When It All Falls Down by Dijorn Moss

but it is not a color that summons men. I wish that men didn’t pay attention to such trivial things as the décor of a church, but they do. We’re taught to walk by faith and not by sight, but that biblical principle is easier said than done.
    I walk into a meeting already in progress. Pastor Robinson, Minister Blackwell, and a man who I have not previously met are in the front pew. The man gets up and walks over to me.
    â€œHi, I’m Minister Mackie.” He shakes my hand. “I feel like I’m meeting Davy Crockett.”
    â€œI’m not sure if I should take it as a compliment.” I’m not used to people being happy to see me. I am usually treated like a necessary family event. People are nervous and on edge when I’m here and happy when I am gone.
    â€œWell, it’s because you’re about to make the devil mad.” Minister Mackie flashes me a Kool-Aid smile.
    The rest of the people in the room do not share Minister Mackie’s enthusiasm. I feel like I make the devil laugh more than anything with my futile attempts. It is only on those rare occasions when I make a connection with my clients that it feels like I am doing real damage in the kingdom.
    â€œSo what’s up?”
    â€œWe have a problem,” Minister Blackwell says.
    â€œWell, we don’t have time to fool around so let’s hear it.”
    â€œThe associate pastor is not ready,” Pastor Robinson says sternly.
    This is the part that I hate the most about my job: pastors and their authority. A pastor who is full of pride is very toxic in this kind of situation, where they have to take direction from someone else. I put my hands in my pockets and walked over to Pastor Robinson. “And why is the associate pastor not prepared to assume a role that he was supposed to be prepared for?”
    â€œBecause I made him the associate pastor without any intentions of him taking over in my absence. In the beginning it was hard to get someone to be committed to a woman pastor. Mitchell was committed and I made him Pastor. It was an emotional decision and not a spiritual one and I realize that now.”
    Pastor Robinson made a common problem that so many pastors make. They make decisions based on emotions and rationale. Rarely do they take into account what God’s Word says about wisdom and using wisdom and spiritual conviction during the process of picking leaders.
    â€œSo what’s wrong with him?” I ask.
    â€œHe doesn’t have good communication skills.”
    I laugh to myself and begin to pace the floor. A pastor with poor communication skills is the same as a baseball player with no hand-to-eye coordination. It’s a small wonder how this ministry grew to its current size given that so many poor decisions were made in the flesh and not the spirit. The three ministers shake their heads and look at each other.
    â€œIs Bible Study tonight?” I ask.
    â€œAt seven P.M. ,” Minister Blackwell says.
    â€œI’ll sit in and observe how things run and we’ll go from there,” I reply.
    â€œOkay,” Pastor Robinson says.
    I can tell that Pastor Robinson is reluctant to give up her pulpit, but I can’t consider her feelings while trying to resolve her issue.
    â€œMay I have a moment with Pastor Robinson?” I say to Minister Blackwell and Minister Mackie.
    Minister Blackwell and Minister Mackie look at Pastor Robinson, who then gives them a head nod and the two men leave without any resistance. I wait until the men have left the sanctuary before I go and have a seat along the front pew. I tap an empty space on the pew for Pastor Robinson to have a seat next to me, and she does after a moment of hesitation.
    â€œI have to be honest with you; your ministry is not in the best of shape,” I say.
    â€œYou should’ve seen the look on folks’ faces when I told them God called me to the ministry. I still remember what I had on: a black