Left to Right: Tammi, Marc, Mitch, Rich
"Rich Who?" you ask. Well, I said the same thing--or at least something similar. The year was 1995, and I was on a mission trip to an Indian reservation with a group from ETSU's Christian Student Fellowship. I was pretty new to the group. I wasn't a new Christian, but I didn't listen to much Christian music. (In fact, I still listen to "the sin station" quite regularly.)
So here we are, on this mission trip. It was a very cool trip, by the way, but that's another post for another day. During one of our group meetings, it was announced that Rich--as in Rich Mullins--would be arriving soon. Several people in the group went a little crazy with excitement. And I was like, "Rich Who? ... Who's Rich Mullins?"
I soon learned that he was a Christian songwriter and recording artist--the Christian songwriter and recording artist who happened to have penned "Awesome God," which at the time was sung at just about every youth retreat, Christian camp and (I suspect) church lock-in across the nation. It is a great worship song--although I admit my style of worship is a little different than the cool-guy-on-stage-
singing-while-other-people-sing-and-raise-their-arms approach. (Again ... another post for another day. But if you are interested in the topic of worship styles, then please allow me to suggest this and this from Andy Stanley/North Point Community Church. Great series, great Christian leader, great church.)
So there we are on this mission trip to this Indian reservation, and Rich Mullins arrives. Turns out, he is actually moving there. Our group is very busy every day with lots of projects, but we do get to meet and actually hang out with Rich Mullins! How cool is that? We had a little jam session with him and even a small concert at the church where we were serving. It was instantly obvious to me how gifted he was. I loved hearing him play the hammer dulcimer--it was incredible.
About that jam session. It took place one evening when Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker came over to the mission house where many in our group were staying. Also on the trip with us from CSF/ETSU were Tammi Rhoton and Marc Imboden. They were dating at the time and had recently written a worship song called "You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)." (They taught it to our group, and we sang it at the reservation church.) Anyway, that night, they performed it for Rich Mullins--and that is when I took the photo above. As an aside ... It is an awesome song! Years later, Michael W. Smith recorded it--and I can't tell you how cool it was to hear him sing it in person at a concert a few years back. Pretty neat!
Anyway, that is the story behind the photo. Unfortunately, that is the only photo I have of Rich Mullins from our mission trip. I wish I had more, but someone else in the group was going to get me copies of her photos ... and you know how that goes.
A couple of years later, Rich Mullins died in an automobile accident. I remember hearing this on the 11 o'clock news one night, and my phone rang almost immediately. It was my friend Holly, who had been on the same trip and who also was watching the news that night. We couldn't believe it. Weeks later, a local entertainment tabloid actually was running a concert listing for Rich Mullins--he had been scheduled to play at a local Christian college, and I guess the paper hadn't been made aware that he had died. (The concert schedule probably had been sent in long before his death.) So I called them and told them to pull it. Weird.
My favorite Rich Mullins song is "Creed." Can you tell I am Presbyterian?
What's your favorite Rich Mullins song?
P.S. Rich Mullins would probably cringe at being labeled a celebrity--but he was one, nonetheless.
P.P.S. Unrelated to Rich Mullins ... but ... it turns out that Tammi Rhoton and my future SIL (Anne) were very good friends. I had no idea who Anne was at the time ... but I already knew people she knew (including another gal I knew from King College)! Turns out ... both gals were in--and sang at--my brother and SIL's wedding. It's a small, small world!
So here we are, on this mission trip. It was a very cool trip, by the way, but that's another post for another day. During one of our group meetings, it was announced that Rich--as in Rich Mullins--would be arriving soon. Several people in the group went a little crazy with excitement. And I was like, "Rich Who? ... Who's Rich Mullins?"
I soon learned that he was a Christian songwriter and recording artist--the Christian songwriter and recording artist who happened to have penned "Awesome God," which at the time was sung at just about every youth retreat, Christian camp and (I suspect) church lock-in across the nation. It is a great worship song--although I admit my style of worship is a little different than the cool-guy-on-stage-
singing-while-other-people-sing-and-raise-their-arms approach. (Again ... another post for another day. But if you are interested in the topic of worship styles, then please allow me to suggest this and this from Andy Stanley/North Point Community Church. Great series, great Christian leader, great church.)
So there we are on this mission trip to this Indian reservation, and Rich Mullins arrives. Turns out, he is actually moving there. Our group is very busy every day with lots of projects, but we do get to meet and actually hang out with Rich Mullins! How cool is that? We had a little jam session with him and even a small concert at the church where we were serving. It was instantly obvious to me how gifted he was. I loved hearing him play the hammer dulcimer--it was incredible.
About that jam session. It took place one evening when Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker came over to the mission house where many in our group were staying. Also on the trip with us from CSF/ETSU were Tammi Rhoton and Marc Imboden. They were dating at the time and had recently written a worship song called "You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)." (They taught it to our group, and we sang it at the reservation church.) Anyway, that night, they performed it for Rich Mullins--and that is when I took the photo above. As an aside ... It is an awesome song! Years later, Michael W. Smith recorded it--and I can't tell you how cool it was to hear him sing it in person at a concert a few years back. Pretty neat!
Anyway, that is the story behind the photo. Unfortunately, that is the only photo I have of Rich Mullins from our mission trip. I wish I had more, but someone else in the group was going to get me copies of her photos ... and you know how that goes.
A couple of years later, Rich Mullins died in an automobile accident. I remember hearing this on the 11 o'clock news one night, and my phone rang almost immediately. It was my friend Holly, who had been on the same trip and who also was watching the news that night. We couldn't believe it. Weeks later, a local entertainment tabloid actually was running a concert listing for Rich Mullins--he had been scheduled to play at a local Christian college, and I guess the paper hadn't been made aware that he had died. (The concert schedule probably had been sent in long before his death.) So I called them and told them to pull it. Weird.
My favorite Rich Mullins song is "Creed." Can you tell I am Presbyterian?
What's your favorite Rich Mullins song?
P.S. Rich Mullins would probably cringe at being labeled a celebrity--but he was one, nonetheless.
P.P.S. Unrelated to Rich Mullins ... but ... it turns out that Tammi Rhoton and my future SIL (Anne) were very good friends. I had no idea who Anne was at the time ... but I already knew people she knew (including another gal I knew from King College)! Turns out ... both gals were in--and sang at--my brother and SIL's wedding. It's a small, small world!
Karen,
ReplyDeleteRich Mullins was SUCH an incredible song writer and musician. It was such a sad day when we learned of his death. It's very difficult to choose a favorite song by him b/c they each speak such wonderful messages... I guess my top favs would be Step By Step, I Will Sing/Hope to Carry On, and Sometimes By Step. Of course, everyone loves Awesome God, too. :) It's very cool that you have that photo!
What a great celebrity Saturday! I love Rich Mullins too. My favorite R.M song is Sometimes By Step. (I love Awesome God, too). My youth choir sang this on our mission trip to Memphis and it kind of became our theme song for that trip. I love the chorus especially. When I was really nervous prior to my c-section with A-C that song kept playing through my mind. It gave me comfort til Johnny could come in the OR with me. Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh, Tammi told me awhile back that Veggie Tales bought the song she and Marc wrote for MWS! Isn't that cool? :)
Sorry for the novel!
bly!
Rich Mullins is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. My favorites are Sometimes by Step (for the same reason as Anne), Hold Me Jesus, and If I Stand. He music is so personal. Thanks for reminding me of all his wonderful music!
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteYou may want to check out this blog. There's a Christian music giveaway.
http://tinyurl.com/4vwjrj
I stumbled across your blog via i-google (topic creative memories) and I LOVED Rich Mullins music when I was in high school. I also love the name of your blog. 100 years (Five for Fighting) is one of my FAVORITE songs ever.
ReplyDelete