Mention the words “evangelism” and “Methodism” and the name of Reynolds Greene comes to mind. His life’s goal and purpose was to share the transforming message of Jesus Christ to everyone who would listen, and sometimes to those who would not! The earthly life and ministry of this wonderful Christian servant came to an end Saturday, January 16, 2010 and now he begins his life eternal!

Reynolds W. Greene Jr. was born August 13, 1924 near Cartersville, Georgia. He married the former Saralyn Cannon and they were inseparable partners in ministry for over 50 years. Together they pastored churches throughout North Georgia and shared the gospel literally around the world.

Dr. Greene was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1948. During his ministry, he served with distinction as pastor of the following churches: Warm Springs, Dunwoody, Burns Memorial, North Decatur, Druid Hills, LaGrange First, Dalton First, and Northside UMC. Early in his ministry he was the Campus Minister at Reinhardt College. His last appointment before retirement was as District Superintendent of the Atlanta-Roswell District.

Dr. Greene’s ministry was far reaching. In addition to serving as pastor to his congregations, he was involved in the following: Delegate to the Congress of World Evangelism, Lausanne, Switzerland; member of the Georgia Council of Churches; Director of Evangelism and Missions for the North Georgia Conference, President of the Council on Evangelism, numerous terms as delegate to the World Methodist Council; former columnist for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; author of Between An Atom and A Star, Listen, God Is Speaking, and Crucial Questions With Christian Answers.

He was visiting professor of Homiletics, Candler School of Theology. Merging his passion for Christ with his love of travel, he conducted preaching missions in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Fiji, Korea, and in over half of the fifty states. Through his involvement with the World Methodist Evangelism Institute, he and Mrs. Greene were part of the leadership for evangelism seminars held in Brazil and Estonia.

In 2005, the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists honored Dr. Greene’s years of service by presenting him the Philip Award for Outstanding Leadership in Evangelism.

Survivors include his children, Nancy and Julian Smiley of Knoxville, Lawrence and Pat Greene of Lilburn, Stuart and Becky Greene of Duluth, Robyn and Scott Carroll of Dalton, Marcia and Tom Simpson of Marietta; grandchildren, Jes (Karen) Smiley, Claire (Mike) Huenefeld, Saralyn (Ted) Dudley, Robyn (Rick) Bold, Tucker (Kim) Greene, Tim (Sara) Greene, Tyler Greene, Jordan, Zach and Casey Carroll, Cannon, Claire and Joel Simpson; great-grandchildren, Jay and Jack Smiley, Henry Huenefeld, Colin Dudley, Abby Bold, and Landon Greene.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the following: Reynolds and Saralyn Greene Scholarship Fund of Reinhardt College, World Methodist Evangelism Institute, or Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338, (770)394-2555. Dr. Wiley Stephens, Bishop Mike Watson and Rev. Ed Tomlinson will officiate.

H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328, (404) 851-9900.