“Sister Maya,” Dr. Abba, the area pastor of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship stopped her. “Thanks for honoring our invitation. May God continue to bless you.” “Oh, there is nothing to it, sir. I enjoyed the fellowship.” “Good. So we hope to see more of you then?” “Oh, sure,” she looked at her timepiece. “I’m afraid, pastor, but I have to run along.” “No problem,” he said and patted her. “You stay in the campus, don’t you?” “Yes.” “Good. I will ask Bro. Rasak to give you a ride back.” “Oh, don’t worry, sir. I can manage.” she was in no apparent hurry and preferred trekking. Besides, she needed time to think, and only walking could give her the opportunity.
“Well, if you say so,” he shrugged. “Take care of yourself then.” As soon as she hit the road, she brought out her earpiece and stuck it into her ears, and immediately, Ray Boltz’s voice filled her ears. ‘This may be a prison, this maybe chains. But I'm free, free to praise his name. Even in tribulation, my heart still sings. He is my Messiah; He is the King of Kings. I will praise the Lord;
No matter what tomorrow brings, Or what it has in store, I know, I will praise the Lord.’
She sang with glee, very oblivious of her surroundings. Her only preoccupation was to praise the Lord. To her, living without Christ was unthinkable.  The night was calm and balmy and the bushy road was deserted. Thick darkness descended and hung on the surrounding bush with an ominous aura. After walking for about five minutes, she realized she was no longer alone and the song died prematurely on her lips. She jerked off the earphone and scanned the area. Darkness hung in the trees like bats and tree frogs sang their mournful dirge. Crackle, crackle. The faint rustle of dry leaves and footfallsreached her again.Immediately, she remembered all kinds of bizarre stories she had heard about deserted places, her heartbeat began to race, and her breath came in short, quick gasps. She continued walking warily, now almost on tiptoe as the mournful dirge of the tree frogs intensified. Crackle, crackle. The crispy, crunchy sound of dry leaves and breaking twigs came again, this time, closer. Her head swelled up and the hair at the nape of her head stood still. She scanned the area; everywhere was black as charcoal. Crackle, crackle. She heard the sound again. It was very close now.She caught her breath andstrained her ears; but all she heard was the beating of her own heart. She took a deep breath. She was determined not to succumb to fears. Without warning, three masked men in black attire jumped out of the bush in quick succession and three powerful flashlights flooded the bush path with bright light and nearly blinded her. She wanted to scream for help, but the knives in their hands, glistering under the reflection of the flashlight stilled her. One was shorter than the other, and the third was the shortest of them all. “Hey! Stop there!” the leader commanded in a rusty voice. He replaced the dagger with a .25 automatic. The deadly nozzle was pointing directly at her temple. She stared at the gun.From the way he held it, she knew he would not hesitate to shoot at the slightest provocation. The song died prematurely on her lips and she put her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming or making an uncontrolled outburst. “I said don’t make any false move or I’ll blast your head off,” he barked and waved the gun menacingly. “This is a rape hold. Just cooperate with us and youwill notget hurt. Now, come this way.” “Rape?” she muttered. “Impossible! That isn’t my portion,” she began to confess the word aloud. “No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper. I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death and I will fear no evil.” “Follow me,” he ordered and began walking towards an uncompleted building. She hesitated. Surely, she cannot let these infidels defile her. She would rather die than compromise her faith. Suddenly, she realized she was facing exactly what she sang a couple of minutes ago. “Please, don’t hurt me. Do not touch me. I will give you anything you want but just don’t touch me,” she cried and handed over her cell phone, purse, and wristwatch. She didn’t wear any other jewelry, else she would have given them that too. “This is all I have, please. Take it and let me go.” “Shut up and move. Nobody is interested in your damned property,” the shortest snarled.     The leader stopped and turned back. “We don’t want to be rough with you,” his voice was low and menacing. “But if you don’t cooperate,” he shrugged. “We’ll have no choice but to force you. Nevertheless, be warned, you may have the right to resist, but we have the power to tame. Now, move it.” She stuck to her guns. They have to rape her dead or nothing, she thought. When the leader realized she was not ready to comply, he ordered them to tie her up. The boys moved towards her. “Just don’t come near me,” she warned and picked up one of her shoes. They backed off, before coming back aggressively. She sprang forward boldly, hitting at them blindly. Clawing, punching, and generally fussing about. “That’s okay, boys,” the leader stopped them. “I’ll handle her.” The two boys backed off temporarily to nurse their bruises. “Now, behave yourself or I’ll put a hole through your head,” hesaid as he released the safety catch. “Go ahead and shoot me,” she dared him. “And I bet you, your gun will have no power over me. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world.” “Now one last chance, move it or I’ll shoot.” “I’m not going anywhere, and you can’t do anything.” “Don’t fool yourself, not even your God will save you or stop me from raping you, so move it.” Angered by his remark against a loving, kind and good God, she spat at him. “How…how dare you…you insult my God!”  “Hell!” he cried as the spit landed on his face. “Damn it!” he swirled round like a demented lion. “How…how dare you…you spit on…on me? You dirty, stinking pig! Do you know that…that I can…I can waste your life? Do you know I can kill you?” She chuckled. “Try it and I bet you, your gun will have no power over me.” Visibly angry, he took aim and shot her directly. “Die, mother fucker, die.” Instead of the usual deafening echo of exploding gunfire, what met his dazed ears was just a faint click. He pulled the trigger again. “Click, click.” It was barely audible. He checked the gun, satisfied everything was okay; he pointed the gun towards the sky and shot into the air. “Boom!” it exploded. He wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeves and took aim. Meanwhile, his mates were watching with fascination, ready to disappear any minute. “I’ll teach you not to mess with me, you slut,” he snarled and pulled the trigger. “Click, click,” again, nothing happened. He stared at the gun, then at the girl and back to the gun again. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words would not come. With each passing minute, he watched, as his powerhouse became a mere piece of fancy metal. It was difficult to believe that his confidence and treasure house was as useless as used toilet tissue. His two companions, who have been watching this unfolding drama with fascination, took to their heels without looking back. He threw away the gun, removed his mask, and fell on his knees. “Please, forgive me, pray for me, and entreat the favor of the Lord your God for me.” 
***
The next Sunday, to her surprise, during the testimony time, a man stepped out of the congregation, she recognized him as the leader of the rape gang that had waylaid her. He introduced himself as Peter and a 300 level Civil Engineering student before narrating how he met God on their usual rape mission and how the sister was not afraid of the gun and apparent death. “I’ve heard about miracles and great exploits recorded in the Bible, but my brothers and sisters, God is real and He alone has the ultimate power. I was a doubting Thomas like many of you seated here today, I did not believe in God, let alone in miracles, but today I am a believer, praise God.” “Halleluiah,” the church chorused. “Truly, my brothers and sisters, Maya is a challenge and a true inspiration to all of us. She is an example of what God can do through anyone who would put their trust in Him.” Dr. Ogbonna was in the church and during the altar call; she caught him burying his head in his hands. The next day, he apologized to her. She prayed with him, and a new chapter opened in his life. Soon, he became another firebrand disciple of Christ. With time, her fame and popularity grew. All over the campus, she was known as ‘Saint Maya’ or ‘WWJD’ and everyone testified of her commitment and dedication to God. In fact, her lifestyle was like a little epistle, known and read by all men. Each morning, on her way to school, she handed out tracts and handbills to anyone she met on her way and all immoral and indecent talks ceased when they saw her coming. She was indeed a great role model, inspiring and leading many to Christ. In the female hostel, her room was a sort of sanctuary and a rallying point for all believers and no Sunday service or crusade was complete without her. People were blessed just by listening to her sing and a lot of miracles, healings, and deliverances were wrought through her. As the days rolled by and she became more successful in her Christian life, so did the temptations, her greatest challenge being the boys. They came in droves and packs and did not give her any breathing space. Some she knew, some she hadnever met before.They showered her with gifts and bombarded her inbox with messages, promising her sweet nothings just to get her into their beds, but she tactfully fenced them off. She was determined not to compromise her Christian standards, despite all the distractions and attractions.