Saved Folk in the House by Sonnie Beverly

are looking for.”
    Zakia was entranced.
    “Would you like to have your void filled, sweetheart?”
    She nodded more vigorously.
    “Come to my church tomorrow, and God will meet you there with exactly what you’ve been searching for. The address is on the tract. Do you think you can make it?”
    Zakia couldn’t stop nodding, still speechless.
    “I’ll be looking for you,” the old woman said as she got up and walked away.
    Zakia watched in silence as she left. When she disappeared into a store, Zakia turned her attention to the tract. She read every word about how Jesus died for her. She already knew about some of what she read, but now it was taking on a new significance. She felt better but was unsure about things. She wanted more.
    Now that Zakia’s initial shock over the exchange had passed, she wanted to talk to the lady. She roamed the mall looking for her, but the old woman was nowhere to be found. Zakia left the mall and on her way home decided to see if she could find the church whose address was on the tract.
    What she found was a beautiful, large, dome-shaped building that reminded her of a performing arts center. She was really curious about what was inside. She saw lights on through the glass door and decided to check it out. The door was locked. She walked around to the side of the building and tried another door. It was open. She entered the lobby. There was no one to be seen. She spotted another set of doors that led deeper inside the building. She opened one and peeked into the most gorgeous modern-day sanctuary she had ever seen. It looked to seat about fifteen hundred people. Instead of pews, there were comfortable-looking individual chairs arranged in auditorium fashion. The pale green abstract pattern on the chairs matched the cloth-paneled walls, which blended with the carpet, creating a warm and inviting ambience.
    In the middle of the sanctuary sat a huge platform that held expensive-looking camera equipment. It was dark, but the glow from the security lights and exit signs provided enough light that Zakia was able to see. She was moved by the sleeping room and had a strong desire to see it awake. Yes, she would definitely be back the next day. As she left the sanctuary and entered the hallway, people were coming toward her.
    “May I help you, sister?” a forty-something gentleman in a sweat suit asked, smiling.
    Zakia was nervous, not knowing if she was trespassing.
    “No. I was trying to find the church. A lady gave me this tract and invited me to come tomorrow, and I just stopped by to see if this was the right place,” she explained, holding up the tract.
    “You are in the right place. Please do come back tomorrow for our praise and worship service and then be blessed by the Word of God.”
    “Thank you, I will.”
    “Have a good evening, sister,” the nice gentleman said. Then turning to another brother, he said, “Lock up, John. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Zakia left with a feeling of excitement and anticipation. Looking at the tract for service times, she decided to go alone to the eight o’clock service to check things out. That way she could be home in time to go to Fig Tree Baptist Church with her family at eleven o’clock. Jay would understand.
    “How are all of my handsome men?” she asked, kissing each one of them.
    They just silently looked at her.
    “Honey, I met this lady in the mall, and she invited me to her church. I rode by there, and it looked interesting. They have two services, so I decided to check out their early one while you get the boys ready. I’ll make sure I’m back in time for Fig Tree Baptist,” she explained as she got a slice of pizza.
    “Oh, a new church now. Okay, Z. Hopefully, one day soon, you’ll find what you’re looking for,” Jay said.
    “Thanks for your patience,” she said, kissing him on the cheek, sparking something they had both missed. Her new excitement gave her new energy and new appeal. “I’ll be upstairs.”
    Jay