In the summer of 1995, Rich Mullins and his close friend and collaborator David “Beaker” Strasser took the stage in South Bend, Indiana for a special acoustic concert. But this time, the audience extended far beyond the walls of the venue. The performance—recorded July 6, 1995—was broadcast on World Harvest Radio, reaching listeners across the globe.
Nearly lost to history, this concert was rediscovered thanks to a chance Facebook comment from former WHME-FM disc jockey Joe Hill, who mentioned that he still had a copy of the original broadcast. His generous contribution is one of the most unique entries in the Ragamuffin Archive: Classics series.
An Intimate Glimpse, Just Before Brother’s Keeper
The timing of the concert is significant. It took place just two weeks before the release of Rich’s eighth and final studio album, Brother’s Keeper. That context makes this a remarkable time capsule—capturing not just Rich’s music, but his spirit and vision in a season of creative transition.
During the concert, Rich previewed two songs from the yet-unreleased album: “Brother’s Keeper” and “Let Mercy Lead”. He also dug deep into his back catalog for songs he rarely performed live, including “Bound to Come Some Trouble” and “The Love of God”. Perhaps most poignantly, this concert features what may be the final recorded performance of “O Come All Ye Faithful”, an early Mullins song originally recorded by Debby Boone in the early 1980s.
The concert’s 17-song setlist reflects the full range of Rich’s artistry—from joyful and playful to reverent and reflective:
01. Sing Your Praise to the Lord
02. O Come All Ye Faithful
03. Boy Like Me, Man Like You
04. All The Way My Savior Leads Me
05. Screen Door
06. Jesus Loves Me
07. Creed
08. Calling Out Your Name
09. Brother’s Keeper
10. Bound to Come Some Trouble
11. If I Stand
12. Let Mercy Lead
13. While the Nations Rage
14. The Love of God
15. Awesome God
16. Sometimes By Step
17. My Jesus, I Love Thee
The concert closes with “My Jesus, I Love Thee”—a hymn Rich cherished deeply, delivered here with simple devotion.
While many Ragamuffin Archive recordings originate from LeSEA Broadcasting—including television appearances and special videos—this one stands alone as a radio-only performance. There are no camera angles, no stage lights. Just a microphone, a voice, and some truly incredible music.
We’re deeply grateful to Joe Hill for ensuring this recording wasn’t lost to time. And we’re honored to present it through Ragamuffin Archive, where it continues to speak to listeners searching for honesty, humility, and hope.
You can find Rich Mullins: Live Around the World streaming now on the Ragamuffin Archive YouTube channel, as well as on Mixloud!
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