Freda Lindsay, Christ for the Nations Co-Founder, Dies at 95

Freda Lindsay, co-founder of Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) in
Dallas, died at her home late Thursday night. She was 95.

Lindsay and her husband, Gordon, started the charismatic Bible school in
1970 to train Christians to “do exploits for God” around the world. She was
named president after Gordon Lindsay’s death in 1973 and led the
two-year school to train more than 32,000 graduates, including Colorado prayer
leader Dutch Sheets, the late
Nigerian pastor Benson Idahosa, contemporary Christian singer Russ Taff and
Kevin Jonas Sr., father of the Jonas Brothers.

The ministry has planted more than 12,000 churches worldwide and established
48 associate Bible schools in 33 nations. The school also has become known for
its music ministry, with songwriter Martin Nystrom penning the praise and worship
classic “As the Deer” while a student at CFNI.

“I think she’s one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the last 100
years just because of the influence Christ for the Nations has had in
missions,” said charismatic historian Eddie L. Hyatt, who is a CFNI graduate and
former instructor.

In the 1970s, when the charismatic movement was at its height, Hyatt says
CFNI became “the teaching center of the charismatic renewal.”

“[Lindsay’s] husband was a real giant in his own right, but I think most
people would agree that the ministry attained far greater success under her
leadership than his,” said Charisma publisher Steve Strang, who
featured Lindsay on the magazine’s cover in January 1984 and worked with her as
part of the International Charismatic Bible Ministries fellowship founded by Oral Roberts.
“She really rose to the occasion.”

Referred to around campus as “Mom Lindsay,” Freda Lindsay is described as a
loving woman with a strong work ethic. Son Dennis Lindsay, who became president
of CFNI in 1985, said an Israeli general who fought in the Six-Day War once
said Lindsay led like a general but had “compassion and humility like an
everyday person.”

Known for her frugality, she lived in the same two-bedroom apartment on campus
for more than 30 years, which she said kept her living expenses low and enabled
her to give back to the ministry.