His break out year came in 1985 with the release of "He Holds the Keys", which earned Green the Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, "For God And God Alone" and a worship/hymns album entitled "A Mighty Fortress". In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called "Find Us Faithful". As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need the Lord" and "Broken and Spilled Out". He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patty, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patty's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."