Renowned gospel musician, Pastor Joe Beechem has revealed in an interview with Myjoyonline.com that he has managed to overcome the near-fatal accident that almost took his life seven years ago. He attributed his long absence from the music scene to the accident, “...it’s one of the reasons and after the accident, I decided to take a rest. I thought it will be for some few years but the years passed by and I had still not fully recovered. I was also praying and seeking the face of God.” Joe Beecham said he made plans to release an album at least every two years but as he puts it, “the Bible says many are the plans in a man’s heart, the Lord’s purpose prevails.” Recounting the accident, he said, “It happened in Takoradi around the harbour area, specifically in front of Ghacem. It was very serious. We were four in a car, I was driving. I had another guy by me on the passenger side and two ladies at the back. It was so serious that we didn’t know when the train was going to stop.” Asked if he did not see any level crossing warning or stop! sign indicating the passing of a train at that particular moment, Joe Beechem said, “There was no stop sign placed there for vehicles to stop. There was a car in front of me and as that car moved on, I was following”. “We were not aware a train was coming, until the first car sped off then I realised that there was danger and something was happening. Because this man was driving at top speed on the railway lines which was unusual because he has seen that the train was coming.” “As soon as he passed, somebody came to stand there with a stop sign. I was like; you are asking me to stop while a train is coming. Initially I thought, the rail lines are many so maybe the train was on another line. I looked right and low and behold there was the train.” He said he owned his survival to God, explainig that although it was widely speculated that he was dead or even had his limbs chopped into pieces, he said he did not sustain any serious injury but the accident affected him psychologically. He used the interview to clear the air on speculations that was carried on TV and Radio that he had attempted to jump out of the car to run away. He said his engine was still running during that time and he was constantly counting on God for his survival. His current album, ‘Preacher’s Voice’ was released last year December as a 'welcome back' after a seven year absence from the music scene. The ‘Preacher’s Voice’ has 14 tracks with songs like; Samson, ‘Ma sesa’ (I have changed), ‘Smile again’, ‘Congratulations’. He last released ‘Emmre yi’ (These Times) in 2002 and soon after he released that album, he was faced with the near fatal accident. Pastor Joe Beecham has five albums to his credit, of which four are known to Ghanaians. He said the album which is not known to Ghanaians is called ‘Alone with God’ and he released it about four years ago in the US. He may release that album some time in Ghana. Touching on the increasing trend of circular music overtaking gospel music, he attributed the trend to the fact that, “the Bible said in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves more than lovers of God. We are in a certain kind of dispensation which are perilous and difficult times. People are bent on satisfying their lust, though it is true that a lot of people are driving towards circular songs and worldly music, people are still being blessed by gospel music.” He advised gospel musicians to centre their music on praising God. “We have to be creative and we have to read the word of God because there are so many things in the Bible we have not encountered yet. We should also bring on board some of the lessons we have learnt in life.” Pastor Joe Beechem lastly advised the youth to remember their creator during the days of their youth before the evil days come for “In the days of your youth, if you commit your life and remember your creator, you will receive more impartations in your life that will carry you through the difficult time.” Story by Aglanu Dela Ernest/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana