Paul D. Lindstrom
Nov 6, 1939 ~ May 22, 2002
Christian, Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather Pastor, Educator, Homeschool Pioneer, Defender of Liberty, Friend
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“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?”
(1 Corinthians 15:51–55)
In the midst of our deep and profound sadness at this indescribable loss, we are thankful to our sovereign and mighty God for this tireless laborer, thankful that He has blessed Paul Lindstrom and the Church of Christian Liberty greatly over the years, and thankful that this faithful servant has entered into his eternal Sabbath rest.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).
Our sovereign and loving Lord took Paul Lindstrom the afternoon of May 22, 2002. Beloved of family and friends, he has had an impact upon the lives of countless people throughout the world. Paul Lindstrom was a man whose life truly typified
1 Corinthians 15:58; steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. We thank God for his many years of diligent labor and know that his labor in the Lord has not been in vain.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
“So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory:
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians
15:42–44, 49).
In the midst of our deep and profound sadness at this indescribable loss, we are thankful to our sovereign and mighty God for this tireless laborer, thankful that He has blessed Paul Lindstrom and the Church of Christian Liberty greatly over the years, and thankful that this faithful servant
has entered into his eternal Sabbath rest.
Paul Lindstrom leaves behind his wife of forty years, Florence (Florie); four children, Karla McHugh, Kim Rapp, Peter, and Calvin; and sixteen grandchildren. With his family gathered around and from a bed in his home Pastor Paul baptized his sixteenth grandchild on May 19, 2002. Paul Lindstrom, staunchly pro-life and pro-family, leaves behind not only a worldwide legacy through his efforts on behalf of the kingdom through the ministries of the Church of Christian Liberty, but he also leaves a strong legacy through the covenant family with which God has richly blessed him and his wife. This covenant family loves the Lord and has as its chief end to glorify God and to enjoy him forever and includes sixteen grandchildren, at last count, who will have his faithful example and exhortation to do all to the glory of God.
“Our present world is in a state of chaos and uncertainty. All is not well in our constitutional republic. The only adequate answer is in truly Christian education at home, in the church, and at school.”
Recognized as one of the pioneers of Christian home education, Dr. Paul Lindstrom, best known as “Pastor Paul,” served as Superintendent of Schools of the Christian Liberty Academy School System. Many knew him best as the former National Chairman of the Remember The Pueblo Committee and for his efforts to secure the release of missionaries, POWs, and MIAs in Southeast Asia.
After graduating from the University of Illinois and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Pastor Paul taught in the Chicago public schools. In 1967, he worked with Dr. Philip Crane (who later became a U.S. Congressman) in the development of Westminster Academy. Dr. Lindstrom founded the Christian Liberty Academy in 1968 and began to organize the Christian Liberty Academy School System in 1970.
Continuing with his own studies, Rev. Lindstrom received his Doctor of Education degree in 1985, and his Doctor of Law degree in 1994. He has been honored by a Governor of Illinois, the Illinois House of Representatives, the Republic of Free China, and the Romanian-American National Congress.
Pastor Paul traveled extensively in the Middle East and authored the book Armageddon: The Middle East Muddle. Another book, Four Days in May... Storming the Gates of Hell, is a biblical defense of the pro-life movement. He also wrote articles which have appeared nationally.
Paul Lindstrom was a frequent public speaker and a guest on many TV and radio programs throughout the nation. He also conducted his own “There’s No Place Like Home” daily radio program, broadcast nationwide.
Paul Lindstrom was a man who loved the Lord, loved his family, and loved the church. His desire was to see God’s kingdom work advance in his local community, in the country, and around the world. To this end he was a tireless worker throughout his years. He directed the establishment and growth of many ministry works over the years; among them the Church of Christian Liberty, missions works at home and abroad, Christian Liberty Academy, Christian Liberty Academy School System, Christian Liberty Press, efforts on behalf of the martyr church, and the fight for God-given and constitutionally protected liberties.
In all these things Paul Lindstrom was a man who understood and believed the answer to Heidelberg Catechism,
Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and death?
“That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.”
Church of Christian Liberty Elder and CLA Headmaster Phil Bennett:
An area of emphasis in Pastor Paul’s ministry related to perseverance was that of the proper use of one’s time. One would frequently hear him admonish himself as well as others to “buy up the time and use the opportunities.” He practiced what he preached. On many an occasion one mission was just being completed, when Paul would see another opportunity for further service. The result was often another 18–20 hour workday, but the results were rewarding. It was through this diligence that many new ministries were begun. Pastor Paul was faithful in the use of the time God granted him.
Church of Christian Liberty Elder and founding member Phil Roos:
A theme upon which Pastor Paul often spoke was that of keeping on, keeping on. Galatians 6:9 tells us “And be not weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Pastor set the example for us in abounding in the work of the Lord. He was untiring and unflinching in working to advance God’s Kingdom. Though God has given us all different and varying degrees of talent to use for Him; Pastor Paul’s admonition for us was, and is, “Keep on keeping on.”
The following are excerpts from a report prepared in 1990 for the 25th anniversary of the Church of Christian Liberty:
In the Bible we read, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). The Lord has directed our paths these many years. As we begin the 26th year of the Church of Christian Liberty we rejoice in all that God has done for us. He has blessed in every way. He has made possible over the years that which many in 1965 said was impossible. What is impossible with men is possible with God. The Pilgrims in 1620 made a small effort, the influence of which has been felt around the world. So we trust that the effort we have made and will continue to make will be felt not only in Arlington Heights and its environs, but also in Illinois and America and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
On Tuesday evening, February 9, 1965, Pastor Paul Lindstrom was riding with Philip Roos. During the ride, Pastor Lindstrom shared with Phil the burden that was on his heart concerning the need for reaching those outside their congregation with the message of God’s truth—“the whole counsel of God.” How might this best be accomplished? Pastor Lindstrom suggested an afternoon program. Mr. Roos agreed. Together they prayed in the car, and a planning session was scheduled.
The Sunday afternoon program, beginning on March 28, 1965, continued at Feehanville School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois for four months. On Sunday, July 25th, the Church of Christian Liberty began meeting at the West Park Field House in Des Plaines, Illinois. The time of the services was changed to the morning hours.
Slowly but surely, the congregation began to grow as the Lord added to the church. Property was purchased in Prospect Heights in 1966, and church construction began in 1967. The first service in the new sanctuary was held in June of 1968. In the fall of 1968 the newly organized Christian Liberty Academy, meeting in the church basement, opened its doors to K–9th grade students. Three mobile classrooms were purchased in 1971, and construction began on an educational building in 1973. Construction was completed in 1975.
Mission churches were opened in Milwaukee (1967), Rockford (1968), and St. Charles-Elburn (1972), as Pastor Paul and the Shermans traveled for years on Sunday afternoons to these locations. Schools were organized in Milwaukee and Elburn.
As early as 1969, Pastor Paul was doing preparatory work for the establishment of a home based educational program. An opportunity presented itself in the fall of 1970 with help requested for a 4th grade student in Chicago whose parents had removed him from the local public school. An experimental program was instituted, and Pastor Paul worked with a group of about 30 home schoolers for five years. The new program was “publicly” launched with a 1975 ad which resulted in the influx of several hundred students. Many families, charged with “violations” of state laws, were taken to court. Pastor Paul spent considerable time in those early days of home schooling providing families with legal counseling, and traveling around the country to appear as a witness in court on behalf of those brought to trial. This resulted in several significant victories based on first amendment protections.
With the growth of both CLA and CLASS, the decision was made in March, 1985, to bid on the closed Arlington High School building. God sovereignly granted success, and the Church of Christian Liberty took possession of the Arlington facilities on Labor Day weekend, 1985.
The Church of Christian Liberty has sought to be faithful to its divine commission. Preaching and teaching the “whole counsel of God,” which has included the taking of biblical stands on controversial issues, has often resulted in “backdoor revivals.” Not liking the “heat,” many have left the “kitchen.” Our pastor, going all the way back to 1965, has been very outspoken about the humanist takeover of our key institutions. While many considered these areas to be off limits or were afraid to get involved, he has always been on the front lines and in the thick of the battle. By the grace of God he has been a man of faith and perseverance where it has been most needed.
We have sought to make our church an outreach of Christ’s sovereignty over this nation. As we move into the future with all of its opportunities and uncertainties, we experience the same feelings Joshua must have felt when the Lord told him, “Ye have not passed this way heretofore” (Joshua 3:4). But we can also claim by faith the promise God had already given him: “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:5,6).
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