Ex-pastor to sign books at library
Staff writer
Dan Ferguson, 76, pastor at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion from 2014 to 2015, will sign his newest book at 6 p.m. Thursday at Marion City Library.
The book, “Radiant Rays from Mr. Sunshine,” is about life lessons from Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks, who retired from playing in 1971 and died in 2015. The book highlights the power of positivity and bringing people together.
Ferguson was a sales representative for an office supply company when he met Banks in a clothing store.
“He spoke to me first, and we talked for about an hour,” Ferguson said.
Banks, then doing public relations work for the Chicago Cubs and working as a hitting instructor for its minor league team, invited Ferguson to come to batting practice.
Ferguson’s most recent book, “Doggy Heaven: Lessons Peaches Teaches,” also will be for sale during the book signing.
His first book, “Grace’s Mirror: Healing for Perfectionists,” no longer is in print.
Ferguson previously was assigned to Pratt United Methodist Church.
“I had planned to retire from the Pratt church,” he said. “They told me it was time for me to move when I’d been there eight years. Then my wife developed some health problems.”
A suggestion from an acquaintance that Ferguson approach the bishop and offer to work half time was successful.
“That worked out, so I went to Douglass for three years,” he said.
He was at Douglass from 2015 to 2018.
“After that I was at Aldersgate for almost a year,” he said.
Aldersgate is a large church in Wichita with four pastors.
In 2018, he went to Mount Hope, staying there until 2024.
“After that I served half time at Mount Hope for five years,” Ferguson said. “Then, at the end of that, I retired from being a pastor. I was 75.”
Ferguson now focuses on writing magazine articles.
“I enjoy writing still,” he said.
What he misses from his Marion days is the people, he said.
“One of the drawbacks of being a pastor is eventually you have to say goodbye,” he said. “I always mourned over leaving friends behind.”