The first time Matthew stepped into Holy Foundation Fire International Church with his family, he almost ran mad.

Not because of the crowd, not because of the worship, but because of what he saw standing behind the pastor.

At first, Matthew thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Then he looked again and his blood ran cold.

Inside the church, people were worshiping, praying, and celebrating. But in the spiritual realm, Matthew saw something completely different.

All the congregation were chained. Men, women, young and old. Each of them had heavy chains wrapped around their necks.

They were on their knees, crawling like animals. The chains stretched across the church and disappeared into a giant thick black creature standing behind Pastor Mike.

The creature was large. Its eyes glowed with darkness. And it kept smiling. Not because the people were worshiping, not because they were praying, but because it had a grip on every single one of them.

Matthew’s heart pounded. Fear gripped him. Slowly, he turned towards his wife. “Are you seeing this?”

He wanted to ask. But when he looked at her face, he realized she saw nothing.

Nobody saw anything. The usher saw nothing. The chisters saw nothing. The pastor himself saw nothing.

The congregation saw nothing. Only Matthew could see it. His eyes had been opened and for the first time in his life.

He understood why so many people entered that church. He understood why so many miracles seemed to happen there.

He understood why so many blessings appeared to flow there. And he finally understood why people entered the church but almost never left.

Before Holy Foundation International Church became a mega church, it was a struggling ministry that very few people took seriously.

Back then, Pastor Mike was not the famous pastor people knew. In fact, before becoming a pastor, he was a businessman.

His business wasn’t making him rich, but it was doing well enough to provide a decent life for his family.

The bills were paid. The children went to school comfortably. There was food on the table.

Life wasn’t luxurious, but it was stable. Then, Pastor Mike announced that God had called him into a ministry.

At first, people admired his decision. Many believed it took courage to leave a business and answer God’s call.

Even Pastor Mike believed he was making the right choice. So, little by little, he began shifting his attention away from his business.

The more serious he became about ministry, the less attention he gave to the business that had once sustained his life.

Eventually, he shut it down completely. To him, there was no need trying to build two things at the same time.

If God had truly called him, the ministry deserved his full attention. So, he gave it everything.

His time, his energy, his servings, even his future. He rented a hall, bought chairs, printed banners, organized outreach programs, invited guest ministers, paid for advertisements, and every time money was needed, he found a way to provide it.

He was convinced that the sacrifices would eventually pay off. The problem was that they didn’t.

The first year passed, the second year passed, nothing changed. The third year passed, still no growth.

By the fourth year, people started talking. By the fifth year, the talking had become almost impossible to ignore.

One of the most painful things Pastor Mike experienced was watching other churches succeed while his own remained stagnant.

Sometimes later at night, he would sit alone scrolling through social media. There he would see churches celebrating their third anniversary.

Churches that were younger than his, churches that had started years after Holy Foundation international ministry.

Yet somehow those churches were already attracting thousands of members. Some were dedicating new auditoriums.

Some were opening branches. Some were buying buses. Others were hosting massive conventions. Every picture felt like a personal attack.

Every successful story felt like a reminder that he was failing. Slowly, bitterness began finding its way into his heart.

Then came the members. At first, it was ordinary members leaving. Pastor Mike tried to not let it bother him.

People moved churches all the time. That was normal. But then some of his strongest members started leaving too.

The people he never expected to lose. The people who had stood with him from the beginning.

The people who had helped pay church rent when finances became difficult. The people who organized programs, the people who believed in the vision, one after the other, they left.

And every departure felt like a knife twisting deeper into his heart. The worst part was hearing their reasons.

Some said they wanted to attend a church where they could grow spiritually. Others said they felt God was leading them elsewhere.

A few didn’t even bother giving excuses. They simply stood up and left. Soon the church began looking emptier than ever.

Some Sundays, Pastor Mike found himself staring at rows of vacant chairs while trying to preach as though nothing was wrong.

But something was wrong, very wrong. Even his friends had started losing confidence in him.

One afternoon, while sitting with a few old friends, one of them looked at him and shook his head.

Mike, I still don’t understand why you would close down a functioning business because you said God called you.

The others laughed. Another friend added, “Five years, Mike. 5 years. If God truly called you, shouldn’t there be something to show for it by now?”

Pastor Mike forced a smile. But those words followed him home. Because deep down, he has started asking himself the same questions.

For the first time in his life, Pastor Mike began doubting whether he had actually heard from God.

Maybe he had misunderstood. Maybe he had made a terrible mistake. Maybe everybody was right.

And maybe had wasted 5 years chasing something that was never real. The doubts became worse with each passing month.

Until one day, Pastor Mike decided to do something he had never done before.

He decided to visit some of the churches he had spent years secretly envying. At first, he told himself he was only going there to learn.

Maybe there was something they were doing differently. Maybe there was something he was missing.

Maybe there was a secret to church growth that nobody had ever taught him. So on a Sunday morning, instead of attending his own service, he quietly visited one of the largest churches in the city.

The experience left him stunned. The church was massive. Hundreds of cars filled the parking lot.

The auditorium was packed. People stood in places where they could barely see the altar because every seat had already been occupied.

As the service progressed, Pastor Mike sat quietly at the back watching everything. The chister minister the congregation sang.

The atmosphere was electric. Then came the moments that affected him the most. The testimonies one after another.

People came forward. A woman claimed she had been healed of a sickness that troubled her for years.

A man testified about a financial breakthrough. Another spoke about how a prophecy had completely changed his life.

The congregation erupted with excitement after every testimony. Pastor Mike sat there silently. Then the pastor mounted the altar.

The man spoke with confidence. People listened attentively and somehow everything he said seemed to connect with the congregation.

By the time the service ended, Pastor Mike felt smaller than he had ever felt in his entire life.

As he sat inside his car preparing to leave, one thought refused to leave his mind.

Maybe miracles were the answer. Maybe that was what attracted people. Maybe that was what he was missing.

For years, he had focused on preaching. For years, he had focused on prayer and fasting.

For years, he had focused on teaching. But perhaps people wanted something else. They wanted signs, wonders, and even miracles.

The thoughts followed him home. And for days, it refused to leave. Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the crowd.

He remembered the testimonies. He remembered the excitement on people’s faces. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

Soon he stopped sleeping properly. He became withdrawn and quiet. Even his wife noticed the change.

Some nights she would wake up and find him sitting alone in the living room after midnight staring into space.

Other nights he simply lay awake on the bed, unable to sleep. His mind had become a battlefield.

One side told him to keep trusting God. The other side kept reminding him that 5 years had passed and nothing had changed.

Then one evening, his wife finally said something that broke whatever little hope he still had left.

The children had gone to bed. The house was unusually quiet. His wife sat across from him at the dining table.

For several moments, she seemed unsure of how to begin. Then she spoke, “Mike, can I ask you something?”

Pastor Mike looked up. She hesitated briefly before continuing. Have you ever thought about praying and asking God if this is really his will for us?

The moment the words left her mouth, Pastor Mike felt something sink inside his chest.

His wife quickly continued, “I’m not saying God didn’t call you. I’m not saying you should stop the church.

I’m only saying maybe, just maybe, we should pray and ask him to be sure.”

Her voice was gentle, careful, and loving. But Pastor Mike understood exactly what she meant.

His wife was losing faith, not just in the church, in him. And that realization terrified him because he knew his wife better than anyone else.

She was not the type to complain. She was not the type to criticize him.

For years, she had stood beside him through every disappointment, through every financial struggle, through every promise that things will soon get better.

Yet now, even she was beginning to question the future. Pastor Mike forced a smile and assured her that God had called him.

His wife nodded, but her eyes told a different story. And for the first time, Pastor Mike saw something that frightened him more than empty chairs, more than financial struggles, more than public embarrassment.

He saw a woman who was slowly reaching the end of her patient. That night, he barely slept.

As he stared into the darkness, one thought kept repeating itself over and over.

If he did nothing, he would lose everything. His church, his reputation, and eventually his family.

That night, Pastor Mike barely slept. Long after his wife had fallen asleep. He remained awake, staring into the darkness.

Her words kept replaying in his mind. Maybe we should pray and ask God if this is really his will for our lives.

The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became. His wife had not directly told him to stop the church.

She had not asked him to return to business. She had not even complained. But Pastor Mike understood exactly what she meant.

She was tired, not physically, emotionally. For years, she had stood beside him while he chested a dream that seemed determined to fail.

For years, she had watched him pour money into the ministry. For years, she had watched members leave.

For years, she had listened to promises that things would eventually get better. And now, even she was beginning to doubt.

That realization frightened him because deep down he knew his wife better than anyone else.

The day she completely lost faith in the church would be the day everything began falling apart.

A week later, he informed his wife that he wanted to spend 3 days on a prayer mountain seeking God’s face.

His wife supported the idea immediately. She believed her husband was finally drawing closer to God.

What she did not know was that Pastor Mike had no intention of visiting any prayer mountain.

Instead, he traveled to a remote village in another state, a place whose name he had heard whispered only in secret.

The journey took almost an entire day. When he finally arrived, local villagers directed him towards a narrow path leading into a dense forest.

The deeper he walked into the forest, the more uncomfortable he became. Massive trees blocked most of the sunlight.

The air smelled of smoke, herbs, and something else he couldn’t identify. Eventually, he saw it.

An old mud structured hidden among the trees. The building looked ancient. Animal bones hung from wooden poles outside.

Strange symbols had been drawn across the walls using a dark substance that looked disturbingly like dried blood.

Several clay pots sat near the entrance. The entire place felt wrong. For a brief moment, Pastor Mike considered turning around and leaving.

Everything inside him screamed that he shouldn’t be there. But then he remembered the empty chairs.

He remembered the members who had left. He remembered the laughter of people who called him a failure.

And he remembered his wife. And slowly he stepped inside. The old woman waiting for him looked far older than any person he had ever seen.

Her gray hair reached almost down to her waist. Deep wrinkles covered her face.

Yet her eyes were sharp and unsettling. The moment Pastor Mike entered, she looked directly at him and smiled.

“Pastor Michael Daniels,” she said. Pastor Mike froze. Doman continued, “Founder of Holy Foundation, Fire International Church.”

His heart nearly stopped. He had not introduced himself yet. She knew exactly who he was.

Then she asked a simple question, “Why are you here?” Pastor Mike hesitated.

The woman already knew. He could sense it, but she wanted him to say it himself.

So, he did. He told her everything. He wanted church growth. He wanted influence. He wanted wealth.

and he wanted respect. He wanted people to stop mocking him. He wanted his ministry to become one of the largest churches in the country.

When he finally finished speaking, the woman smiled. For a gift that great, she said quietly.

There must be a great sacrifice. Pastor Mike immediately replied. Anything. The woman studied him carefully.

Anything. Anything. She began chanting. The atmosphere inside the room changed. The atmosphere dropped.

The shadows seemed to move. The old woman remained silent for several moments after Pastor Mike finished speaking.

Then he slowly reached beside her and brought out a small container. Inside was a dark colored cream.

Nothing about it looked special. In fact, it looked like ordinary cream. The old woman handed it to him.

Pastor Mike collected it carefully. “What is this?” He asked. The woman smiled. You will apply it on your face before every service.

Pastor Mike looked confused. Why? The old woman leaned back slightly. Because once you applied, your eyes will be opened.

A chill ran down Pastor Mike’s body. Opened to what? The woman pointed at him.

You begin to see things ordinary people cannot see. Pastor Mike swallowed nervously. The old woman continued, “When people stand before you, you will know what is wrong with them.

You will see their sicknesses. You will see their struggles. You see the secrets they have hidden from everyone.

Pastor Mike’s eyes widened. The old woman nodded. Nobody would need to tell you anything.

The moment they stand before you, you will know. For a few seconds, Pastor Mike simply stared at the cream in his hand.

The old woman then reached into another wooden box and brought out a simple black necklace.

There was nothing extraordinary about it. It looked like something anybody could buy in the market.

She handed it to him. Wear this all times. Pastor Mike looked at it carefully.

What does it do? The old woman’s expression suddenly became serious. It will keep you connected.

Connected to what he asked nervously. The old woman ignored the question. Instead, she grabbed both of his palms.

Immediately, Pastor Mike felt a strange sensation traveled through his body. It was like cold water and fire moving through him at the same time.

His entire body trembled. He tried pulling away, but the old woman’s grip tightened.

Her eyes closed. Her lips began moving. Strange words filled the room. Words Pastor Mike had never heard before.

The chanting continued for several minutes. Then suddenly it stopped. The old woman opened her eyes and released his hands.

Pastor Mike immediately stumbled backward. His heart was racing. What was that? He asked. The old woman smiled.

The power to perform miracles. Pastor Mike froze. The woman continued. When you see what is wrong with them, you will know what to say.

When you touch them, they will believe. When you pray for them, things will begin to happen.

Pastor Mike could barely contain his excitement. Everything he had wanted was finally within reach.

Then the old woman raised the finger. But nothing comes freely. The excitement immediately disappeared from his face.

The old woman pointed directly at him. You said you wanted growth. Pastor Mike nodded.

You said you wanted wealth. Again, he nodded. You said you wanted influence. Yes.

The woman smiled. Then you must bring souls. Pastor Mike remained silent. The more souls you bring to the great one, the more your church will grow.

The more souls you bring, the richer you will become. The more souls you bring, the more powerful you will become.

She leaned closer. Within two weeks, people will begin gathering in your church. You will perform a miracle.

People will talk. News will spread. And before long, you will need bigger auditorium.

Pastor Mike could hardly believe what he was hearing. Then the old woman’s voice became cold.

Very cold. But you must keep your side of the agreement. The smile vanished from Pastor Michael’s face.

The woman pointed at the cream. Nobody else must ever use it. Nobody. If another person uses it, your protection will be broken.

She pointed at the necklace. You must never remove this. Then her eyes narrowed.

And the day you stop bringing souls, the room suddenly felt colder. The day you stop feeding the great one.

The day you decide to walk away, your destruction will begin. Pastor Mike swallowed hard.

The old woman continued. It will not start with you. It will start with those closest to you.

A chill ran down his spine. My family, he asked quietly. The man nodded.

Your family, your children, your wife, everyone you love. The spirit of death will follow them.

It will not rest. It will never leave them. And there will be nothing you can do to stop it.

For several moments, Pastor Mike sat there in silence. A reasonable man would have run.

A wise man would have rejected everything. But Pastor Mike was no longer thinking about consequences.

All he could see was success. The crowds, the miracles, the wealth, the influence. Slowly, he picked up the cream, then the necklace, and with a smile spreading across his face, he prepared to leave, believing that he had finally found the answer to all his problems, completely unaware that he had just sold his future to something far more dangerous than failure.

After Pastor Mike left the witch’s place, he did not return home the same way he had left.

Physically, he was still the same struggling pastor who had traveled out pretending he was going to a prayer mountain.

But inside him, something had changed. As he sat inside the bus going back, holding the small bag where he had hidden the cream and the nickness, his heart kept beating fast.

Not because he was afraid of what he had done, but because for the first time in many years, he felt as if his suffering was finally coming to an end.

The witch’s words kept repeating in his mind. She had told him that once he applied the cream on his face, his eyes would be opened.

He would see the problems of people. He would know what was wrong with them even before they opened their mouth.

She had also told him that with the power placed in his hand, he would be able to perform miracles that would make people run after him.

All he had to do was keep bringing souls. The more souls he brought, the more his church would grow.

The more his church grew, the more his wealth would increase. To pastor Mike, those words sounded like deliverance.

By the time he got home, he had already arranged his face. He could not allow his wife suspect anything.

She welcomed him with tired hope in her eyes. The kind of hope someone carries when they were praying that the next news they hear would not completely break them.

She had expected that maybe after 3 days of prayer, her husband would finally admit that the church was not working.

Maybe he would say they should return to business. Maybe he would say they should start a fresh.

But Pastor Mike gave a different answer. He told her that God had spoken to him.

He told her that God had confirmed the ministry again. He told her that Holy Foundation Fire International Church would soon become great and that everything they had suffered would not be in vain.

His wife listened quietly. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to believe him.

But deep inside, disappointment settled in her heart. Still, she did not argue. Shi nodded forced a small smile and told him she was still praying with him.

Pastor Mike smiled back, but his mind was no longer with her. His mind was already on the next morning.

The following day was not a church service, and Pastor Mike knew that waiting inside the church would be useless.

The few members he had were not sick, crippled, or desperate enough to create the kind of miracle that would attract attention.

If people would not come to him, then he would go to them. Early that morning, he took his bath, locked himself inside the room, opened the small container, and stared at the cream for a long time.

His hands trembled slightly as it touched it. Then he remembered the witch’s warning, and slowly rubbed it on his face, making sure it touched his forehead.

His cheeks and around his eyes. After that, he wore the necklace underneath his shirt.

At first, nothing happened. He stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself, waiting for something dramatic.

Then, slowly, the room began to feel different. The air around him felt heavier.

His eyes became sharp in a way he could not explain. He could hear small sounds he normally would not notice.

Even his own breathing sounded strange to him. Fear rose in his chest, but excitement quickly covered it.

The witch had not lied. Pastor Mike took his Bible and went out to a busy roadside not far from the market.

Traders were opening their shops. Bus drivers were shouting for passengers. Hawkers moved between vehicles.

People were too busy trying to survive the morning to listen to one struggling pastor with a Bible.

But Pastor Mike stood there anyway and began preaching. At first, people ignored him. Some passed without looking at him.

Some laughed. One woman even hissed and said loud enough for others to hear that pastors had started disturbing people on the road again.

Pastor Mike continued, “He preached louder. He acted as though he had only come to win souls, but deep down he was searching for the miracle that would announce him.”

Then his eyes fell on a mad man sitting by the roadside near a dirty gutter.

The man was known in that area. For almost 3 years, he had been roaming the streets, sleeping under shops, picking food from refuge heaps, and shouting at people who were not there.

Children feared him, traders avoided him. Even drivers knew him and often swaved away whenever he wandered into the road.

The moment Pastor Mike looked at him, something strange happened. Information entered his mind like somebody had opened a book in front of him, he suddenly knew the man’s name.

He knew the incidents that started his madness. He knew the family that had abandoned him.

He knew things nobody around him had said. Pastor Mike’s mouth went dry. For a second, he almost forgot he was standing in public.

Then he realized this was the moment the witch had prepared for him. He walked towards the madman.

People began to notice. Some traders stopped what they were doing. A postc conductor laughed and shouted that the pastor should leave the mad man alone before the man disgraced him.

A few people gathered expecting entertainment. To them, it was just another roadside drama. Pastor Mike placed his Bible under his arm, stretched his hand, and touched the madman on the head.

The man looked up and began laughing, a wild, frightening laugh that made some people step back.

Pastor Mike began praying loudly. At first, nothing happened. And then the crowd gathered. Someone shouted that the pastor would soon run away.

Another person said the mad man had beaten people before him, but Pastor Mike did not stop.

He pressed his hand harder on the man’s head and began speaking the things he had seen.

He called the man by name. He mentioned things about his life that made some of the older traders gaps.

The laughter died down. People began to look at one another. Then the mad man screamed.

It was not an ordinary scream. It was sharp, deep, and sudden. The kind of scream that made people in nearby shops rush out to see what was happening.

The man started shaking violently. His hands twisted. He fell to the ground, rolling in the dust while Pastor Mike continued praying.

By now, the crowd had grown larger. Some people brought out their phones. Some were shouting.

Some were calling others to come and see. Then, at once, the madman became still.

For a few seconds, everywhere was quiet. Even the traitors who had been laughing said nothing.

Slowly, the man opened his eyes and looked around as if he had just woken up from a long sleep.

He touched his face. He looked at his clothes. Then he began to cry. Not the cry of a mad man, but the cry of a man who had suddenly realized where he was and what had become of him.

When he spoke, his voice was clear. The crowd went wild. People screamed. Some shouted that Pastor Mike was a true man of God.

Others knelt down immediately and begged him to pray for them. The same people who had laughed at him minutes earlier.

Nam pushed forward to touch him. Some asked for the name of his church. Others asked where he woripped.

A few people followed him that same day, refusing to leave until he gave them directions to Holy Foundation Fire International Church.

That was how everything started. By the following Sunday, the church was full in a way that Pastor Mike had never seen before.

People came from the market. People came from nearby streets. People came because they had heard about the madman.

Some came with their sick relatives. Some came with their family problems. And Pastor Mike did not disappoint them.

Some came with business issues. The moment he applied the cream and stood before them.

He could see things. He could call out their problems before they explained. He could mention secrets that made some people scream.

He touched them and they could fall. He could pray and something would happen. Soon the church became known for prophetic deliverance.

People no longer came only to hear preaching. They came because they wanted Pastor Mike to see their problems and remove them.

He began selling holy oil and holy water at prices ordinary people struggled to afford.

He told them the oil carried special grace. He told them that the water had been prayed over for deliverance.

People bought them because they believed in him. Some borrowed money to buy them. Some sold things.

Some returned again and again because they believed their breakthrough was closed. The more people came, the richer Pastor Mike became.

The more they testified, the more others rushed in. Within months, the small hall became too small.

Within a few years, Holy Foundation Fire International Church became one of the largest churches in the city.

Politicians attended his services. Businessmen booked private meetings. Wealthy women brought envelopes. Families traveled from far places for deliverance.

His wife was happy because she believed God had finally answered their prayers. She did not know that every new member who joined the church was being tied spiritually to the darkness behind her husband’s power.

Years later, Matthew was transferred to the city by his company. He moved there with his family and children.

And like every serious Christian man who cared about his family’s spiritual life, one of the first thing on his mind was finding a church.

The church he had attended in their former city was too far. Driving there every Sunday would be stressful, especially with the children.

So Matthew began asking around for a strong believing church close to their new home.

That was how people started recommending Holy Foundation International Church. People spoke about the miracles.

They told him about the prophetic deliverance services. They told him about the sick who had been healed, the mad man who had been restored, and the people whose problems Pastor Mike had revealed without anybody telling him anything.

Matthew listened, but he did not rush. He was a genuine child of God, the kind of man who prayed before taking spiritual decision.

Still, because several people kept mentioning the church, he decided to attend one Sunday with his family.

That Sunday was a major prophetic and deliverance service. The church was packed. People had come with bottles of oil, bottles of water, handkerchief, photographs, medical reports, and prayer requests.

The atmosphere was loud and charged. The chisters sang with power. Ushers struggled to control the crowd.

Everywhere Matthew looked, people were expecting something dramatic to happen. Physically, the church looked alive.

Spiritually, what Matthew saw almost made him run. His eyes opened and suddenly the beautiful service before him changed.

He saw men and women on their knees crawling helplessly like animals. Heavy chains were wrapped around their necks.

Young men, old men, even some children were tied. The chain stretched across the church and disappeared into a gigantic black creature standing behind Pastor Mike.

The creature watched the congregation like property. Matthew’s heart pounded. His first instinct was to grab his wife and children and leave immediately.

But just as he was about to stand, a strong voice rose inside his spirit.

Stay. Matthew froze. The voice was calm, but it carried authority. Stay and watch.

Fear gripped him, but he obeyed. He sat back holding himself together while his wife and children remained unaware of what he was seeing.

The service continued. Pastor Mike moved around confidently, laying hands on people one after another.

He would stop in front of someone, stare at him for a few seconds, and began speaking about their problems.

The person would scream. The congregation would shout, then he would touch them and they would fall.

After each deliverance, church workers moved quickly with bottles of oil and water, encouraging people to get their own.

People rushed to buy. Some lifted their bottles in air while Pastor Mike prayed over them.

Matthew watched everything, troubled in his spirit. The whole place looked like a miracle service, but what he saw behind it was bondage.

By now, the entire church was alive with excitement. The atmosphere inside Holy Foundation Fire International Church was unlike anything a firsttime visitor would expect.

Some people were crying openly. Some were on their knees. Others held bottles of oil and handkerchief tightly to their chest, waiting for Pastor Mike to get to them.

Every few seconds, a scream or testimony would erupt from somewhere in the congregation. The choir continued singing softly in the background while the ushers struggled to control the crowd.

Pastor Mike moved confidently through the auditorium. That was his favorite part of every service.

The part where people watched him with admiration. The part where they felt convinced that God had spoke directly to him.

As he walked away from one person to another, the po continued working exactly as it has always did.

He would stop in front of somebody and immediately know what was wrong with them.

Sometimes he would reveal hidden family problems. Other times we expose secrets nobody else knew.

The congregation would gaps. The people would break in tears. Then another testimony will be added to the long list of people believing Pastor Mike was a genuine man of God.

One woman collapsed crying after he mentioned a sickness she had kept hidden from her husband.

A young businessman nearly fented when Pastor Mike revealed details about a financial problem nobody else knew.

An elderly man spoke shaking after Pastor Mike spoke about something that happened in his childhood.

Everywhere he went, people shouted in amazement. Then eventually, Pastor Mike approached Matthew. The moment his eyes settled on him, everything changed.

At first, he thought he was imagining things. Then he looked again and his heart nearly stopped.

In the spiritual realm, Matthew was not standing alone. A wall of fire surrounded him.

Not ordinary fire. This fire was alive. It rose around him like a protective cage, completely separating him from everything around him.

Pastor Mike instinctively took a step forward. The moment he did, the fire blazed brighter.

He immediately stopped. A chill ran through his body. For the first time in years, fear gripped him.

He tried focusing on Matthew the same way he focused on everybody. Nothing happened. No information entered his mind.

No visions appeared. No secrets revealed themselves. It was as though whatever power he depended on could not cross that wall of fire.

Pastor Matthew swallowed. Then he looked directly at Matthew and what he saw frightened him even more.

Matthew was looking back at him. Not only that, his eyes seemed to burn with the same fire surrounding him.

For a brief moment, Pastor Mike felt as though Matthew could see everything. The necklace hidden beneath his clothes, the cream, the agreement, the witch, everything.

A small drop of sweet rolled down the side of his face. Immediately, the witch warning flashed through his mind.

Never allow strange spirits to interfere. Never allow anyone to break the agreement. Never allow the secrets to be exposed.

Pastor Mike’s heart began pounding. The congregation couldn’t see what he was seeing. To them, he had simply stopped in front of another member.

But inside him, panic was growing. He couldn’t go closer. Every instinct inside him told him not to.

Quickly realizing he needed to regain control of the situation. Pastor Mike forced a smile and lifted the microphone.

“My brother,” he said. His voice sounded steady. “There are certain things that should not be discussed publicly.”

The congregation immediately became silent. People leaned forward. Pastor Mike pointed towards Matthew. There are people planning serious evil against you.

A moment spread through the church. I can see that this matter requires special attention.

He paused. See me after this service. Matthew said nothing. He simply gave the faintest smack.

Not a smile of excitement, not a smile of gratitude. Ann knowing smile, the kind that made Pastor Mike even more comfortable.

For the rest of the service, he could not focus properly. Several times he found himself looking into Matthew’s direction.

Each time Matthew was calm, watching and waiting, and somehow that worsened it. Eventually, Pastor Mike ended the service much earlier than usual.

Some members were surprised. Others assumed he was tired. Nobody knew that for the first time in years.

Pastor Matthew desperately wanted to get off the altar. Outside his church, dozens of people waited for counseling and private meetings.

Normally he would attend to them according to the order they arrived. Some had traveled long distances.

Some had booked appointments earlier and the moment he entered his office, he called out to one of the church workers.

The man from earlier, the worker looked confused. Sir, the one I spoke to during deliverance that I asked to see me after service.

Pastor Mike pointed towards the door. Bring him in first. The worker hesitated. There are people waiting, sir.

I said, “Bring him in first.” The worker immediately nodded and hurried away. A few minutes later, Matthew entered the office.

The door closed behind him. For several seconds, neither man spoke. Pastor Mike stood behind his desks, pretending to be calm, but inwardly he was restless.

Questions were running through his mind faster than he could answer them. Who was this man?

What exactly had it seen? And why had the power completely felled around him?

Finally, Pastor Mike broke the silence. Who are you? Matthew looked at him quietly. Then he smiled.

The same smile, the one that had been bothering him since the service. I think the better question is Matthew replied softly.

Who are you? Pastor Mike’s face hardened. What does that mean? Matthew took a step forward.

I know who you are. A chill ran through Pastor Mike’s body. Matthew continued.

I know where you got your power. The room suddenly felt smaller. I know about the witch.

Pastor Mike’s hand tightened around the arm of his chair. And I know about the agreement you made.

For a moment, neither man moved. Pastor Mike could hear his own heartbeat. Loud, faster, and violent.

Matthew’s face remained calm. This is a warning from God. Silence. What you’re doing must stop.

You still have time to repent. Something inside Pastor Mike snapped. Get out. Matthew didn’t move.

I said, “Get out.” Pastor Mike jumped to his feet. His voice echoed through the office.

You strange spirit. Get out of my office. By now, church workers outside could hear him shouting.

Pastor Mike pointed furiously towards the door. Leave. Matthew stared at him for a few seconds.

There was no fear on his face, only sadness. Then he slowly turned and walked towards the door.

Just before leaving, he stopped without looking back and spoke quietly. God always exposes darkness.

Then he opened the door and walked out. The moment the door closed behind him, Pastor Mike collapsed back into his chair.

His breathing became heavy. His hands trembled. And for the first time since he entered the witch’s shrine all those years ago, he truly felt afraid.