Chapter 13: Hammering Out a Strategy

Pastor quickly drove the few blocks back to his house. He wanted his wife there during the planning session. He thought the presence of another woman might make Mother feel more at ease.

“Helllloooo!” Pastor called out as he opened the front door and walked into the living room.

“Hi there, my love,” Pastor’s Wife called back with a cheery tone while simultaneously giving him a peck on the cheek. “What’s up?”

“Everything,” Pastor replied. “You won’t believe what’s happened today.”

“Good news, I hope?” Pastor’s Wife inquired.

“The best!” Pastor said with an excited look on his face.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” Pastor’s Wife exclaimed. “Let’s have it!”

“Don’t have time right now. We need to leave,” Pastor replied.

“Leave?” Pastor’s Wife said questioningly. “Leave where?”

“We’ve been invited to Brother’s house for dinner and a planning session,” Pastor explained. “We need to go now. You okay with that?”

“I don’t guess I have time to change or spruce up, do I?” Pastor’s Wife asked.

“You look beautiful, and it won’t matter. Come on, gorgeous,” Pastor said, raising his arm for his wife to latch onto. “We’ve got plans to make, and I’ll explain everything that’s happened on the way to Brother’s house.”

They headed out the door arm in arm with smiles on their faces.

P

Making dinner helped Mother take her mind off things. She always enjoyed cooking. The kitchen, freezer, and pantry were well-stocked, so it wasn’t hard to come up with something that would be ready very quickly.

Mother had just finished setting the table when she heard car doors slamming and the sound of motorcycles. Mother headed to the front door to greet her guests.

Father opened the front door but was looking out into the street while still holding the doorknob.

“Come on in, fellas,” Father said. “Hello, honey!” The last statement was made to Mother as he turned to enter the door and kissed her on the cheek.

“Where have you been?” Mother inquired.

“I’ll tell you in a bit,” Father replied with a strange air of enthusiasm.

Mother began to feel suspicious. Something was up. Father was different somehow, and it made her feel uncomfortable.

Brother was hurrying up the sidewalk while Warrior and Seaman came lumbering up behind.

“Where’s Pastor?” Father inquired.

“He said he was heading home to pick up his wife,” Brother replied. “He said he hoped he wasn’t being presumptuous by inviting her without asking. Hope you don’t mind; do you, Mom?”

“No, no, it will be nice to have another woman to talk to,” Mother responded. “I’d better set another place at the table.”

“Something smells good!” Seaman said as he walked through the door.

“Nothing fancy,” Mother replied. “Should be ready in a few minutes.”

“What do you guys want to drink?” Father asked the group.

Father and Brother spent the next few minutes getting their guests seated and drinks. The doorbell rang just as Father finished setting the last glass on the table.

“I’ll get the door,” Brother said, nodding toward Mother and Father.

Mother pulled the food out of the oven and sat it on the table. Pastor and his wife were escorted into the dining room by Brother.

“Mom,” Brother said, “you met Pastor last night, and this is his wife.”

“Very nice to meet you,” Mother said.

“Very nice to meet you as well. I hope you don’t mind my barging in on your dinner party,” Pastor’s Wife asked with a questioning look and a warm smile.

“No, I’m very glad you’re here,” Mother said reassuringly.

Mother found herself strangely at ease now that there was another woman in the room. On some level, Mother felt like she had an ally.

P

Dinner progressed well, and the group moved into the living room to get to work. After everyone had taken a seat, Father stood up and addressed the group.

“Guys,” Father began, “first of all, I want to thank all of you for what you’ve done for both of my sons, my wife, and me. Brother told me what you’ve done to help him through a difficult season in his life, and now you’re doing it for me and my wife and youngest son. Can’t thank you enough.”

“Our pleasure,” Pastor replied.

Everyone was nodding their head in agreement.

“Next,” Father continued, “I need to make an announcement.”

Father cleared his throat and looked a little nervous until he saw Brother’s face smiling and nodding him on in encouragement.

“After a long talk with my son today and Pastor later this afternoon, I made the biggest decision of my life.”

Father paused and took a deep breath.

“Well…um…today…um…well, heck! Today I gave my life to the One True Lord, and my baptism as a believer is set for next Sunday; everyone’s invited.” Father let out a huge audible sigh, then turned to look at his wife.

Mother was staring at her husband with a look of surprise. She didn’t quite know what to make of this announcement. Finally, she found her voice.

“Just like that?” Mother inquired.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that,” Father replied. “Looking back at it, this has been a long time coming. The situation with Teenager has just brought it to a head.”

“I know, but…” Mother’s voice trailed off. She didn’t know what else to say.

“Congratulations!” Pastor’s Wife chimed in. “Pastor was telling me on the way over what happened today. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Mother couldn’t decide what to say or do. It seemed like everything was happening too fast, and she was being left behind somehow. She was a strange mix of happiness, anger, and frustration all rolled into one. She decided to keep her opinions to herself for now and watch these Christians, especially the Pastor’s Wife. She wanted to see how the men treated her and how she responded.

Feeling a little embarrassed by all the attention, Father sat down on a chair on the other side of the fireplace. Mother was seated in the chair on the opposite side. Father glanced at her but couldn’t gauge her reaction to the news. She had gone strangely quiet.

“Now,” Father replied, “enough about me. Let’s get down to business. Would one of you please bring us up to speed? I’m not sure Mother and Pastor’s Wife know all the details of your little excursion today,” Father said, nodding toward Brother.

“Better let Warrior or Seaman take the lead on this,” Brother replied, “since it was their idea.”

For the next few minutes, Warrior and Seaman explained about the trip to Next Port and the exciting news that there was a possibility that the ship that Teenager was on might be docking at Next Port tomorrow morning.

“The purpose of our meeting tonight is twofold,” Pastor interjected. “One is that we need to hammer out plans regarding the attempt to rescue Teenager. The second is to discuss the next steps to form an organization with other churches up and down the coast to confront these evil dark ships.”

“Have you contacted any of the other churches?” Pastor’s Wife asked. “Are they aware of the idea?”

“Yeah,” Warrior said, “Seaman and I called them earlier, and they all agreed that we need to form some sort of organized front in order to have a greater effect on the evil these ships and their crew; we all want to limit their impact on our citizens.”

“If you don’t mind my saying so, I think we ought to table that for now, don’t you?” Pastor’s Wife inquired. “Getting an organization together is a big job. I think that, right now, our priority should be to formulate the rescue plan for Teenager and not get distracted until that is accomplished.”

“You’re right as always, my love,” Pastor replied. “She’s the brains in this family, guys,” Pastor said, pointing with his thumb toward his wife with a look of genuine admiration.

“We agree with you on that, Pastor!” Seaman said.

“Ditto!” Brother replied with enthusiasm.

“Copy that!” Warrior replied.

Mother sat quietly during this exchange. It was clear that Pastor’s Wife was a much-needed part of the team. All the men appeared to have the greatest respect for her. While Mother felt a little bit better after watching this exchange, she was still not thoroughly convinced that Pastor’s Wife wasn’t a doormat in some way.

“Well then,” Pastor’s Wife continued, “let’s focus on rescue plans. You guys have all been on the front lines in other rescues. What do we do? What’s the plan?”

“While it’s true Warrior, Seaman, and I have boarded these ships before for rescue purposes,” Pastor replied, “I believe this one may be a little different.”

“In what way?” asked Pastor’s Wife.

“Well,” Pastor replied, “up ‘til now, we’ve waited for word from the One True Lord that a prisoner needed to be set free. We knew that the person had prayed for help and was sincere in the desire to leave the ship. Of course, not everyone ultimately makes the decision to leave. Seaman here had a rejection just the other day. Have any of you received word from the One True Lord that Teenager has asked for assistance?”

Mother watched as every person in the room shook their head, indicating a negative response.

“My concern here is that, by going on the offensive in this way trying to rescue Teenager without instruction, we might be running ahead of the One True Lord. By doing so, my concern is that we might put Teenager and those who board the ship in grave danger if the One True Lord has not initiated the task,” Pastor said gravely.

Mother watched the sober looks on the faces of everyone in the room. She couldn’t sit quietly any longer.

“What’s wrong with you people?” Mother said angrily. “Isn’t that your job? Aren’t you supposed to save these poor people on these ships?”

“Mom,” Brother replied, “we don’t save anyone. They are saved when they put their trust in the One True Lord.”

“Whatever!” Mother replied angrily, cutting into Brother’s last remark. “Don’t tell me you’re just going to sit and do nothing but pray! You know where my son’s going to be. You can’t just ignore that and do nothing!”

Everyone was a little shocked with the vehemence of the outburst and not quite sure how to respond, but before anyone could respond, the doorbell rang

Saved by the bell, Father thought to himself. “I’ll get that,” Father said out loud. “Don’t talk about anything until I get back. Won’t be a minute.”

Father got up and walked quickly to the door. Everyone sat in silence, straining to hear the exchange of words between Father and the individual at the door to take their minds off the tension in the room.

Mother continued to sit in her chair, but her agitation level was growing quickly.

When Father returned a minute later, he had a young teenage girl with him.

“Guys,” Father said, “this young lady says she goes to your church, is a friend of Teenager, and has a message for you.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at the young girl standing there in a rather shy and awkward fashion.

“Hello there!” Pastor said warmly as he got up from his seat. “Come on in, don’t be shy.”

“Uh…hi,” said Teenager’s friend. “Sorry to mess up your meeting and all, but I was reading the Good Book like I always do before going to bed, and I found this inside. I read it, but I don’t understand it. I felt like I was being told to give this to you, Pastor. I called the church, and they said you were here.”

Teenager’s friend shyly held out her hand to Pastor. Pastor’s face lit up when he saw the familiar envelope.

“Can’t thank you enough, young lady,” Pastor said. “You have no idea what a great help you’ve been to all of us and to your friend, Teenager.”

“Um…you’re welcome, I guess. I don’t understand any of this; I just know I was supposed to come here and give you that,” Teenager’s friend said quietly as she turned to head back to the door.

“No, please, wait a minute,” Brother said, getting up from his chair. “Please stay. Here, you can take my seat.”

“I really don’t want to bother you guys,” the girl replied. “I really think I should just go home; my parents don’t know I came here.”

“Can we take you home?” Brother asked.

“No, that’s okay. My friend is outside waiting in her car. She’ll take me home,” the girl said as she turned to leave the room.

Brother escorted the girl to the door and gave her a big hug; she blushed beet red and said goodbye and headed to her friend’s waiting car. Brother returned to the room.

Pastor waited to open the letter until Brother returned. Once Brother was seated, Pastor opened the letter and uttered a sigh of relief.

“The Lord is never early, but He’s also never late!” Pastor replied with a huge grin on his face. “Thank You, dear Lord!”

“What? What is it?” Father asked impatiently.

“Here’s our answer,” Pastor replied. “That young lady has just handed us Teenager’s release papers. We’re good to go tomorrow for the rescue.”

“Hallelujah!” shouted Pastor’s Wife, Father, Brother, Warrior, and Seaman in unison.

“Thank You, Lord, for answering our prayers!” Pastor’s Wife said with a huge smile of gratitude on her face.

Mother remained sullen and quiet, carefully watching this interchange, not knowing what to make of it.

Father couldn’t stand it any longer. He snatched the paper out of Pastor’s hand. The letter itself was written on a type of paper Father had never seen. The fiber was firm but delicate, simple, and elegant but somehow very regal; it had a pearl-like sheen to it. The lettering appeared to be pure gold and written in the most elegant handwriting.

“Is this written by Him?” Father asked, pointing upward with his index finger while looking at Pastor.

“We don’t really know for sure if it is the writing of the One True Lord Himself or not,” Pastor said. “It could be, or it could be from one of the heavenly scribes written under his direction. In either case, as you can see, it clearly gives us His authority to board the ship and attempt to rescue Teenager. He must have prayed and asked for help. Now we can proceed.”

“So what’s the plan?” Brother asked.

“Well, I know what I’m doing! I’m boarding that ship!” Father said emphatically.

“I wouldn’t recommend that right now,” Pastor’s Wife said.

“Why not?” asked Father, frustration in his voice. “He’s my son; you all said his rescue hinged on me becoming a believer. Well, I am now, so what’s the hang-up?

“Father, we’re not going to leave you out of this,” Pastor replied, “But you’re a new, inexperienced believer. You have no idea how dangerous it is to board one of these ships and confront a host of evil fallen angels. You’re not grounded in the Word of the One True Lord. You’re simply not prepared.”

“But I’m going to be there!” Father said loudly with authority. He refused to be pushed aside at this crucial moment in his son’s life.

“Calm down, Dad,” Brother said. “Pastor said you can be there; you’re just not ready to board the ship and take these creatures on at this time.”

“So what are you going to do?” Mother asked with sarcasm in her voice, looking at Pastor’s Wife. “You’re not just going to sit on the dock and pray, are you?”

Pastor’s Wife sensed the anger and frustration in Mother’s voice.

“My dear, prayer is a big part of what we do as believers, but we act as well. You need to understand that prayer provides the group boarding these ships with the covering, a force field if you will. The groups that board these ships need every bit of protection of covering prayer. The One True Lord always sends angelic assistance to protect our men that board these ships in answer to our covering prayer.”

“But what do you do?” Mother asked again, looking directly at Pastor’s Wife. She refused to have her question put aside.

“Prayer is what I’m gifted at,” Pastor’s Wife replied calmly. “During these rescues, I head up the group at the church that provides the covering prayer. Our group was activated the night Teenager went missing and has been providing him with covering payer round the clock ever since,” Pastor’s Wife said soothingly.

Pastor’s Wife and Mother looked at each other for a few seconds while the men remained silent. Pastor’s Wife sensed that there was an element of discord that had entered the room and was trying to drive a wedge between Mother and the rest of the group.

“So do any of the women in your church board these ships?” Mother asked. There was a rather self-righteous tone in her voice.

“Why do you ask?” Pastor’s Wife inquired.

She sensed that there was a deep-seated resentment in Mother, most likely the result of worldly propaganda against any type of submission on the part of women to male leadership.

“Because we all know how it goes in these church settings,” Mother responded with an angry tone. “The women are told to sit at home, or in this case the church, praying and knitting while the men take charge and do everything.”

“Even if what you say were true, not that it is, why would that be a problem for you?” Pastor’s Wife inquired carefully.

“Because it’s just wrong!” Mother shouted out that last word.

“Why would it be wrong to follow what the One True Lord tells us to do? Are you saying that one job is greater than the other?” Pastor’s Wife continued to probe carefully.

“Of course!” Mother responded emphatically. “Women don’t have to take a back seat to men anymore! This isn’t the dark ages. Women have the same rights as men. They can do anything men can do.”

“That is a slightly incorrect statement,” Pastor’s Wife replied. “Men and women were both created by the One True Lord. Both are equal. One task is of no greater importance than the other in His eyes. We are all given specific gifts to be used how He sees fit. It’s not for us to choose our path. It’s the fallen world that says that one task is greater or more important than another.”

“And that’s why I can’t buy into all this nonsense!” Mother replied.

“Sweetheart,” Father interjected, “it’s not what you think. I’m not being allowed to do what I want either, but I know these people, and they all want what we want: to bring Teenager home safe. Can we dispense with the feminist argument for now until we accomplish that goal? We can talk about the rest of it after Teenager’s safe.”

“No! I can’t sit still for this nonsense any longer; I need to get a drink!” Mother replied hastily and stormed off in the direction of the kitchen.

The tension in the room diminished after Mother left.

“Sorry, guys,” Father replied with an apologetic tone. “She really hates to be left out. She’s not a second-chair kind of person.”

“We understand, dear,” Pastor’s Wife replied. “Let’s just leave her alone for a bit. Maybe she and I can have a talk later, and I can smooth things over.”

“That would be greatly appreciated,” Father said hopefully. He and Mother had been at odds on many occasions over similar topics in the past.

“Let’s get back to what’s really important here,” Brother replied. “How do we go about rescuing my brother?”

For the next hour, the group hammered out their strategy. It was agreed that Pastor and Warrior would board the ship. Pastor would carry the release papers for Teenager while Father, Brother, and Seaman would provide the backup support on the dock. Pastor’s Wife volunteered to call in every member of the prayer team for prayer covering from the time they left until they returned safely home.

“One more thing,” Pastor’s Wife interjected. “I’m sensing that Mother will be there regardless of whether we try to stop her or not. I know I usually head up the prayer team at the church, but in this case, I think I’d better go with you. If I’m right and Mother comes too, I need to be there for her.”

“I’d really hate for you to be there, love,” Pastor said. “It’s far too dangerous.”

“I know that, dear,” Mother said with a look of concern on her face. “But I’m sensing the One True Lord is asking me to put aside my fear and be there for Mother’s sake. I can’t deny Him.”

“I don’t like it,” Pastor replied, “but I’ll agree only if you stay back and not engage any of the evil creatures.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it!” Pastor’s Wife said. “I know the danger, but I have to be there because I know Mother will be, and she needs me to be there for her even if she doesn’t know it.”

“In that case,” Pastor said reluctantly, “I agree.”

“Now that that’s settled,” Seaman said, “I think we should give Minister a call and let him know the plan so that he’ll be prepared tomorrow as well.”

“Agreed,” the others said in unison.

“On that note, ladies and gentlemen,” Pastor said, “we all need to get to bed and get a good night’s rest.”

P

Mother had been standing in the doorway of the kitchen the entire time everyone was talking. She could overhear what was said. She hated being left out, but she still couldn’t make herself rejoin the group. She was determined, though, that she would go to Next Port even if she had to drive herself there. She refused to sit in the wings while everyone else was involved.

After saying goodbyes all around, Father and Brother said good night to each of their guests and headed upstairs for bed.

Mother continued to sit in the kitchen for a while. After some time had elapsed, she reluctantly headed up the stairs as well. She set the alarm on her phone to wake her before everyone else got up. She wasn’t going to be left behind, not this time.