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

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

“Since returning home, I read Faith in the Freshman for the second time.  I bought it in November when I was on campus and read it then.  I was so moved, I was almost speechless.  Now I’ve read it again and marval at what you’ve accomplished in telling this story so beautifully.  What a tribute to Tammy, your children and family!  What a way to honor a loving God who called you by name!

The title is so perfect on several levels.  I’m sure that’s the way you intended.  I liked the way you alternated chapters describing your experiences and Andrew’s.  I liked the candor you expressed and the trust you had in your readers to understand.  Not only was your prose a joy to read, but the feeling and experiences you described were so real.”

    from Donna Streufert

Part 2…


Part 3…

Finally, Part 4…

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 –

Listen to the interview with the player below:

Andrew,

I just got done reading your Dad’s book.  My Dad brought me a copy when he was out here in Nebraska for homecoming a couple weeks ago.  Initially, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it since I thought I knew the story (I’ve heard your Dad’s speech about his freshman year and have been getting updates on your situation from Hannah).  However, after letting it sit on the shelf for a few days I picked it up and started reading the intro, and never put it down!  I’ve always had a great deal of respect for you as a ballplayer and a shooter, but now I have even more respect for you as a man!  God has blessed you with an incredible heart and passion for basketball, but it is also clear that he is and will continue to use you for so much more.  The way you battled and continue to battle diabetes head on is amazing, and nothing that I can even fathom.  Most would have used that as an excuse to lower expectations or give up on dreams, but it became just another obstacle (a really big one) that you figured out how to overcome and work through.  I think that’s awesome to say the least!

God has also blessed you with a very special dad and an incredible father/son relationship.  I think this book touched me so much because it kept reminding me of my relationship with my dad (and my Mom who was always there along the way, just like your dad’s mom was and how your mom is as well).  Going through the process of chasing dreams with your father right there all along the way is a unique thing, and the bond that results lasts forever – that can never be taken away!  Someday when you’re a dad you’ll get to experience the joys (and the ups and downs) from the other side of things as well.

My son Jimmy just turned 9 today.  I thought I was a driven athlete, but he’s crazy!  His main passion is baseball, and just yesterday I got home from work and he was outside hitting baseballs for about an hour and a half in rainy 32 degree weather!  Who does that???  In the summer I’ll pitch to him and he won’t stop swinging until his hand start blistering and bleeding – literally.  He also loves basketball and last summer he made 21 out of 25 three pointers in the driveway (on a 9 ft hoop with an intermediate sized ball, but still pretty impressive for an 8 year old).  He can beat me pretty consistently in HORSE already.  The two of us will be in for an interesting ride in the years to come, and I can only hope that – no matter what dreams he chooses to chase – he shows the kind of dedication, determination, and work ethic that have made you the player and person you are today!

So… I just wanted to let you know that I’m pulling for you, and more importantly I’m praying for you.  I’ll continue to get updates from Hannah on how things are going.

And by the way, I hit 37 threes in a row after a practice once, so I was ticked off to read that you blew my personal record away!!!!

God’s blessings!

Dr. J (Jr.)