On the Sunday prior to Mother’s Day, the pastor of a New Orleans church was preaching a sermon when he suddenly died in front of his congregation. Kenneth Green, pastor of Greater Saint Mary Baptist Church, was known for his kind heart towards the less fortunate. His death has come as a shock to those who knew him.
Congregants say that he was preaching about being ready to meet God when his death suddenly came upon him during the church service.
“And then he had mentioned that, if the Lord called me now, I’m ready to go,” said Joan Martin, a church member.
At the age of 56, Green preached his last sermon. In the middle of the speech, entitled “Down but Not Out: How to Press Forward,” church members say that he tumbled to the ground, and no one was able to revive him.
“He took a swallow of water and then before he took the water he wiped his face, and then he looked up like his eyes rolled back in his head like there was no life in his eyes and he just tumbled over,” Martin said.
After 911 was called, Green was given medical attention by paramedics. However, their attempts to save him were unsuccessful.
“They were trying to resuscitate him but it took so long I think we knew he was gone,” Martin recounted.
Martin also shared her thoughts on the character of her pastor, who had served at Greater Saint Mary Baptist Church for eight years. She said that he had a heart and a passion for working with the poor members of his church and community. He was also a man of prayer as was evidenced by his final sermon, which came from a Psalm.
“Remember his love for God and the work he did for God, and how he tried to be everything for everybody,” said Martin.
Martin also shared that Green was the overseeing pastor when her two sons passed away and that he was a great comfort to her during that time.
“He buried both of my sons. He always had an encouraging word to say,” said Martin.
An autopsy will take place to give the family confirmation of the cause of death. Green leaves behind a wife, three children, and a congregation that thought of him as a loving husband and a man of prayer.
(Hattip to WDSU, Black Christian News, All Christian News, The Blaze)
