ALTHOUGH losing half his voice to a bolt of flu, Steve Green never thought of succumbing to his sniffles as he gave his all – even in his condition — to a 1,200-strong audience packing the hall at his concert held at Trinity Methodist church in Kuching on March 6.
WINSOME TRIO: Steve with his brother David and pianist Dick who also writes songs and has been with Steve for six years.
SING ALONG: The audience joining in the singing at the concert.
FULL HOUSE: Steve performing to a packed concert hall.
“I have half a voice today. But I will still give everything I have. If it (voice) quits, it quits,” Steve said steadfastly.
It was calculated risk taken more on his trust in Providence than human reasoning.
Besides, had his voice failed that night, the concert would still have continued albeit without him because he had a strong team and his brother David to keep the show going.
As it turned out, Steve’s voice held up except for a brief moment when he could not reach a high note while rendering How can I keep from singing and Blessings but his brother came to his rescue — and the audience hardly noticed it.
David could come in so smoothly at that crucial moment because he has been singing with Steve for many years.
“Today I’m Moses, he is Aaron. We have been partners for 30 years. David lives next door to me. We are good friends and brothers,” Steve said as he introduced David who was by his side throughout the concert, to the audience.
Sharing something about himself, he said he is married to Marijean for 34 years and “she is still the delight of my heart.”
They have two children, both married. Summer, their daughter, and son-in-law Mark Schulz gave them two grandchildren while their son Josiah and wife Jane are in seminaries preparing for the ministry.
From family, Steve moved on to his next couple of songs. The one titled Always ascribes to God’s goodness in big and small ways.
Adding to the message was the song In Brokenness You Shine.
“We think that God’s blessings are everything good going for us. What if our difficulty is God’s mercy for us?”
He searched many hearts with this question.
Through the song Blessings, he brought the audience a deeper understanding of God’s blessings which may come in the forms of rain, disappointment, pain, tears and trial – all blessings in disguise.
ELEVATION: A session of worship through songs.
Another song People Need The Lord resonated with him because he saw how his parents gave their lives to serving people around the world.
His rendition of this song touched many hearts. And while engaging the audience in Amazing Grace, Steve talked about salvation.
“Did you grow up with conditional promise? We are set to grow up this way – if you eat your vegetables, you will get your dessert; if you finish your school work, you can go out and play.
“All our lives, we have grown up with conditional promises. It’s an if then.
“The gospel is unconditional promise. It is a because therefore. Because Christ died on the Cross, we are now a new creation in Him. He is everything necessary for our salvation.
“It’s a gift from God — not by works — so that no one can boast.
TOGETHER: Steve and David doing a duet.
“Jesus is everything, that’s all we need — every heart that casts upon Him, trusts Him, receives this unconditional promise. Receive His love,” Steve said.
Although the flyers and notices promoted Steve’s performance as a concert, it was more than an evening of good gospel singing as he elevated it into a session of worship through songs.
Messages and prayers flowed naturally from the songs and music and Steve ended the concert with a stirring benediction.
In his 27 years of ministry, his music has earned him four Grammy nominations, 12 number 1 hits, and seven Dove Awards — Christian music’s highest honour. He has been able to communicate the gospel in almost 50 countries of which he said: “God gives grace and strength. I look forward to many years to come. There are more songs to record, more people who need to hear the truth.”
He has had 33 recordings, including children’s projects, and sold over three million albums worldwide.
Filipino gospel singer Alma Niges sang as the opening act.
The concert was jointly organised by the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship and Kuching Ministers Fellowship.