From Party Animal to
Disciple of Christ
By Roberta Rand Caponey
Lindsay Bickerstaff III is owner of American Solutions
for Business in Greenville, SC. He's also an ardent
believer in Man in the Mirror's model for a successful
men's ministry. But it hasn't always been that way.
Lindsay grew up in a Christian, church-going family
in Columbus, GA. It's the "Southern way," as he likes
to point out. Yet even though he believed the Bible
was true, it made little impact on him personally.
"It just didn't seem to be relevant to my life." Later,
while attending a Christian college, he looked at
the "Christians" on campus and still wasn't impressed.
"They were so pious . . . they certainly looked down
their nose at me. They also didn't seem to be having
much fun." And Lindsay was dedicated to having a good
time. He was president of his fraternity, caught up
in partying and drinking too much. "I lived a self-centered
life," Lindsay readily admits.
After graduation, Lindsay pursued money and job success
- and continued his partying lifestyle. He decided
to join a church; it was the socially acceptable thing
to do. He also thought he might meet a nice girl there.
But he still wasn't connecting personally to Jesus
Christ. Then at around age 24, Lindsay began to attend
a regular Bible study. In 1993, he attended a men's
luncheon featuring Patrick Morley as the guest speaker.
At the time, he saw the event as primarily an opportunity
to network with other businessmen. But it turned out
to be a life-changing event.
"Pat was talking about his book Man
in the Mirror. I was sitting in the front
row - and it was like he was talking to me directly.
I walked out of there thinking this guy has me
pegged ." It was the start of a spiritual awakening
for Lindsay.
Lindsay's lifestyle gradually changed. He met his
future wife Ashley at the health club where he worked
out. "We were best friends before we ever got married.
She also challenged me about my drinking." He agreed
that he needed to stop, which he did. They were married
in 1998. Man in the Mirror had an impact in that relationship,
too.
"Before I discovered Man in the Mirror, I believed
that wives were supposed to serve their husbands,"
says Lindsay. "Patrick Morley introduced me to the
concept of 'servant leadership.'"
In the mid-90's, Lindsay attended Man in the Mirror's
Success
that Matters seminar. It continued to reinforce
a lot of themes he was already considering. He began
to feel called to lead a men's ministry.
In January 2004, Lindsay and his wife joined the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Greenville.
Another man at his church told him that Man in the
Mirror had a good model for starting a men's ministry.
"I also felt the need for a program that would support
me and help me with my own accountability."
All this has transpired during a particularly trying
time in Lindsay's life. His young son continues to
be treated for a heart defect discovered in infancy.
His wife's father and grandfather passed away in the
last year and he's been plagued with health problems
that kept him off the job for a significant amount
of time. "We've suffered financially as a result,
but I felt God was calling me to trust Him in the
midst of these difficulties." He's also discovered
that having personal challenges has given him credibility
with the men he leads. "They see that I've had the
same struggles they have - I'm not just some guy talking
down to them from an ivory tower."
Lindsay is clearly following the discipleship model
espoused by Man in the Mirror. Lindsay will be leading
an upcoming Success that Matters seminar
at his church - 60 men have signed up. "I'm excited
to be a part of it," says Lindsay, "I look forward
to training other men for leadership."
Lindsay's faith can be summarized by a recent quote
from an article about he and his wife's recent gift
of a playground in their son's name, "Its about a
relationship with Christ that invades every part of
your life. You have to look at where God is working
in your life and say to yourself, I want to be a part
of that."
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