Faithful Servant of 76 Years

By Lauren Pressler, Establish Network Intern

Lindsay O’Rear was raised in a Christian home by loving parents in Huntsville, Alabama. Although times were hard financially, he remembers his family’s love and the joy of his childhood more than anything. His father was a preacher over a small Baptist church and Lindsay’s life centered around church. Both of his parents poured into him and his older sister a love for the Lord from a young age. He even memorized Scripture before he ever set foot in a schoolroom! Around the age of 10, Lindsay was determined to make his faith his own and build a personal relationship with the Lord. From this point on, his faith in God and his devotion to the Great Commission grew tremendously. 

A few days after arriving at seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Lindsay met his wife Nedla. He claimed Nedla had “the most beautiful smile” and the two were soon married. The O’Rear family expanded to include two sons and a daughter in the following years! Lindsay was working at a church in Georgia when he was called to Taylors First Baptist to become the worship pastor in 1970. His first memory of Taylors FBC was visiting a residential home to meet and fellowship with the congregants and staff members. Lindsay served the next 34 years as our Minister of Music, deeply invested in ministering to the choir and orchestra on a weekly basis. Lindsay also served by going on mission trips and leading many funerals for his friends and family. He continues to become involved in other volunteer opportunities, praising the Lord all the while for the salvations he has witnessed through this church. 

Lindsay fondly remembers Ernest Carswell, a previous pastor of Taylors FBC, and the impact Ernest had on his life. His faith truly renewed through his relationship with Ernest and by Ernest’s friendship with Lindsay’s now-departed son. He continues to enjoy friendships with individuals who attend the church and those he worked with at Taylors FBC FBC years before. He especially loves the children at Taylors FBC as their antics bring a smile to his face! Currently, Lindsay is still involved in the Legacy Choir at Taylors FBC. He enjoys volunteering to visit others in hospitals and continues to make phone calls on behalf of our church. 

Lindsay affirms Josh Powell is one of the best Lead Pastors he has known at Taylors FBC! As he has for all our pastors, he seeks to pray for Pastor Josh regularly and asks for others in the congregation to do the same. In his personal life, Lindsay reads the Bible every morning aloud to his wife, Nedla, and from a devotional book he received in 1972 from Billy Graham’s worship leader. His favorite hobby is gardening as he spends time in prayer in his garden with his Savior. He also never misses an opportunity to praise the Lord with his beloved CD collection as he rides down the road! 

Overall, Lindsay O’Rear has been a beloved and influential member of Taylors First Baptist for 54 years! One of his most notable sayings is “Share Jesus where you can!” Lindsay has been a living example of someone spreading the Good News wherever he goes! When asked what he would advise his younger self, Lindsay wishes he would have prayed, listened, and read the Bible a whole lot more. For the younger generations, he gives wisdom to love the Lord first, obey your parents next, and, finally, take care of your friends. Lindsay’s final advice for his Taylors FBC Family is to stay close to Jesus, “be good and don’t stop being good,” and to not quit! Finally, he shares one of his favorite verses in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (King James Version).