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Transcript 1
Collection 609
[February 1, 2005]
Ferris, Frederick George; 1911-1998
Interviews; 1911-1988
Audio Tapes (0.004 cubic feet)
Brief Description: Oral history interview with Frederick George Ferris a Baptist pastor, officer with World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) and the National Association of Evangelicals, and missionary to Liberia, West Africa. Ferris talks about his family, conversion, various church pastorates, church planting and animist worship in Liberia, and work with WEF.
Restrictions: None.
Biography
Full name |
Frederick George Ferris |
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Birth |
September 13, 1911, Detroit, Michigan |
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Death |
December 13, 1998 |
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Family |
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Parents |
George Albert and Rose (Dara) Ferris |
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Siblings |
Mercedes Irene (born 1910), Clarence (born 1913) |
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Marital Status |
Married Inez Irene Weston, March 27, 1934 |
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Children |
Robert Weston (born 1940), Beverly Jane (born 1946), Marjorie Ann (born 1948) |
Conversion |
At the age of 16 |
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Education |
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1935-1936 |
Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois |
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1936-1942 |
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary |
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1942-1943 |
Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois |
Career |
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1938-1944 |
Pastor of First Baptist Church, Somonauk, Illinois |
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1944-1951 |
Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lorraine, Kansas |
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1940s |
Mission secretary, Southwest Regional Conference, Northern Baptist Association |
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1949 |
Visited Cameroon, West Africa to survey the Northern Baptist Association’s mission work |
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1951-1953 |
Pastor of a church in Muscatine, Iowa |
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1953-1957 |
Director of Evangelism for the LeTourneau Foundation, Liberia, West Africa where 26 churches were planted (based in Baffu Bay, Liberia) |
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1957 |
Executive director of the National Association of Evangelicals for World Evangelical Fellowship |
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1958-1962 |
International executive secretary of World Evangelical Fellowship |
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1962-1979 |
Pastor of Strathmoor Judson Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan |
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1977 |
Resigned from Farmington Hills Baptist Church |
Other significant information |
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ca. 1914-1918 |
Lived mostly in London, England, while his father served with the Canadian military during World War I |
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1977 |
Retired to New Port Richey, Florida |
Scope and Content
Frederick George Ferris was interviewed by his granddaughter, Rosalyn S. Ferris, on October 22, 1988, at the Billy Graham Center. This interview was conducted as part of a Wheaton College class assignment. The events described in the interview cover the time period 1911-1988.
T1 (60 minutes). (Click to link to the transcript of this tape) Family background, conversion (grandmother, a captain in the Salvation Army, prayed for his salvation), calling to the Lord’s ministry, preaching by age 18, influence of a deacon at his church, church pastorates, how God opened the door for missionary work in Liberia with the LeTourneau Foundation, Robert G. LeTourneau’s vision for Liberia, mission work (treks into the interior of Liberia, evening meetings), description of worship services, example of native Christians breaking animistic taboos, words to a chorus in the Kroo language, training of local leaders, describes tribal authority structure, animist worship, example of who’s God is more powerful (attempt to sacrifice a baby), describes the church in Liberia, LeTourneau school work and medical clinic, Liberian President Tubman’s support for Christian work, evaluation of Tubman’s administration, development of industries by joint efforts of Americans and Liberians, effect of sun rays on individuals, work with World Evangelical Fellowship as the executive international director, growth of the WEF, end of the LeTourneau Foundation’s work in Liberia (except the mission work), native churches’ outreach to other villages, reflects on years in Liberia.
Provenance
The materials in this collection were given to the Archives of the Billy Graham Center by Frederick George Ferris and Rosalyn S. Ferris in January 1989.
Accession: 89-6
February 1, 2005
Wayne D. Weber
LOCATION RECORD
Accession: 89-6
Type of Material: Audio Tapes
The following items are located in the AUDIO TAPE file.
Item# - Reel or cassette, speed, length, number of sides, contents (title of session, participants) according to the program, date.
# |
R/C |
speed |
length |
Sides |
Contents |
Dates |
T1 |
C |
-- |
60 min. |
2 |
Interview with Frederick George Ferris by Rosalyn S. Ferris |
10/22/1988 |