The Impact of Dr. Homer G. Lindsay, Jr. On My Life
Posted by mattcummings on July 10, 2010
For 23 years of my life, I went to church at First Baptist Church of downtown Jacksonville. There are times when I would attend better than others, but I was there pretty consistently throughout my life. Until I was a sophomore in high school, we had co-pastors at FBC. Dr. Jerry Vines and Dr. Homer Lindsay. While I am thankful for Dr. Vines, Dr. Lindsay has had as huge an impact on my life as few people have. He was a simple man, but thought very radically. There were three things he did very well. And I pray these three things will shape my ministry as I continue in my journey of following Christ.
The first thing Dr. Lindsay did very well was he loved God. Anybody who knew Dr. Lindsay knew that he loved God with everything he had. I remember him telling a story that has stuck with me. During a particularly trying time (he was sick physically), Dr. Lindsay was walking around his dining room table talking to God. As he was walking around his table praying, he stopped suddenly and started looking around. I sat there wondering what would pull Dr. Lindsay out of prayer. He told us that he stopped because he just knew God was there with him, walking around the dining room table. I pray that I can have such an intimate, passionate love for my Father that there are times when I have to stop because I feel His presence so much.
Not only did Dr. Lindsay love God, he loved God’s word. Dr. Lindsay knew that the Bible was God’s inspired Word. Each and every time he stood up to speak, whether to preach or give announcements, he had is big, leather bound KJV with him. Dr. Lindsay would spend hours each day in the Bible. He would preach messages that were straight from the Bible. He would preach through books of the Bible, even if it took him months to finish. Dr. Lindsay loved the Bible. I pray that I will have a passion for God’s word. Not just to read it, but to love it, know it and practice it.
Lastly, Dr. Lindsay loved people. Dr. Lindsay had a passion for people. He cared about people. You could not have a conversation with Dr. Lindsay without him asking you how you and your family were doing. If he wasn’t sure if you knew Jesus or not, you better believe he was going to share the gospel with you. One of the most amazing things he did, in my eyes, was meeting with children on Wednesday nights. He would open his office and share the gospel with these kids in a way that was understandable but not watered down. Dr. Lindsay had a passion for people. I pray that my soul burns with passion for the lost and passion for people the same way Dr. Lindsay’s heart made him care so deeply for people.
In closing, Dr. Lindsay was a sweet, sweet man. I have grown to appreciate him more in the years since he has been gone than I ever anticipated. Dr. Lindsay had his quirks, but you could not diminish his passion for God, the Bible and people. In a day where we try to complicate everything in the church, Dr. Lindsay reminds me to keep it simple. He did not get caught up in debates or things that pulled him away from loving God, the Bible or people. I pray that I will follow Dr. Lindsay’s lead and love God more, love the Bible more and love people more.
