Dad, God, and Me: Remembering a Mennonite Pastor and His Wayward Son

In a compelling, honest, and transparent account, Ralph Friesen tells the story of his father, Reverend Peter D. Friesen of Steinbach, Manitoba. He also tells his own story, of the search for his father and a crisis of faith. Growing up in a fundamentalist Mennonite community as the son of a minister, Ralph resisted the pressure to be “saved” and struggled to find a spiritual alternative. His father suffered a debilitating stroke when Ralph was a young teenager, but it is only now, in his seventies, that Ralph has delved into the meaning of that event. Dad, God, and Me is Ralph’s quest to discover and convey the man his father was—with all of his strengths, faults, aspirations, and regrets. Drawing on journal entries, old photographs, and personal memories, this memoir welcomes readers into a particular time, place, and family. An engaging read for anyone who appreciates that “real life” can be challenging, painful, and beautiful all at the same time.