Two Amazing Singers Who Died Young

Two popular Christian singers with a shared birthday/shared passion for the poor/both dying young

Today is the birthday of two heroes, both popular singers/musicians who died young, but who courageously lived out their faith, reaching out in unusual ways to the poor and neglected segments of society. Rich Mullins and Keith Green were both born on October 21st, two years apart, Keith Green in 1953 and Rich Mullins in 1955. Both died young, Keith at age 28, Rich at age 41.

Besides these commonalities their lives were quite different. Keith Green, child prodigy of Jewish parents, grew up in the Christian Scientist faith. At a young age, Keith was recognized as a highly talented child pianist and actor. However, his dreams of making it big faded during his teen years. He got involved in the hippy scene of pot and Eastern religion until one day at age 19, he and his girl friend heard a clear message about Jesus and they were both completely converted.

Rich Mullins grew up attending and loving the Quaker (Friends) church, and the Christian Church, which both deeply influenced his combined messages of saving faith through Jesus and Jesus' messages of humility, nonviolence and care for the poor. He attended a Christian denominational college as a hippyish noncomformist. In his twenties he sang and played piano with a small Christian band called "Zion," performing at Christian coffeehouses and churches. He didn't start his solo career until his 30's.

In 1955, Keith Green, at age 20, along with his wife, Melody, reached out to needy people of all types, drug addicts, pregnant teenage girls and mentally ill, bringing them into their suburban home in Los Angeles and discipling them. The Greens expanded their ministry, buying and renting homes in their neighborhood. They eventually had 75 people living in these homes.

Early on, Keith began writing, playing and recording his music as part of his teaching ministry, with a quickly expanding audience of young Christians. His message was about a saving, delivering, healing message of Jesus, with a clear emphasis of reaching out to the poor and the outcast. His early influence was mostly in the West Coast, but even after his death through following decades, his influence continued to spread across the country.

Sadly, the commonality of early death for the two heroes hit Keith when he was only 28. He, along with some friends and two of his children, died in a small plane crash. Melody, then, carried on the Last Days Ministry, which she and Keith had started along with its newsletter. It's readership expanded enough that the newsletter became a magazine. The ministry also printed copies of Keith's sermons as well as copies of sermons of famous preachers from earlier times.

Rich Mullins, inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assissi, became determined to live on the income of the average person, giving away most of his income to ministries for the poor, especially overseas orphanages and his eventual work with Native Americans. He was also inspired to create a Christian order, called "Kid Brothers of St. Frank," mostly of young men who all committed themselves to prayer, poverty, and celibacy. Some of them moved to the Navaho Reservation, where he and and a follower built a hogan and taught music to the children there. He also continued traveling with his band, giving concerts from time to time. It was while traveling to a concert that he was killed in a car wreck at age 41, almost 42.

In different ways both Keith Green and Rich Mullins embraced the whole gospel of Jesus Christ, preaching and singing about personal salvation and life in Jesus Christ, as following Jesus teachings of sacrificial care for the poor and the outcasts of soviety. However, I doubt that either one would have separated the gospel into personal and social, but would say it's all part of one Gospel.