Ethan Greene
A Young Pastor with an “Old Soul” and a Powerful Message By Sherrie Norris
E
than Greene wants his life to count for Jesus. Plain and and has been for the last 24 years, accepting that role one simple. “I want people to know that there is a God and month before Ethan was born. that He is real and will be real to them if they will let “My mother is an extraordinary woman,” Ethan deHim be.” scribed. “When people would remark how difficult it must Greene doesn’t want to be known for what he might say be to raise five boys, she would reply, ‘It’s not a difficulty, or not say in an interview — but he wants to be known by his it’s a blessing!’ She and dad made each of us feel that we life and actions — “And, that I believe were important — and that God had and live by the Bible — and through a special plan for each of our lives.” my life and sermons, I will point as Ethan’s brother, Andrew, next many people to Jesus as possible.” in line, lives and works outside of That’s a pretty tall order for any Washington, DC. “I am also just as minister, but given the fact that Greene excited for what is in store for our is 23 years of age, it’s pretty amazing, younger brothers, Jeremy, Isaiah to say the least. and Joshua. Each of them has great As pastor at Victory Baptist Church strengths and I am blessed to be their in Avery County, the Boone native is brother and to watch them as they making an impact far and wide, not grow. I know I am biased, but I have only through his church and commuthe best brothers.” nity, but also through an annual youth The Greene brothers have been rally that he coordinates each spring in (and the younger ones continue to Cove Creek. be) homeschooled; they have lived Possessing a deep Biblical knowlon a farm, kept cattle, and Ethan had edge and insight, usually associated a horse. “We lived on one side of the with older ministers who have been farm and my paternal grandparents around a few years, Greene knew early lived on the other.” in life that he would not only follow He recalls, on many summer days, Jesus, but that he would serve Him in he would walk the distance between a special way. the two homes. The eldest of five sons of local pastor “The walk was close to a mile each Michael Greene and his wife, Cheryl, way, with some beautiful views along and now a married man himself, Ethan the way,” he shared. “Often, I would grew up with values instilled in his life stop and admire the views, which fueled my imagination. I daydreamed from birth. He has much to say about of what I would be when I grew up those formative years that helped pave — under the branches of the same the way for his future. tree that my grandpa and my dad did “I wouldn’t trade my home life when they were growing up.” growing up for anything,” he said. The idea of ministry was a playful “We weren’t a perfect family, but evidea more than a serious thought, he eryone loved each other.” admitted. “I wanted to be like dad, He points to two major elements my hero, but I never took the idea of upon which his parents built their actual ministry serious.” home and family: “One was God and On occasion, Ethan joined his the second was a love for each othFollowing in the footsteps of his father, dad at his “prayer place.” er.” “Dad had several prayer places on Michael Greene is the pastor at Ethan Greene was preparing early for life in the ministry. the farm, but one, in particular, had Bibleway Baptist Church in Boone, 48
FAITH MAGAZINE - Spring 2020
