Comments on: Concerts

By: Lydia Birks

Lydia Birks — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 15:13:55 +0000

My husband and I were at Keith’s last concert in Santa Rosa, California in July 1982 just before he passed on July 28, 1982. Keith had such a huge impact on shaping my early Christian walk. He was truly a prophet to our generation and challenged us to live 100% for the Lord. I remember going up to him at a concert and asking to take a picture of him after he had asked us to leave with her eyes kept on Jesus. He looked at me with his penetrating eyes of love (much like I’m sure Jesus did with people) and said, “is that really what Jesus would want right now?” I never got that picture. I admired him so much and was absolutely heartbroken at his passing. But out of his life came so many godly and passionate Christians because of his passion for the Lord. I look forward to seeing him in heaven one day and giving him a big hug.

By: George

George — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 18:40:06 +0000

I was at both the concerts at Northeastern Bible College in Essex Fells, NJ. I was a student at NBC at the time and volunteered as a counselor for the concerts. I had never heard of Keith Green and had little interest in hearing him. My primary interest was to help others in terms of Christian counsel. When Keith sat down at his piano, sadly I thought to myself, that this wasn’t going to be much of a concert, a single guy playing the piano. About 30 seconds into the concert I was amazed by what I was hearing. The most memorable part of the concert wasn’t the music. Rather, it was when Keith said to the crowd that if they wanted a record and they didn’t have the money with them to take a record and send the ministry the money when they could, and if they didn’t have the money and could not afford to pay, to take a record and enjoy it as a gift. At that moment I thought, this guy is the real deal–Christ’s ministry first! I was working at WFME Radio, not far from NBC, as an announcer the night the reports over the teletype (a machine that provided us with breaking typewritten news reports) reporting that he had died. I was preparing to do the news when the announcement came up on the teletype printer and was stunned by the news. Even though WFME didn’t play his music at the time (very conservative station), they allowed me to put together and air a tribute to him. He was truly a one of a kind person and minister of Christ. Praise the Lord for his ministry to us.

By: Robin Gutshall

Robin Gutshall — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 06:19:32 +0000

I was eight years old at Jesus 78 in Pa when Keith played. I will never forget how the Holy Spirit got a hold of my little frame. I could not stop weaping and wondering what was happening to me to make me so full of joy and cry at the same time. I too remember the rain and mud, and I remember a mighty move of God pouring down on us from beginning to end.

By: Lew May

Lew May — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:09:23 +0000

In early 1982, I was searching and seeking a path that eventually led to my becoming a believer a few years later. I had a girlfriend at the time who was a Christian and introduced me to his music and the new genre of contemporary Christian music that was emerging at that time. I went to a Keith Green concert in Memphis in early 1982 and was in complete awe of how God changed his life. I’m not sure I would be a Christian today were it not for his convicting testimony. I bought every album he ever made. Now I have his two anthology albums on CDs and still listen to them. I thank God for Keith and Melody Green and the many thousands of souls affected by their words and music. Most of all, I thank God for changing me through Jesus and using his servant Keith to deliver the good news to me.

By: Debdab

Debdab — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 21:02:17 +0000

I saw Keith at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, CA in early 1980. His ministry was overwhelming together with the worshipful musical talent. I was in awe if God at this concert. As a new Christian, and a very young woman, I was ‘on fire’ for God and Keith built my faith by worship he inspired. During break, as I entered the woman’s room, young ladies were combing their hair and primping. I was horrified and it showed! How can you even look at yourselves at a time such as this God-honoring moment? I received looks of conviction as well as rolling eyes. I shall never forget that moment. My unabashed countenance of God’s glory was received by some and rejected by some. It was ‘no compromise’ for our flesh moment! I’d actually like to apologize for my zeal, but I shan’t. 🙂
Of course God has grown us all up since those days. Keith Green was a special vessel. I will always remember his great talent and uncompromising soul.

By: Todd Palmer

Todd Palmer — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 12:09:23 +0000

I first heard of Keith Green in 1985. I listened to his music, and I thought, “Wow! This is different!” He challenged me to a closer walk with Christ. It is amazing that he has been in Heaven so long, and I can think of no musician that fills the void left after he passed. Therefore, I just keep listening to his music. It is Christ exalting, and feeds my soul. God bless his family that remains. I heard his youngest daughter sing for the first time a few days ago. She ministers with her husband. They are good, and I encourage anyone to see them minister. Jesus is Lord!

By: Todd Palmer

Todd Palmer — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 12:07:33 +0000

I first heard of Keith Green in 1985. I listed to his music, and I thought, “Wow! This is different!” He challenged me to a closer walk with Christ. It is amazing that he has been in Heaven so long, and I can think of no musician that fills the void left after he passed. Therefore, I just keep listening to his music. It is Christ exalting, and feeds my soul. God bless his family that remains. I heard his youngest daughter sing for the first time a few days ago. She ministers with her husband. They are good, and I encourage anyone to see them minister. Jesus is Lord!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 13 May 2014 14:55:54 +0000

I remember attending one of Keith Green’s last concerts in Columbia, SC, before he died in the plane crash in 1982. The place was packed. When Green appeared on the stage, the whole crowd applauded respectfully, loud and long, but it was so different from the behavior I had usually witnessed at concerts: zero screaming, whistling, or shouting. That surprised me, but I was even more astonished as the concert proceeded and I witnessed the complete excellence of his music and ministry. Surely if any musician deserved to be exalted it was he, yet the crowd was emotionally controlled throughout. I was profoundly impressed. I mentioned this later to a friend who had attended one of his concerts a few years earlier in the same venue, and he recollected how Green had rebuked the audience that night because of their worship-like adulation, which he said belonged to Christ alone. Seemingly the crowd took it to heart, because there was no hero worship the night I attended. Unfortunately, although I have since attended many other Christian concerts, I have never again witnessed such humility by the performers.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:46:14 +0000

Reading some of these stories just brings back a flood of memories. I had been listening to Keith’s music since ’77. There was just nothing like it. There was other very good and inspiring music in those days (2nd Chapter of Acts, Darrell Mansfield’s 1st album, Phil Keaggy, Paul Clark, Glad, and others), but Keith wasn’t afraid to shine the light of exposure and tear down what needed to be.

I and some brethren finally had a chance to go and see him live in 1980/81 at Anaheim Convention Center. There were so many people there that we weren’t able to get in. I mean there were thousands who had the doors closed on them. The San Diego concert that has been mentioned by others here was next – a couple of days away. We set our sights on that concert and got there early just to be sure! I still recall the breaking down of stony hearts that night. I saw him after this twice and I am here to testify, God is my witness, that those later concerts were not the same. They were great, but alas. I have never experienced an event like this one before or since.

I recall him saying, “I want you to be broken and blessed in that order.” And that is precisely what took place. He broke and then blessed us. There was not a person that I could see who was not weeping, grieving over sin, deeply convicted, reaching out to the Lord Jesus with all our being and then being healed and blessed by Him. Someone wrote above about Jesus Northwest. I had that and a cassette copy of the Orel Roberts preaching. San Diego was no less moving or inspiring. I wore them out!

Ohhhhh Lord Jesus that you would move Melody/ Last Days to allow us to experience the rich blessing of Jesus Northwest again by realizing that this was not Keith at his immature rough around the edges stage, but was genuinely the Spirit of our Lord Jesus bringing the medicine our souls desperately needed. I have tried to get them to break it back out as have others who I know, to no avail. Seems like a spiritual crime to withold such an antidote; especially given the lax state of affairs today.

Anyway, please believe me that I am not exaggerating about this most memorable concert. There was not one person I interacted with at that place afterward (tens of people and perhaps up to a hundred) who said or felt: “Gee, that was kinda harsh, how about the love of God?” – not even one! Much to the contrary, there was a such sense of renewal, healing, renewed focus and determination not just to spread the Gospel, but to live it to the fullest! “Broken and blessed” indeed. Thank you Jesus! We all left much closer to our Savior than we were when we arrived. Hearing Holy Spirit filled Keith preach and perform that night changed my life and many others’ lives forever. It was just what Dr. Jesus ordered! Thank you Keith, I love you and your music dearly to this day 30+ years later. In my experience anyway, that San Diego concert (and the presence of the Holy Spirit emanating from that Jesus Northwest tape) made more of a difference in my life and the lives of others than ANY other “Christian” event that I have ever witnessed befrore or since. I can never repay you, but you can bet that I will hug you tightly on that day and say heartfelt thank you!

Oh yes, and there were so many people that didn’t make it in, that he graciously did it all again after we exited. We also filed out in silence exactly as mentioned above.

By: Sue Petrinec

Sue Petrinec — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:52:12 +0000

1977 Agape Farm, Mount Union, Pa. Camping with christian friends for this Jesus 77. I went up for healing of memories and when I had returned home it was the turning point in my personal life. I thank God for obedient christians for God can really speak through them. Felt like heaven there. God is awesome, thank you for people like Keith Green that God had blessed us with.