Read Online One Prayer Away by Kendra Norman-Bellamy - Free Book Online Page B

today the membership was delighted to see Virtue take the lead. Although at thirty-one she was older than all of the other troupe members, Virtue was by far the most graceful, most powerful, and most emotional. Because of her formal training, her technique was often flawless, and her abilityto bring a song to life frequently brought worshipful tears to the eyes of the onlookers. For her, it was more than a gift; it was a passion and a divine calling. Today was one of those days when there were tearstained cheeks throughout the sanctuary. Kirk Franklin’s one-time hit “The Reason Why We Sing” had never been so moving.
    Having finished their routine and made their exit, Virtue and the others scampered back to the dressing room. She gave them a few quick reminders as they prepared the outfits for their next performance. While they readied for the next song that signaled their reentrance, Virtue slipped into her own dressing room and into her own clothes. The performance they’d just completed would be her only active involvement for the day. Over the last three years since she’d taken over the position that had been left vacant by a scandal that resulted in the demotion of her predecessor, Virtue had done wonders with the dance troupe. The roster had grown both physically and spiritually under her leadership, and the routines were more anointed and charismatic. Elder Bradley often called Virtue “God’s angel of praise.” The congregation, for the most part, agreed.
    â€œExcuse me, Virtue. I haven’t heard anything since I turned in my application to join the dance ministry two Sundays ago. Did you get the paperwork? I know y’all ain’t trying to discriminate.”
    Renee Bell was one of the very few who disagreed with Elder Bradley’s view and Virtue knew why. Renee’s sister Dondra had been the former leader of the praise dancers, and when “secret sins” that no one seemed to want to talk about were revealed, Elder Bradley wasted no time relieving both her and her coconspirator from their leadership duties. For a full twelve months, the church functioned without a dance troupe. Elder Bradley often said that they’d do without one before he allowed such atrocities to go on in God’s house. Upon her dismissal, Dondra (alongwith the husband of one of the church’s most dedicated ushers) chose to leave the ministry altogether and take their affair elsewhere. It was a scandal that rocked Temple of Jerusalem, but the church and those who were injured the most survived.
    Maybe
that
was why Beverly had connected so well with Virtue. Although it wasn’t a subject that they discussed frequently, Virtue could imagine the level of betrayal that Beverly had endured when she found out that her husband, who also happened to be on the ministerial board, was not only
capable
of being unfaithful, but was a
practicing
adulterer. Virtue imagined that it must have felt much like the betrayal she suffered through when she was forced to accept the fact that her husband was an abuser—both of alcohol and of her.
    â€œYes, Renee, I received your paperwork. And no, we’re not discriminating; we’re just not taking in any new members right now.”
    Virtue was glad that she didn’t have to struggle with the decision of whether or not to be honest. Her explanation was true. The two slots that had been open for the troupe had been filled just before she got Renee’s application. Virtue remembered breathing a sigh of relief and sending soft praises to heaven when she retrieved Renee’s submission from her in-box. She wouldn’t have chosen her anyway. Virtue wasn’t naive enough to believe that Renee would come without drama. She was still extremely bitter about her sister’s firing, and Virtue knew that Renee wouldn’t be a positive addition to the ministry. The members of the dance troupe complemented one another well. Adding