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Developing Whole Leaders for the whole World

ORU Student McKensie Garber Wins Third in Christian Life Missions’ Walker Journalism Award

McKensie GarberOral Roberts University junior, McKensie Garber recently won the $1,500 third-place scholarship in Christian Life Missions’ inaugural presentation of the Walker Journalism Award. From Hale, Mo., Garber is a media major with an emphasis in convergence journalism and a minor in writing.

Garber won the award with a feature story she wrote for ORU’s student newspaper “The Oracle” about alumnus Jordan Lewis. The story was published just days after Lewis found victory in his battle with cancer and went to be with the Lord on March 20, 2014.

Garber wrote a previous feature story on Jordan and wife, Cady (Kendall) Lewis in November, sharing their unfolding journey of fearless love and faith. The pair met their junior year when Jordan mustered up the courage to ask Cady to ORU’s Homecoming. The following summer, Jordan was diagnosed with stage four sinus cancer after experiencing extreme headaches and nose bleeds while on ORU missions in Tanzania.

After undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, Jordan was cancer-free for 18 months. He returned to ORU for his senior spring semester, where he took Cady to Homecoming again and they were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. In May 2013, they were informed the cancer had come back in his head and metastasized to both lungs. Cady leaned in and whispered, “Let’s get married.” Three weeks later they were wed on June 29. Their nine-month marriage served as an example of gracious love and steadfast hope to many.

Christian Life Missions serves as the non-profit partner to Charisma Magazine. The Walker Journalism Award honors the life and legacy of Christian journalist Robert Walker and encourages students to use media to articulate the Christian message. Walker is considered by many to be the pioneer of Christian journalism and was founder of “Christian Life” magazine and Christian Life Missions.

“It is my great honor to write stories that recognize individuals who live lives of service and love. Jesus said to shed light on the truth and beauty around us, and I feel that I am able to do that through journalism,” Garber said. “Stories like Jordan and Cady’s are not mine. I simply put them on paper in an attempt to share them with the world.”

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