“Okay, cool, cool, we go lef here in the next 5 minutes, so that be okay. So still aaa, Becky no gree?… Ei, hmmm. E come church matters diɛɛ, Becky tear chain waaa. Ah well, how we go do am? Make we just move then go… sure, no problem. Okay. See you in a few minutes.”

As Bruce ended the call with Clarence and slipped the phone into the pocket of his green trousers complementing his kaftan, he called out, “Asor! Can we move now! Clay’s waiting for us!”

It was a lovely Sunday morning, with the clearest of blue skies and the absence of all the dark clouds that had threatened torrents of rain throughout the week. A perfect day for visiting a church for the first time.

Nana Asor stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room, putting on one of her earrings and looking fabulous in her long-sleeved midi green dress. “Almost done, Brucie.”

Bruce nodded and gazed at her from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head. “Lord have mercy, Asor, you really be spec!”

“Of course I am!” Nana Asor replied sassily. “I be proper spec. That’s why you put a ring on it, abi?”

“Of course, jor! Like I no put a ring on it, like I fool pass!”

Nana Asor laughed before turning her back to him so he could zip up her dress. Standard husband work, as she termed it.

“Anyways, Clay’s waiting for us at Spanner Junction,” Bruce remarked as he got to work, “so we’ll pick him from there. He said he tried to convince Becky to come, but chale, mission failed. Hmm, this your girl diɛɛ…”

Nana Asor shook her head. “Babe, we’ve had our clashes over that. I’m tired sef. Just let the girl be. I know she’ll eventually come around.”

“Mmmm. I sure hope so. Anyway, Didayy sent me a message that he’s on his way to pick Olivia, so we’re good to go.”

“Alright, then. We can move now.”

“You sure? No extra makeup distins you for do?” Bruce asked teasingly.

“Massa, getat! Make we move!”

***

Jireh, You are enough

Jireh, You are enough

And I will be content in every circumstance

Jireh, You are enough

Sunday morning service at Shalom Temple was as it always had been: a vibrant and spirited celebration of the goodness of God each passing week. The auditorium, moderately sized with the capacity to seat over five hundred congregants, was almost full as people from far and near gathered to worship the Lord.

The choir, Voices of Peace, led by Lovia and Steven for this ministration, were singing the famous ‘Jireh’ song by Maverick City Music, and their passionate delivery drenched the atmosphere of the church in joyful worship, as congregants were on their feet, singing along with their eyes closed and their hands lifted.

From the head bishop and his elegant, dark-skinned wife seated at the forefront of the church to Nana Asor and Olivia, very few in the auditorium could sit on unconcerned. Even those still seated were singing along, like Bruce, Clarence and Deladem. It was just one of many glorious experiences one would encounter in Shalom Temple: a symphony of voices and hands lifted in rapturous harmony.

It was like Bishop Gordon often said: Sunday service at Shalom Temple was more than just a church service, it was a celebration of experiencing the presence of God with open arms and fervent hearts. And over there, the Holy Spirit was fully in charge, so one was to expect anything. The service could go as expected, with worship and the delivery of the Word. There could also be the chance that He’d make His presence known and totally subvert the programme for the day. One thing Bishop Gordon would always tell people about their services – expect God to do what He wants.

For this service, it looked like God wanted the program to go as scheduled.

When the choir ended their ministration and the congregation applauded, Bishop Gordon rose and made his way to the pulpit. It was time for the founder of the church, the high-spirited, incredibly affable and anointed man of God to give the word for the day.

“Hallelujah, somebody praise the name of the Lord! Give Him praise! Adore His holy name! Magnify Him! He deserves it all!” he urged the congregation as they clapped and cheered. “Indeed, Jehovah Jireh is enough, and He will always be enough. The Bible says He is our portion, and people of God, if the One who existed in eternity before time, the One who is the Creator of all things seen and unseen, if He has put in His word that He Himself is our portion, then indeed, brothers and sisters, we are more than blessed! Hallelujah?”

“Amennnn!”

“Welcome somebody to church before you take your seats, please. Let someone know you’re happy to see them in church today. Show some love, children of the Most High, show some love…”

***

An hour and a half later, and after a powerful, compelling sermon by Bishop Gordon, the service was over.

As first-timers and special guests of the Bishop, Bruce, Nana Asor, Deladem, Olivia and Clarence were ushered into the simple office where the affable man did his studies and prepared for every sermon. The ushers who led them in directed them to sit at the chairs in front of the table, where they waited for a minute or two for the bishop to come.

A minute later, the door and in walked Bishop Gordon Tamakloe.

“Ahhh! Our bishop!” the guys cheered as he entered. That was the regular style of greeting he received whenever he entered Cues Corner. From Quincy Bamfo to all the other regular patrons, this was the appellation to rain on the man when he came around.

“My Cues Corner people!” he called out excitedly as he walked over to his seat. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for honouring my invitation, and welcome to Shalom Temple once again! I hope you enjoyed the service.”

“Oh yes, yes!” the five of them chorused zealously.

“The music really touched me,” Olivia added. “You’ve got an amazing choir, Bishop.”

Bishop Gordon lifted his hands. “All glory be to God. And I believe you are Miss Olivia Forson?”

“Yes, please,” she confirmed, extending her hand as Bishop Gordon shook it.

“Ahh, nice. You are the one who has captured my brother’s heart, eh?”

Olivia smiled slightly and nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Lovely, lovely.” Bishop Gordon’s gaze then switched to Deladem, and in Ewe, quipped to him, “Didayy, I can see you have not disappointed the brotherhood. You get taste papa!”

Deladem laughed out loud. “Thank you ooo, Efo. I cannot disgrace my brethren, you know.”

“Of course! You cannot!” Bishop Gordon agreed in English. Then to the others, he mentioned, “I was just telling Deladem that he hasn’t disgraced his No. 9 people. The spec is on point! Or how else do they say it these days?”

In the midst of laughter from the others, Nana Asor put in, “The spec is specing!”

“Aha, thank you! That’s it!”

As the laughter subsided, the door opened, and in entered the absolutely gorgeous wife of Bishop Gordon. Dressed in the most elegant warm brown dress, her skin tone almost perfectly contrasted that of Bishop Gordon’s lighter skin tone.

“Honey, I think the Welfare team is waiting for you. What should I tell them?” she asked before waving at the quartet before him. “Hello, people!”

“Oh, please, tell them they should give me about ten minutes. I’ll be with them as soon as I’m done with my people. By the way, guys, please say hello to the most beautiful, most sophisticated and most amazing woman in the world. Mrs. Peace Akpene Tamakloe!” Bishop Gordon proudly introduced to them.

“Hello, Lady Peace!” they greeted.

“Oh, please, call me Sister Akpene,” she insisted. “Me, I’m not into that Lady title. Just call me Sister, please.”

“Oh, okay, hello, Sister Akpene,” Deladem started, extending his hand. She shook it accordingly.

“So honey, that’s Deladem Fugah. Yes, the man Didayy himself. Delasi’s twin brother. The one that likes fooling every 2 weeks on Friday evenings on Velvet. And that’s his girlfriend Olivia. This is Bruce, another one of the young men I meet at Cues. And this is his wife, Nana Asor. And this is Clarence. He and Bruce are like me, supporters of the best team in the world.”

Akpene immediately shot her husband a scornful side eye, then gave a scoff. “Best team that has not won Premier League in the last decade? Tweakai!” she declared. “You’re not even the best team in Manchester mpo. See how Haaland and Foden used you people as training toys at the Etihad!”

“Please, please, please, issokay!” Bishop Gordon retreated begrudgingly. “Don’t come and resurrect wounds of yore.”

The quartet giggled, enjoying the banter between the bishop and his wife.

“So Asor, this is your fellow Anfield geh,” Bishop Gordon indicated, the look on his face hilariously suggesting he did not even want to mention the name of the team.

Nana Asor looked excitedly at Akpene. “Oh wow! You never walk alone?”

“I never walk alone, sweetie! I no dey walk alone oo! Victoria Orenze settings!” Akpene declared.

The group couldn’t help but laugh at that clever reference of hers.

“Sweeeeettt! And uh, by the way, I love this dress of yours!” Nana Asor continued to gush, looking the bishop’s wife up and down admiringly. “The elegance and the poise it gives you, eh… it’s… it’s giving Gey Hey vibes, you know.”

Akpene looked surprised. “Of course it does! Coz I’m a Gey Hey girl!”

“Oh my goodness, you are? Awesomeeee!”

The guys groaned and did facepalms as Nana Asor and Akpene suddenly switched to old-students-of-Wesley-Girls mode, asking about each other’s year of completion and the house they were in. Nana Asor and Becky, old students of the prestigious senior high school, never ceased to wax lyrical about their school and how proud they were of it, much to the chagrin of the others.

“Oh boy, there they go again!” Deladem muttered loud enough for them to hear. “El Taruta FC and their noise pollution.”

Nana Asor and Akpene shot him dirty looks. “Gentleman, please, if any school engages in noise pollution, it’s yours!” Akpene shot at him. “You people won one NSMQ and you won’t let us hear word. One title and you people keep disturbing us like it’s the greatest achievement on earth.”

“At least we’ve won it!” Deladem grinned as he shrugged. “And I can say the same for Botwe, Augusco and Motown,” pointing to Bruce, Clarence and Olivia to indicate their alma maters. “It’s just your great, amazing school that hasn’t got anything to show for it. As for Bishop, he said his school doesn’t come into the equation, so he’s not part.”

“Oh, yeah, as for my school, I beg, we diɛɛ, we don’t get to prelims sef! So I have no say in the matter,” Bishop Gordon confirmed, an amused look on his face. “But it comes in handy when NSMQ comes and Gey Hey gets eliminated. As I always tell Akpi, you can’t shame the shameless, so I can troll her and not fear any retaliation.”

Akpene shot her husband a look and shook her head as he and the others laughed. Then she turned to everyone. “Anyways, all that banter aside, it’s lovely to meet you all. I hope you were all blessed at today’s service.”

“Oh, definitely,” Bruce replied, nodding his head. “We’re definitely glad we made it. From the ministration by the choir to Bishop’s word, all on point.”

“We thank God. We thank God. I hope you’ll be coming around another time.”

“Oh, most definitely!” Olivia agreed.

“Wonderful. We’re a lovely family over here. As for this church, it’s all about Jesus, not man, so we’re always open to all.”

***

“Here’s your drink, sir.”

“Thanks,” Clarence smiled as the waitress placed the bottle of Sprite in front of him. He took it up and sipped through the straw, looking around the spacious restaurant on the compound of Shalom Temple. Nice place, he thought to himself, enjoying the ambience while he reflected on what went down in the bishop’s office.

After the amusing banter in the office, Bishop Gordon went ahead to pray with everyone. He prayed for Bruce and Nana Asor’s marriage, that they would be blessed with the fruit of the womb. He prayed for Deladem and Olivia, that the Lord would help them prepare for marriage, and that they’d honour God while waiting. And he himself had been prayed for, that God would help him get a job.

It’s good paaa that I came, he nodded to himself. Chale, at this stage diɛɛ, unless God come inside. As Bishop pray give me diɛ, let’s just hope for the best…

“Clay!”

Clarence turned at the sound of Delasi’s voice. She stood beside his table with three other ladies he had seen among the choir.

“Chale, Delasi, what’s up?” he asked in Ga, nodding and smiling at her. Being the two Ga speakers among the squad, literally all their personal conversations were in Ga.

“Good ooo,” she replied gleefully. “I’m glad you guys were able to pass by.”

“Oh yeah. Your church is a vibe, chale. And Bishop too, solid man,” he stated.

“Awww, we thank God, we thank God.” Switching from Ga to English, she continued, “Anyway, ladies, this is one of my childhood paddies. Clarence Addy.”

The three ladies warmly greeted him.

“So this is Felicia, my personal sweet momee,” Delasi introduced, gesturing to the bespectacled lady on the right. Then she pointed to the very cute lady in the middle, “and this is Irene. Our Jamestown cutie. And this is my madam, the madam herself, Lovia.”

Lovia laughed. “Please, don’t mind her. Who is your madam? Delasi paa.”

Clarence smiled and nodded. Irene smiled shyly and waved at him.

“Don’t mind her, she likes that. Anyways, we hope you’ll pass by again some time,” Felicia said, smiling brightly at him.

He nodded. “Oh yeah, most certainly.”

“Great, great. So we’re getting some small chops for the rest of the choir. I’ll see you and the others later,” Delasi remarked, as she and her ladies began to move away.

Bruce and Deladem entered the restaurant just as the sounds of Tye Tribbett’s ‘Bless The Lord’ started up. Clarence nodded along to the song, spotting the grins on the faces of his guys.

“Eii, chale, this song dey trigger memories!” he proclaimed as they joined him at the table.

“Serious memories, bro,” Deladem agreed. “Back in that wana room for Bani. Herh, Bernasko really play this song make e kaaa for my head inside.”

“Oh chale! Man like Bernasko!” Bruce stated. “The guy play all those gospel songs make we learn them by force. But chale, na ibi good thing.”

“Most definitely!”

The three paused to briefly sing along to the bridge and the chorus, the song serving them with good old memories. Back in the day when their main concerns were making sure they had good GPAs and attending the hottest drink-ups.

“Oh chale, the good old days!” Deladem duly commented. “Back then, no adulting stress. Now here we dey, growing older and dealing with all the wahala adulting has for us. Fuel, rent, surviving on some tiny ass salary…”

“Dealing with bosses from hell, trying to set up an emergency fund even though emergency dey slap you every other day, choosing sleep over outings… chale, adulting no be funny,” Bruce added.

“Hmmm. No be easy. But chale, as them go talk, God dey, so we dey,” Clarence agreed.

Deladem nodded. “Definitely. And chale, make we continue dey hope for the best. As Bishop pray give you diɛɛ, I sure sey something go drop soon. God go show up eventually.”

“Amen oo, amen,” Clarence responded. “This jobless phase no go last. It’ll pass soon.”

“Yess! That’s the spirit!” Bruce encouraged. “Things go change, without a doubt. And we go dey sit for Cues then think back on these times then just thank God.”

Clarence put up a victorious fist. Things were hard, but he could always count on these homies to have his back and encourage him, and he was grateful for that.

After taking a sip of his drink while the others went silent, he briefly nodded in the direction of Delasi and her girls. “But chale, I no know sey Delasi ein choir get more nice babes for here. Chale, them fine ooo…”

“Eiii, Nii Ayi Addy! Wo nono! Come church come seek God aaa, you dey watch babes. Ayooo!”

So we’ve met Bishop Gordon and his wife. A pretty cute couple, you must admit. I bet we’ll be seeing a lot of them as we move along…