Under the Magnifying Glass

Derrick Anthony Garrett was pastor of one of the largest churches in the city of Atlanta, Truth Tabernacle. He was over six feet tall with short curly hair, precisely groomed facial hair, caramel skin, and pearly white teeth with a dynamic smile to match. He was able to dress in the finest attire and provide that luxury for his family as well. He was married to a woman named Theresa and they had two children, Damon and Deanna. They were known wherever they went. Theresa was the first lady of Truth Tabernacle and owned her own beauty salon. Damon was a senior in high school and Deanna was a junior in high school. They both kept their grades up. Damon was on the varsity football team at school, the head musician at Truth Tabernacle and held a part-time job at Footlocker. Deanna was one of the captains of the spiritual dance team at church, sang in the choir, worked part-time at a book store and did hair as well. Life was not easy for the Garrett family. People watched and studied their lives as if a pay check came from it at the end of every week. They were criticized for every move they made whether good or bad. They not only experienced stress outside of the home but at home as well. The family often argued because Pastor Garrett never had time for them. He was always too busy doing church business but expected all of their support. Pastor Garrett had to learn some hard lessons if he wanted to keep his family together as well as Truth Tabernacle. Pastor Garrett had no siblings and grew up in poverty. His father was killed in the streets when he was only six years old. His mother was a single parent and had to work two or three jobs that didn't pay much to make ends meet. Due to depression, she began doing drugs. At the young age of ten, he found his mother dead from overdose. His grandmother raised him. Pastor Garrett never understood the concept of a family. All he understood was that he wanted a better life than his parents. He finished high school and went to the army for ten years. In the meantime, he kept a factory job to further support his family and studied God's Word. Pastor Garrett never had many friends but learned how to be self sufficient. He had been let down so often that he didn't want to give someone opportunity to hurt him. He only trusted one guy and that was Author Myers. He grew up with him, they were in the army together and Author became a pastor as well. Author was like a brother to him. He also trusted one special lady and that was his wife Theresa. They met at Truth Tabernacle. Theresa's father was the first pastor and founder. He turned the church over to Pastor Garrett once he'd gotten sick. One evening Pastor Garrett's church home at the time was invited to worship with Truth Tabernacle and he fell in love with Theresa right away. He was now the pastor of Truth Tabernacle and had to learn how to balance his ministry as well as his family. If he didn't, he would lose one or the other, possibly both.