Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) senior Glorie Ndongala is currently pictured on 500 million Dr Pepper cans being distributed throughout the United States.
On the side of the Dr Pepper cans, underneath Ndongala's full name is his school's name (SAGU) and the amount he won in the 2011 Dr Pepper Million Dollar Tuition Giveaway Promotion and Contest last year ($23,000) followed by a large picture of Ndongala and his educational focus, which reads, "Glorie is studying ministry education so that he can build self-sustaining orphanages in Africa."
Originally from Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ndongala's family was forced to flee when he was still an infant due to political unrest. Ndongala was introduced to SAGU by his youth pastor Joel Sosa, a SAGU alumnus, who brought his youth group to the campus in Waxahachie, Texas. Ndongala says, "I knew I was supposed to be here as soon as I set foot on the campus." With only $3,000 in his pocket, he asked Sosa for a one-way ticket to Texas.
College has been financially difficult for Ndongala. But he shares how God has miraculously provided for him each year. "Since I arrived at SAGU, I have experienced one financial blessing after another," says Ndongala. "To God be the glory. Prayer moves the heart of God, and through prayer, God does the impossible."
Dr Pepper asked college students (ages 18-24) to post college football and Dr Pepper-themed videos that were no more than one minute in length, an original creation and suitable for publication. Videos were judged on the impact of tuition prize on contestant's life and overall presentation quality. After participating in a live throwing contest at the halftime of the 2011 Cotton Bowl, Ndongala was declared the runner-up winner.
Ndongala will graduate with a bachelor's degree in church ministries and associate degrees in psychology and Bible in the fall of 2012. He and his wife Katie will move to New York to work with street ministries while preparing a team to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they will partner with local churches to build an orphanage.
