When Sunday Comes Again by Terry E. Hill

Author:Terry E. Hill [Hill, Terry E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, African American, General, Urban
ISBN: 9781601623546
Google: 51DPVxFP-YsC
Amazon: 1601623542
Barnesnoble: 1601623542
Publisher: Urban Books
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The grounds of New Testament Cathedral glistened in the afternoon sun. Plush grass flowed like a tranquil river over the ten-acre compound. Gurgling fountains and the coo of pigeons provided a soothing soundtrack for a tense conversation between the four coconspirators.

Cynthia Pryce walked between Reverend Kenneth Davis and Catherine Birdsong; her husband, Percy, kept pace in the rear. The four walked along the cobblestone paths, pausing intermittently to say “Hello” or “Welcome to New Testament Cathedral” to groups of passing tourists.

They had assembled at the request of Kenneth. Meeting out in the open seemed like the safest way to talk without being overheard. An innocent scene: four leaders of the church taking a leisurely afternoon stroll along the sloping knolls. All the pathways led to a fifty-foot cross carved from white marble. The cross served as the centerpiece of the garden. It rose up from a circular mound of exotic orchids, perennials, and shrubbery. The flower bed was encircled by iron benches, for contemplation, that Samantha had commissioned from an artist in Paris.

“We’ve got to do something,” Kenneth said as he waved to a couple in the distance. “She’s not suited to be pastor. Her heart isn’t in the right place. Samantha is going to destroy this ministry if we don’t replace her.”

“I agree,” Cynthia said, looking straight ahead.

“First, she humiliated Catherine in front of the entire staff, and then forced her to resign,” Kenneth continued. “Benny Winters called me in a panic this morning, saying she’s demanding changes to the new cathedral design that could run into the millions. I’m afraid to think of what she’ll do next. Replace me? Force you and Percy out of the church?”

“There’s nothing that can be done, Kenneth,” Catherine said. “Everyone loves her. Our television ratings have almost doubled since she took over. Contributions have been pouring in like never before. Did you see how much we took in last week? It was more than we usually get in a month.”

“This isn’t about money, Catherine,” Cynthia interjected. “It’s about God’s will, and I agree with Kenneth. Her heart is not in the right place. I don’t believe for a minute that she’s interested in bringing souls to Christ. She’s about the almighty dollar, and I’m not afraid to say it.”

“Cynthia, please,” Percy said from behind.

“Well, someone had to say it, Percy, and you all know it’s true. The only thing that’s important to her is maintaining her embarrassingly lavish lifestyle. I can’t believe that any of you think that it’s God’s will or that you would sit idly by and allow her to fleece all the saints that support this ministry. The thought of all those lovely people sending in their hard-earned money to buy her another piece of art just breaks my heart. Every night since she’s been pastor, I’ve prayed that God will forgive us for being negligent stewards over the blessings he has given this ministry.”

Percy walked behind with his head held down. He’d never seen Cynthia pray in the fifteen years they had been married.

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