Put God first to restore paradise, says Baptist leader at Emancipation march

A Baptist leader is urging both citizens and the Government to put God first, saying it is the key to restoring Trinidad and Tobago to the paradise it once was.

Superintendent of the Independent Baptist Mission Churches of T&T Incorporated, Reverend Kelvin Jackson, gave the advice during their annual Emancipation Day march and thanksgiving service held in Princes Town yesterday.

Jackson was joined by scores of fellow worshippers as they danced to songs of worship and the rhythms of African drums from Matilda Junction along the Naparima Mayaro Road. Encouraging worshippers to continue putting God first, he said it was through God’s grace that they have gained recognition and an identity in T&T and worldwide.

“We have to continue to include God in our daily dealings so we can continue to get his favour, because he alone knows the direction we are heading.”

He also encouraged T&T leaders to put God at the helm.

“We want to encourage T&T as we go far and wide to include God even in the government—to have God at their head so that he can give us inspiration, guidance, and direction to lead our people, that T&T will be the paradise that we once said it was. We want it to come back—it can—but as long as we put God in it, we will have that favour.”

Deacon Roland Smith said his celebration was two-fold, as it was also his birthday.

“We know today is a day of freedom. Freedom when the slaves were set free, and we thank God for his goodness, because if it was not for him and his goodness, we would not have been here today to celebrate this day.”

The march ended at the George’s Independent Baptist Church in St Julien Village.