Free The Bride Experiment by Mimi Jefferson Page A

one-on-one sessions the minister had planned to have with the women—had to be showing all the single men that she was committed to being a wife. Joan could have slapped herself. She could have figured out how to rearrange her schedule to get into the class. Every Christian man in Houston was probably trying to marry a woman from Minister Makita’s Wife Preparation class.
    After the group hug, Lila started to gather her things so she could meet Kenneth. Before she walked out the door, Lila nervously looked back. “Would one of you pray for me?”
    Joan was glad when Janet stepped up to do it. “I know what you’re feeling right now.” Janet grabbed Lila’s hand. “I remember when Jerome asked me to meet his family. It was such an exciting time.”
    The ladies held hands in a circle as Janet prayed. “Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Lord, how we thank you. We thank you for sending Jesus to pay for our sins. We thank you that we have received Jesus’ death as payment for our sins, and therefore when we die, we will spend eternity with you in heaven.
    â€œWe thank you for giving us what we need, instead of what we deserve. We thank you for friends and family. We thank you for homes, food, your mercy, and your grace. We thank you for your guidance and the security you provide. Lord, we pray for Lila. Lord, we have watched this woman grow under your attentive care. We thank you for her changed life. We pray, Lord, that you would guide her as she meets Kenneth’s parents. Allow her to be calm and free from anxiousness, knowing that she is fearfully and wonderfully made in you. If it is your will for these two to become one, Lord, we pray that you would make that clear. Please give them insight, Father, and direction, in Jesus’ name we pray.”
    After one more group hug, Lila left with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. Joan looked at Tisha, and Tisha looked at Joan—each knowing what the other was thinking. Bible Study would have to wait. There was no time to waste. Joan dashed to the computer in her home office. Tisha jogged to the sofa and yanked her laptop out of its protective case. They needed to go online and register for Minister Makita’s next Wife Preparation class.

Chapter 9
    Joan rushed to Minister Makita’s office. The last thing she wanted to do was be late. Makita insisted on meeting face-to-face with everyone who applied for the Wife Preparation class. It was only a matter of time before the minister would be telling Joan how pleased she was that she decided to join the class. She probably called her in early because she wanted Joan to take an active role in the class, helping the other single women along. She had only completed her application that Saturday and Minister Makita called her in for a meeting the following Monday evening.
    Joan had only been at Miller Street Church for a short while, but everybody knew she was one of Makita’s favorite people. Joan had grown quickly and soon started teaching New Members Orientation classes and Women’s Bible Studies. When Minister Makita had to have an unplanned surgery in the midst of a women’s conference, where she was the keynote speaker, instead of using a more tenured member of the church, she chose Joan. People were surprised, until they heard Joan deliver an outstanding Bible lesson. From that point on, people in the church started to look at Joan in a different light.
    Minister Makita was one of the most influential people in Houston, but that’s not what Joan admired about her. Joan admired how she could make the scriptures come alive. Minister Makita didn’t preach so that people could be happy; she preached so they could be changed. Joan was only one of the women whom Minister Makita’s teaching had impacted in such a huge way. She had throngs of faithful Christian women who looked to her for guidance.
    Joan walked into Makita’s