Talking to Steve Green brings a surprise. He's so soft-spoken that you'd never dream he's the same guy who belts out power ballads with that booming voice. Somewhere Between, his 25th album in 21 years, is also surprising. With its gentle approach and less reliance on those big notes, it's a different sound for the Dove Award-winning artist. It's also an echo of Green's thoughts and prayers these past couple of years, as he watched friends and family members die or face other grief in their lives. A reflective Green spoke with us about those trials, his life as a missionary kid in South America and his new album.

What was it like being raised by missionaries in Argentina?

Steve Green: Mission work has great highs, great benefits, great rewards, but also great difficulties. I had wonderful privileges that I am very thankful for-growing up in a foreign culture, seeing my parents live out their love for Christ, knowing a foreign language and being able to use it today, seeing the gospel take root in the hearts of people and seeing lives transformed dramatically.

But, the difficulties of being a third-culture kid were growing up in a boarding school, being away from home, being a minority, not having the conveniences that everyone is used to here. It's not that we suffered. It's just a harder life, but you don't go because of ease or comfort. You go because of a calling. Even today, we take two or three trips overseas each year because I need to see God work in impossible situations and I need to be shaken out of my comfort. When we come back, we have glowing stories of wonderful things that happen, but we are exhausted because it's hard. That's mission work.

Did you ever feel you were missing out on anything?

Green: I did a year of high school in America, made good friends and was just about to turn 16 and get a driver's license when my parents were insistent that I go back and be with the family. It's difficult to change courses at that age. There are a lot of insecurities and a desire to fit in. I studied my last two years by correspondence. I was not a happy camper. It's not fun to study by yourself in your bedroom by mail without a teacher or fellow students. Seeds of rebellion began to take root. But God knows what he's doing and he uses every circumstance in our lives for a purpose.

What happened when those seeds of rebellion took root?

Green: That was when my heart was beginning to be exposed. When I was a child, I made a profession of faith and thought that if I did the right things, said the right prayers, and behaved the right way, all would go well. That worked for my childhood, but at 16, you get strong-willed and show your colors. From age 16 to 26, I was more concerned with the external and with looking religious. My life was unravelling. Your upbringing, fear of not going to heaven and fear of disappointing people can act as a preservative and keep you from gross violations. But, after awhile, even those wear down because there's no inward change.

How was your life unravelling?

Green: I was singing with The Gaithers, but there was a gap between what people thought of me and the reality of my life. I kept everything looking good outwardly, but there was nothing inside. I became more and more bound to sin. I was getting so close to that line I had been afraid to cross. I didn't value what really had value. I was full of myself and completely blind to all of it. I didn't have much of a relationship with my parents. I finally came to a place where it all came to a head. That's when the Lord got hold of me and wrote his law in my heart.

How did you get to that place?

Green: My older brother could see past my pretence and my efforts to appear spiritual. He could see there was nothing but dead bones underneath and he confronted me. It was an evening of being undone. It was shocking when he confronted me, an upsetting awareness like in The Emperor's New Clothes, where someone says the king has no clothes on at all. For the rest of the day, layers began to fall off. I began to see myself as I really was. By the end of that evening, I was on my knees acknowledging the truth. For the first time, I saw the horror of my own sin.

So, what happened after that?

Green: I suddenly had an intense desire to be right with God and make things right with other people. I began confessing my sin to everyone around me. I began with my wife, with the people I worked for, anyone I had wronged or lied to. That's what repentance is, showing fruit of the change of heart. For my whole life, my goal had been to preserve my dignity and to preserve people's opinion that I was a good guy. After God rescued me, I had no thought about my own reputation. That's a real sign of the work of God, when we no longer are concerned about what people think about us.

How did you start singing?

Green: When I look back, I see that God pushed me to places that led to where I am today. When I was in college, I went to an audition with a friend to support him. They asked me if I sang. I told them I was a voice major and they asked me to sing. I did, and they invited me to join Truth. After that, it was the same with The Gaithers. And then I was offered a recording contract with Sparrow. I didn't make phone calls. I didn't send out tapes. I never pushed myself forward, but was invited through each of those doors.

Your lyrics are so introspective on your latest CD, Somewhere Between. Can you share about the experiences that led you to record it?

Green: A lot of people I know have gone through difficult times. Some [family and friends] have had cancer and passed away. The marriage of a missionary I supported fell apart. These cumulative experiences at this stage of life, and the growing awareness that I don't have all the answers I thought I had, inspired the CD. While the songs are honest descriptions of the struggles of life, they are also full of hope and worship.

How did your mother's cancer and your father's death play into your writing the songs?

Green: My father died a little over a year ago. I grew up in a boarding school since age eight. I wasn't in close proximity to my parents until they moved here nine years ago. I only lived with my parents for a few years. I was home with them for fifth grade, and for three years of high school-two years in South America and one year here. I spent the rest of the time in boarding school and then in college. Then, I got married and lived here while they were still on the mission field. When I finally got to the place where we were all together again, he wasn't the same father. He had Parkinson's. It's a very difficult dying process with a slow deterioration. Staring that in the face every day raised more questions than answers. I learned we don't necessarily have to have answers. The important thing is God with us in the middle of life's difficulties.

What did you hope God would do through Somewhere Between?

Green: My hope was to offer songs that would help people going through difficult seasons, to help them give expression to their feelings. I think that's been happening. I met a man who had just lost his wife to cancer. The man with him was a survivor of brain cancer. They said the CD stirred something deep in their hearts that they had covered over and it opened up a place in their hearts that they had shut. I think it may help spark more honest communication with God, as well as provide healing and comfort. But, my ultimate hope is that it inspires worship, that it's not just an introspective look at our own pain.

Your singing style is different on this CD, too. Why the change?

Green: It was my goal to avoid typical inspirational music, to stretch myself musically and lyrically. I wanted stirring melodies sung passionately and emotionally but without the big endings. Back in the '80s, those big notes went along with the inspirational style of music. After awhile, it loses its meaning. I think our goal, not only with the musical style, but also with the lyrics, was to stay away from clichs, "Christian speak" and formulas, and to work hard to say it musically and lyrically in a way that would be different enough to capture the ear of the listener.

We also tried to create songs that are more consistent with the genre listened to around the world. Those '80s huge endings are really just found in Christian music, not anywhere in the secular market. If you listen to Andrea Bocelli or Josh Groban or Pavarotti, there might be one ending like that. The rest don't have huge endings.

What message would you have for others who are grieving, struggling, or questioning God?

Green: That there's nothing wrong with struggling, grieving or questioning. God is big enough to handle all the questions you have for him.

For more information on Steve Green, visit our artist page for him. There you'll find our past reviews of his albums, including our take on Somewhere Between. Check out Christianbook.com for sound clips and other music needs.

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