CHAPTER 2
A motor bike whizzed past as Aliyah walked home from school, too close for comfort, and woke her up from her thoughts. The rider was tooting his horn loudly, and was wearing an orange banner with huge black prints on it. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry, but wanted to make a show of himself to all road users. She read the bold writing on the banner strapped around the rider’s neck: HEALING JESUS CAMPAIGN. She recognized it. She had seen similar banners flying about town hanging on the street lights and every available pole. Something about a preacher coming to town for a concert or something. The town square had seen a buzz of activity in preparation for the program.
She tried to remember the dates, but suddenly a silvery gold colored big car with huge speaker horns attached to the top came slowly down the road. She noticed the driver, a light-skinned gentleman with spectacles, wearing an orange golf shirt. Behind him sat a gentleman she recognized, “Pastor Sam!”. What could her pastor want with this foreign looking gentleman?
As the big car slowly approached, she could see Healing Jesus Crusade written on its side. Then she heard her pastor’s voice over the the horns in the local language, “Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills and the Healing Jesus Crusade team are in town! Tonight at the town square, everyone will be coming! There will be healing! There will be deliverance! There will be salvation! Don’t miss out! Come and bring your family!”
She waved at the car excitedly, feeling as if she was now part of the crusade, just because she recognized her pastor. She was smiling to herself as she entered her house. Her mother looked at her quizzically and asked, “And what has made you so happy this afternoon?”. “Oh, nothing much. I saw Pastor Sam in a big car announcing the crusade at the town square”, she responded. “Oh yea!”, her mother said, with obvious pride. “We have to go. Our church has partnered with other churches in this city to host the Evangelist. I hear he’s very powerful! I’m part of the mega choir singing tonight. Let’s go together.” “Oh ok Mommy”, she responded, happy to do something together with her mother for once. She had not been going for choir rehearsals with her mother recently, using school work as her excuse. But tonight, it wouldn’t hurt to watch her mother sing at the town square.
She took a shower, changed into a T-shirt and jeans, and had potatoes and beans for dinner. Her mother came out all dressed up in a white blouse and long black skirt. She had even put on make up! Aliya smiled to herself, wondering if her mother was trying to make an impression on Pastor Sam again.
Aliya’s father had died 7 years ago. And when Pastor Sam, a single, anointed and handsome pastor, came to head their branch of the church 5 years ago, her mother’s attendance and involvement in church had increased markedly. Aliya liked Pastor Sam, well, up until recently when her mother had decided to report every issue they had to him. At least tonight they can agree on one thing: the crusade.
As they stepped out of the house, it was obvious they were not the only ones who knew of the crusade: several people were heading to the town square. The joined the throng and milled into the square which was filling up although it was still early in the evening. As they entered, several people wearing black and white approached the crowds entering the grounds and offered them books. Her mother took a book and walked past the lady who handed it to her and into the crowd. For a moment Aliya thought to herself that the lady couldn’t possibly give her a book. The lady must think she was too young. If only she knew what she could do and had been doing at age 12. But to her utmost surprise, the lady approached her with a smile and handed her a book! “Great!” She thought, responding with a smile and thank you. “These crusade people are no respecter of persons!”. Young and old are treated equally. She immediately relaxed and felt welcome. She read the title of the book, “Spiritual Dangers. Dag Heward-Mills”. “Just what I need”, she thought with a smile.
She strode confidently across the field, trying to locate her mother, who had marched right up to a big truck parked on the field. Someone was standing inside the truck handing out golden colored choir robes. Her mother slipped hers on and someone helped button it at the back. Aliya stood and watched in amazement as her mother was transformed along with several hundreds. “This must be the biggest choir in the whole country!”, she thought. She knew some of the choristers, but there were several more she couldn’t recognize. Where had they all appeared from? Or did they come with the Evangelist?
Her attention was drawn to a truck trailer standing right in the middle of the field. For whatever reason, it seemed to have attracted a lot of attention because crowds had gathered around looking at it. She approached, curious to know what was going on. Several men were swinging chains, clipping and unclipping things on the trailer. Suddenly there was a screeching sound, and to her shock and amazement, the trailer began to unravel magically like a robot! What in the world is this! The upper section of the trailer separated from the bottom and opened up as if they were wings. The bottom stretched out and metamorphosed into a type of platform. The crowd gaped in awe. This was like something out of a movie! The trailer was wholly unrecognizable as such! She watched several men ran around systematically fitting bits and pieces on to the “thing”. Then she realized, “They are building a stage!”, and what a way to do it!
Within minutes the stage was efficiently up, sound and lights on, and music flowing! The town square was steadily filling up, and the soon enough the choir took the stage, leading the crowd through several vibrant songs of praise and worship. Aliya sat just behind the choir so she could catch the action. She watched the stage chairs fill up with pastors, including Pastor Sam. He visibly beamed with pride as he saw his choir members, not least of them her mother, wearing the robes and leading the crowd in praise.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Nana Akua Dede