear, "No sir not yet." DeAndre hoped that the Bishop would not ask him why he was not ordained.
Bishop asked, "Is there a reason why you are not ordained?"
DeAndre blew a breath, "My former pastor thought I was too young and he said that because I was not married, he could not recommend me for ordination."
Bishop nodded his head, "I understand about the marriage part. I believe that ordained ministers should be ordained as well. It just makes things easier on the minister."
DeAndre squelched his urge to say, "What difference does it make if I am married or not?" He just glowered.
Bishop noticed the look on DeAndre's face and said, "I take it from your expression, that you don't feel like that."
DeAndre let out a slow breath to calm himself down before he said, "No, I don't feel like that. The Apostle Paul was not married and he did many great things for the Lord. I would think that an unmarried elder would be able to do more than a married elder because he does not have a wife or children that he has to spend time with. I have never understood the church's need to marry single folk off versus putting them to work. You would think that pastors would put single folk to work while they aren't tied down to a family and family pressures. That's just how I feel about it."
Bishop stuck his chest out, "In Apostle Paul's time, he did not face the pressures that preachers during this time face. I doubt that he had women trying to seduce him and things of that nature. It is hard for a single preacher to maintain his reputation during this time. People these days will say some nasty things about preachers, especially if they think the preacher has done them wrong. It is just easier for preachers if they are married."
DeAndre paused, "I guess so. It still does not seem right to wait to ordain a qualified minister just because he isn't married."
Bishop made a mean face, "Well, that is what I believe and have believed for years now."
DeAndre could tell from the inflection in Bishop's voice that there was no need to argue with him.
Bishop said, "What ministries are you currently working in?"
DeAndre was dejected, "I work in the Sunday School Department and with the Youth Ministry."
Bishop twisted his lips, "Continue to work in those ministries. I will be watching you to see your progress. Also, I will tell Eld. Fugler to be sure and put you in the rotation to speak on Evangelistical night. I am sure that once I get a look at your work and your preaching style, that I can work on getting you ordained. Just be patient and things will work out like they are supposed to. Thank you for coming by and talking to me."
DeAndre titled his head and made a face. "Is he serious? He is not even going to ask me if I have any questions. This is a trip."
Bishop said, "I have another meeting at 7:00 so we are going to have to cut this short."
DeAndre formed his lips to say something smart, but he only thought it, "Naw this nigga ain't gonna rush me out of here after he was 20 minutes late. He ain't even apologize for being late."
DeAndre stood, "Yes sir, Bishop. Thanks for talking with me."
Bishop stood up, shook DeAndre's hand, and said, "You're welcomed. Be blessed."
DeAndre walked out of the Bishop's office without responding. He hurried out of the church because he did not want to run into Braydin, the way he was feeling, he might have cursed the effeminate acting man out. No such luck, Braydin was standing outside of the church door talking to some guy. Braydin smiled at DeAndre and said, "All finished I guess." DeAndre did not respond, he just walked past Braydin and the guy. Braydin grabbed DeAndre's arm, "I know you heard me." DeAndre looked shocked. Braydin sounded just like a girl when he said that. DeAndre smiled, "Yea, I heard you. Can you let my arm go?" Braydin slid his arm down DeAndre's arm slowly as he let it go. DeAndre shook his arm and balled his fist up. He wanted to hit this guy, but he knew that he should not do that. Braydin smiled and walked toward the church. The guy that he was talking to looked at DeAndre and said, "You have to forgive Braydin. He is very touchy feely. He doesn't mean any harm." DeAndre did not say anything. He just left. Jasmine was not going to believe any of what had happened to him.
DeAndre drove home quickly. He kept running the recent events over and over in his mind. He was trying hard not to form the wrong opinion in his mind. It was hard. He hated being pushed aside, especially when the other person was wrong. The bishop had came to the meeting late and then he had rushed through the meeting. DeAndre had given up his free time to come up to the church. How dare the Bishop show up late and then rush through the meeting? DeAndre had to stop thinking about the meeting.
He was glad that he only lived a few blocks from the church because if he had lived any further from the church, it would have made him even madder than he already was. He needed to talk to Jasmine. She would help him to calm down. She would help him to put things into perspective. She was good at that.
DeAndre tried to sing the song that was playing on the radio to help keep his mind from thinking the negative things that he was thinking. It was not working that well. DeAndre kept trying to distract himself until he reached his apartments. He parked in his usual parking spot and turned the car off. He got out of the car and headed for his apartment. He had almost made it when one of his female neighbors saw him. "Not her, good grief," he thought. His flirtatious neighbor walked up to him and said, "Hey DeAndre. You shole are looking good today. When are you gonna ask me out?" DeAndre smiled. Women were always hitting on him. He was not ready for a long term relationship. He had to get some things together in his life first. He was not raised to be a player and hit everything in a skirt. He could not win for losing in that area. His flirtatious neighbor said, "I know you are not ignoring me." DeAndre shook his head, "No, I am not. Thanks for the compliment. I don't think I will be asking you out. I can't date a woman who lives where I live. There would be too many people in my business." The neighbor twisted her lips and gave DeAndre the talk to the hand gesture. She walked off in a huff. DeAndre laughed and quickly walked up the stairs to his apartment.
As he walked into the door, he yelled, "Yo, JazzyWazzy. Where you at?" Jasmine looked up from the book she was reading in her room in the back of the apartment. She hated it when her cousin called her JazzyWazzy. She rolled her eyes in her cousin's direction before she said, "What do you want Pretty Boy Dee?" DeAndre laughed as he walked towards his cousin's room.
As he entered the room he said, "Girl, don't hate me because God made me pretty. Maybe on of these days, you can be as pretty as I am." Jasmine shook her head, "You are too conceited. You need Jesus." DeAndre did a model pose, "Never said I didn't." jasmine laughed, "You are just pretty for no reason. It ain't like you are a model or an actor. Why you so pretty?" DeAndre did another model pose, "God knew that some people were going to need something pretty to look at so He made me. You know you need this pretty man in your life, girl. Your life would be so dull if I wasn't in it." Jasmine rolled her eyes, "Whatever. How did your meeting go?" DeAndre reached for Jasmine's computer chair and sat down in it.
"Girl, you are never gonna believe what happened. Why was Bishop 20 minutes late?," DeAndre said. Jasmine gasped, "You lying." DeAndre shook his head, "I ain't even lying. I ain't that good of a liar. Some guy was with him. The guy came up to my car and told me that Bishop was ready to see me. Why was the guy acting all effeminate?" Jasmine made a face, "You know you lying!" DeAndre held his hand up as if he were being sweared in to testify, "As God as my witness, that boy was flirting with me. Anyway, the Bishop got me in his office and rushed through the meeting. And get this, he does not believe in ordaining ministers who are not married. What kind of mess is that?"
Jasmine looked baffled. She knew that was one of the reasons that DeAndre had a falling out with his previous pastor. She did not know how to respond to that. She asked, "Did he say anything positive in the meeting?" She knew DeAndre was purposely leaving out the positive things. DeAndre sighed, "Yea, he said that he was going to get Eld. Fugler to put my name on the rotation for minister to preach at the Evangelistical services. He also told me to keep working in the ministries that I am working in. He was going to be watching me. He also said that he was willing to help me." Jasmine smiled, "See something positive happened at the meeting. Just do like the bishop said and keep working. God knows your desire to be ordained. He is not going to let you down. Just keep on doing what you know is right. God's got you." DeAndre laughed, "You can lapse religious when you want to. Thanks for the advice, JazzyWazzy. I am going to give it some time, but you know that I will cut the fool if I get runt over." Jasmine twisted her lips, "Boy please. You are always trying to act a fool. You are too pretty to be that mean and hateful." DeAndre did a model pose, "I am ain't I." Jasmine threw a pillow at DeAndre, "Go somewhere. I am tired of looking at your pretty behind. It's making me sick." DeAndre stood up, walked over to Jasmine, and gave her a wet kiss on the jaw, even though she resisted his attempt to show her some affection. After DeAndre started to leave the room, Jasmine said, "You are nasty. Don't be kissing me. I don't know where your nasty lips have been." DeAndre laughed loudly, "You are so sick." He left the room.
***
DeAndre and Jasmine worked tirelessly in the ministries at Parkridge. They both became popular members of the church, especially with the youth of the church. The youth of the church often confided in the two of them more than they did with the official youth leaders. This lead to animosity between the youth director and DeAndre.
"Bishop, you have got to do something about DeAndre. He is getting on my nerves. He is trying to usurp my authority with the youth. They go to him more than they come tome. They won't even come to any events unless DeAndre and his cousin are going to be there. I think he is trying to take over the youth ministry," the youth ministry director said to Bishop Boston as he sat in the Bishop's office.
Bishop leaned back in his chair, "I don't think that DeAndre is trying to take over the youth ministry. I have talked to him on several occasions and he has never once expressed any interest in being a leader in that ministry. I will talk to him. You are the director of the ministry. You don't have to worry about anyone taking your place."
The youth ministry director smiled as he left Bishop's office.
Two weeks later, DeAndre was summoned into the Bishop's office. As DeAndre entered Bishop's office, the bishop said, "Have a seat. I need to talk to you about something." DeAndre mumbled, "Oh Lord. What is it now?" After DeAndre sat down the Bishop said, "It has come to my attention that you are trying to take over the youth ministry." DeAndre scowled, "What?" Bishop said, "I was told that you tell the youth to come talk to you instead of going to the youth ministry leaders."
DeAndre leaned forward in the chair he was sitting in, "Those kids come to me because I listen to them and do go running around telling their business. I have yet to tell anyone of them to come talk to me. It is not my fault that you have people in leadership over your youth who don't know how to talk to them on their level. Those kids already have parents. They don't need somebody who they don't like and don't have a relationship with trying to be their parents. I AIN'T TRYING TO TAKE OVER ANYONE'S JOB. Whoever told you that is a bold face liar. If they got a problem with me, then they need to step to me instead of running behind my back, talking about me."
Bishop made a stern face, "DeAndre, you need to calm down. I am just telling you what was told to me. If a youth comes to you, you need to advice them to go talk to one of the other youth leaders."
DeAndre blew a long exasperated breath, "I am not going to do that. Those kids trust me and I am not going to violate that trust. I have helped the youth have come to me. You can even ask their parents. I am not doing anything wrong. I am just doing what you told me to do, I am work in the ministries that I am a part of. I ain't my fault that those kids don't like the leadership of the youth ministry. I would rather not be a part of the ministry if it is going to be like this."
Bishop responded, "Perhaps, that is the best thing for you to. You should not work in the youth ministry if you can't work with the leadership."
DeAndre put his hand on his chin, "I do work with the leadership. I tell the youth to respect the leaders. I tell them to come to the youth events. I also tell them that they need to listen to the youth leaders. How is that not working with the youth ministry? This don't make no sense."
Bishop walked over to the side of the desk that DeAndre was sitting on. He sat down in a chair next to DeAndre. The Bishop placed his hand on DeAndre's shoulder and said, "DeAndre, it is obvious that you are a very charismatic and popular young man. It is best if you don't work with the youth ministry so that it will keep confusion down. I wouldn't want anything to mess up your chances to be ordained." Bishop rubbed DeAndre's shoulder.
DeAndre looked at the bishop, "If you say so." Bishop patted DeAndre on the shoulder before he walked back around his desk and sat down in his chair. DeAndre just stared at the floor. He had been thinking about not working with the youth ministry for awhile, but the youth kept asking him to hang around. He hoped that this would not disappoint the youth.
As DeAndre was leaving Bishop's office, Braydin stopped him. Braydin said, "Oh, was it that bad?" DeAndre responded, "I don't know." Braydin smiled a wicked smiled, "I know who said you were trying to take over the youth ministry." DeAndre looked at Braydin with a cold stare, "What did you just say?" Braydin said, "I know who went to the Bishop on you." DeAndre wanted to know who had went to the bishop. He heard his mother's voice say, "Son, we are not gossipers. Gossiping is a sin. Don't get caught up in it." DeAndre tried to brush his mother's word out of his head, but her voice kept haunting him. He knew that he should not ask Braydin to reveal the tattle tale. DeAndre said, "I don't want to know. I don't gossip." Braydin twisted his lips effeminately, "Whatever. It ain't gossiping anyway. I am just SHARING information." DeAndre rolled his eyes, "Whatever it is. I don't want to know." Braydin snapped, "Well, that's your business. I was just trying to help you out. Anyway." Braydin spun around in a way that DeAndre had only seen women turn around. DeAndre shook his head as Braydin switched off. DeAndre prayed, "God, help me please."
***
DeAndre had become a popular preacher during the Evangelistical services at Parkridge. On the nights that he was going to preach, the house would be packed. Mostly because DeAndre told people that he was preaching. Most of the people who came to hear DeAndre were friends of his from other churches. The members of Parkridge rarely came to the services, have the time, the ministers didn't even come to the service and it was their services.
DeAndre never wavered. He kept on doing what he knew was right. He started getting closer to the Bishop, who had been encouraging him. Jasmine had started getting close to the first lady. Jasmine even served as Sis. Boston's adjutant. Things had seemed to turn around for both DeAndre and Jasmine.
One Friday night after the Evangelistical service, DeAndre, Jasmine, and two other young adult members were standing outside the church talking. The young lady said, "DeAndre, boy, you know you can preach." DeAndre smiled, "Thanks. Pray for me." Jasmine laughed. The young man said, "Girl, what are you laughing at?" Jasmine smiled, "Nothing." The young man said, "Uhh huh. Some of us are going out to eat. Ya'll wanna go with us." DeAndre looked at Jasmine. Jasmine looked at DeAndre. Jasmine made a face at DeAndre, who expected her to answer the question. She said, "Who's all going?" The young man said, "Some of the choir members, the youth leaders, Braydin, and us." DeAndre shot Jasmine a look that meant, tell them no. Jasmine said, "Not tonight. I had a long night and I am ready to go home. Maybe another time." The young man said, "Okay. That's cool." He and the young lady walked off.
DeAndre started walking towards the parking lot. Jasmine had to walk fast to catch up with him. She grabbed his arm once she caught up with him, "Would you slow down? What is going on? Why didn't you want to go out with them?" DeAndre kept walking, "I will tell you when we get in the car. I don't want anything I say floating in the air. You don't know who might be listening." Jasmine shook her head as she followed her paranoid cousin to the car.
After they got in the car, DeAndre said, "I ain't going anywhere with the youth leaders. They are shady." Jasmine sighed, "What are you talking about?" DeAndre made a face as he started the car, "One of them, better yet, somebody went to Bishop and told him that I was trying to take over the youth ministry." Jasmine gasped, "Are you serious?" DeAndre backed the car up, "Yea, I ain't that good of a liar. You know me, I would have said something to one of those trifling negros. I don't need any reports going back to the Bishop. Things are going good and I don't need any trouble." Jasmine shook her head, "Church folk can sure be shady." They rode home in silence. |
