From a Heart to Serve to Answering His Calling: DBU Alumnus Ed Fry, Founder of FaithSearch Partners

As Ed Fry, Dallas Baptist University '95 alumnus, surrenders each day over to the Lord, he trusts that God will provide for his life and career. Following a call from the Lord, Ed founded FaithSearch Partners, a company dedicated to helping faith-based organizations find the right leaders for their next chapter in advancing the mission of the Gospel.

Giving his life to Christ at the age of 13, Ed began striving to live daily for the glory of the Lord, learning to trust Christ in every step towards the future. Ed went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Southwestern Adventist University, before pursuing his master's degree at DBU.

Growing up in Dallas, Texas, Ed was familiar with DBU, primarily because his grandfather had founded Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) in the 1960s, which manufactured military jets across the lake from the University.

When he began looking for faith-based MBA programs in the Dallas area, DBU stood out to him. Though he was living far from campus at the time, the University had a satellite campus located at Prestonwood Baptist Church, which allowed him to obtain his MBA through DBU.

At the start of his career, Ed worked in faith-based health care in both Fort Worth and Chicago. Traveling between the two cities, Ed managed marketing and public relations at both hospitals, and managed the PR functions at the premier healthcare quality review agency called the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

In the next chapter of his career, Ed joined Witt/Kieffer as Vice President and Partner, followed by helping launch the faith-based practice at Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), one of the "big four" international executive search firms. At RRA, Ed focused on faith-based hospital systems for over 17 years, where he learned and managed the structured search processes that help bring each organization the right leader. During this role, Ed recognized that he had a passion for serving faith-based clients.

Ed began to realize this was a mission field where he could serve both clients and candidates in finding the best fit for each faith-driven organization. He believed that there needed to be a faith-based mindset in every step of this search process to help ensure organizations have the leadership needed to keep succeeding and growing. Inspired by this idea, FaithSearch was born in 2007, serving clients with an elite search process that found them great leaders who aligned with their Christ-centered missions.

Over the last 20 years, FaithSearch, located in Dallas, has become the largest firm serving the entire faith community. They are now ranked number one in managing Christian university/college President searches across the United States. FaithSearch exclusively serves Christian organizations and businesses, including hospitals, universities, ministries, schools, and Christian media, providing a high-quality search process to advance each organization's Kingdom impact.

As Ed focuses on serving Christian organizations through FaithSearch, he shares how DBU's Christ-centered focus and mission shaped both his personal and professional life. "It has allowed me to continue on God's journey to serve others with strengthened competence and enthusiasm," he says.

Looking back at his time at DBU, Ed reflects on how his Marketing, Business Law, and Strategy courses were most fulfilling to him, teaching and guiding him to where he is today. He is also grateful for the impact DBU's faculty and staff have had throughout his time as a student and now as a successful alumnus.

Beyond his role in FaithSearch, Ed serves on the Advisory Board for Auburn University's Master's in Health Administration program; as a board member of The Journey, a Christian radio station; and with Faith for Today, the oldest religious television broadcast in the world.

Over the years, Ed and his wife, Ginger Fry, have had the privilege of watching their children grow into strong spiritual leaders, with one having attended DBU.

Throughout his career, Ed has learned that everything will happen with the Lord's guidance. Daily, he reminds himself to give the day over to God and let him provide what is needed. "Don't ask for what to do in five years," he says. "Ask what to do today and tomorrow." He hopes to encourage others through his journey, to not worry about the future, but to let God guide them through each day.