Below, we introduce each member of the family - but before that there's something Papa would like to share ...
From the Heart of the Lindsey Family Father:
I wouldn't be honest if I didn't address this perception (or more appropriately the common misconception) that the Lindsey Family "has it's act together". We desire to have our act together, but we're far from it. What people see is only the outside. That's not to say that we're different on the inside. I make a point to be as transparent as possible with everyone I meet - sometimes so transparent it makes my wife and children uncomfortable. We have issues and skeletons and struggles - perhaps more than most given our direct targeting by the enemy for the public influence we steward - and not all of them are publicly exposed.
The scriptures are true when they reveal that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but rather powers and principalities, and my knees surely aren't as worn as they could be. Compound all that with my personal character flaws of easy frustration, anger, harshness, and inconsistency (to name but a few...), and you have a recipe for frustrated children. They really do love their parents, and they really do want to do well, but they're a product of our training, which hasn't always been helpful - and they have a free will, which complicates matters profoundly. No we don't do any of this on purpose. Yes, we know it's something we need to overcome. Yes we long to be perfect and humble at all times and gentle and kind and persuasive through character. No, we do not generally achieve it. Like Mark Blocher recently said, "If telling were training, my children would be brilliant." :)
The truth is we don't have our act together. Perhaps if we compared ourselves to the world we might feel better, but when we measure ourselves from the only absolute reference point, which is the perfect heart of Christ Jesus, we fail miserably. I'll be brutally honest here. Knowing the immense responsibility of ensuring that our public ministry is not hypocritical is overwhelming sometimes. But we'll continue to walk through the doors the Lord opens, even at the risk of shame for being less than perfect, praying all the while that we don't dishonor Him in the process. It is encouraging to know that folks are blessed by what we bring, and it strengthens our resolve to press on through the process of rearing our children to adulthood and sending them out with our blessing.
Unfortunately by that time, there will be no way to make up for what we missed. That's my all-consuming passion in this phase of my life... ensuring that everything we do today makes sense for thirty years from now so when we get there we're not full of regrets. It's my current concept of what the bible means by vision, right or wrong.
Keeping all the above in mind, it is a blessing to be able to proclaim today that I am mostly satisfied with the hearts of all my children. They have zeal for Jesus, they know right from wrong even if they (as I) often miss the mark, and they understand forgiveness - both the giving AND the receiving - so that their lives, for the most part, are marked by clear conscience. As they grow their choices increasingly demonstrate wisdom and I'm seeing mostly good fruit. But until our children are all grown and have children of their own that serve God with a passion, the jury is still out on whether we have our act together.
Lord, bless the work of our hands, and guide us firmly into the center of Your will. Amen.
Now that we've settled that question, let's meet the children!!
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Elisabeth shines as a vocalist, singing harmony as well as lead. She keeps the rest of the band in time with her skillful bass playing and tends to be the glue that holds us all together...period! She is a talented pianist, and also plays mandolin, guitar and a little fiddle. When she is not playing bluegrass music or working with the family business, she enjoys reading, corresponding with friends, photography, writing, talking... ;)
Jared (18) began playing guitar at age six, and took up banjo at age nine - this has become his featured instrument, although he also plays bass and piano, and has been known to pick up a dobro. His favorite banjo players are currently Jens Krüger, Tom Slavicek, Scott Vestal, and Nick Piccininni. Jared is also a talented singer, and has recently taken to writing songs. He is currently spending most of his free time in his recording studio, doing what he does best. Although music is his primary focus, he does web development and computer programming as well. He loves Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, and Country music, as well as Dixieland Jazz. Jared plays a GoldStar GF-200 banjo, and a Taylor 712ce guitar. His early music mentors were Alan Lindsey, Doug Bartlett and John Rossbach.
Mama is the heart of the family. She likes to say that she's produced more talent than anyone in the band! (Though in reality we know we have God to thank for that!) She joins in vocals and aspires to learn some instrument someday - when all the children are grown and stop surpassing her every time she tries! Right now, she tends younger children and manages the scheduling for the band. She loves to write and has added one song to the family's repertoire so far. She spends most of her time supervising a bustling home, training children, and overseeing homeschooling.
A powerful lead singer at just 13 years old, Rebekah is now developing her skills with harmony and vocal inflections as well. She plays rhythm guitar for the band and is thrilled to have just received a new Martin D-28! At home, Rebekah loves to sew. She also prepares orders for our family business, and keep us all laughing with her bubbly....blondness! Instruments include guitar, mandolin, piano.
At 9, Susanna is a little stage-shy but is working on some accapella pieces with her sisters. Both girls are learning fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
7, already plays ukulele, mandolin, guitar, piano and dobro, and sings harmony around the dinner table. |
Born January 5,1994. Ben has been playing fiddle for the group since he was 9. The Thousand Islands Bluegrass Music Association of New York state awarded him "Fiddler of the Year" in 2003. His love for violin and fiddle music is shared with, if not surpassed by the joy he finds in the Piano. He blends delightfully with his siblings in harmony and plays guitar and Bass as well. In Bluegrass, his favorite artists include Kenny Baker, Mark O'conner, Micheal Cleveland, Stewart Duncan, Doug Bartlett and many others. Ben is indeed a clown and loves to make us laugh. He is Fifteen.
Started playing guitar at age 6 and took up mandolin at 8 - his featured instrument. He also contributes to vocals. Caleb’s impressive rhythm and lead mandolin often surprise audiences because of his young age. When we first started, we often overheard comments such as, "No way. You mean to tell me that kid’s going to actually play that thing?" It was funny to watch their faces when he took his first lead! And it doesn’t stop there; he also plays guitar, bass, fiddle, and piano - and all of them well. He enjoys listening to his favorite artists, Andy Leftwich and Ryan Holladay, and is constantly surprising the rest of the band with some new lick that he’s learned while listening to a CD. Caleb plays a Collings MT mandolin.
Started playing guitar when he was 16 years old, and was singing long before that. Ever since he was little, his family would have reunions, and since most of the family played instruments, they would gather around and pick. That was where he developed a love for bluegrass music. When Jared was seven he bought him a guitar and taught him some chords. Ben was the next one interested in music and wanted to play fiddle. Then came Caleb, Elisabeth and now Rebekah. With nine kids all talented and energetic, why not start a band? And he did. Skip continues to be the main lead singer for the group, works for an engineering company in Ohio, plays a strong rhythm guitar, and is improving rapidly with his lead guitar. He also plays one song on the piano which took him two weeks to learn, one note at a time!
11-year-old Naomi sings harmony with her sisters on several songs now, and she's an excellent mandolin chopper, keeping Caleb honest! She is featured on "This Little Light of Mine."
Five-year-old Liberty joins Timothy on stage to sing "Jesus Loves Me" or "Peter and John Went To Pray"
At two, Michael never fails to toddle onto stage and grab up a mandolin, then push his way to the front to entertain crowds wherever they go! |
