by Darrell Case
Chapter 15
Excitement and fear fought for space in Adam's heart. The church was filled to capacity. A crowd of at least twenty-five men, women and children stood by the back wall. Sitting with her aunt in the back pew Victoria caught Adam's eye. They smiled at each other. His heart swelled; he felt he could walk through the gates of hell.
"Elijah!" Adam called. "Help me set up chairs for the people standing in the back."
"But preacher, they's the poor people. They's only in at Christmas time, then they's hast to stand."
Adam's smile washed off his face to be replaced by a cold expression. "Not as long as I'm the pastor of this church. Follow me."
Going to a meeting room behind the office, he picked up a chair. Nodding at another one, he ordered, "Take it to them!"
Elijah followed the minister to the rear of the sanctuary. Adam and Elijah set the chairs down next to a man and woman holding twin infants. The couple shyly smiled their thanks.
Sitting in his wheelchair at the end of the second row, Michaels saw Adam and Elijah first.
"What's that crazy preacher up to now?" he shouted, waving his cane in his son's direction.
"Hush father!" the younger man said, stealing glances around him. The choir was singing the old hymn, "Faith of our Fathers." When no one seemed to notice, Robert sighed with relief.
"Don't you tell me to shut up!" he shouted over the choir.
Robert rolled his eyes. It was going to be another one of those days. He tried to restrain his father but he just became more agitated.
Conway rose, intending to help carry more chairs. Shane put his arm up to the pew in front of him to stop his son.
"Leave him be," he said, nodding at Adam. "Let him make a fool of himself, if he's a mind to."
For the next few minutes, Adam, Elijah, and James carried chairs to the grateful recipients.
Their actions were greeted by gasps, moans, and shaken heads by most of the wealthy. A few smiled their approval. O'Malley reached his boiling point when James and his father filled the last two chairs placed near the left wall. He remained in his seat only for appearance's sake. Robert finally succeeded in calming his father; turning sideways, he concealed the black men from him.
As the choir began to sing 'Silent Night,' Adam ascended the steps to the pulpit. Robert was congratulating himself when Michaels turned around and caught sight of Gertie. Before he was confined to the wheelchair, he used to walk through the factory daily. Even now, in poor health and with his son in charge, he would have Jr. roll him down the work aisle once a week.
Many times, he would stop at Gertie's machine, threatening to fire her if she did not speed up.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Michaels," she told him each time. "I'll try to work faster."
"Well you'd better; I'll not put up with your lollygagging." Truth be told, she was his best worker but she seemed unmoved by his wealth and power and this irritated him to no end.
"What's she doing here?" he screamed, pointing a finger at Gertie and raising his cane in the air, waving it wildly. "I don't allow any of my workers to attend this church!"
His son rose up to calm his father. Robert Sr.'s eyes landed on the two black men sitting by the wall. He seemed about to say something when his face turned deathly white. Suddenly he leaned forward and fell to the floor. A man Adam recognized as Dr. Pear rushed forward and knelt by the unmoving figure. Several men left their seats as they helped the doctor carry the fallen man to the pastor's study. Women looked on, covering their mouths with lace handkerchiefs. Adam gripped the side of the pulpit, his knuckles turning white.
"Let's pray for our brother," he said, his voice shaking. After a brief prayer, he opened his Bible to Luke chapter 19. For the next half-hour he preached on the rich tax collector Zaccheus.
Speaking of his need of salvation. Adam watched as the cold, stern faces before him melted into concern and conviction. Several women dabbed the corners of their eyes.
"I'm sure many of you have someone in your past who told you about Christ. Just like Zaccheus, you have a choice. He accepted Christ as his Savior. The change in his life was immediate and we can expect this too. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, 'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.'
"So I ask you today. What will you do with this Jesus who is called the Christ?"
After giving an invitation for those who wanted the Lord in their lives, Adam closed the service. The Inquiry Room had been used for storage until this week but was now thrown open. The room soon filled to capacity; Adam had to push his way in. Fashionable ladies stood next to housewives; men of wealth by street vendors. Victoria stood in the far corner. Adam's heart leapt in his chest. He dealt with each person making sure they understood the way of salvation. Finally after what seemed a lifetime, he came to Victoria. "Have you received Christ before?" he asked her.
"No, I thought I had. But as you explained in your sermon, I realized all I did was join the church," Victoria answered with trembling voice. Tears welled in her eyes, "I know I need him."
After reading verses from the book of Romans, Adam led Victoria in a prayer of acceptance. At the end of the prayer, she raised her head and a brilliant smile lit up her face. To Adam, it looked like the sunrise after a furious storm.
RIVER OF FIRE