Faith in the Freshman

The following review was written by Dr. David Eggebrecht and appeared in the Fall 2009 edition of the Concordian.  ~ Pat

Concordia President, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry, has written a new book entitled Faith in the Freshman:  A Story of Hopes and Hoops.  In alternating chapters he discusses his own freshman experience , at St. John’s College — Winfield, which led him to become a Christian, and his son Andrew’s experience as a college freshman wanting to play Division I basketball and dealing with diabetes.

The book is an engrossing read (I had to wrest it from my wife’s hands in order to read it so I could write this review by deadline.)

Not only are the intertwining stories interesting, it’s fascinating to see how they are tied together and build on each other.  Dr. Ferry’s intense homesickness as he leaves for college comes through strongly, his personal strubbles as he tried to adapt to college life are intense and moving.  At the same time, Andrew’s strong desire to play basketball at a Division One institution as he learns to adapt his physical nature to the ravages of diabetes is equally engrossing.

This is the sort of book with which one can’t wait to turn the page to learn what’s next, the sort of book the reader wishes would not end, and, when it does, can’t wait for the sequel.  The relationship between father and son is powerful and loving and drives the story along.  The insights growing from that relationship are well worth reading about.

The book is now available –