By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
After 45 years of being over the road, Earl Green has brought his ministry to Mayo at the Lighthouse Christian Center. Being born in Lake City, Fla., on June 7, 1959, Green has traveled the country and back, making a living as a songwriter and singer. He has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, as well as on countless stages throughout the country.
Green's journey began when he graduated from Suwannee High School in 1975. A year later, he took his ministry through his Christian singing group, The Gospelites. This group was formed in Live Oak and he had the honor of singing and playing the guitar within the group.
Later, he joined the singing group New Horizons before he joined with another group called Singing Reps. While he remained with the Singing Reps for 11 years, he found a new home with the country music based Granny White Pike band in Nashville throughout most of the 1990s. Between the two groups, Singing Reps and the Granny White Pike band, Green put out 16 different albums while touring with country music stars Alan Jackson, Charlie Daniels Band and others.
Green left the Granny White Pike band to get back to his roots and joined country Christian music with Highway 7. While with Highway 7, he was honored to give his first performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tn.
After traveling over the road with Highway 7, Green decided to take a break and moved closer to home. He accepted a position in Macclenny, Fla., as the pastor of Christ Central Church where he pastored for two years.
After a short break, Green began to tour again but this time, with the Mercy Mountain Boys band for 10 years. Green not only performed full-time over the road but began racking up accolades such as The Rising Group of the Year and Country Christian Band of the Year awards in 2018.
In 2019, after 45 years of being on the road, Green returned home to spend time with his wife Wanda, son and all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But the Lord was not done with Green yet.
In October of 2020, Green agreed to be the Interim Pastor of the Lighthouse Christian Center. But as the Lord placed Green in Mayo, he opened Greens' heart to accept the full time pastoral position in late January of 2021.
Green is the pastor of a congregation of approximately 60 members. He is also involved at the Lighthouse Christian Academy, where almost 100 students attend school, including six seniors, who will be graduating on Friday, May 28.
Lighthouse Christian Center is located at 772 N SR 51 in Mayo. They have Sunday morning services starting at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday night services at 7 p.m.