Article: The Transformation of Aziz

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Aziz was having the worst day of his life! His world was falling apart right before his very eyes. How could this have happened? He groaned inwardly as he scanned the faces of the people who had gathered at his welcome reception for Rev. Bryan. He had announced at their last service that his father from overseas would be coming to commission their new church building and the whole village had turned up to see the white man who had given Aziz his spiritual powers.

He cringed inwardly with head bowed as the Reverend openly rebuked him for his "questionable practices and pagan heresies". His displeasure with the state of the church he had put in Aziz's care was evident from the tone of his voice and grave countenance. Aziz gazed at the sky in wonder..Could this really be happening? Was this the reward he deserved for all his years of dedication and hardwork building the church from a motley group of 11 members to the 1000 strong congregation they now commanded? He gasped in disbelief as the Most Reverend Clinton announced his suspension and informed the teeming crowd that a new pastor from the headquarters would be arriving the village in a fortnight.

Oh such humiliation! Aziz made his way down the podium carefully avoiding the pitying looks of his congregation. Even outside the church, similar eyes followed him. The news had spread through the village like wildfire. The spiritual successor of Rev Bryan had fallen from grace! Aziz walked as one in a daze while his mind travelled down memory lane..

He was just a boy when Rev Bryan and his wife arrived Siraq village on a missionary project. They had quickly made friends with the natives and made converts of some of them. Asiz's parents were idol worshippers but the child was drawn to this whiteman with his strange religion. He followed him everywhere he went and finally caught the Reverend's attention. Seeing potential in the boy, Rev Bryan trained and mentored him in the Faith. Having taught him the core values and foundational truths of the ministry, he put him in charge of the Siraq church and returned to the mother church in the United States.

However, Aziz knew it was going to take more than an episcopal endorsement to earn him the acceptance of his village folk who still saw him as a rookie in spiritual matters. Being of quick intellect, He did a survey of some churches that commanded a large following around his vicinity and discovered some startling similarities between their mode of worship and dat of his idol-worshipping kinfolk! Well.. He discovered that both worshippers lobbied for the favour of their deities by offering sacrifices in the form of gifts,personal belongings, precious items and even money.. They both invoked the wrath of their deities upon their enemies and wished them painful deaths.. They worshipped their priests and spiritual leaders who sold them sacred objects believed to possess powers that would solve their problems .. And they both preferred dancing and singing to more sober modes of worship.. They weren't so different after all!

So he introduced these same elements into his services and secured the services of the same band that played for the village masquerade to play in his church. The result was mind-blowing! 

Within a month, church attendance at Siraq had jumped from just 11 members to 500! A few pagan rites co-opted into the service and a handful of well-publicized miracles here and there and before he knew it.. Aziz had stolen the hearts of the villagers!

With so much revenue coming in from the sale of anointed objects and other merchandise, Aziz was able to embark on the building project. He dispatched a message to his mentor informing him of the tremendous progress made in Siraq and inviting him for the commissioning of the new church auditorium. All these he had done in good faith.. not knowing the ordeal that awaited him.

Aziz shook his head in dismay.. The heart of man was indeed desperately wicked.. Who could know it? Who could have thought Rev Bryan would humiliate him so badly?.. Sigh.. Finally, he squared his shoulders.. He had come to a resolve. He would show them he wasn't finished yet..God was on his side.. All he needed was a show of power like Elijah did in the bible.. He knew he had the power.. He could do anything..One with God is a majority.. And so he sent a message to the villagers.. He was going to walk on water.. Then they would know he had been treated unfairly.. God was on his side!

And so the next morning.. The whole village gathered at the Lake Tirza..they came to behold Aziz's greatest miracle.. Today, he would be transfigured before their very eyes and they would truly recognize him and who had sent him. A shout rose from the crowd as he jumped off the boat into the middle of the lake.. and trashed about for a moment.. then he sank.. Still they waited.. No ripple upon the surface of the water.. Yet they waited..by the time the body was found it was too late.. They left the lake one by one with the same thought running through their minds..They would have to wait for the new pastor..

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