The day I found the missing tithe money in Pastor Adebayo's car boot

Three years ago, I was still fresh as youth pastor. Young, eager, believing the best about everyone. Pastor Adebayo was my mentor, the man who took me under his wing when I was just a confused sociology graduate from UNN.

Every month, the youth ministry would collect tithe and offerings. I would count it with two deacons, seal it in an envelope, and hand it to Pastor Adebayo for the church account. Standard procedure. Nothing strange.

Then Chidi, one of my youth boys, came to me crying. His mother needed surgery. The church had a welfare fund specifically for cases like this. I went to Pastor Adebayo to request the money. He said the fund was empty.

Something didn't sit right. The welfare fund had over ₦400,000 the previous month. I started asking questions quietly. The church accountant, a quiet man named Mr. Okafor, finally told me the truth. Pastor Adebayo had been withdrawing from the youth ministry account for months. Personal debts. His wife's boutique business was failing.

I confronted him in his office. He didn't deny it. He just looked at me and said, 'Emeka, the church is family. Families help each other.'

Chineke. I sat there, my hands shaking. This was the man who baptized me. Who prayed for my wedding. Who told me God had called me to ministry.

I reported it to the church board. It split the church in two. Some said I was disloyal. Some said I was a troublemaker. Pastor Adebayo was asked to step down quietly. He left the city. I have not seen him since.

That experience taught me something I carry till today. Our people say 'ezi nwanyi anaghi ezu oke' , a good child does not cover up wrongdoing. Loyalty to God must be greater than loyalty to any man.

I still struggle with it sometimes. Was I too harsh? Could I have handled it differently? But when I look at Chidi's mother, who is alive and well today because the church board released emergency funds after the truth came out, I know I did what was right.