Recalling Keith Green | Features

When I was 18 I wanted to change the world – in a week. After all, God made it in 6 days so why couldn't I change it in 7?

With the frustrations of youth and also with the discouragement of some Christians who didn't want me to advance beyond them, the world survived.

Today, a quarter of a century on, I find myself drawn to the same points of challenge of changing the world that I faced then. Along with the challenge, the music that influenced me has also become important again.

When I was 18 years old I discovered Keith Green. For a few years he was one of the biggest influences on my life through his highly prophetic contemporary Christian music ministry.

I also benefited from his magazine that he used to mail out 'The Last Days Newsletter'.

He died in a plane crash when he was 28 on July 28th 1982. I was horrified when I heard, but have always treasured his music and it continues to challenge me today.

At a time when his music is again finding a popular niche on the Christian market, I wanted to share some of the reasons why Keith Green shook up the establishment and positively affected a generation of Christians of which I am a part.

When I first heard the words to 'Asleep in the Light', I realised he was singing about the little church of which I was a member, and I was spurred on to seek a greater reality of God in my life.

"The world is sleeping in the dark, That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light, How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed, Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed".

There is probably no track on any of his albums that doesn't mean something to me – they are just so profound! Words like:

Lord, I remember that special way, I vowed to serve you, when it was brand new. But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with you, And I bet, I could deny you too. But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus. I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.

After he died Operation Mobilisation and YWAM helped Melody Green take the Keith Green Memorial Concert on a world tour. At one of these events I heard 'Jesus Commands Us to Go' and like many there I was challenged to give my all to Jesus.

Oh how God calls, as He stalls the great judgment of fire, So He can gain, His Greatest desire. Cause He knows that the souls of the lost, They can only be reached, through us, We're His hands and His feet.

Jesus commands us to go, It should be the exception if we stay. It's no wonder we're moving so slow, When God's children refuse to obey, Feeling so called to stay.

If there was ever a day in which the church needs to pray and evangelise the world it is today. Therefore Keith's message is as important as ever.

If you want to hear music with lyrics that challenge you listen to Keith. If you want to be entertained don't bother!

The book of his life 'No Compromise' is a gripping read, and thoroughly recommended. I read it just before our second daughter was born and she is called Melody Grace – Melody after Keith's wife and Grace after Bethany Grace who along with Josiah & Keith died in the plane crash.

Melody Green has continued the work of LDM and also Americans Against Abortion. She has also been a great encouragement to many.

You can read more about Keith Green at www.lastdaysministries.org You can buy his CD's from www.premieronline.co.uk or from www.wesleyowen.com

His lyrics are easily found through any search engine by typing 'Keith Green Lyrics'.

One way Keith Green has affected the ministry of the Ark Church is that just like him we believe that ministry should be free. We do not sell preaching ministry – we give it away. All preaching is available as MP3 files for you to download and keep or listen to as you want. God bless you.

Stephen Redman