In the spring of 1994, while in the Netherlands, Rich Mullins sat behind a piano with a hammered dulcimer close by, accompanied only by his friend and longtime songwriting partner David “Beaker” Strasser. No band. No flash. Just two friends sharing songs, stories, and scripture with an enthusiastic audience.
That concert, a quiet and powerful acoustic performance, aired on Dutch television later that year. But for years, it remained a hidden gem—never seen by Rich’s America fans—until a fan from Belgium changed everything.
A Gift from Across the Ocean
The journey to preserve “Rich Mullins: Live in Holland” began with a message to Jean Cavfrier, a fellow Rich fan living in Belgium. Jean had recorded the concert on a PAL VHS tape when it aired, and years later, uploaded a low-resolution version to YouTube. When I saw those clips—grainy but beautiful—I reached out to Jean, wondering if a higher-quality version might exist.
Despite a language barrier that made our conversations dependent on Google Translate, Jean was gracious and enthusiastic. When his attempts to digitize the tape at a better quality failed, he did something extraordinary: he offered to mail me the original VHS tape. I still have it.
A Local Connection, Years in the Making
Once I had the tape, a new challenge emerged: PAL-format VHS is not compatible with most American equipment. Finding someone in the U.S. who could transfer a European VHS to DVD turned out to be harder than I expected. After many dead ends, I discovered Tommy Productions, a small, local business in Franklinville, New Jersey—about 20 minutes from my home.
When I arrived to drop off the tape, I was stunned to discover that the man who would ultimately handle the transfer was someone I had gone to college with. This was quite possibly the only copy of this concert in the world, and it was a relief knowing it was in the hands of someone I knew and trusted.
Tommy Productions did a beautiful job. The transfer was clean, warm, and clear, and it captured everything that had moved me even in that low-res YouTube version. It’s now one of my favorite recordings in the Ragamuffin Archive—a performance I always enjoy returning to.
A Setlist Full of Soul
What makes the Holland concert so special isn’t just the backstory—it’s the performance itself. With no backing band, Rich and Beaker filled the space with honesty, vulnerability, and worship. The stripped-down format lets the lyrics breathe, and the chemistry between the two longtime friends is palpable.
Here’s the full setlist from that evening:
• Creed
• Calling Out Your Name
• Where You Are
• Land of My Sojourn
• Everyman
• Boy Like Me, Man Like You
• Who God Is Gonna Use
• All the Way My Savior Leads Me
• 78 Eatonwood Green
• Jesus Loves Me
• Sometimes By Step
• Hold Me Jesus
• Awesome God
• Growing Young
A Lasting Legacy
Thanks to the kindness of a stranger in Belgium and the skills of an old friend in New Jersey, this performance now lives on. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful ministry happens in quiet corners of the world… and that a song, once sung, can still echo for decades.
Now part of our Ragamuffin Archive: Classics series, you can watch the full concert on the Ragamuffin Archive YouTube channel, where it lives for anyone to discover—or rediscover. And for the first time ever, you can listen to an audio version of the concert on Mixcloud!
Watch Rich Mullins: Live in Holland:
Listen on Mixcloud: