I’m sure by now you’ve had hundreds of accolades and comments. . . but I wanted you to know how touching in so many different ways your book was to me.  I just finished it tonight.  I can relate to the role of Billie w/Ryan – I pray I can continue to be as diplomatic as she was.  He seems to be experiencing something similar to what you did at the beginning of your collegiate journey.  The angst (although my experience was only through high school w/Jordan) of wondering what God was waiting for – how and when Jordan’s work ethic would pay off.  Interestingly, in the end, the truth prevailed.  Silly me!  I learned to just “Be still and know!”

   And Alyssa’s dream is beginning to be fulfilled by her time spent on the football field with the CUW Falcons!  I can only depend on the Lord to take that to the next level since I do not know how to help her to it in any other way.

   And then there’s the enduring of the “humilating tag of helicopter Mom” when in fact, I just REALLY like my kids and being with my kids and it will just have to be what I am.  I think they’re amazing people and they often lift me up!  I want to affirm you – the love we have for our children is put in our hearts by our Father in heaven.  Loving them to the best of our ability is what He would want of us!  That comes through in your writing loud and clear.

   But mostly, I could relate to your spiritual awakening at St. John’s.  As I look back on how I even got to CUW, how I even had the opportunity to learn about Jesus – definitely in God’s plan to use CUW as the place that I would come to know Him!  Thanks for sharing your story!  I was blessed by it!

Julie Chojnacki Buuck

Hi Dr. Ferry,

This is Dave Kolander, pastor at Christ the Lord Lutheran, Brookfield (WELS).  My daughter Anna is a sophomore at Concordia and is presently an RA.  She is very involved in the choir, voice, piano and drama programs.  Right now she is getting ready for the fall musical.  (My nephew Thomas is also a student at CUW.)

I am writing to tell you I just finished reading Faith in the Freshman.  Thank you for your wonderful book.  I laughed and cried throughout, as I relived many of my own experiences (with both my daughters Anna and Emma (Wisconsin Lutheran High School 2009, 2012) and my son Ryan (WLHS 2006)) — and as I rejoiced with you as you shared the Holy Spirit’s work with you and with your family. 

Having been blessed with parents who shared their faith with me, I cannot even imagine the humbling joy it musht have been to have been able to pass back to the previous generation the great things the Lord has done.  Thank you for sharing that message in such an interesting, insightful, and delightful way.

God bless and keep you in his Son,

Dave Kolander

P.S.  I also have my own fond memories of some of the great football, basketball, and baseball games we had against Milwaukee Lutheran, when I was a student long ago at Northwestern Prep in Watertown (now called Luther Prep).

Pat -

I just finished reading your book and wiped the tears from my eyes.  You, Andrew, and your entire families are some really amazing and inspiring people.  You certainly took me through a walk down memory lane!

Being who and how I am, I do need to make a couple of comments.  (It’s a Kimball family inherited trait!)

As a former Kansan, (Salina High School South – 1971), I want to defend the beauty of the Kansas wheat fields and the hardworking Kansas wheat farmer.  I realize your intent was to set the stage for a kid used to looking out the window and seeing the majestic Rocky Mountains, then arriving at Goodman, KS and realizing he has hit “no man’s land” with nothing to see but wheat fields for miles, you really painted a negative picture of the Kansas countryside.

You are excellent at using song lyrics that express your thoughts and feelings.  Here are a couple that express mine. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.” – America, the Beautiful.  Also John Denver’s tribute to his Uncle who was a wheat farmer out of Colby, KS, in his song “Matthew”.  In the refrain, he sings, “To Matthew  … gold is just a windy Kansas wheat field.  Blue just a Kansas summer sky”.

You are aware that the piece of bread you had your peanut butter and jelly on, came from those same wheat field?  (Okay, I have defended my Kansas!)

Another comment:  I was laughing so hard when I read the Winfield Chronicle’s description of the basketball game against Haskell I almost fell off the couch.  The laughter bought my husband into the room to see what was so funny and when I could finally read it to him, his laughter was just as hardy!

Thank you so much for the hours of great reading!

May God continue to bless you and those you hold dear.

Karen Kimball Ducas

Of course, we expect them to be well prepared since many of that school’s faculty are CUW alumni!  Each guest was given a copy of Faith in the Freshman — graciously presented by the high school.  Then the audience listened to my abbreviated oral version of the same story!  The wonderful students at Sheboygan Lutheran make faith in them when they become college freshman much easier for me.  A great school, with great faculty, great students, and great parents who support their mission.

     The Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry (M ’81), president of Concordia University Wisconsin, called the Alumni Association office a number of months ago to tell us he had recently completed a book entitled, “Faith in the Freshman.”  He asked if the office staff would review it if he e-mailed a copy to us.  After reviewing the book, and I admit that once I started it I couldn’t put it down, I was convinced that this book would be a winner.  I shared it with Wallace Behrhorst and Roland Mueller; and they, too, felt this was an excellent book.  They provided Dr. Ferry with some corrections and additional information.  And now the book has been published as Pat says, “This is recommended reading for parents who have a son or daughter who is going into college or is already in college.”  I believe it is just plain good reading, for it tells the story of a young man from Colorado who came to St. John’s College to play basketball.  This is compared to Pat’s son who overcame adversity to walk on and play basketball at Valparaiso University, an NCAA Division I school.  Great Story, Pat!

    Pat was invited to share some of his story with the alumni who were gathered at the 2010 Winfield Johnnie Reunion this past June at our “Talk About The Times” session on Saturday morning.  At the end of the session Pat told the audience that for every book sold that morning he would match that amount for the Alumni Association to be put into its General Scholarship Endowment.  He also left a number of books with the Association for it to publicize and sell and the same conditions would apply.

   Pat, thank you for a great book and also for helping out with the scholarship program of the St. John’s College Alumni Association.

Pat -

I hope the weekend went well and that the start of school is energizing and rewarding!

I finished your book this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!  I was amazed to read and learn how God has so effectively used you since we met in 2004.  He is masterful!!! As soon as I got to the end, I went to my computer to “google” where Andrew is today.  Wow! Cornell!!  Very good for him!  I am sure God will use him effectively there to His purpose.  And hopefully that includes continued success on the basketball court!!  He sure excelled last year at Palm Beach State.  105 3-pointers makes my arm tired just reading about them. (I so love basketball!)

My youngest is at Valparaiso.  Chelsea has just begun her sophomore year there.  Andrew is ahead of her and a year behind my son (senior at Belmont University in Nashville, TN).  At parents weekend last year, I attended the introduction of the men’s basketball team.  I thought to myself as I read your book, I didn’t remember him on the team.  As I read on, I understood why.

Thanks for writing your story!  I could relate in so many ways!  You caused me to reflect many times on how we need to let God be in control and not us.  Then on Sunday our sermon was about Moses’ mother letting God be in complete control as she put him in a basket in the Nile.  And we know the rest of that story.

God is definitely speaking to me!!

Thanks for being a conduit!
Doug

My wife and I just read Faith in the Freshman, and we both loved it.  Not only is the story compelling, but the sheer honesty makes it gripping.  We thank God for the gifts given to you and to Andrew.

Rolf Wegenke, Ph.D., President
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

Along with telling some stories and selling a few books, I have had the opportunity to help others get better acquainted with Concordia University.  I also have engaged audiences on the subject of Type 1 diabetes and have asked for their prayers and support in the quest for a cure.

Below is a brief note from a Rotarian whose club I addressed last week.  He is a Cornell alumnus and was excited to learn of Andrew’s plans. 

Hi Dr. Ferry and Andrew, – What a pleasure it was to have you both visit our Rotary of Milwaukee/North Shore meeting last Monday.  As President/Elect for the coming year 2010-2011, and on behalf of all our members, I want to thank you for visiting us and telling us such a marvelous story of faith, as it relates to basketball, family, and life.  It certainly could be theme for any fine sermon as there are many stories connected to this, evident in your book, which I’m reading with great interest.  We hope you had a useful and informative dinner with the new basketball coach at Cornell.  And for Andy, I have alerted my fraternity brothers (Sigma Phi) of Andy’s move to Cornell next year and know that your experience there will be a highlight of your life as you enjoy the people, the team, Ithaca, and in general, all that Cornell will be offering to you.  Thanks again, Dr. Ferry, for your inspiring talk at our meeting and continued success at Concordia as you lead your fine school into the future.  God Bless you and Andy – Owen Perry.

Also below is the list of presentations that have been a part of my recent routine.  Summer’s schedule is filling fast!

• April 7 – New Berlin Noon Rotary
• April 14 – Port Washington/Saukville Basketball Banquet
• April 15 – Barnes & Noble Book Signing at Bay Shore Town Square
• April 16 – Book table at the Women’s Leadership Institute National Conference
• April 17 – Rite -Hite YMCA
• April 21 – Alexian Village Book Club
• April 25 – Christian Athletic Scholarship Banquet
• April 27 – West Bend Sunrise Rotary
• May 11 – Thiensville – Mequon Noon Rotary
• May 19 – Mitchell Field Noon Rotary
• May 24 – Northshore Milwaukee Noon Rotary
• May 27 – Cedarburg/Grafton Noon Rotary
• June 18 -20 – St. John’s College Alumni Reunion
• July 26 – Waukesha Rotary
• October 18-20 – Mid-South District LCMS Professional Church Workers Conference

We are getting close to ordering our third printing and my speaking calendar is getting much busier, too.  Remember, every dollar raised goes to support Concordia’s ministry and the Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation!

Dear Dr. Ferry,

I wanted to drop you a note just to let you know that someone outside your “intimate inner circle” thoroughly enjoyed your book.  I could relate to your story on so many levels and was amazed that both of us even have a daughter named Rachel (ours however is Rachael).  The years for me have flown by also and can’t believe I will be turning 50 very soon.

Your inferences to TV and music choices just made me chuckle.  I haven’t thought about some of my favorites from way back then for far too long.

I have always believed that everyone has a story to tell.  My take on yours is that thus far it’s quite a love story.  Thank you for sharing it and bringing me down memory lane.  Thank you for your continued guidance at CUW — it’s the right place for my kids to be.  Most importantly, I offer thanksgiving for you as such a faithful Shepherd.

I would like nothing better than to meet Andrew someday.  He is remarkable in so many ways and CUW would be lucky to have him as a leader.

Kyle was very happy with his own personalized copy — he appreciated your kind words.  His final season is rolling by way too fast and just thinking about his run ending soon really makes me sad.  We are very excited for CIT though and hope to be able to say hello at some point during the tournament.

Sincerely,

Sue Barth and Family