"God has to break you down to rock-bottom nothing and empty you so that His Spirit can work through you and fill you." - Johnna Duke Regina Spirit Award Seniors honor Duke and Smith for exemplary Christian lives I John 3:18 describes the Christian example that the Regina social club honors each year with the Regina SpiritAward- "Dear children, let us not love withwords or tongue butwith actions and in truth. " Regina nominated 11 students - Scott Alexander, Jeff Brauer, Tiffany Chester, Becky Clark, Johnna Duke, Becky Folkerts, Cameron Hunter, Nathan Randolph, Daryl Rogers, Luke Smith and Brian Snow - and the senior class chose Johnna Duke and Luke Smith for this year 's award. Duke, a senior chemistry and vocational ministry major, and Smith, a senior chemistry major, shared a common desire to internalize I John 3:18 by allowing God to control their lives. Duke cited her experiences with the Uganda team as a landmark event in her life. "God has to break you down to rockbottom nothing and empty you so that His Spirit can work through you and fill you," she said. "Uganda was the beginning of God's breaking me down. When God is disciplining you and bringing you to a state of humility, you hate it. Then you look back and realize it all made sense," she said. Duke plans to return to Africa as a medical missionary. She said her experience there taught her to submit fully to God so He could do His works of love through her. Smith, who plans to enter medical school, also wants God to control his life. "My fiancee and I are considering a lot of options right now," he said. "It 's kind of exciting. If God sends us overseas, great. If we work here inAmerica, great. I know Godwill present me with opportunities when I leave medical school." Smith attributed much of his desire to love and serve others to his study of IJohn and the example ofMonte Cox. "I John is a short book, but it has some powerful verses about love," he said. "Monte taught me that the essence of the gospel is love when he taught me I John. He encouraged me not to see culture, race or color lines. He was an example of patience and of awillingness to serve. He 's the kind of man you look at and say, 'Iwant to be like that."' Duke also was influenced by a special passage of scripture. "There's averse in Judges 6that means a lot to me,where God tells Gideon, 'Go in the strength you have... Am I not sending you? ' Gideon says he 's too weak, and God reminds him that He is giving him strength," she said. By relying on God's control and strength, both Duke and Smith learned that God blesses those who serve, sometimes in surprisingways. "You don't get what you expect,"Duke said. "You expect to give and give and end up empty, but instead you end up fuller than you ever were before. " - Wendi Keller Andrew Thompson and Howard Brownell talk to Luke Smith (right) in the Mcfnteer Building. Smith, a Regina Spirit Award recipient, demonstrated a selfless attitude in his daily activities. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Regina Spirit Award J--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-"-~-So-c-ia_l _C_lu-bs~.-, 243
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