"You're on 'test' assignment today" he had been told. A pass meant the church would get extra blessings immediately. A fail, and there would be a maintaining of the status quo. The prayers would be fulfilled, but it would take twice as long. He also had special dispensation from the Lord for those who ignored the Good Samaritan parable. Their prayers to be unanswered until the Holy Spirit spoke to them and they repented.

He marvelled at the loyalty to the church of the two women cleaners, since the rain was cascading and had been for hours. The question was, he thought, how loyal are they to the Word.

Quickly he donned the necessary clothes, an old pair of jeans with holes in the knees, a filthy shirt stained with oil, and tatty shoes without laces. He wore no socks, which was apparent as the jeans were two inches too short.

Ready now, he leaped off the roof and an instant later was knocking loudly on the large wooden doors of the church. He looked like a bedraggled pigeon that couldn't fly and find shelter. Slowly and cautiously one door was opened a couple of inches. No more because of the safety chain on the inside. The woman peered at him. "What do you want?" she muttered, "the church doesn't open till 9.30".

"I'm hungry" the angel said, "and I need some dry clothes. I thought since this is a church you might be able to help."

The woman frowned. "I'm busy," she said, "got to get the church ready for the service. It's a special day today. The Moderator's coming. Anyway the pastor'll be here at 9.30. See him."

With that she slammed the door. His superhuman hearing enabled him to detect the other woman saying "Come on Emily, we'll never get finished". The angel shrugged. Failed No. 1, he wrote in his little notebook. He knew they had supplies in the kitchen for post-service biscuits, tea and cakes.

The angel soared back up to the roof. In reality the rain and the cold didn't bother him because he had no sense of feeling on his skin. He spent some time scribbling on the notepad. Each contact with the church and its people had to be fully reported. Now the rain had stopped. Down below, the doors of the church were opening. A late model car was gliding to a stop immediately outside. Enter pastor and family. A well dressed woman and two children hurriedly climbed out of the car and dashed to the doors. Now it was time for Test No 2.

Still wearing the down-and-out garb he slowly fluttered and hovered until he reached the pavement like an expertly-piloted helicopter. The people around would only see him when he wanted them to. He stretched out full length on the pavement about ten feet from the church doors, then went into 'full view' mode. It was 9.40.

Up the street he could see the first of the people arriving for the service. Though they didn't know him, he had been briefed and knew every one by name. Two young girls carrying Bibles were the first to see him. They giggled and carried on with their conversation. Next came a young man whom the angel knew had enrolled at Bible college. The young man stopped, stared, muttered "huh, another Saturday night drunk", and went on his way. Next came an elderly man, fittingly one of the elders, as the angel well knew. The man looked sheepish and embarrassed at the pitiful figure of "humanity" lying there. He paused for a moment, then walked on.

Now an entire family arrived, taking up all the pavement. They stepped over him, eagerly engrossed in their conversation, laughing and joking, not giving him even a second look. A young man approached, a new Christian (the angel knew him, because he had been among a multitude of angels who had rejoiced as the young man had responded to an altar call). The new Christian stopped.

"Now what would he do?" the angel muttered. Slowly the man leaned over and studied the prostrate form. "Are you all right? Here I'll help you up. Come with me. There's food and shelter at the church. Hey John" he shouted to another man close by, "give me a hand to get him into the church". The angel smiled as he suddenly became invisible. The two were standing bewildered. "Where's he gone?"one said, "He was here a moment ago."

On the roof of a nearby factory the angel sadly began to write again in his notebook. Failed on Test No 2. Nine passed by, only one offered to help. Didn't they ever read their Bibles? He began to put on his next attire. Clean shirt, suit, leather shoes. He dabbed on the body lotion. Now let's see how they treat a well dressed visitor. Test No 3.

The hall was almost full. There was a babble of conversation, and of musicians tuning their guitars and other instruments. The angel moved into his seat about halfway down the hall. Three people on his right were chattering about their brand new refrigerator. "Isn't God good" one was shrieking delightedly. "Now I'm praying for a pay rise". The person on his left was talking to another about his mother who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. "It's hopeless you know, she doesn't have long. That's what the doctor said. We're making arrangements now for the funeral." The angel grimaced. Hadn't they heard of the healings? The centurion's servant in the gospels or the cripple at the gate in Acts?

The angel waited as a newcomer to be noticed, but no-one had yet spoken to him. Now the worship leader was on the platform, trying to whip up enthusiasm. "Why are you all looking so miserable? We're here to praise the Lord. Let's all yell and shout it." The angel felt a thump on his shoulder and the man next to him thundered "Praise the Lord, brother". Pity they don't do that spontaneously, the angel thought.

So the meeting went on, the music, the sermon, then at the end "We want you all to stay and have coffee and biscuits" the pastor said over the microphone. The angel waited for the people on either side of him to say something but they were engrossed in their own conversation. Only one, from two rows back, addressed him. It was the same young man who had wanted to help him outside the church.

"Hi, I'm Gary. Great that you've come in to the service. Stay and have some refreshments. Here's my card if you need any help. Oh, have we met before?" The angel slipped away without replying. He didn't wait for the refreshments and made his way out of the hall.

He straddled the large neon sign on a nearby roof and began to write again. "Test No 3 - Failed." Under 'Special Comments' he wrote "Gary. Recommended for The Lord's special attention. The nine who passed me by on the street, prayers to be ignored until they repent. All others encountered today - no prayers granted for six months."