Friday is for My Soul Friends…Daryl Eldridge

One of my “soul friends” is Dr. Daryl Eldridge.? Actually, the idea for this category on my blog is based off of the name of his blog–“My Soul Friends.”

Dr. Eldridge is the Founder and President of Rockbridge Seminary, an online seminary based out of Springfield, MO. He was “my” dean while I was at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.? Actually, I was a MDiv. guy and Daryl was the dean of the Religious Education School, but I still had my share of classes in his “school.”

I did not personally meet Daryl until a few years back when I began attending a Pastors Learning/Accountability Group that was started by Michael Haynes, the Director of Missions of the Greene County Baptist Association.? Michael and Daryl have a heart to pour into the lives of “young” pastors/church planters and have somewhat “tag teamed” the leadership of this group.

Honestly, Daryl and the rest of that group really helped me make it through a very dark, difficult time a couple of years back.? He has always been available to listen and give advice to me when I have needed it.

What I love about Daryl is his passion for the education process.? Rockbridge Seminary is set up to reflect those passions.? Each student that is enrolled must find a mentor for their classes that they can learn from a “practicioner,” not just a professor that isn’t “in the trenches.”? What is awesome about this mentoring process is that not only does the student learn from the process, the mentor learns as well!? Daryl calls it “cross mentoring.”? I believe that as I walk with a student through this process, I am probably learning just as much as them.

A huge thanks to my soul friend, Daryl Eldridge!? Thank you for pouring into students, pastors, and future leaders of His Church!

Who is one of your mentors?? What is your relationship like?? How often do you meet with your mentor(s)?