No Sin in Paradise by Dijorn Moss Read Free Book Online Page A

the spirited conversation that is happening around me.
    â€œI’m sorry. I was lost in my own thoughts.”
    â€œWe were talking about Pastor Cole and his ministry and who might’ve killed him,” Victory says.
    A pretty morbid conversation to have over fish, but then again, I can imagine a murder occurring on a neighboring island is rare and how that would be the talk of the town.
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œWe were just saying that the devil hates success in the Kingdom and with a worldwide ministry, who knows how many greedy people were after him,” Adele says.
    â€œDid he really have an international ministry?” I ask.
    The group gives me a quizzical look. I know the question seems absurd, but it’s not.
    â€œYes, he had churches in Africa, Afghanistan, and Europe,” Sammy says.
    â€œDo you know what a satellite church is? They set up a big flat-screen TV in a room and Pastor Cole preaches to them, and they collect an offering. What I find funny, well, not really funny but interesting, is of all the testimonies of people with fancy cars, big homes, and obese bank accounts, none of them have come from one of these satellite churches. It’s a lot easier to preach prosperity in a land that’s fueled by greed.”
    â€œWho says people in Africa need a Rolls-Royce?” Sammy Moses says. “People use their faith for different things. Some people use their faith to build, while others use their faith to endure.”
    â€œBut I think the point that is getting lost is the fact that the Gospel is being preached. Who cares if it’s being done through a flat-screen television set up in a hut in Nairobi?” Victory asks.
    â€œMaybe that’s because there are a lot of homes in Nairobi that don’t have a television, let alone a flat screen,” I say.
    â€œDoc, you’re arguing semantics. The bottom line is that Pastor Cole was about building the Kingdom.”
    â€œOh, Pastor Cole was about building. Building a bigger building,” I say.
    â€œAnd how many buildings have you built through your ministry? Don’t criticize a man for doing something, unless you endeavor to do better,” Adele says.
    That stings to not have an answer to Adele’s question. My friends shook their heads at my cynicism. I must’ve gotten too comfortable because usually I do a better job of concealing my sentiments. At the same time, I can’t always be cloak-and-dagger.
    â€œI’m just saying that sometimes people don’t need a new car. They just need to know that there is a better life available. Everything else is a distraction from the true meaning of the Gospel,” I say.
    â€œAnd in that regard, I don’t think there’s that much of a difference between you and Cole,” Victory says. “In the end, we’re different parts in the same body.”
    Victory receives a round of applause from everyone at the table. She may have a point, and, in truth, I can go on for hours and debate with her, but my attention has been directed to the man on the other side of the restaurant whose attention is set dead square on us. I know that he can’t possibly be listening to our conversation, given that the restaurant is somewhat busy. And there’s no way he could pick up on our conversation from where he’s standing. From where I’m sitting, I see that the man has dreads that go all the way down his back. His black skin makes his bloodshot eyes stand out.
    I am always alert and aware of my surroundings; that is both my gift and my curse. There are some things I don’t want to notice, like this gentleman with the dreads in his mustard-colored two-piece suit. I’m uneasy, and I know that I’m not being paranoid. Victory snaps her fingers to get my attention again.
    â€œAre we boring you?” she asks.
    â€œNo, I’m just reflecting on what Pastor Cole could’ve been involved in that would’ve