About me: Richard Wayne Mullins was a Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his worship songs "Step by Step" and "Awesome God". Both have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians.
His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon's Call, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, John Tesh, and Third Day.
Rich is also remembered for his devotion to Christ, which was often an inspiration to others. He was heavily influenced by St. Francis of Assisi. In 1997, Rich composed a musical called Canticle of the Plains, a retelling of the life of St. Francis set in the Old West.
Rich was killed in a car accident on September 19, 1997. while traveling with his friend Mitch McVicker on I-39 north of Bloomington, Illinois to a benefit concert in Wichita, Kansas when his Jeep flipped over. Neither man wore a seat belt. Both were thrown from the vehicle. A passing tractor-trailer swerving to avoid the Jeep killed Mullins. McVicker was badly injured but survived.
Rich's funeral was open to the public and had a massive gathering. He was buried alongside his baby brother and his father in Hollansburg, Ohio.
Shortly before his death, Rich had been working on his next project, which was to be a concept album based on the life of Christ to be called "Ten Songs About Jesus". On September 10, 1997, nine days before his death, he made a rough micro cassette recording of the album's songs in an abandoned church.
Rich Mullins Quotes:
"Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him His very life, that it won't also cost you yours."
"So go out and live real good and I promise you'll get beat up real bad. But, in a little while after you're dead, you'll be rotted away anyway. It's not gonna matter if you have a few scars. It will matter if you didn't live."
"It's so funny being a Christian musician. It always scares me when people think so highly of Christian music, Contemporary Christian music especially. Because I kinda go, I know a lot of us, and we don't know jack about anything. Not that I don't want you to buy our records and come to our concerts. I sure do. But you should come for entertainment. If you really want spiritual nourishment, you should go to church...you should read the Scriptures."
"We do not find happiness by being assertive. We don't find happiness by running over people because we see what we want and they are in the way of that happiness so we either abandon them or we smash them. The Scriptures don't teach us to be assertive. The Scriptures teach us—and this is remarkable—the Scriptures teach us to be submissive. This is not a popular idea."
"I had a prof one time... He said, 'Class, you will forget almost everything I will teach you in here, so please remember this: that God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway'."
"I think if we were given the Scriptures, it was not so that we could prove that we were right about everything. If we were given the Scriptures, it was to humble us into realizing that God is right, and the rest of us are just guessing."
"Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in your beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken."
"Bear in mind, children, that they listen to you because you are kids—not because you are right. That's how our Father listens to us."
"We never understand what we're praying, and God, in His mercy, does not answer our prayers according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom."
"Yes, it's embarrassing to be born again, but imagine how embarrassing it must have been to be born the first time. At least this time you get to wear clothes!"
"We are not saved because we're good. We're good because we're saved. Never forget what Jesus did for you."
"If you've ever known the love of God, you know it's nothing but reckless and it's nothing but raging. Sometimes it hurts to be loved, and if it doesn't hurt it's probably not love, may be infatuation. I think a lot of American people are infatuated with God, but we don't really love Him, and they don't really let Him love them. Being loved by God is one of the most painful things in the world, it's also the only thing that can bring us salvation and it's like everything else that is really wonderful, there's a little bit of pain in it, little bit of hurt."
"It's just that for so many people that I know, Christianity's this matter of ... it has everything to do with morals. Christianity is a religion about morals. And they will even talk about Jesus. And they will say kids need to know about Jesus so they won't smoke, drink, or dance, or go with girls that do, and all that kind of thing. And I kinda go, 'That's not why people need to know about Jesus. The only reason—the only possible excuse for talking about Jesus is because we need a Savior.'"
"I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity to me, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts."
"If you want a religion that makes sense, go somewhere else. But if you want a religion that makes life, choose Christianity."
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 1-5
Rich's words and music still affect my life. I miss him, but I am sure am glad he did what he did. It's a great example, one I hope to follow in my unique way. Thanks for the site. Put up more songs when you can - I'd like to have some on my page.
Thanks for the add! My favorite DVD is "Rich Mullin's Live" in Lufkin, Texas. Rich was so incredibly honest and real. Even now we are still growing and learning from Rich's relationship with our Lord. I'm very grateful Jesus used Rich's ministry in music and his life to touch our lives. Your sister in Christ, Mary
I am so blessed by your music. Eventhough you died on my 19th birthday, I rejoiced through the tears knowing that you went to be with the Lord. The ministry of music you left is deeply appreciated. Thank you.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, [1] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 1-5
Greetings friend, Just stopping by to pray for you and your family, whatever your needs may be. He who knows your heart, knows your needs.
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
In a world of confusion~ you always made perfect sense~I miss hearing new music and stories from you~can't wait to get to heaven and chat again!! Peace~
What's up Rich? I hope you're doing great on the other side brotha! Thanks for leaving behind all the great music and to his family thanks for continuing on the legacy. Peace.
I knew Rich when I was a little girl. We called him Richard back then. He actually began his music career much earlier in the New Creations choir in Richmond, Indiana. He then played and sang for a spin off of the choir called Children of Light with my brother, Steve Houk. We knew even back then that Richard was something special! He played at my brother's wedding and was in a very funny 70s leisure suit! lol My brother went to be with the Lord just a few months before Richard did, with Rich having visited him in the hospital that Christmas before. I'm comforted to know that they are together again worshipping Jesus around His throne! Rich and Steve, you are both sorely missed!
I met Rich's brother David this past weekend, and got to hear him speak a couple of times. What tremendous messages he preached! He looks a lot like Rich did and had some of his mannerisms - brought back a lot of memories and even tears. Please continue to pray for the Mullins Family and all of those who have been blessed by Rich's ministry through the years and those who will be touched by him in the future. Still missing Rich....
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