Georgia   Biographies Baptist  James E. Blitch

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JAMES E. BLITCH

James E. Blitch was born in Effingham County, Georgia,
July 28th, 1823.  James E. Blitch lived for many years
without hope and without God in the world, surrounded by
wickness, And in a region almost destitute of a knowledge
of the Savior. But his Heavenly Father had a work for him
in his vineyard, and in due time called him from the
darkness of nature into the “marvelous light of the
Gospel.  He conferred not with flesh and blood, but at
once united with Calvary Baptist Church.  Two years
afterward, he preached his first sermon.  In 1857, he
removed to Ware County, and there married Miss Nancy
Brewton.

He was ordained to the work of the ministry in response
to a call from the Hopewell Church, September 30th, 1860.
He became pastor of this church in connection with three
others in adjoining counties, and served them with good
results for several years. The Piedmont Association,
seeing his fitness for missionary labor, appointed him an
evangelist to the destitute portions of its territory.
There he labored, traveling and preaching, exposed to
many privations, which at length affected his health, so
that he became a great sufferer from rheumatism, and was
laid aside from ministerial work.  He was persuaded at
last to visit Florida, for the benefit of its climate;
but alas! Death had marked him for his own.  In February,
1876, he departed this life, and was buried at Lake
Baptist Church, Hillsborough County, Florida.  His last
words on earth were an assurance that he was about to
enter the mansion prepared for him.  Who shall say what
were his first words in Heaven? Shall we meet him there
and hear them from his own lips?

Ref:  HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN GEORGIA, 1881, Atlanta, GA, p. 43.