CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Tuesday, January 26

Becca felt like a giddy schoolgirl, mixing and matching clothes and shoes from her closet. She brought out a pair of denim jeans and a frilly silk top.

Stephanie angled her head. “Uh, no.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t do anything for me either.” Janelle sat on the floor. “It’s cute, but it’s not ‘stage.’”

“This is exactly why I wanted you two here,” Becca said. “You tell the straight-up truth.”

She went back in the closet. “Okay, what about this?” She reemerged with another silk top and blazer over the same pair of jeans.

“Too corporate,” Stephanie said. Her legs dangled over the side of the armchair.

“I’m sure that was fine for some of the other conferences you’ve spoken at,” Janelle said. “But you would completely fade in this on the Worth & Purpose stage.”

“Oh, I’ve got an idea.” Becca scurried back inside and flipped through the rack, choosing a completely different look—a denim skirt and long white button-up blouse. “This is cute. Right?”

Stephanie stared, then swung her legs to the floor. “Honey pie, let me see what’s in that closet.”

“I should’ve thought of that at first,” Becca said. “See what you can piece together.”

Stephanie took her time, examining each blouse, jacket, skirt, dress, and pair of pants. “Hmm . . . I’m not quite seeing what I’m looking for. Either it’s too dressy or not dressy enough.”

“What are you looking for exactly?” Becca asked.

“Well, I really never know what I’m looking for. I just know it when I see it. Something fresh.” She pondered a moment. “Too bad I’m a couple sizes bigger than you are. I’ve got a couple pieces we could’ve tried.”

“I didn’t think about that,” Janelle said. “Becca and I are about the same size. I might have something.”

Stephanie looked at her cousin. “Janelle, I don’t think I’ve seen you in anything other than sweat suits, jeans, and a Sunday suit. I can’t even picture you wearing anything fresh.”

“I’m not saying it’s ‘fresh,’” Janelle said, “if I even know what you mean. But it’s worth going next door and bringing it back. I can also call Libby and tell her to bring some stuff tomorrow. She’s got lots of nice things.”

Becca and Stephanie chatted as they waited. A few minutes later, Janelle was back with a duffel bag.

“Now, let me qualify,” she said. “I knew I’d be here a few months, so I wanted something that would work if Libby invited me to one of her events in Raleigh. But I’m not sure it would work for Becca.”

She pulled out a soft black leather jacket, a long silver tank with glittery beading, and dressy denim slacks.

Stephanie stared from the outfit to Janelle. “Cousin . . . that right there is fresh.” She turned to Becca. “But it has to be you. You have to like it and feel comfortable in it.”

“I love it, no question,” Becca said. “That fits right in with the types of things the speakers wear. I better try it on, though.”

Janelle handed it to her, and Becca went into the closet to change so they could see the full look at once. The first good thing was that it fit. But she couldn’t see how it looked on her. She hoped she didn’t look dumb.

Becca walked out. “Well?”

“Girrrrl . . .” Stephanie walked around her, arms folded, nodding. “You look fantastic. But how do you feel? Does it feel like you?”

Becca had that feeling of anticipation again. “I feel like the ‘me’ I’ve always thought I could be—confident, stylish, even a little glamorous . . .” She smiled. “For a Bible teacher, that is.”

“A Bible teacher who’s on a national stage,” Janelle said. “I love the look on you. You look great, Becca.”

Becca looked at her watch. “And I’m excited about this prayer meeting. Will you both be able to come?”

“Sister Mitchell is at the house visiting Grandma Geri. She said she’d stay and look after Grandma and the kids while we go over to Calvary.”

“Awesome. ’Cause I really want both of you there.”

Becca was stunned by the turnout. Several pews were full as she, Janelle, and Stephanie walked in. She had told Todd she wanted to have special prayer before she went to Richmond to speak, thinking he’d simply invite their friends over. Instead he’d made an announcement at church on Sunday. He said they’d be gathering on Tuesday evening to ask a special blessing upon Becca’s first weekend with Worth & Purpose.

“Come on up here, sweetheart.” Todd was smiling at her, holding a microphone at the top of the aisle.

Janelle and Stephanie urged her down the center aisle. They took a side aisle and eased into one of the pews.

Todd put an arm around Becca and spoke into the mic. “Just before you got here,” he said, “I took the liberty of telling these friends how God has blessed you with this platform, both literal and figurative, to tell of His goodness. You’ve been faithful in teaching His Word, and we believe this is only the beginning of what God will do with the ministry He’s given you.”

Becca got butterflies in her stomach. She hadn’t told Todd that that’s what she’d been thinking and praying.

He turned to her. “Bec, you told me you were proud of me my first Sunday here at Calvary as pastor. And I’m telling you in front of everyone here that I’m extremely proud of you, your dedication to the Lord, and your willingness to go where He leads.”

Tears formed in Becca’s eyes. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“There are a lot of us here, so let’s see how we’ll handle this.” He looked up. “Travis, will you come up, please, so you can lay hands on Becca? My elders, I’d love to have you up here. Sara Ann, you’re the one who gave me the idea to announce it.”

Becca looked at her and mouthed, Thank you.

“And the rest of you, if you could kind of make a circle as best we can around Becca. I know it’ll be a big one.”

People filed out of the pews and surrounded Becca, and her tears continued to come. Lord, thank You for this show of love. This means the world to me.

“Travis, can you start us off?” Todd said. “And we’re in no rush. Whoever wants to pray can pray. We’ll be here as long as we’re here. Amen?”

“Amen!”

Becca lowered her head to soak in every word that was prayed over her. Her faith had never soared quite like this. Just this morning she’d read the words in the gospel of Mark: “All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” With so many gathered, praying and asking, she would believe with all her heart that she would receive.