More than 30 years ago Ferguson Green, a respected citizen
residing near Virgil, died, leaving a widow and a large family of children to
battle their way against adversity, incident to the absence of a husband’s and
father’s love and care.
Aunt Sarah, as she was familiarly called, by her untiring
energy, perseverance, and unswerving faith in God, successfully reared her
children and lived to see them established in life, useful citizens of the
community. As she approached the sunset of her life she had a burning desire to
see the youths of her neighborhood embrace the Christian religion and lay the
foundation early in life, upon which to build the structure of noble manhood
and womanhood.
According to her belief that the Church of Christ was the
greatest institution in the world, she freely donated one acre of land upon
which she desired the erection of a church, and through her influence, willing
hands and earnest hearts were blended together, and ere long, the desire of her
heart was gratified. One mile east of Riverside, in Ashe county, Liberty Grove
Baptist Church, a building very beautifully designed, stands as a monument to
the memory of a Christian mother, as well as a beacon to the unsaved. Liberty
Grove Church under the leadership of her worthy pastor, Rev. M.A. Adams, is
considered one of the most progressive churches in this section. The church is
practically free from wranglings and divisions which are so detrimental to the
cause.
History is replete with the noble deeds of great men, but
the sublimest poets and most profound scholars have failed to describe the
depts. Of a mother’s love and care. We see Aunt Sarah toiling for the
upbuilding of a church, through many anxieties, through many self-denials, with
prayers and tears, close her life’s work and cross the river to the land
beyond. Is her work done? Has her influence ceased? No, in the years to come
the spirit of God will descend upon the church she helped to build, and
hundreds of souls will stand up and confess their faith in Christ. Her
grandchildren will see in this the flowering of her noble heart, and hear the echo
of her footsteps in all the songs over sin forgiven.
There’s nothing grander than to exalt the Bible with its law
of love; nothing nobler than to magnify Christ with His life of devotion to the
welfare of men.
--Z.T. Watson, Brookside, N.C.
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