Editing Rich Mullins (section)

== Death and legacy ==
On September 19, 1997, Mullins and his friend [[Mitch McVicker]] were traveling southbound on [[Interstate 39|I-39]] north of [[Bloomington, Illinois]], to a [[benefit concert]] at Wichita State University in Kansas, when they lost control of their Jeep. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt, and both were ejected from the vehicle. Mullins died instantly. <ref>{{cite news |date = September 22, 1997 |title = Christian singer killed in accident |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nDofAAAAIBAJ&pg=6242%2C5959601 |newspaper = Herald-Journal |access-date = May 26, 2016 |archive-date = October 17, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221017022338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nDofAAAAIBAJ&pg=6242%2C5959601 |url-status = live }}</ref> A [[semi-trailer truck]] traveling in the same direction swerved to miss the overturned Jeep and hit Mullins, who was already deceased. <ref>{{cite news |date = September 22, 1997 |title = Christian singer killed in accident |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WYsfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2037%2C4386217 |newspaper = Sarasota Herald-Tribune – September 23, 1997 |access-date = May 26, 2016 |archive-date = August 5, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230805061820/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WYsfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2037,4386217 |url-status = live }}</ref> McVicker was seriously injured but survived.

Mullins' funeral was open to the public and attracted a large gathering. He is buried at the [[Harrison Township, Darke County, Ohio|Harrison Township]] cemetery in [[Hollansburg, Ohio]], alongside his brother, who died in infancy, and his parents.

In 1998, the tribute album ''[[Awesome God: A Tribute to Rich Mullins]]'' was released, featuring favorite Mullins songs reinterpreted by his Christian music peers.

Mullins' family founded The Legacy of a Kid Brother of [[Saint Francis of Assisi|St. Frank]] to continue his mission to develop programs of art, drama and music camps for Native American youth and provide a traveling music school serving remote areas of the reservations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmullins.com/kidbrothers.html |title=Kid Brothers – Kid Brothers of St Frank |publisher=Richmullins.com |access-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529035529/http://www.richmullins.com/kidbrothers.html |archive-date=May 29, 2010 }}</ref>

On April 29, 2014, Mullins was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/04/29/take-d-bobby-jones-among-gospel-honorees/8495449/ |title = Take 6, Dr. Bobby Jones among Gospel honorees |date = April 29, 2014 |work = The Tennessean |access-date = October 13, 2015 }}</ref> His brother, David, was on hand to accept on behalf of the family.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=2818 |title = Gospel Music Association (GMA) Announces Rich Mullins as 2014 Hall of Fame Inductee |date = April 14, 2014 |work = ChristianCinema.com |access-date = October 13, 2015 |archive-date = October 16, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151016145522/http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=2818 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Musicians [[Andrew Peterson (musician)|Andrew Peterson]], [[Matt Maher]], and activist [[Shane Claiborne]] have cited Mullins as influential.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://rabbitroom.com/2011/09/beaten-up-and-carried-home-remembering-rich-mullins/ |title = Beaten Up and Carried Home: Remembering Rich Mullins |date = September 21, 2011 |work = The Rabbit Room |access-date = December 12, 2018 |archive-date = December 15, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181215223311/https://rabbitroom.com/2011/09/beaten-up-and-carried-home-remembering-rich-mullins/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://thesoundopinion.com/2015/05/06/matt-maher-on-the-record-2/ |title = Matt Maher On The Record |date = June 5, 2015 |work = thesoundopinion.com |access-date = December 12, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181217064308/http://thesoundopinion.com/2015/05/06/matt-maher-on-the-record-2/ |archive-date = December 17, 2018 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UpDbOR-En74C&q=shane%252520claiborne%252520rich%252520mullins&pg=PA52 |title = The Irresistible Revolution: Living As an Ordinary Radical |date = February 1, 2006 |isbn = 9781458759955 |access-date = December 12, 2018|last1 = Claiborne |first1 = Shane |publisher = ReadHowYouWant.com }}</ref> Claiborne listed Rich Mullins on his list of contemporary Christian saints and martyrs deserving a "feast day" of remembrance.<ref>Jesus for President Claiborne, Shane; Haw, Chris (2008) Zondervan Press Grand Rapids, Michigan {{ISBN|978-0310278429}} p. 322</ref>
 
Color Green Films, with Kid Brothers of St. Frank Co., developed a full-length feature film, as well as a documentary, based on Mullins' life and legacy. The film, ''Ragamuffin'', finished filming in October 2012 and premiered in Wichita, Kansas on January 9, 2014.<ref>''Ragamuffin'', [[DVD]], Millennium Entertainment, ME-15609.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2412568/ |title = Ragamuffin (2014) |author = Grant English |date = January 9, 2014 |work = IMDb |access-date = June 29, 2015 |archive-date = June 12, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150612200118/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2412568/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://twitter.com/RichMullinsfilm/status/254731690730213376 |title = Twitter |publisher = Twitter |access-date = October 31, 2012 |archive-date = January 22, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140122043107/https://twitter.com/RichMullinsfilm/status/254731690730213376 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Singer/songwriter [[John Darnielle]] of [[The Mountain Goats]], an [[indie folk]] band, mentioned his appreciation for Mullins' songs during a difficult time in his life.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Shellnut |first= Kate |date= September 1, 2016 |title= The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Loves Amy Grant, Rich Mullins, and the Book of Jonah:The indie rocker discusses his spiritual hunger with CT |url= https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/august-web-only/mountain-goats-john-darnielle-loves-amy-grant-rich-mullins-.html |magazine= Christianity Today |location= Carol Stream, IL |publisher= Christianity Today International |access-date= December 16, 2018 |archive-date= November 20, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181120083823/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/august-web-only/mountain-goats-john-darnielle-loves-amy-grant-rich-mullins-.html |url-status= live }}</ref>