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Oliver Greene
Born to parents of modest means, Oliver Boyce Greene
entered the world on love’s favorite day, February 14, 1915. It could be interpreted
as a small gesture of God’s love to multitudes that would come to here the acclaimed
preacher. But the young Mr. Greene had a tainted reputation to outgrow before he
would reach the heights of spiritual significance for which he came to be known.
By his own admission, Oliver began a life of vice and overall rowdiness at
the tender age of five. His father was a farmer and owned a store where the lad got
the idea to steal cigarettes. He most likely watched others smoke and, seeing them
in stock, decided to try them for himself. It was only after he was converted 15
years later that he quit smoking, judging that the use of tobacco would be a poor
testimony for a minister of the gospel. Meanwhile, the wayward Greene boy began
drinking at age nine. As soon as he reached his teen years, he would get drunk and even
began hauling liquor with an experienced bootlegger in the days when prohibition was big
news. Oliver had a propensity for sin. He would curse like a sailor and
rebel against authority as much as possible. Truly, the devil had him by the sleeve.
The situation got so bad that his father
threatened to send him to reform school at only 13 years old. Mr. Greene was a
sinner, but by Dr. Greene’s account, was as moral a person as could be found.
His mother and sister did profess salvation, however, and tried to smooth
things over between the two male family members. As Oliver’s sister begged
their father not to send him off for fear his heart may harden even further, Mr. Greene
broke down crying, telling his son how he had broken his heart. Even a rebel like
Oliver felt sympathy and agreed to go to church to appease his father. But
compassion soon faded, as the stubborn adolescent seemed to delve more deeply into his old
ways. Things came to a head a few years later when the brash upstart had plans to take his
girlfriend to the local swimming pool. Much to his chagrin, the senior Greene
informed his son that the only way he would get the car that night would be to take his
sister to church—the same sister, who for 10 years, prayed by her brother’s
bedside the same time the ungrateful teen repeatedly used swear words! Fully
intending to go swimming after service, Oliver pressed on and went to church with his
sister and girlfriend. Plans changed dramatically, though. Now a young adult
of 19 years of age, Oliver Greene, in his usual self-styled manner gave his heart to the
Lord that night—not during the altar call, but after service.
Five months later the new convert felt the call
to preach. He enrolled at North Greenville Baptist College, but was expelled in his
second year, finding points of disagreement with the denominational program.
Reverend Greene as he was now dubbed, became regarded by his peers and followers as
a true independent, keeping at least that portion of his early personality in tact.
In 1939, things got very busy for the young evangelist. He bought a tent that
year and began preaching on radio. He married Aileen Collins that September.
Their first son died at two days old, but the couple went on to have two
other boys, Thomas and David, who survived. The 1940’s came and Oliver B.
Greene expanded his ministry nationally, holding tent crusades in the summer months and
church revivals in the warmer seasons. He typically drew large crowds wherever he
went, with his ever-growing radio audience eager to see their evangelist in person. As the
number of radio stations increased, his ministry began airing “The Old Time Gospel
Hour” beginning in 1956. He eventually came to be on more than 180 stations
around the U.S.A. Reverend Greene began traveling overseas as well, often raising
funds for missionaries abroad. His influence was not lost on the literary crowd,
either. After all was said and done, more than 100 published titles bore the name,
Dr. Oliver B. Greene—an honorary degree of Divinity having been bestowed on him by
Emmanuel Schools in Atlanta, Georgia in 1960 to recognize his many contributions to the
faith. By the year 1966, Dr. Greene gave up the tent ministry, but continued to
preach in other venues including the airwaves. Rev. Dr. Oliver B. Greene ministered
until his death on July 26, 1976 when he died of a heart aneurysm. While his wife
and sons continued the radio broadcasts after his death, the man of God had enough
foresight to pre-tape sermons to be played after his passing. So, in more ways than
one, Oliver B. Greene is a man we won’t soon forget.
Resources: fairview4u.org, wholesomewords.com, swordofthelord.com,
gospelcenterchurch.org, thegospelhour.org, believersweb.org
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