Narrative Summary
Interview with Debbie Lindell by Roman Rushing
Debbie Lindell was born in July in the 1960s in Minnesota. She was raised in the church
from a very early age. Her parents T. and Y. Keene guided her religious life early on. She was
raised within the Independent Assemblies of God denomination. Her father was a pastor, and
Debbie realized her call to God beginning in her early childhood. She recalls the moment when,
at the age of five, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She has been led by
her faith ever since. At 15 she met her future husband John Lindell in Colorado. The convictions
they share have led them to where they are today.
In speaking with Debbie, it was clear that her faith and passion for God’s work is deeply
rooted within her. The experiences of leading churches in Kansas have impacted the way she
leads today. She and her husband started with a church in Kansas. Her foundation and belief in
the inerrant Word of God has guided her with the purpose to lead others through ministry.
Debbie has seen God work in people many times, and this is what drives her to work and lead
others within the church and community. Another role in leadership she experienced was taking
the challenge of another start-up church in Kansas. John and Debbie personally called over
13,000 people, requesting their attendance to this new church. Out of the 600 individuals who
committed to attending, only four showed up. This was a turning point in their ministry, and it
led them to question what God was asking them to do. After searching for this guidance, they
were called upon to become involved at a small church in the Ozarks called James River in
September of 1991. That year Debbie and her husband made the commitment to pastor this
church. Over the next 18 years, with their pastoral guidance, the church has grown to serve over
12,000 people on a weekly basis. While listening to Debbie talk about the significance of their
growth, it was apparent how humble and appreciative she felt through their journey. The
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
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struggles and work that she saw in the early churches they have pastored were valuable. With a
large church, the struggles and work are of a different kind, yet still present.
The profound feeling Debbie has about women’s roles in religion is that women have an
impact no matter what role they are in. She mentions missionaries, and even women within her
community, that make a difference. Debbie believes that ordainment should not be the focus;
instead, one’s focus should be on serving God in whatever capacity one is called upon to do. She
thinks that so much can be done through the lives of women that when they concentrate solely on
being ordained, they may actually end up playing a less effective role; she believes this view
often gets lost. She has thought about becoming ordained herself at times, but she feels her role
is better served elsewhere within the church.
As I asked Debbie about her role in the conferences and study groups she has helped
develop for women, she became very humbled by the thought that she has impacted many lives.
Her view was that she receives so much back from the people and experiences than she ever
gives. It was clear how much she desires to enrich and energize women within her community to
become the leaders she believes they are. I could sense the passion she has for enabling women
to succeed, because she feels that society makes it difficult for women to do so. She believes
God has a plan for each and every woman, and she wants them to be fulfilled in finding that plan
and utilizing the gifts God has given them. Her passion speaks volumes and from the moment
you talk to her, it is no surprise that Debbie Lindell has made an impact on women, not just
within her church, but also within the surrounding community.
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women