So here we are— a pastor serving in The Church of Pentecost, writing a novel. Not exactly the usual path, right? And a fiction novel about marriage, no less! In the last few days, I’ve heard a few surprised voices asking, “Why a novel?” Some have even hinted at the potential “backlash” funny enough within the church walls for exploring themes like temptation, brokenness, and yes—even infidelity within marriage. Why not stick to something “church safe” or typically Christian? Well, because… “it wouldn’t stir the pot enough.” 😂……Just kidding! (Though maybe I’m not kidding entirely—sometimes we need a shake-up to reach the truth, don’t we?)

The real answer is simple: it’s not just about what’s comfortable; it’s about what’s real. Boxing ourselves in the same modes of ministry expressions we have become accustomed to over the course of time is the reason why at times, we are limited in reach and our message and substance become inaccessible to some. I’m here to tell the truth as I see and know it. This novel, Perpetual Pledge, is my way of doing that authentically, even if deemed unconventional. As Christians, we all face battles that aren’t “safe.” We wrestle with difficult realities, and ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear. If we are called to influence all spheres with the values and principles of the Kingdom of God, then the fiction space is not exempt.

Born to tell Stories

If you know me, you know I’ve always been a storyteller. Long before I was writing sermons, I was writing lyrics, I was rapping and I still do. This never left me and by the grace of God never will. I once was one of the many I now call “Unsaved Christians”. These are people who are in the church but the church or Christ is not in them. Their motivation for being there is anything other than God. I was in church from my infancy, well into my teens but my calling to Christ didn’t come within the church walls.

Weekly sermons were not drawing me but God used an event outside the church walls to call me. God met me, tangibly, when I was hiding in someone’s garden, fleeing from people out to end my life with a knife. I promised Him, right there in that hiding spot, that if He spared my life, I would use everything I am and everything I have to serve Him. Having honoured his promise, I came into church the next Sunday to honour mine. I asked for an altar call during service and the rest is history.

That’s the context I come from, the place where God became real to me. So my eyes, my heart, and my stories? They’re built for more than the church. I have not forgotten my personal story and hence pinch myself to a halt as soon as I am tempted to be religiously “phariseeic”. I strive for my work to touch on truth as it exists in the world beyond pews and pulpits because that’s where people need hope the most. 

Why a Novel? Why Not a “Marriage Manual” or some other Non-Fiction?

Some have said, “Why not write a straightforward, bullet-pointed marriage guide?” But here’s the thing—life, and especially marriage, doesn’t happen in bullet points. It’s messy, beautiful, heart-wrenching, and exhilarating. Fiction has a way of capturing those ups and downs in a way a manual just can’t. Stories not only have a way of helping us see our own lives in a more profound light, but It lets us imagine, to walk through the characters’ lives and mistakes, to experience their rawest moments, and to see ourselves in them—maybe more than we’re comfortable with. Like in a movie, you immediately feel the impact of an incident. A novel hence invokes emotions that a non-fiction simply would not. As a Pastor, I have gone through a period of frequent surprises, when I have had to counsel more couples than comfortable with in the church, who were dealing with infidelity in their marriage. Some had suffered in silence for years as they had not felt comfortable to talk through their realities with any leader in the church. A fiction novel is hence suitable in lifting the lid on the unspoken in the very fabric of the life of some christians.

Some Lessons we learn from Perpetual Pledge

Though fictional, Perpetual Pledge brings out realities that some couples face every day. Readers will experience not only the depth of marital commitment but also the intensity of its trials, temptations, and redemptions. It’s a story for those who have felt like they’re holding onto the broken pieces of a pot, knowing it may cut them but still handling it with hope, trusting that the Creator can make something whole again. It’s about navigating temptations while striving for purity, experiencing punishment yet finding forgiveness, feeling sorrow while glimpsing joy. In marriage, these contrasts are real, and I wanted to capture them honestly and poetically. I found while writing that through fictional struggles and victories, we can clearly see life’s complexities and how they intersect with faith, in ways we can’t always summarise in non-fiction guides and manuals.

The story of John for instance, one of the characters from the novel, reveals the tragic ease with which our small choices accumulate, leading to drastic consequences. In one scene, he finds himself drawn into a forbidden space—not out of a planned rebellion, but because he allowed his thoughts to linger too long on feelings of discontent and desire for something different from the mundane routines of life​. Each step away from self-discipline—ignoring a warning sign, entertaining a lingering thought—adds up until he’s made choices that go against everything he stands for.

In exploring the dangers of this progression in depth, we get to see that sin doesn’t always come charging through the front door; sometimes it creeps in, one small decision at a time.

For Couples and the Yet-to-be-Married

I wrote this story because marriage isn’t just a “life cycle event” or a box to tick off. It’s something that demands your heart, your spirit—sometimes even your last breath, as seen in Perpetual Pledge. I wanted those who are yet to marry to see the weight of the vows they might one day make, not with fear but with respect. And for those already married, Perpetual Pledge is a mirror, a reflection of both the stardust and the pepper spray that marriage can bring. It’s a reminder that the ups and downs, the setbacks, and the triumphs are part of what makes this journey meaningful.

Those dealing with hidden hurts or unspeakable pain in their marriage might find understanding and connection within these pages. This novel requires patience, as real life does, and if you stick with it, you’ll see the full picture by the end. I hope it makes you feel the extremes that marriage makes possible. That’s my goal—not to give you another “how-to,” but to move you, to let you experience and imagine.

Stepping Outside the “Box”

I get it; writing a novel is a bit out-of-the-box. But as much as I am here to preach and teach, I’m also here to connect with people’s realities. And if that means telling a story of a flawed marriage that somehow clings to hope, then that’s what I’ll do.

Perpetual Pledge wasn’t just a creative choice; it was a way to share my convictions about faith, marriage, and the unspoken realities people will face yet still be required to keep their vows. It is my way of addressing truths through a story that might otherwise remain untold.

So here’s to stepping out of the box! And many more novels to come in this series and others. I hope it resonates with you, challenges you, and helps you see that marriage is worth every ounce of effort, whether it feels like stardust or pepper spray (or sometimes both).

You can get the book on amazon by clicking the title right here Perpetual Pledge

Other Books can be found at Amazon Author Central

You can also listen to the latest Poetry Album ‘Alone in Company’ here