By Daisy Rodriguez, student news writer, Office of University Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “Road trips are always better with friends,” Jeremy Elmore said.

“Whether you realize it or not, you're on a road trip. It's called life,” Elmore said as he spoke at the Vine on April 12 at Campbellsville University.

Elmore read from Acts 20:4:

“He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.”

“You're probably wondering why I'm just reading a bunch of names that we can't even pronounce. The first point I want to talk about is the lesson we can learn from Paul is that…road trips are always better with friends,” Elmore said.

We are not meant to be alone. Looking back in Genesis, why was Adam so lonely and distraught? Because he was not meant to be alone. He was not meant to take this road trip by himself. Therefore, Eve was created.

Elmore said we need real friends, not just acquaintances. We need friends who are going to cry with us, celebrate with us and friends we can call at 2 a.m. when the car breaks down.

“We. Need. Friends,” he said.

We need to have friends who will tell us the truth even when it hurts. We need friends who will challenge us. We need friends who will stand back-to-back with us no matter what.

Elmore said friends may hurt you. Friends may betray you. For example, look at Peter, walking with Jesus. He knew what he could do. Jesus told Peter: ‘You're going to be the rock I build my church on.' And Peter said: ‘I don't know who that guy is.' Not once. Not twice, but three times. Friends will betray you, Elmore said.

However, that shouldn't stop you from having friends. Friends aren't perfect. It's a part of life if one of us in the friendship messes up. And then we can forgive one another.

“You need friends,” Elmore said.

Elmore graduated from Campbellsville University and in 2011 and majored in Educational Ministries. He also has a Master's degree in Higher Education from North Carolina State University.

Elmore is married to Nicci Wilcox Elmore and has three children.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that has enrolled up to 12,000 students yearly. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.