Chadwick Boseman, popularly known for his role as T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther who recently passed away of cancer, was a man of deep faith. His family and friends are now opening up about God’s importance in the late actor’s life.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, his family talked about aspects of Boseman’s personal life that they loved so much. They also talked about how Christianity was central to his childhood and career, Christian Headlines reports.

Boseman went to church regularly. When he was a young child, he sang in the church choir with his brothers.

While he grew up in a small community of 20,000 people, he always dreamed of doing something bigger outside of his small town in Anderson, South Carolina. While he had great aspirations, he always had a love for the town he grew up in.

His family recognized his talents at an early age, so they understood why he pursued acting. Dereck Boseman, Chadwick’s older brother, and pastor of a Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, knew where he could use his talents.

“He’s probably the most gifted person I’ve ever met,” he said. “Him being born there is an inspiration that you can come from there and become anything.”

In addition to being a man of faith, he was a man of great inspiration. He bought tickets for children in need so they could watch Black Panther. He also founded a charity.

Boseman cited Scripture when he gave a commencement address at his Alma Mater, Howard University, back in 2018.

Before his passing, his brother Derrick spoke with him and he told him, “Man, I’m in the fourth quarter, and I need you to get me out of the game.”

“When he told me that, I changed my prayer from, ‘God heal him, God save him,’ to ‘God, let your will be done.’ And the next day he passed away,” his brother shared. “And the next day he passed away.”