Students change in manyways - the greatest often occurs in their SpiritualLife Co ll ege is about growth, both mental and spiritual. Whi le Harding realizes the importance of the first, they stress the latter. Many students agree that their spiritual lives have grown tremendously since they left home and came to Harding. Some had been raised inthe Church ofChrist and were beginning to develop a personal faith. Others grew up in other faiths and tested their beliefswhile they studied here. Some students weren 't religious at all and they came to know God. According to senior Susan Sneed, when she came to Harding she believed just because her parents did. Now she has learned how to trust God. "I've been forced to rely on God as opposed to others. I've learned the power of letting God use me and shape me in the ways He has planned. I've failed a lot, but I've also grown through the grace of God, " Sneed said. Not all students who attend Harding have the same religious background. Some leave with their beliefs una ltered; others have theirs reinforced; still others convert to what they see as a truer understanding of Scripture. When Maria Elena Orozco came to Harding, she was Catholic. After studying with friends , she decided she needed to be baptized. That was a huge step for her because she said she felt like she was betraying her family. "This is something that I did for my own choice, not just to be a fo llower in school. Iwas really convinced that I understood God 's word in a better way, " Orozco said. Some students arrived at Hardingwith no religious conviction. Perhaps Dr. JimmyAllen was the best example of a "wild child" who had been changed whi le at Harding. Allen said that he did just about everything before he came here , but here he saw that there was somethin g else. "Through my Bible class and the young men I was associated with in athletics, I sawwhat I needed to do. Iwent tochurch with my mind made up and was baptized that morning, " All en said. - Yavonda Fletcher, Juli eta Gil Josh Kasinger leads singing at the All-School Retreat. Students had many opportunities during the year /0 use their talents in serving the Lord. Angie Green and David Henniger sing during their Wednesday night Bible study at Dr. Cliff Ganus Ill's house. Many students attended home Bible studies because they liked the close, friendly atmosphere. SPIR1T UAL L1 FE 33 •
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