His funeral was open to the public and had a massive gathering. He is buried in the Harrison Township Cemetery in Hollansburg, Ohio, alongside his baby brother who died as an infant and his father.[
Between 1974-78, Mullins attended Cincinnati Bible College. He worked in a parking garage to help pay for his schooling. [7] From 1975 -1978 he was also the Music Director and Youth Director at Erlanger United Methodist Church in nearby Erlanger, Kentucky. [8]
In the mid-1980s he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to begin his professional recording career.
Mullins is best known for his worship songs "Step by Step" (later incorporated into his hit single "Sometimes by Step") and "Awesome God", both of which have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. Some of his albums are also considered among Christian music's best, including Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988), The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume One (1991) and A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band (1993). His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon's Call, Five Iron Frenzy, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, John Tesh, Chris Rice and Third Day.[1]
In 1988, Mullins moved to Wichita, Kansas where, in 1991, he enrolled as a student at Friends University and lived with his best friend, David Strasser (a.k.a. Beaker). He graduated with a B.A. in Music Education on May 14, 1995 [12]. After graduation, he and musician Mitch McVicker moved to a Navajo reservation in Tse Bonito, New Mexico to teach music to children. They lived in a hogan at the reservation until his death.
Rich Mullins is also remembered for his devotion to the Christian faith, which was often an inspiration to others. He was heavily influenced by St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226). In 1997, he composed a musical called Canticle of the Plains, a retelling of the life of St. Francis set in the Old West. [2]
His biggest hits were the praise choruses Awesome God and Step by Step. Three of his albums are considered among Christian music's best: Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988), The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume 1 (1991) and A Liturgy, a Legacy & a Ragamuffin Band (1993). The posthumous The Jesus Record include one disc of demos he had recorded shortly before his death, and a second disc of recordings of the songs completed by The Ragamuffin Band, several with guest vocalists.
Mullins often called St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) his hero. He modeled his life after St. Francis by showing great compassion towards the poor and adhering to a vow of poverty. In 1997, he composed a musical about the life of St. Francis set in the Old West titled Canticle of the Plains.
Mullins was seen as an enigma to the Christian music industry. Often barefoot, unshaven, and badly in need of a haircut, Mullins did not look like the average American Gospel music writer. He was very much at home among the non-Christians, and unafraid to name his own sin and inadequacies in public. This baffled some in the American Christian culture where he seemed an odd member. His lifestyle was unquestionably marked by devotion and discipline, yet his simultaneous refusal to subscribe to contemporary Christian "niceties" made him a bit of an uncomfortable presence in the Christian music culture. Although he achieved a significant amount of success on Christian radio, he never received a Dove Award until after his death.
Unlike most artists in Contemporary Christian music, Mullins did not consider his music his primary ministry, but rather a means to pay his bills. Instead, his ministry was the way he treated his neighbors, family, enemies, and those outside the church. Taking a vow of poverty, he accepted a small church salary and spent the last years of his life on a Navajo reservation teaching music to children.
Peace
Rich Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you more than your mask
And you know you have to trust this to be true
And I know that's much to ask
But lay down your fears, come and join this feast
He has called us here, you and me
[CHORUS:]
Like little pieces of the sky
Little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls
This drought has dried
In His Blood and in His Body
In the Bread and in this Wine
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you
And though I love you, still we're strangers
Prisoners in these lonely hearts
And though our blindness separates us
Still His light shines in the dark
And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach
Behind these prison bars to set us free
[CHORUS:]
[CHORUS:]
Peace to you
Peace of Christ to you
The lyrics of Rich Mullins's song "Peace" is about finding love and harmony between strangers, even though there are masks that create distance between them. It's a call for trust, vulnerability, and togetherness, as the singer invites the listener to a feast where everyone is welcome, regardless of their fears and differences. The song talks about the peace that comes from Heaven, like little pieces of the sky, that can heal the drought of the soul. The peace of Christ is present in the Blood, the Body, the Bread, and Wine of the communion, offering an opportunity for reconciliation and hope.
The chorus of the song repeats the lyrics "peace to you, peace of Christ to you" as a way to emphasize the message of unity, compassion, and faith. Mullins acknowledges that he loves the stranger, even though they are prisoners of their own lonely hearts. Blindness and separation can make people feel trapped and isolated, but Mullins inspires hope by reminding us that the light of Christ shines even in the dark, and His outstretched arms can reach out behind prison bars to set us free.
Overall, the lyrics of "Peace" convey a message of hope, faith, and love, emphasizing the importance of trust, vulnerability, and connection. By recognizing the peace that comes from Heaven and the peace of Christ within us, we can break the barriers that separate us from ourselves and others and find a sense of togetherness and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Though we're strangers, still I love you
Despite not knowing each other well, my affection for you is sincere.
I love you more than your mask
I see beyond your facade and hold a greater love for your true self.
And you know you have to trust this to be true
It may be difficult, but you must accept that my love for you is genuine.
And I know that's much to ask
It may seem like a big request, but I hope you can trust me.
But lay down your fears, come and join this feast
Let go of your anxieties and be a part of this celebration.
He has called us here, you and me
We are both invited to this gathering by a higher power.
And may peace rain down from Heaven
May a serene feeling from above shower upon us.
Like little pieces of the sky
As if small fragments of the heavens are falling upon us.
Little keepers of the promise
Signifiers of the assurance of peace.
Falling on these souls
Drifting gently onto our beings.
This drought has dried
The previous lack of peace has now been remedied.
In His Blood and in His Body
Through Christ's sacrifice and embodiment.
In the Bread and in this Wine
In elements of the Eucharist.
Peace to you
I wish tranquility upon you.
Peace of Christ to you
The peace that comes from Christ be upon you.
And though I love you, still we're strangers
Despite my affection, we still don't know each other well.
Prisoners in these lonely hearts
Trapped within our own isolated selves.
And though our blindness separates us
Our inability to fully understand each other keeps us apart.
Still His light shines in the dark
Despite difficulties, God's love illuminates all things.
And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach
Even in hardship, God's love is powerful enough to connect us.
Behind these prison bars to set us free
Breaking the shackles that hold us down.
Peace to you
Once again, I wish peace upon you.
Peace of Christ to you
Finally, the peace that comes from Christ be upon you.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DAVID STRASSER, RICHARD MULLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind