Having written about Randy Mayeux yesterday, it’s only appropriate that I also write about Steve Ridgell, because the two of them were influencing my life at about the same time. Steve came to the University Church of Christ in Abilene as Campus Minister about my senior year at ACU. Since I stayed around to do graduate work, I had time to get to know Steve. He had preached in Winnsboro, Texas, the hometown of my roommate, so I was around Steve even though I wasn’t attending University at that time. I even went to some informal classes that Steve gave for some of us who were looking to become ministers, and I got to join a group of twelve that worked with Steve in leading the campus ministry.

It was good for me that I got to be around Randy and Steve about the same time because they were almost total opposites. Randy strictly followed the guidelines from Dress For Success. Steve wore blue jeans almost constantly. Randy believed in doing what it took to be invited to speak; he told me, “I have something to say, and I don’t mind shaking the right hands to get to say it.” Steve took the opposite tack, saying, “If I really have something to say, I’ll get the chance to say it.”

While Randy was all about mining the text for deeper meanings, Steve was focused on making the text practical. His speaking style naturally appealed to college students, and more than a thousand of them would come to hear him on Wednesday nights. But Steve especially taught me about dealing with people on a personal basis. He gave me advice about life and career when I really needed it. And he gave me the freedom to use some of my gifts in ministry.

It’s interesting to write this now, because life has led me to work with Steve again. He is Director of Ministry at Herald of Truth and was responsible for my coming to work here. We travel the world together, preaching and teaching, and now we’ve written a book together. Life takes interesting turns.

I’m enjoying this series of Passing The Torch which John Dobbs began. Be sure and read some of the other stories. And bless us all by writing your own.