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“I got a call last week, requesting a meeting.” They walked into the office and Kyla took note of her surroundings. She thought churches were supposed to be very opulent, not contemporary looking office spaces like this one. She stepped into Trina’s office and her heart started racing. Her head filled with thoughts about her current lifestyle and was sure God was going to strike her down any minute.
“Have a seat. Pastor Matthews is just finishing up a counseling session and he’ll be right with you.”
“Thank you.” She sat on the sofa across from Trina’s desk thinking how grateful she was this meeting wasn’t in the sanctuary. The mere thought of being that close to God’s home base would be a little nerve racking. “How long have you been working here?”
“Three and a half years. I love it. I was an assistant in the HR Department, but when Pastor Mike, I mean Pastor Matthews came, he needed an assistant immediately and they transferred me over here.”
“HR Department…is this a church or a business?” Kyla joked.
“Both. God’s work is a business.”
“Huh.”
“We have an HR department, finance and media departments, book store, daycare, elementary school, credit union, administration and pretty much every department a large corporation would have. Sunday service is the icing on the cake.”
“I never…”
The door to the office opened and a young couple walked out. “Thank you pastor. We’ll see you next week.”
“Be sure to set something up with Trina.” He directed them to the other end of the sofa and looked at Trina.
“Pastor, this is Kyla James,” Trina introduced her.
Pastor Matthews extended his hand to her. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss James. Come this way.”
Kyla walked in front of him into his office, being careful to curtail the wiggle in her hips. She sat in the chair in front of his desk and noticed he didn’t close the door.
“You come highly recommended,” he said, as he sat down behind his desk.
“So, tell me who do I have to thank for this glowing recommendation?” She smiled.
“Ralph Patrick.”
“Excuse me?” Her smile disappeared.
“Ralph Patrick…my brother-in-law. I’m sorry, you’re probably more familiar with my sister, Rhonda.”
“I know who he is, but I had…I mean I had a good time working with Mrs. Patrick.”
“Well, Ralph said the best way to work with you is to tell you what the budget is and that way my wife, DeeDee, won’t get crazy.” They laughed.
“It has been my experience that wives want to impress their husbands, and sometimes they feel money shouldn’t hold them back from creating the perfect home.”
“I believe the perfect home comes from the spirit of the people who inhabit it. And I know it can be achieved within a budget,” he countered.
“I understand. So what do you want me to do?”
“First, I want you to fix this office.” Kyla looked around at the peeling paint, faded carpet and worn furniture, thinking God is supposed to be the miracle worker, let Him handle this pathetic space. “I know it’s bleak. I don’t want the church paying for it, even though there’s a small stipend for remodeling. I’m going to pay for it myself.”
“Okay.”
“What do you think?”
She stood up and walked around the small dark office. “Honestly, it’s pretty bad, but with some paint, a couple of window treatments, a new floor, furniture and accessories, it can be nice.”
“Good.”
“How good depends on the budget.”
