Good to Me by LaTonya Mason Read Free Book Online Page A

be the youngest until Minister Michael Adams came on board last
     year. He was the church’s minister of music. The three ministers stood as she approached them.
    “Hello, everyone,” she smiled, making her way around the circle they formed to hug each of them. Ministers Adams and Dukes
     made room for her to sit with them on the couch. She sat at the end of the couch beside Minister Dukes, away from Minister
     Adams. She didn’t know how long she could keep her best friend April’s crush on him a secret.
    “Good morning, everyone,” Pastor King said in greeting to get their attention. “It’s good to see you all. I pray peace and
     prosperity upon you and your households. Does anyone have anything that should claim my attention?”
    Everyone sat quietly, looking around the room.
    “All right then. I want to congratulate Minister Phillips. She came to me some time ago to let me know that God had put it
     on her heart to open an all-black counseling firm. She had her open house on Friday and the place was packed. People were
     lined up out there like the government was giving away free cheese.” When the laughter died down, he asked Charity, “What’s
     the name of your office?”
    “Horizons,” she answered shyly.
    “Let’s keep her in our prayers. You know she’s got her work cut out for her. It’s hard to work with black folks, let alone
     those of us who are a little touched in the head.” He grinned. “I’m just playing with you, Minister Phillips.” Then he turned
     to the other ministers. “All of us need a little help every now and then, even us men and women of God. It’s important to
     keep a balance between the natural and spiritual. Amen?”
    “Amen,” the seven agreed.
    “Minister Phillips, since the Lord is blessing you so much, I want you to lead the call to worship this morning.”
    Everyone fell silent. One of the older reverends had always led the beginning part of worship services. Before she could open
     her mouth, one of them spoke up.
    “Pastor, did you say ‘call to worship’?” Reverend Hubbard asked.
    “Yes, I’d like Minister Phillips to do the call to worship. Minister Dukes to do Scripture and Minister Sadler to do prayer.”
     Charity looked around the room. Pastor King didn’t concern himself with the ministers’ blank stares and dropped mouths. “Reverend
     Miller, will you do the tithe and offering appeal?”
    “Pastor, with all due respect,” Reverend Hubbard persisted. “Reverend Adams and I have always led the call to worship. Reverend
     Miller hasn’t even had a chance to do it yet, and you’re gonna let Minister Phillips do it? That’s out of order, Pastor, don’t
     you think?”
    Pastor King sat quietly for a minute. He looked like he was thinking of a way to respond tactfully. Ever since last week’s
     end-of-the-year meeting, the church had been in an uproar. The older charter members of the church were most perturbed with
     the changes Pastor King talked about making.
    Charity remembered how he had started the church meeting with a brief sermonette on Joshua and how God commissioned him to
     break out of Moses’ mold because he was now dead. “Following tradition will keep you out of the Promised Land,” he said. He
     admonished the church to get prayed up because God was “getting ready to send Damascus Road Baptist Church on a Damascus Road
     experience.
    “We can’t continue to do thangs the way Momma, Grandmomma, and Big Momma ’nem did ’em,” he’d joked to break the uncomfortable
     silence. “I believe God is raising the standard and wanting to take Damascus Road to a new level. Amen? And if you will,”—he
     looked around slyly—“that can be evidenced by the fact that God has blessed us with our first female minister, Minister Phillips.
     He’s breaking us out of tradition, church. I’ve been pastoring this church for fourteen years and there are some things we
     are still doing that were done when the church started