With a cold beer in his right hand and his wife’s hand in his left, Daniel Allen pulls out a chair for his wife and partner Lainie Acridge Allen. The life coach and Canterbury leader lives a biblical life in modern times and tries to help others do the same. Coming from a meeting with one of his clients and her SMU theology class, the couple shares their day’s pros and cons.
“Empowering students to go after their passions isn’t work, that’s joy,” said Allen during a recent interview at Truckyard restaurant off Lower Greenville.
Canterbury is the SMU Episcopal campus ministry focused on community development, spiritual formation and service with the college ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. As part of his work, Allen spends time during the week mentoring students who attend Canterbury fellowship meetings or anyone who wants to stop by. There is a weekly gathering on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. at the Canterbury House on Daniel Avenue, and Allen holds other events throughout the year.
SMU graduate Tanner Whitham, who graduated in 2014, has been counseled by Allen. He believes having a mentor is important because college is a time when many individuals are figuring out who they are and their purpose in life.
Whitham read Allen’s book Summoned, which was published in December of 2014. He said the book illustrates several ways people can persevere through challenges to live a life that is transformed and centered around Christ.
“If there is one thing I have taken away from Daniel over the past couple of years, it is how to become a more effective leader rooted in a relationship with Christ,” he said. “I recommend “Summoned” to any man who desires the same.”
According to SMU’s campus profile 26 percent of students are Catholic, 16 percent are Methodist, 40 percent are from other Protestant denominations, and 18 percent represent other religions. SMU has diverse campus ministries organizations and Canterbury’s doors are open to anyone.
Allen has a YouTube account where he posts videos to promote his book.
Allen began coaching leaders on their life direction in 1981. He started working in youth ministry after graduating from Lee University in Pasadena, CA in 1981. Not too long after, he married his college girlfriend Lainie Acridge Allen in 1996. The two started AMS Inc., a 501c3 non-profit twenty years ago this month. In addition to mentoring students, Allen mentors big businesses and churches through his nonprofit.
Acridge Allen works at the Church of The Apostles in Dallas and is about to graduate with her masters in seminary from Perkins School of Theology.
“He learned that in order to help the church grow he had to learn how to coach leaders,” said Acridge Allen.
In addition to working with SMU students, Allen works students at Texas Women’s University and University of Texas at Dallas. He finds SMU is different than the other universities because he believes SMU attracts “high-capacity students with a track record of academic prowess and a great resume already.”
“It’s great to see how they react by having a professional leader say ‘that is a darn good idea and I want to see you run with that it.’ The permission I’m able to give them really lights their fuse,” said Allen.
His wife finds they have to work on the practice of self-leadership with most students.
“Young adults struggle with that and we get it. We’ve been in their shoes before,” said Acridge Allen.
“Take a person with a lot of talent and then take a person with a little bit of talent and the one with good work ethic is going to go the farthest,” said Allen.
Kristen Kayem Polster is an adjunct lecturer at SMU. As a professor, she is leery of anyone that tries too hard to meet students on their level. She finds Allen does it in a skillful way that is honest and engaging.
“I think students benefit from having a mentor at this age because they are in such a liminal space between youth and adulthood. Having someone paint a variety of pictures of what their adult lives could look like, and giving students tools and confidence to achieve goals on their own terms and in their own way is incredibly valuable,” said Polster.
Whitham reached out to Allen because he was struggling to figure out what he wanted to do for a career and was struggling to figure out what was important in his life. Today, he is studying theology at the University of Dallas.
“Daniel has a passion for helping young adults grow into effective leaders and make a difference in the world. Aside from my parents, Daniel has been one of the most inspirational figures in my life,” said Whitham.
Jonathan Hess is the residential community director at SMU. Having Allen as a mentor, he describes Allen’s style of mentoring as a combination of authority and approachability that allows students to find their way.
“A skilled mentor helps us see ourselves and the world around us more accurately. They don’t give answers, they ask the questions that make us consider things we may have not before; the questions that open our eyes,” said Hess.
Through advice, support, and encouragement, Allen has allowed SMU students attempt to find a course of direction in their lives.
“There’s a bit of wisdom that says this time next year you will be a reflection of the books you’ve read and the mentors you’ve had, if you’re intentional about your growth,” said Allen.
