JT leaned back in his chair, feeling more pleased than he had in a long time, but then Janet rang his desk phone.
“Pastor, you’re not going to believe this,” she said with sheer excitement.
“What’s that?”
“Pastor Braeden is on the line for you.”
JT sat up straight. “Pastor Donald Braeden? From Vineyard Christian Center?”
“Yes, and he’s calling you from home.”
“Unbelievable. Okay, give me a few seconds, and then put him through.”
“I will.”
JT hung up and tried gathering his composure. This was crazy. The Pastor Braeden of Dallas. The Pastor Braeden whom he watched on television every Sunday morning before he left to preach at his own church. The Pastor Braeden who had a congregation that was twenty-five-thousand strong.
JT breathed in and out and then in and out again, and waited for Janet to ring him. Finally, she did.
“Pastor Braeden, sir, what an honor and a privilege to be speaking with you,” JT said.
“No, son, the pleasure really is all mine because your father-in-law and I go way back, and I have the utmost respect for him. I’m a little bit older than him,” he said, laughing, “but he’s a friend for life.”
“Yes, my father-in-law is definitely a very special man, and I love him to death.”
“I haven’t spoken to him in a while, but I’ll have to make sure to give him a call.”
“Well, right now, he’s on a fourteen-day cruise with his wife, but I know he’ll be very glad to hear from you when he’s back home,” JT said, telling the best lie he could think of at the moment. He knew there was no way he’d be able to keep Pastor Braeden or any of the other ministers he sent information to from contacting Curtis, but the longer it took for that to happen the better off JT would be.
“Good for him. Two weeks is a long time and the kind of break everyone needs to take every now and again.”
“That’s for sure.”
“But back to you and the reason I’m calling. It just so happens that our scheduled afternoon speaker for our church anniversary has had to cancel. We just heard from his assistant a couple of days ago, letting us know he’s taken ill. So, while I know this is very short notice, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to take his place.”
JT wanted to yell, “Thank you, Jesus,” but instead he said, “I’d love to, and I’m truly grateful just to have the opportunity.”
“Wonderful. I know today is already Wednesday, but if you could fly out on Saturday evening I would certainly appreciate it. The service isn’t until four P.M. on Sunday, but I’m sure you’ll want to rest in a hotel overnight and not have to worry about flying in on the day of.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Great. Our members are going to be pleasantly surprised when they learn that Pastor Black’s son-in-law will be delivering the message. They love him here in Dallas the same as everyone else does throughout the country, so your visiting here will be a real treat.”
JT was so ecstatic, he could barely sit still. “I can’t wait. Also, if you don’t mind, can I ask you something?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
“I can only imagine how busy your schedule is, but at some point maybe this year or next year, do you think you might have time to come speak at my church? I mean, it’s nothing like yours, and we only have about five thousand members, but I know having you here would help our ministry tremendously.”
“I would be happy to. You’re doing me a huge favor, and I’ve always been a big believer in the idea that one good turn really does deserve another.”
“Thank you so much for agreeing. When my father-in-law came to speak, it drew in more people than I’d ever seen here, and I know your presence will do the same.”
“Also, young man, I must say how proud I am of you in terms of all the obstacles you’ve had to overcome. Losing your mother, not knowing your father, being tossed from one foster home to the next. Your letter was both saddening and powerful, and it was very brave of you to share it.”
“Thank you, Pastor,” he said, smiling, and was glad he’d exaggerated just about everything he’d written.
“No. Thank you. Because your story will be a blessing and an inspiration to everyone.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Okay, well, I’d better get going so my wife and I can get some dinner, but I’ll have my executive assistant call yours first thing in the morning. That way, she can find out your airline and hotel preferences and get your reservations made. Oh, and by the way, I guess I forgot to mention your honorarium,” he said, but JT certainly hadn’t.
“Oh, that’s no problem at all.”
“Will twenty-five thousand, first-class airfare for you and your wife, and accommodations at a five-star hotel be sufficient?”
JT wanted to burst out laughing. God was so good. “It’s more than sufficient, and thank you for being so generous.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
“Also, just so you know, my wife has a women’s event here at our church on Saturday evening that she has to attend, so unfortunately, she won’t be able to travel out with me.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry to hear that. But I certainly understand.”
“Well, again, Pastor, thank you so much for everything.”
“Of course, and please call if you have any questions.”
“I will, and you have a good evening.”
“You, too.”
JT wanted to jump for joy, sing a song, and cut a jig. He was actually going to be ministering to the people of Vineyard Christian Center. It was a dream come true, and now he was even happier than he had been about including those recommendation letters from Curtis. They were doing wonders for him, and he was delighted to no end.
He picked up the phone and called Janet into his office.
“So, what’s the deal?” she asked, smiling.
“Pastor Braeden has asked me to come speak this weekend.”
“So soon?”
“Yes, the minister they’d invited has become ill and had to cancel.”
“How wonderful…not that he’s sick, but I mean, how wonderful this is for you.”
“I know. Vineyard is one of the largest churches in the country, so I’m really going to have to be on top of my game. Which is why, instead of flying in on Saturday evening, the way Pastor Braeden suggested, I’d rather go early on Friday morning. That way, I’ll be able to rest up some and then spend all day Saturday writing my sermon and doing a few dry runs with it.”
“I don’t blame you. This is going to be huge for you.”
“No doubt, so I certainly want to make a good impression.”
“So, are they going to contact me about your arrangements?”
“Yes, he said his assistant will call you in the morning. Also, unfortunately, Alicia won’t be able to go with me.”
“Oh no. Why not?”