ALL THAT I WANT IS IN JESUS

Don't think for a moment
I never felt the pain
You can't imagine
The hurt and the shame
They put the nails through my hands
Pierced my side, please understandIt wasn't easy, but it was worth it!


Vivian sang into the microphone alternating her rich alto voice as the tempo of the worship session increased. She was the lead vocalist of the choir. The choir members looked splendid in their black and white outfit with a touch of blue. A medium sized choir with good backup singers and a rich variety of musical instruments.

It was a Good Friday evening service at Hallway Bible church Uyo. The Altar was decorated in line with the somber mood of the Easter season. Two portraits depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was hung on both sides of the church. The church members were on their feet with outstretched hands worshipping in the spiritually charged atmosphere.

Vivian looked out into the crowd, her eyes settled on a man sitting in the middle pew. He was focusing all his attention on her. The lyrics and message of the Cece winan’s song was a sharp knife that pierced into his soul. His face looked agitated. It was as if the song was sung just for him. He sat with his hands griping the arm rest of the plastic chair. A small King James version bible was lying on top of his laps. The three days Easter program invitation flyer was in the middle section of his bible alongside a blue biro.


I didn't have to do it
But I did it anyway
'cause I really love you
So much I took your place

I died for your sins
Yes I'm the one

Don't take it lightly
What I've done
It wasn't easy, but it was worth it…..

Vivian always felt a sense of fulfillment whenever she was leading a worship session in church. Her face always glowed with inner joy. The presence of the Holy Spirit in this session was intense. She could see people with tears in their eyes pouring out their souls to God as the worship songs rolled out from her lips.
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“Sister Vivian that was a wonderful worship session, the hands of the Lord is really upon your life!”. Pastor Mike the choir director said to her. The service had ended of the service and worshippers were trooping out. Vivian was walking out of the church premises with sister Judith a fellow chorister.
“Thank you sir, I give God all the glory!

Everyone at one time or the other had told her that she had a singing ministry. She herself knew that she had a higher calling from God to evangelize with her voice. She didn’t belong in this small church located on the outskirts of Uyo.

Vivian was used to feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit come down mightily whenever she ministered in church and other Christian gatherings. Her calling was to be an international gospel artist ministering live in gospel concerts around the world and releasing gospel albums. Her constraint was funds to achieve this goal. There was no sponsor. Breaking into the Nigerian gospel music industry required money and she had none.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to onto thee”. That was the word of the Lord in Matthew 6:33 and she held strongly to it. God will make her a music star in his own time.

Vivian was 26 years old, an OND holder from Uyo city polytechnic. She wasn’t from an affluent family. Her parents lived were in the village. Bobby her three years old son lived with them.

Bobby was a product of a love-hate relationship she had with Eshiet an handsome young man who took advantage of her and disappeared when she got pregnant. He had not appeared ever since then. She had put him behind her, he was in her past and the word of the lord in 2 corinthians 5:17 said that” if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things has passed away, behold all things have become new”.

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat when she saw her landlord standing at her front door with a determined look on his face. He was obviously waiting for her.

“Good evening sir” she greeted him”
He muttered some incoherent words and raised his voice.

“I came to remind you about my rent” You are defaulting by three months. This is the last time I”ll be reminding you. Get ready to pack your things out next weekend!”

“Please sir give me more time” she pleaded. Her spirit that was raised up in church had been instantly deflated.

“Sorry Vivian. I can’t exercise patience any longer”. He shook his head and walked away.


It was a shame, her house rent had expired three months ago. The landlord has been gracious to let her stay in the house so far.
The apartment was a low cost block of one bedroom flats with shared facilities. She had been living in the house right from her school days.

Where was the money to pay for the apartment?

She had sent the small savings she got from her petite tailoring work to the village the previous week to care of Bobby who was ill. If not for lack of funds she would have visited him this easter week. Being unemployed was a curse. There were no jobs around and no one will employ an Ond graduate when Bsc and masters degree holders were milling around like ants.

“Look for one of these Uyo politicians and become his mistress, you will have money splashed on you like these other young girls were doing in the city”.

That was the practical advice mama Patience gave her when she narrated her plight to her. Vivian couldn’t do that. Her body was the sanctuary of the Lord and she couldn’t defile the temple of God.


Vivian got inside the room and sat down on the bed moody. She needed a miracle soon. Vivian began humming one of her favourite worship songs by Michael Smith.

Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain, let it rain
Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain, let it rain"
In a short while she began to pray……

"Oh lord I want to see your glory! You said in your word that you shall not suffer the seed of Jacob to seek you in vain. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the lord shall not lack any good thing! Jesus meet me at the point of my need. All that I want is in you lord! You died on the cross at Calvary to take away my shame, my reproach, you became poor so that through your poverty i might become rich. Jesus let your word be fulfilled in my life this weekend! Lord rain down your blessings upon me……”
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Seats in the sanctuary were filled to the brim on the second day of the Easter program. Word had gone round the environment about the glorious service held the previous day so people trooped in to experience the power of God in a new dimension.
A hymn was being rendered by the choir. Vivian as usual was the lead singer. She sang with her whole heart, she was in the heavenly realm where she didn’t have to worry about house rent, a job or financial problems.

“Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder/Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder/Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul/My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art/ How great Thou art!"

The man sat in the second row his eyes fixed on the lead singer. He had come once again on the second day. He was on a striped Louis vuitton longsleeved shirt and a black trouser.


And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul/My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art/ How great Thou art!


Pastor Davies Akpan preached a stirring message on the love of Christ. Shortly the altar call was made. The man hesitated for some seconds then went out to surrender his life to Christ.
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“Sister Vivian somebody wants to see you!” An usher tapped Vivian on her back. The service was over.

“Who is the person?” Vivian asked her choir note book was in her hands and she was skimming through the songs.

“He is a man, he is waiting outside. He say it is important he sees you”.
Vivian reluctantly got up to her feet and walked down the three tier steps of the exit door of the church.

“Look at him there, he is the one leaning on that black car!” The usher pointed in the direction of the man & left.

It was the man she saw on the good Friday service.

He was leaning on one of the doors of a black Suv. Vivian approached him cautiously.

“Hello young lady” he hailed her.

“Hello sir”

“I am Engr Tunji Olawole. I work with Sahara oil group. I came to this town with my wife to visit my in-laws and somewhere along the line someone invited to this church.So I decided to visit. I must admit i like your voice, it moved me when you sang yesterday. You sing so well, you should be a gospel artist!

“Thanks you sir”

“What’s your name?’

“Vivian”

“Vivian I feel disturbed in my spirit to help you. I have been having this push to meet you since yesterday. What can I do to help you? Are you a graduate?” he asked.

Vivian couldn’t believe her ears, this was like an open cheque thrown at her!

“Sir I need a job, I have an OND in business management. Sir I am in a fix right now. I am defaulting on my rent and my landlord has threatened to throw me out on Friday next week.”

“How much is your rent?
Its N35,000 for a year.

Let me have your account number. Bring your cv tomorrow I’ll be attending the service with my wife.
“Thank you sir! God bless you sir!!

“You are welcome. You should meet my wife, her brother owns with a music record label in Lagos. Let me have your number.

Vivian gave him her account number and phone number. He left promising to keep in touch.

It was just too good to be true.

Later that evening a bank alert hit her phone. N150,0000 had been transferred into her account via a Gtb bank internet banking platform. Engr Tunji had kept to his word.

Vivian was speechless. God had finally visited her. She had never received such sum of money as a gift throughout her entire life. It was an Easter miracle!

She could only shed tears of joy while singing along to Frank Edwards track…



Na wetin I do
Wey make you love me so
You shed your blood
Just because of me 
You are bigger than
What people say 
And forever you will be my God

You too dey bless me Ooh
Na so you love me Ooh
You too dey bless me



The end.