“We see you as one of the reliable ones,” the supervisor continued. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you directly.”

It was meant as praise.

In another setting, it would have been.

But Samuel knew what the request touched. Meetings. Family worship. Shepherding responsibilities. The simple, nonnegotiable truth that his life could not be arranged as though Jehovah came second and everything spiritual had to fight for leftover space.

He also knew this was not a moment for defiance or dramatic speeches. Christians were hardworking, reasonable, cooperative. He wanted that to be evident.

But balance did not happen by accident. If he answered weakly here, the pressure would not remain theoretical.

It would become his new pattern.