M. Robert Mulholland Jr., author of InterVarsity Press (IVP) books such as Invitation to a Journey and The Deeper Journey, died Dec. 20 after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

“Robert Mulholland’s books on the power and integrity of Scripture have shaped and encouraged thousands of readers in their spiritual formation journeys,” said IVP Publisher Bob Fryling. “Mulholland was a gentleman scholar who humbly taught and wrote out of his love for the written Word of God. His writings remain, but his presence will be missed.”

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mulholland held a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Harvard Divinity School. He was emeritus professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and served as pastor of Shirley Community Church in Shirley Mills, Maine.

During his academic career, Mulholland served as adjunct professor at the Academy for Spiritual Formation and taught at several seminaries and universities around the world, including Wesley, Harvard University, McMurry University, Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary (Russia), West Africa Theological Seminary (Lagos, Nigeria) and Baltic Mission Center Theological Seminary (Tallinn, Estonia). An elder in the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mulholland was a frequent speaker at Bible and spiritual renewal conferences. Mulholland and his wife, Lynn, have two children.

Ruth Haley Barton, president of the Transforming Center, reflected on the life of her longtime friend.

“Bob’s passing is a great loss for me personally and a great loss to the world of Christian theology and spiritual formation," Barton said. "He was my teacher and mentor in the early years of my life in ministry and then became a dear friend and ministry colleague, along with his wife, Lynn. His contribution to the vision, mission and teaching of the Transforming Center is incalculable as he has been our teacher through his writings and his presence among us. In addition to our grief, his passing from this life to the next is an opportunity for great gratitude as we celebrate all the gifts God brought to the body of Christ through him.”

Mulholland’s most well-known book, Invitation to a Journey, was first published in 1993 and in time came to be known as a landmark spiritual formation book. Barton has revised and expanded on Mulholland’s work, and IVP will release the new version in June 2016.

“We are thankful for Mulholland’s writings and to be able to carry on the legacy of his work and heart for spiritual formation for many generations to come,” Fryling said.

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