Rich Mullins, RIP
I don’t usually post on Saturdays, but I thought I’d make an exception today. On this day twelve years ago, Rich Mullins died in a car accident. One of my all-time favorite musicians, Mullins was a contemporary Christian artist who was cut from a different mold than most modern Christian musicians. He is mostly known for his (overplayed) “Awesome God” but that song does not really reflect his musical tastes.
Mullins had a deep faith and an earnestness that came through in his music. And he most definitely practiced what he preached – he gave away almost all his money to various causes and only lived on a working man’s salary.
Here are a few of his songs on YouTube, but Rich was always best live (I was fortunate enough to see him twice in concert):
Take a moment today to pray for the repose of the soul of this deeply Christian man.
I heard somewhere that Rich was in RCIA and in the process of becoming a Catholic Christian. Any truth to that?
I could certainly see where this might have been the case.
My biggest regret was NOT seeing him in concert. Money was tight and I thought, maybe next year…Lesson LEARNED!
That is true. He was to be received into the Church that Easter.
Actually he was to be received into the Church early, only a week or two before he died. He asked to be received early because he was so hungry for the Eucharist, and did not want to wait. And he was already active doing music in the Catholic world, such as at conferences for the national Catholic organization LifeTeen.
As an Evangelical, I listened to Rich Mullins all the time. Shortly after my conversion to Catholicism, I was amazed to learn of his conversion – though many of my Evangelical friends find it hard to believe. Either way, he was, and is, dearly loved. His music speaks to all true lovers of Jesus.
I love his songs! They touch my heart. I know he’s involved with heavenly music!
I love Rich’s music. “If I Stand” is my favorite song– EVER! It is my life in a few short verses. The most important quality in Rich’s music is that it is so real. His faith really shines through in a way that is not seen in many “Christian” songs.
Eric, thanks for remembering Rich Mullins. The body of his work stands as a testimony of his love for God and his desire to follow closely our Lord and Savior. Anyone interested in his ministry should listen to THE JESUS RECORD….absolutely incredible! I can’t think of any contemporary figure who has ministered to me more than Richard Wayne Mullins. Rest in peace my dear brother in Christ.
I loved Rich. Jo Anne, The Jesus Record, with just his voice and his playing, is my favorite. He seems to have come to a very deep place in his journey with Christ. Y’all may be interested in the book Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven to learn about Rich from the perspective of his family and close friends.
Thanks for this reminder!
I have the Jesus Record somewhere and haven’t listened to it in ages…(we’ve moved, and well…) must find it!
I was out of touch with Richard during the years he became interested in Catholicsm. I really can’t add to the discussion of his attraction or commitment to the Catholic Church. I do know that during the years I knew him (1974-1984), he was open to everything, simply everything that drew him nearer to God.
Recently one of my friends who never knew Richard remarked that he must have been a rigid thinker, since he was a brilliant concert pianist. Quite the opposite. He was a brilliant songwriter as well. A songwriter needs to be ready to be transported at any instant into his creative world. Rich Mullins was wide open to his experiences of life: everything he encountered became a bridge to transcendence.