sm// Rory's Bio

The year was 1983... Michael Jackson was "Thrilling" as the King of Pop... Mr. T had cereal named after him... and Richard and Virginia Eldridge gave birth to as son who was supposed to be named Wolfgang... until the sedatives wore off of my mom and somehow the name Rory came out. Thanks Mom!

Growing up in the most beautiful place in the world, Kirkland, (K-Tizzle if you're a teenager) I spent many a day lifeguarding at local pools, playing baseball at Peter Kirk Park, causing the occasional raucous with my "homeslices," and hanging out with Overlake's Student Ministry. Ahh, those were the good ole days! After graduating Juanita High School in 2002 it was off to WSU to become the next great ESPN Sportscenter host. Things were going well until a freak prescription drug interaction caused me to lose 50lbs in 2 months... dash my baseball dreams... and leave me in a general state of depression. God is sooooooo good though!!!

It was during this time I rededicated my life to Jesus and decided once and for all that I wanted to be on the "Great Physicians" team. After finishing up the year at WSU I decided to transfer to Northwest University where I was a member of the Debate team (sounds "nerdly" huh) and in 2006 graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Communication. After college I was offered a position with "Healing for the Soul Counseling" in Colorado Springs where I worked as the Director of Public Relations and had the opportunity to meet players from organizations such as Focus on the Family, Compassion International, The Navigators, and many more. After a short while though I was feeling the call toward home. That has always been where my heart is and Overlake is my home. In the summer of 2007 I was given the opportunity by Pastor Josh McQueen to be the keynote speaker at the High School Houseboats Summer Camp and Jesus rocked my world!!! After that week I decided to become a Student Ministries intern at OCC while at the same time working for the City of Redmond... then it happened!!!

In November of 2007 I was asked along with Bob Lee to submit a resume for a Student Ministries pastoral position at Overlake. This was literally a dream come true! After an amazing interview process which commenced with the elders anointing us with oil and praying over us my dream came to fruition. On January 1, 2008 I officially became a Student Ministries Pastor at Overlake Christian Church. Now the job has begun and I am thrilled to be Loving God, Loving People, and Serving the World with all who call Overlake their church home.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!! In the fall of 2008 I met the frosting to my cake. Miss Laura McKenny made me go giggity giggity gaga and boom shaka laka! This young brunette doe swept me up in her beauty and love for Jesus and I was completely done for! In less then 9 months we were married. And after a wedding and honeymoon we will not soon forget we now reside in our mission field of Kirkland where we desire to see hearts restored because they are reborn in Jesus Christ.

-Rory Eldridge