Memorial Biographies of General Baptist Ministers
of the
Union Association
Rev. J. W. Green
The Rev. J. W. Green was born March 2, 1868, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He was raised on a farm, and received a common school education. he was converted in 1887 and joined the General Baptist church at Green's Chapel in august, 1895. He was licensed to preach the same day he joined the church, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry October 20th, 1896, by the Presbytery of Union Association of General Baptists. After this he devoted all of his time to evangelism and to pastoral work, and was one of the most active preachers of his association.
In 1896 he and the Rev. Mrs. M. Munns held a meeting at old Nebo church near Greenville, Kentucky, following which he and others organized Duvall's Chapel church, and he was the first pastor of this church. Other churches that he pastored were Green's Chapel, Sharon, Olive Grove, New harmony and Mud River Union.
The following quotations from a letter which he wrote to the Messenger the latter part of 1902 gives his labors for that year: "I will give a brief report of my work during the associational year. I have pastored four churches; am engaged in my fifth revival; have preached 200 times; traveled something near 2000 miles; witnessed a number of conversions, and baptized several converts."
He goes on, in this letter, to say: "I am anxious for the time to come when I will see the brethren of Union Association. I love the brethren composing that body." Soon after this letter was written he attended the General Association which was held, at Oakland city, Ind. he came home a very sick man with typhoid fever, and from which he never recovered. On December 3, 1902, he completed his life-work and passed through the portals of Eternity, there to receive his reward, a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give him in that day.
The Rev. J. M. Burden and Rev. A. B. Stone preached the memorial Sermon for him in 1902, when the Association met with Pleasant Valley Church that year.
He was loved and respected by his brethren in the ministry, and by the members of the churches he pastored.
We would like to close this brief sketch of his life by quoting: "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Truly his work does follow him.
By M.B. McDonald