Welcome to the Whyte House Family Spoken Novels podcast episode #120. Today we are reading chapter 12 of the novel “…And Family Drama Just Won’t Stop III” by Daniel Whyte III with Meriqua Whyte.
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“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
After the invitation, Jonathan asked everyone to remain in their seats before leaving the podium. The deacons joined him as he hurried down the hallway to his office where Kirby was waiting.
“Kirby, everyone’s waiting,” he said.
Kirby seemed to have aged in the past few weeks. The men strode into the auditorium. Their entrance was met with hushed whispers. They took their places on the podium with Jonathan and Kirby in the front surrounded by the deacons.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know you all have had some questions over the news about our pastor. Well, Pastor Kirby is here to give a statement,” Jonathan announced.
Kirby stepped before the microphone. He was visibly trembling.
As he looked across the auditorium at the group of people he had come to love, and who had come to love him, a cold shiver ran through his body as looks of disappointment, sadness, emptiness, and anticipation met him. Some threw angry glares at him. As his eyes locked with some of the congregants, the realization of how much he had disappointed them hit him. They had trusted him and he had broken their trust. Attempts to clear the lump in his throat failed.
“Brothers and sisters, I come before you with heaviness of heart because I have failed you as a pastor and as a Christian. I have been living a lie before you for almost two years now. Yes,” Kirby said, “the news reports are true … I did have sex with a minor.”
Jonathan who had been observing the congregants looked towards the double doors at the back of the auditorium as they opened. Oh, boy, he thought as Cam marched in with Jessica Simmons and a cameraman who immediately directed his camera towards them and started filming the confession.
Jonathan shook his head. He thought of asking them to leave, but changed his mind as phones began popping up into the air. Members were already snapping pictures and tweeting and texting. It’s going to get out anyway, he sighed. He joined the deacons in silent prayer.
“There is no excuse for my sin,” Kirby continued. “That’s what it is—a grave sin before God and before you all.” Kirby’s voice cracked. “Please forgive me for breaking your trust.”
Deacon Travis reached out and grabbed Kirby by the arm as Kirby’s knees buckled under him. Regaining his stance, Kirby’s shoulders started to tremble as he repeated his apology. “I’m sorry for breaking your trust. Please forgive me.” Tears trickled down his cheeks.
“I hear you’ve been paying someone to keep it quiet,” Cam said out loud as he made his way up closer to the front. “Have you been stealing money from the offering plate?”
Jonathan wanted so badly to punch Cam in the face.
“There goes the crib snatcher!” one lady muttered walking out in a huff.
“Leave him alone!” one man shouted. “He’s been a great pastor to us.”
Jonathan motioned to the deacons to escort Kirby to his office as he sensed possible pandemonium.
“Quiet! Order, please!” Jonathan said into the microphone. “Pastor Kirby will not answer any questions and neither will I. I would appreciate it if you all would head home and go do what Jesus would do, and that is to forgive Pastor Kirby and pray for him and his family. Have a great day.”
“What will happen to Pastor Kirby now?” someone shouted as Jonathan made his way off the podium. “He’s still my pastor,” another said.
Jonathan took Monica’s hand and they left the auditorium.
“How do you feel?” Jonathan asked Kirby once they got to his office.
“I feel somewhat relieved,” Kirby answered. “Thanks for standing by me. Thanks to all of you,” he said glancing around at each of the deacons.
“What are your plans going forward?” Deacon Travis asked Kirby.
“I plan on returning to Kristy and the children, getting some counseling, staying out of the pulpit for … I don’t know,” he sighed. “I need to get my marriage back together. That’s all that matters to me now. Please pray for us.”
“We will,” Deacon Travis said. “Keep me abreast of everything … son.”
Kirby did all he could to keep from crying. He knew he had hurt Deacon Travis—his father in the faith—deeply. The other deacons solemnly shook his hand.
“I’ll keep things going just as though you were here,” Jonathan said.
“Gentlemen, you’re dismissed,” Jonathan said to his deacons. He placed his arm around his wife and the two of them walked slowly out the back door behind the others. There were a few members still milling around. They all waited for Kirby to pull out of the parking lot.
Before shutting his car door, Kirby looked around at all God had blessed him to build up. I’ve destroyed it all. I’ve destroyed it all, he thought.
As Jonathan drove off the lot, he noticed the silver Lexus parked close to the main exit; Cam was leaning against it with a sly grin on his face.
Jonathan and Monica listened quietly to the evening news after putting the children to bed for the night. Jessica appeared on the screen after Pastor Kirby’s confession was broadcasted in full:
“Why would a pastor do such a thing knowing the consequences he would face? That will be our focus for this segment, and no doubt, we will revisit this issue in the next few weeks. To help us answer this question we have with us Mr. Cameron, former assistant pastor of Ninth Street Baptist Church where Pastor Kirby Rollins once served as its pastor.”
Jessica pointed the microphone towards Cam. “I believe it’s a combination of things,” Cam said, “including pride, ego, a feeling of invincibility. Some begin to think that because of their status they can get away with their sin. But the Bible says, ‘Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.’ It also says you can be sure your sins will find you out.”
“What do you think will happen to the Ninth Street Church family now?” Jessica asked.
“I’m sure you saw many of the members walking out. However, they have a very capable leader in Jonathan Reynolds who I’m hoping will do a very good job in picking up where Pastor Kirby left off. Of course, I’ll offer him my services and my advice and help him bring the church past this difficult time.”
“Thanks, Mr. Cameron. Tune in at six each evening for updates on this story. Thank you and have a great evening.”
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Thank you for joining us for this episode of Whyte House Family stories. You may purchase a copy of this novel and any other Christian fiction books read on this podcast from Amazon.com.
Now, dear listener, please know that God—the divine Author of all things—wants to write a great story with your life as well. But first you must give Him the pen by trusting Him with the life He gave you and surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ as Savior. Here is how:
1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
May God bless you until next time.
BCNN1 WP 