Al Green turns 70! 6 quotes from the 'Let's Stay Together' soul singer on his faith

 Reuters

Al Green, the legendary soul singer and preacher, celebrates his 70<sup>th  birthday today. The Let's Stay Together singer sold more than 20 million albums in the seventies alone, and his career has spanned both the pop and gospel music scenes.

Following an attack by his former girlfriend, Mary Woodson, which left him with third degree burns, and her subsequent suicide in 1974, Green made the decision to become a pastor. Around two years after her death he was ordained and bought a church in Memphis.

Green's return to the faith that he grew up with inspired him to speak out more openly and often about his beliefs.

To celebrate the Grammy-winning vocalist's birthday, we take a look back at what he's said about his faith in the past.

On the importance of church...

"Church is so important for black people because it's the only place we had to go when we couldn't go no place else. Couldn't go to the bar – wasn't allowed. Couldn't go to the hotel because we weren't able to rent a room. Couldn't go to the restaurant because we weren't allowed to be seated. So we went to church."

On hearing God...

"I think God chose to speak to me because I'm soft-hearted and he knew that I would be dumb enough to actually try."

On the dream that first encouraged him to return to Christianity at the peak of his success in 1973...

"I was scared to ask why it happened then that night. 'Cause I don't want nothin' to change. I said, 'Whatever your will is for me, I'll accept it,'"

On his decision to become a preacher...

"I wasn't doing it to be wealthy in material things. You are trying to get closer to your natural self by saying, 'I don't need that but I do need a bit more of the Messiah, of Jesus'."

On grace...

"The grace says if you can repent a thing and make up your mind you won't do that no more, that is the grace, to be free from all guilt. If I go to heaven and can take 10 people out of my whole lifetime, it would have been worth it to me."

"I believe we need to be prepared. You and I are saved by grace and faith, two cornerstones of our belief in God. The grace of God and then faith in Christ to be our reconciliation to God is gonna make all the difference in the world to us. We can live through our faith in his word and the grace of God applied to us."

News
The most dangerous book in the world
The most dangerous book in the world

The Bible is powerful. That is why it is feared by regimes who want all power to rest solely with them.

Historic letters from William Wilberforce discovered in University of Chester archives
Historic letters from William Wilberforce discovered in University of Chester archives

A remarkable discovery has been made in the University of Chester’s archives: four early 19th-century letters, including two written by prominent abolitionist William Wilberforce, have been unearthed during an alumni archive project.

Holy Land Christians need support of global Church, says Archbishop of Jerusalem
Holy Land Christians need support of global Church, says Archbishop of Jerusalem

"We need the wider body of Christ to help us to be the church in brutal and damaging times.”

EU Parliament passes resolution calling for protection of Christians in Syria
EU Parliament passes resolution calling for protection of Christians in Syria

“This resolution marks an important step toward building international momentum to protect Christians and other religious minorities in Syria."