James Armstrong was orphaned when his father and mother, along with 22 others, were massacred by Indians while worshiping the Lord in a church service. When the boy was taken in by the local Presbyterian rector, we aren’t surprised to learn that he was raised to become a Protestant minister. At some point in his youth, the Lord redeemed his soul.

After moving to Savannah, Georgia, James became an elder in a Presbyterian church, but that was when he began learn the truth about the church and the ordinances. He was immersed and joined the First Baptist Church. During the War of 1812, Bro. Armstrong moved to Wilkes County and joined the Fishing Creek Baptist Church. When the church became pastorless, he satisfactorily filled the pulpit. In 1821 he was ordained to the gospel ministry.

It was said that James Armstrong was one of the best educated men in Georgia. He became closely associated with Jesse Mercer, and when the Baptists of that state wanted to start a college, Mercer and Armstrong stepped up. Together they helped to make the Mercer Institute one of the finest Baptist schools in the country.

Sadly, during the winter of 1834-35, while traveling on behalf of the school, Bro. Armstrong was smitten with the painful disease which caused his death on this day (August 28) at the age of 59.