Prophesy Revealed

What could one say about Elder Joseph Askew? We know him to be stern and definitive with his statements concerning the church—even when it comes to Apostle Anthoneé J. Patterson. But do we know from whence he came?

As a child, Elder Joseph Askew developed a speech impediment, a stutter that impeded the fluency of his words—words entangled his tongue. But, later as he continued to mature in age and in the Church, the entanglement soon relented.

As children, Apostle Anthoneé Patterson and Elder Joseph Askew grew to become best friends, and as young adults, much of their time was spent together. On one day in the 1970’s that appeared like any other day, then, ‘Joe’ came out of the room speaking in tongues. He began pointing at three pictures—Bishop S. C. Johnson, Bishop S. McDowell Shelton (Blessedness) and Apostle Patterson—back and forth for an extended period of time. The Holy Ghost had his tongue tied, disallowing him to relay the message in his native language to then, Tony (Apostle Anthoneé). Blessedness reassured them that they both would be fine. Prophesy was in their midst. Although Elder Joseph Askew was no longer held captive by his speech impediment, God took control of his speech to reveal a premonition that would soon be realized—Apostle Anthoneé would become an anointed apostle of Jesus Christ.

Today, the Elder remains a pillar of prayer for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith as he holds up the Apostle and the saints. While he stands in the congregation and moves the church in prayer, his thoughts, his mind, and his words are no longer his as he submits to the Holy Ghost’s words.

The impediment of Elder Joseph Askew’s youth is no longer. In sheer eloquence, God has raised up an orator much like Moses, slow in words, but powerful in speech.