‘If you think things hard go back to Africa’- US Pastor

Dr Joe B. Maddox speaking at the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well on August 2, 2015. Photo: VINO

Part of the gathering at the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town on August 2, 2015. Photo: VINO

Part of the gathering at the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town on August 2, 2015.

From left: Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn, Dr Melvin A. Turnbull and Dr Joe B. Maddox. Photo: VINO

This is essentially what US preacher Reverend Dr Joe B. Maddox was saying during his message to the gathering at the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town on August 2, 2015.
According to Dr Maddox, God was always with his people, even through slavery, and they were eventually emancipated because they kept their eyes on Jesus.
He said similarly today, people whose ancestors were slaves should continue to trust in Jesus and be contented where they have come from.
“Although they brought you here and abandoned you on this island and thought that nothing good could come because there was nothing here. They left you with all of the problems but God knew how to bless you in the midst of trouble. It was no accident even though it would feel like an accident you were brought here. God has been in control from the beginning.”
Dr Maddox further dared anyone who felt they had it bad to take a trip to the native land to see what the situation there is really like. Then he said persons might get a better appreciation of where they are.
“God has brought you here to have a better life. If you don’t think you have a better life, go back home sometime. I been there…and if you think you have it hard I dare you to go back to your native land.”
The US preacher further said, like Joseph who was sold into slavery and was able to help his family after he rose up as a top man in Pharaoh’s government in Egypt, VIslanders can do the same and seek to help those who are in the native land who are in worse situations.
Be careful who you put in office
According to Dr Maddox, persons of African descent have come a long way but have not yet arrived and need to be wary not to end up back in slavery of a different form.
“We have been emancipated but not yet free. We are free by the law but when we are sleeping at nights they are figuring out how to still enslave us again.
“We need to make sure that we are not enslaved, and in order that we not go back to where we were, we need to get some good people in office.”
The preacher continued that not everyone is a “devil” but people need to be aware of those they are voting for. He urged everyone to exercise their franchise and find their way to a polling station on voting day to cast their vote.
“Because if we are not careful they will plot against us, they will get the wrong people in office and we will again [be enslaved], as a matter of fact we are still enslaved, just of a different nature.”
About Pastor Joe B. Maddox
Pastor Joe B. Maddox is the President/Director of the Knoxville Interdenominational Bible Institute Inc, Moderator of the Knoxville District Baptist Missionary and Educational Association; State Director of Missions for the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention Inc, and President of S.A.F.E. Ministries Inc.
He attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia in 1969; a Master of Science degree from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama in 1971; an Honourary Doctor of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from North American of Theology, Winter Haven, Florida in 2005.