For immediate release: September 22, 1997 Contact: Lanie Rockafellow (615) 457-1207

Contemporary Christian music veteran Rich Mullins killed in automobile accident

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Contemporary Christian music veteran Rich Mullins, 41, was killed in a car accident Friday, Sept. 19, between 9 and 10 p.m. on Interstate 39 in LaSalle County, Illinois. Also in the accident was Mitch McVicker, 25, who wrote, performed and lived on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock, Ariz., with Mullins. McVicker is presently hospitalized in critical condition. Born Oct. 21, 1955, Mullins, a bachelor, is survived by his mother, Neva, of Richmond, Ind., two older sisters and two younger brothers.

At this time the sheriff's report of the accident is not available, but according to Mullins' manager, James E. Dunning Jr., Mullins and Vicker were traveling in a Jeep from Chicago to Wichita, Kan. It is believed the car passed a tractor-trailer and the accident occurred in a matter of minutes. The car's wheels came off the shoulder of the road and the driver lost control of the vehicle. It is not known who was driving. Both Mullins and McVicker were thrown from the car. The tractor-trailer swerved to miss the vehicle and McVicker, but instead hit Mullins in the other lane. Mullins died instantly.

Dunning said, on behalf of himself and Gay Quisenberry of Crucible Productions, who managed Mullins for 12 years, "We both thank you for your continued prayers and ask that people respect the privacy and wishes of the family. We also ask that you respect the people of the Navajo Nation and their privacy, as well.

"This is both a horrible time and a good time for such a tragic accident. It is horrible because Rich was so young and such a great writer. But, it was a good time in a way, because Rich was at peace with his life. I take great comfort in knowing when I talked with Rich Thursday afternoon before the accident, Rich was experiencing the greatest peace he had known in his life.

"We are obviously going to miss Rich," Dunning continued. "In the industry, he was considered by many to be the greatest writer of our time. I believe that. But if Rich had his preference, I think he'd prefer not to be remembered. Rich would prefer that the God he believed in be remembered. We need to honor him best by remembering his writing and by loving the God that he spoke about."

Mullins recorded nine projects with Reunion Records during his lifetime, including his last recording, Songs. He was nominated for twelve Gospel Music Association Dove Awards throughout his career, and had many #1 radio hits. Mullins was best known for the church standard, "Awesome God," which in 1989 was voted one of the top three songs of the decade according to the Christian Research Report. Six of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including the well-loved "Sing Your Praise To The Lord," sung by Amy Grant.

But Mullins' main focus of ministry was to the Native Americans in the southwest. He moved to the Navajo Nation in May of 1995 after completing his B.A. in Music Education from Friends University in Wichita, Kan. There he devoted his life to teaching music to children on the reservation.

Alyssa Loukota, U.S.A. ministry marketing and communications director for Compassion International, worked closely with Mullins during the past nine years. "It was Rich Mullins' vision, in his words, to bring Christ to the Native American reservation," she said.

"For the past nine years, Rich has devoted his time to Compassion International. Within the last three years, he began focusing strictly on the U.S.A. ministry, and specifically with Native American work in the southwest. His desire was to teach music to the students on the reservation. Due to a lack of funds, many schools on the reservation did not have a music program. That's what Rich hoped to offer to them. Rich wanted the children to be blessed from God with music. He wanted to bring Christ to a dry and thirsty land."

Loukota also said that Compassion International would covet prayers for the Mullins family, the family of Mitch McVicker and McVicker, who remains hospitalized.

Both the Mullins and McVicker families have asked that flowers not be sent. Cards to either family may be sent to Kid Brothers of St. Frank, P.O. Box 11526, Wichita, Kan., 67202. The Mullins family has asked that any memorial gifts be given to Compassion International, c/o Rich Mullins Memorial Fund, Compassion International, P.O. Box 7000, Colorado Springs, CO, 80933.

A memorial service will be held in Nashville at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Christ Presbyterian Church, 2323 Old Hickory Blvd.

Also, a public service will be held in Wichita, Kan., at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Henry Levitt Arena on the campus of Wichita State University. For more information about this service, please call 316-262-7159.

For historical information on Rich Mullins' career with Reunion Records, contact Matt Williams, Reunion Records, 615-320-9200. back

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