Andrew Wildes, Gleaner Writer
MADDIX
IT WAS not the most glamorous of jobs but he did it earnestly and revolutionised its impact in Jamaica's most dreaded institutions, and for the island's most hardened criminals, but on Tuesday the head of the Department of Correction's Chaplaincy Unit, Dr. The Reverend Renford Maddix, died.
Major Richard Reese, head of the Department of Correctional Services, seemed moved by the death of the reverend when he spoke to The Gleaner yesterday. "It is a significant loss in terms of his contribution to the department," Major Reese said. "Chaplain is a sort of ombudsman in the correctional setting. He would bring to my attention anything he thought was in breach; he was very even-handed." As Major Reese listed the chaplain's many initiatives, achievements and accolades within the department, the significance of the loss grew plain.
Reverend Maddix began his work as Prison Chaplain in 1991 while he was still pastoring at the Jones Town Baptist Church. Convicted to reach out to young men in the prisons, and adamant on the equal importance of ministering in prison as in a church, Reverend Maddix soon resigned from Jones Town Baptist and spearheaded the development of Jamaica's Correctional Services Chaplaincy Unit.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP JAMAICA
Reverend Maddix was instrumental in establishing Prison Fellowship Jamaica, which oversees about 500 volunteers who go regularly into the prison to share with prisoners. Reverend Maddix was the second person to be appointed chaplain but under his pilotage the number has grown to seven chaplains, serving 12 institutions, 2,500 staff, and approximately 4,700 inmates and wards.
In August 2003 Prison Fellowship International, the world chaplaincy body consisting of over 600 persons in 100 nations, presented the Khoo Siaw Hua Award, its highest award, to Reverend Maddix "in recognition of outstanding witness and service among prisoners and the prison community through the ministry of Prison Chaplaincy."
Reverend Maddix was also the pastor of Linstead Baptist Church in St. Catherine when he died.
