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The following Sunday, it was almost business as usual. A few of the church’s guests had moved on, including the three-generational family who had just moved in, and a few new people had arrived and were settling in.
One of the newcomers was Dwight Schultz. He had shared with Maggie that he was an Iraq veteran, and he certainly looked the part. He was tall, muscular, and clean-cut. And on Sunday morning, there he was sitting right up front.
Pastor Chris preached on the Fall, and some of the people appeared to be listening. Some of those appeared to be understanding. His rhetoric was still a bit lofty for them, but he was improving.
Maggie leaned over and whispered to Galen, “Sadie and Roger aren’t here.”
“I noticed.”
“Neither’s Cari,” Maggie added.
“I know.”
“Mike and Lisa are here, though.”
“Good. And we’ve still got Sally and Gertrude.”
Maggie stifled a giggle. “Sally’s not here,” she whispered. “I should probably check on her, make sure she’s OK.” Maggie glanced around the sanctuary. “And I haven’t seen Gertrude in weeks now that you mention it.”
“She’s probably off fighting crime. She’ll be back.”
Maggie giggled aloud, and Pastor Chris gave her a stern look. She quickly bowed her head and hid her face. “And, of course, the elders are here.”
“Right, the elders.”
At the end of the service, Pastor Chris gave an eloquent altar call, and Joyce, a woman who had also joined them in the past week, went down front and knelt in front of the altar.
Daniel looked up at his mother. “Can I go?”
Harmony looked surprised, but nodded and stepped back so her son could pass.
He slowly but purposefully made his way to the altar. Then he knelt beside the woman. He looked up at her with wide, blue eyes and whispered, “Does it hurt?”
Her teary eyes widened at his question, and she nodded.
Daniel smiled and placed his small hand on the back of her neck. Then he closed his eyes and prayed.
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After the service, Pastor Chris asked Galen into his office.
“This is getting to be a routine,” Galen said.
“I know. Have a seat?”
Galen sat.
“So, I’ve learned that you used to be on the worship team.”
“Yes, several years ago. I haven’t played much—”
Chris interrupted him. “We really need someone to take over the music on Saturday nights, and especially Sunday mornings.”
“Why?” Galen asked with a distinct lack of couth.
“Well, the elders and I, we just don’t think it’s appropriate to have the homeless leading worship. Once again, they are here to learn, not to lead.”
“But Pastor, these people are talented musicians and they love to play. I mean, I think they are learning. They are learning through doing.”
“I understand your position, but I still don’t think it looks good to have these people up front.”
Galen stood. “I’m sorry, but I can’t lead Bible study Monday through Friday and then lead worship Saturday and Sunday.”
“The offer of a paid position still stands,” Chris said as Galen left the office.
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As Galen and Chris were talking, an ecstatic Joyce was gushing to Harmony, “I don’t know how he did it. I mean, I’ve had this pain for two weeks. Even went to the emergency room, but they only gave me Advil and sent me away. But your son, he healed me. I mean, he really healed me! The pain is completely gone. I can’t believe it. How did he do that?”
Harmony looked dumbfounded.
Daniel spoke up. “I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me. It was God. And please don’t tell anyone. Come on, Mama,” he said, pulling on Harmony’s hand. “I’m hungry.”
Joyce followed Harmony and Daniel to lunch. She sat alone and ate quietly, seeming to enjoy her newfound pain-free condition. She told no one about what had happened. But when she got back to her room, she posted about her miracle on Facebook. She gave all the glory to God, and mentioned that her healing had come at the hands of a young boy named Daniel.
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On Wednesday, Maggie helped a young woman named Annette get settled in to one of the family rooms. The church didn’t always have as many cribs as babies, but this time they did have one for Annette’s ten-month-old daughter, Emma. Annette placed Emma into the crib and then collapsed on the bed. “Thank you so much,” she said to Maggie. “I don’t know what we would have done if it weren’t for this place. We’d be sleeping outside.” She paused for a second, and then added, “We don’t even have a car to sleep in.”
“No problem,” Maggie said. “That’s why we’re here, and the more cute little ones like this, the better.” Maggie rubbed one of Emma’s chubby little hands, which were white-knuckling the edge of the crib. “You let me know if you need anything. I’ll either be in the office or at the other end of the church, in the hair salon. And we’ll see you tonight at Bible study.”
“And that’s like mandatory, right?” Annette asked.
“Yes, we do ask our guests to attend a Bible study every night. It’s really our only rule. Well, that, and there’s no drugs or alcohol allowed.”
“What about smoking?”
“Good question. You can’t smoke in the church, but people have set up some lawn chairs across the parking lot. They smoke over there, and so far, no one has complained.”
“OK, great. Thanks,” Annette said and lay down.
Maggie spent the afternoon in the salon. Several people needed trims, one woman came in from town for a color, and Dwight Schultz wanted a touch-up on his crewcut.
When Galen got there, Maggie was just cleaning up. She collapsed on the couch beside him. “I’m pooped.”
“Busy day?”
“Yeah, only one new guest, but the salon has been hopping all afternoon.”
Galen put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Any new crisis I should be aware of?”
Maggie hesitated.
“What? There is one?”
“Well no, it’s not a crisis exactly. It’s just, well, I hesitate to even say anything.”
“Since when?” Galen said and then laughed.
Maggie playfully punched him in the side. “You hush. Well, you know how women have like a sixth sense about creepozoids?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I’m not accusing him of anything, but that new guy Dwight, there was just something off about him. I mean, he didn’t even do anything, but I was not comfortable being alone with him.”
“You mean the veteran?”
“Yes. Sorry to speak ill of him. He’s probably perfectly fine.”
“No, not necessarily. Chris told me that Dwight has a pretty bad case of PTSD, so maybe you just sensed that he’s not at peace right now.”
“Is a pastor supposed to be telling you stuff like that?”
“Maybe. He was telling me in the context of what to talk about in Bible study. But I probably shouldn’t have told you, so mum’s the word, OK?”
“OK.”
“Should we get Harmony to stay in here with you? Like the old days when you used to give haircuts in the men’s bathroom?”
Maggie laughed and punched him lightly in the side again. “I never cut any hair in the men’s bathroom. It was the women’s bathroom. And I’m not sure Harmony would love that.”
“Why, what does she do all day?”
“Not much. You know what? I think it might be a better job for Tiny. He’s usually covering the office when I’m down here, but we could probably find someone else to take his place.”
“Well, if you can take that much Tiny, then by all means. Put his adoration to good use. Come on, let’s go to Bible study. The boys are probably already in there.”
The boys weren’t the only ones. There were several new faces in the sanctuary. “Do you know these people?” Galen muttered.
“No. Tiny was in the office, and he’s supposed to come get me if someone new arrives. I’ll find out.” Maggie approached an older couple sitting near the back. They were well-dressed, but Maggie had learned that didn’t necessarily mean they weren’t in need of a roof for the night. “Good evening,” she said, extending her hand. The man shook it. “My name is Maggie.” She sat down in the pew in front of them. “Welcome to Open Door Church.”
“Thank you. I’m Russ, and this is my wife Irene.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Maggie said. “Do you need a place to stay tonight?”
“Oh no,” the man said, as if that was absurd. “We’re just visiting. Your website said that your services are open to the public. Is that not true?”
“That is absolutely true. We just don’t usually get a lot of visitors on weeknights, and truth be told, I don’t think anyone has updated that website in years. I’d almost forgotten about it altogether!”
“Oh really? It looked very up-to-date yesterday. Had a picture of your new pastor and everything.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize someone had done that! Well, the new pastor probably won’t be here tonight.”
“Oh, that’s all right. We’re actually here to see the child. Can you point him out?”
Maggie was flummoxed. “The child?”
“Yes, the one who heals? Irene here has lung cancer.”
Maggie gasped. After a few awkward seconds, she said, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Excuse me for just a second.” She stood up and practically ran to Galen, who was talking to Pete up front. “Sorry, Pete. I need him for a sec.” She grabbed Galen’s arm and pulled him to the side.
“What?” he asked, alarmed.
“The older couple, in the back. Don’t look.”
Galen looked. “Yeah?”
“They are here because of Daniel. The woman has cancer. They want him to heal her.”
“They said that?”
“Pretty much,” Maggie said, crossing her arms in front of her chest as if she’d suddenly caught a chill.
“Is that why the other new people are here too?”
“I don’t know. What are we going to do? It’s not like Daniel can cure cancer!”
“I have no idea. I guess we should talk to Daniel,” Galen said.
“You mean Harmony, right? Daniel’s only eight.”
“OK, let’s talk to them both.” Galen glanced at the clock and then, though it was time to start, went and sat down in front of Harmony and Daniel.
“What’s up, G?” Harmony asked. “You look tense.”
“Well, I think that there are some people here tonight to see Daniel.” Daniel looked around. Harmony didn’t. She just stared at Galen. “They seem to think he can heal them. I’m not sure how you want to handle it.”
“Can I talk to them?” Daniel asked.
Galen looked at Harmony, who shrugged. “I guess so, little buddy,” Galen said.
Daniel got up and headed toward the front of the sanctuary.
“I thought he meant go talk to them privately,” Galen whispered to Harmony.
“Excuse me,” Daniel said from the front. The room quieted down instantly, which was a miracle in itself. “My name is Daniel, and I have prayed for some people, and then God has healed them. But I want you to know that I don’t have some sort of Superman power or anything. I’m just a kid. If you are here tonight, I will pray for you. But I don’t know if God will heal you. Sometimes I feel like I just have to pray for someone. Then I do. But right now I’m not feeling that.” Immediately after speaking, Daniel returned to his seat. The sanctuary remained silent.
Galen took this as his cue and went up front. “Welcome to Open Door, folks. It’s nice to see we have some new faces joining us this evening. I’m just going to read and talk about a short Scripture, and then I’ll invite anyone who would like to, to come on down to the altar for prayer, OK? For now, let’s begin with a prayer.” He cleared his throat nervously. He usually asked someone else to do the praying aloud part for him, as he really didn’t like doing it. But this time, he seemed to be up for the challenge. “Father,” he said and then took a deep breath, “I thank you for bringing these people here to gather in your name. I ask you to take control of this service, to take control of this church, of this building and this body of believers, and I ask that your will be done. I know there are people here who are hurting, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and I ask that you heal each and every one of them.” Someone near the front snickered, which was unusual; snickers usually came from the back. “I ask you to bless our time here, and give me the words you want me to say. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.” Galen raised his head and leveled his gaze in the direction whence the snicker had come and found himself making eye contact with Dwight Schultz.
