Garry Friesen

Garry Friesen grew up in the area around Detroit, Michigan, and responded to the gospel in high school. While attending John Brown University, he spent twenty hours per week in ministry, primarily as county director for Youth for Christ. The seven years Friesen spent at Dallas Theological Seminary earning a master in theology degree and a doctorate in systematic theology deepened his love for ministry and teaching God's Word. After leaving Dallas, Friesen began teaching Bible and theology at Multnomah Bible College where he authored Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View. His book has sold 250,000 copies and fostered many speaking opportunities, including Staley Lectureships. Friesen accepted positions as head of the Bible department in 1980 and academic dean in 1989, then returned to full-time teaching in 1997. His courses include Pentateuch, Gospels, Acts-Philemon, Spiritual Gifts, and The Life and Thought of C. S. Lewis. Friesen also involves himself in the lives of his students, mentoring four students who live at his home.Friesen annually co-leads a trip to England that includes a portion on the life of C.S. Lewis, a particular interest of his. For two summers, he served on an Oxford team to restore Lewis' house, the Kilns, as a historical site and study center. Friesen's hobbies include walking, coaching a coed softball team, leading the Eagle and Child reading group, watching sports, and collecting C.S. Lewis books and memorabilia.