Queen's Surrender (To a Higher Calling) by Pat Simmons

Author:Pat Simmons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian romance, African American Genealogy, family saga, clean and wholesome love story, opposite attract
Publisher: Christian Reads Press
Published: 2021-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The big day. Philip Dupree would be voted as pastor after so many years in the evangelism field. During his trial period, he had learned a lot about people, himself, and Queen.

He strolled into the boardroom and greeted the deacons with a hearty, “Praise the Lord.”

Nathan was the first to stand and shake hands. The remaining followed.

“Have a seat, Elder Dupree.” Deacon Larson, the senior deacon, gestured.

Philip complied. Nathan offered a prayer, then Deacon Larson opened a brown folder. “It’s been a challenging year for all of us as you settled into leadership.”

Growing pains. “Yes, but God has helped us make it to this point.” Philip tapped his shoes beneath the table, ready to get the vote over with.

“Amen. We had concerns about your counseling skills, but you have guided some of the most vulnerable saints—our young people—through their crises. However, you seem to struggle with marriage counseling.” He frowned.

The deacon should have sat in on some of those sessions, and he would have seen the struggle was intense. Philip exhaled and rubbed the fine hairs his razor had missed.

Deacon Larson patted his hands on the table. “Again, I suggest the benefit of a married pastor to our congregation. Your marital counseling success rate concerns me, but we know it will take time, so the board has decided to extend your trial period six months until February to court one of our sisters and announce your engagement. We feel that is reasonable.”

What was reasonable about a forced marriage? He did his best to keep a blank expression. Deacon Larson had to be joking. He chanced a glance at Nathan who offered an apologetic shrug. Oh boy, the board was serious. Philip had nothing against marriage. The idea was close to his heart with Queen, but he would not agree to a time frame. God, please give me the words to say.

Straightening himself in the chair, Philip attempted to meet absurdity with diplomacy. “With all due respect, Deacon Larson, based on our verbal agreement, nothing was mentioned about my marital status as a prerequisite for the position.”

He made eye contact with each deacon. “Do I have to have cancer to minister to a cancer victim, experiment with sexual impurity to minister to confused souls, have a history of drug addiction or incarceration to minister to God’s people? Solomon was the wisest man in the Old Testament, then there was Deborah as a judge. Only God has been touched by all these infirmities, and I listen for His instructions to counsel others.” He refused to succumb to a headache.

Deacon Spearman cleared his throat. “Elder Dupree, we in no way meant to question the authority God has bestowed on you, but after the shameful behavior of fornication from our last single pastor, we feel it’s best to address it. If you’re willing to give some thought to our conversation and pray, I’m sure God will open your eyes to see a helpmate.”

Shameful behavior? This was the first time Philip had ever heard this.

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