Faith in the Freshman

Pat Ferry with Faith in the Freshman

Pat Ferry is passionate about many things, but the entire Ferry family was confronted with a challenge in 2006 when Andrew, his son, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 16.  In 2008, the Ferry family found out that their youngest member, Stephen, is also afflicted with Type I diabetes.  Stephen was 15 years old at the time.  Since Andrew’s diagnosis, the whole family has become heavily involved in the diabetes community, working to find a cure for diabetes.

In reading this book, you’ve gotten a glimpse into the heart and soul of Pat Ferry. But there’s more to know about him and his family.

Those who have known him for a long time and have heard him preach and speak a number of times are not surprised by the frequent use of music of the Sixties and Seventies as touch points for his thinking. Many of his sermons and presentations draw illustrations either from music or from family.

You’ve read of his introduction to Martin Luther through confirmation instructions and reading Here I Stand. He followed that interest through his doctoral studies, resulting in a series of periodical and journal articles, particularly on Luther’s preaching and that of other reformers. As Professor of History at Concordia he frequently teaches courses on church history, including the Reformation era.

An avid reader, he consumes many books, many, but not all of them in history. He leads a book discussion each semester with members of CUW’s Administrative Council.

Pat, Tammy, and the entire Ferry family

And then there’s the whole matter of athletics. Pat and Tammy plan their schedules carefully to be able to attend almost all of the athletic contests their five children participated in through elementary school, high school, college, Little League, and AAU. And Pat can be found at most of Concordia’s home games. As president of CUW, he was instrumental in forming the 13 member Northern Athletics Conference, of which Concordia is a member.

Pat Ferry is a disciplined runner, maintaining a journal of his experiences as he prepares for and runs in number of marathon runs, including the Boston Marathon. It’s not unusual to hear that he has made arrangements to run home from campus (18 miles) or to note that he is working out at the nearest YMCA while on the road for trips required of a university president.

You’ve read about Pat, Tammy, and Andrew in this book. Their children have followed Pat’s lead in adventuring to distant places for college. Peter graduated from Concordia University, Irvine CA. In the 2009-2010 school year, Hannah is a senior at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward NE; Andrew a sophomore at Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth FL; Rachel a freshman at Concordia University Texas, Austin; and Stephen a junior at Milwaukee Lutheran High School.

More important than all these activities (and many more), #1 in Pat’s life is his commitment to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.