Speaking of religious songs that have a R&B beat, the Edwin Hawkins Singers song "Oh Happy Day" is the first gospel song that I recall hearing on the R&B radio stations {in the mid 1960s}

Here's the words to that song:

OH HAPPY DAY
{Edwin Hawkins}

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
Oh, when he washed
(When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away!
(Oh, happy day)

Ah, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
Oh when he washed
(When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away!
(Oh, happy day)

Ah, it's a happy day
(Oh, happy day)

(He taught me how)
He taught me how
(to watch)
(fight and pray)
(fight and pray)

(And he'll rejoice)
(in things we say)
(everyday)

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
Oh, when he washed
(When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away!
(Oh, happy day)

Ah, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

(He taught me how)
He taught me how
(to watch)
(fight and pray)
(fight and pray)

(And he'll rejoice)
(in things we say)
(everyday)

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

(Oh, happy day)
repeat

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

Oh, happy day
(Oh, happy day)

When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
Oh, when he washed
(When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed
(When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away!
(Oh, happy day)

Ah, it's a happy day
(Oh, happy day)
oh Lord
(Oh, happy day)
Mmm,good God
(Oh, happy day)
oh yeah
(Oh, happy day)
Mmm, Lord
(Oh, happy day)

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/edward-hawkins-singers/oh-happy-day.html

**

Here's a video of that song from the movie Sister Act 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSXCp9ejbKo