A Tribute to Rich Mullins

"I believe in God the Father 

Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth 

And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord 

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit 

Born of the virgin Mary 

Suffered under Pontius Pilate 

He was crucified and dead and buried 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am 

I did not make it no it is making me 

It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man 

I believe that He who suffered was crucified buried and dead 

He descended into hell and on the third day rose again 

He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand 

I believe that He's returning 

To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am 

I did not make it no it is making me 

It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man 

I believe it I believe it 

I believe it 

I believe it I believe it 

I believe in God the Father 

Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth 

And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord 

I believe in the Holy Spirit 

One Holy Church 

The communion of Saints 

The forgiveness of sin 

I believe in the resurrection 

I believe in a life that never ends 

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am 

I did not make it no it is making me 

I did not make it no it is making me 

I said I did not make it no it is making me 

It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man 

I believe it I believe 

I believe it I believe

I believe it I believe it 

I believe it I believe it 

I believe it I believe it 

I believe it" Rich Mullins Creed

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Richard Wayne Mullins

October 21, 1955 - September 19, 1997

"There was always something tragic about Rich Mullins. Maybe it was the ever present hint of sadness in his eyes, which spoke of his personal battle with depression; a battle he only recently had found courage to admit publicly. Maybe it was the bold, brash things he said to unsettle our concrete theologies and theories about God. Maybe it was the vulnerability with which he openly championed celibacy and monasticism.

After all, "normal" American Christians don't try to mold themselves into monks. Rich's referral to this experiment as "The Kid Brothers of Saint Frank" didn't quite take the edge off the sword with humor, as much as he might have thought. The truth is, he made a lot of us uncomfortable in our downy faith nests.

He left you no middle ground. You either loved him passionately or disliked him heartily because he "rubbed you the wrong way." Flying in the face of expected Christian norms of dress and lifestyle, he undeniably challenged all he encountered." ... by Martia Wilson


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