I didn’t know Duke Nguyen Browning for very long. Just under three years to be exact. Duke called me one day after finding my magazine in a coffee shop somewhere in Katy and inquired about advertising in Katy Christian Magazine. We met one afternoon and he became an advertiser (Sing Songs America and Epcot Electric), but more importantly, he became a friend.
Over the next two years I got to know Duke a lot better once he became a member of Houston Christian Chamber of Commerce. He was one of the most sincere Christian’s that I had ever met. Always giving to others, never seeking recognition for himself. Fulfilling Matt 6:3 in every way “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”
Duke never missed our chamber breakfast’s or dinners, but he didn’t make our late March 2009 dinner or April breakfast the following month so I became concerned, I called him and he acted like nothing was wrong. Finally he told me that he wasn’t feeling good and went to the doctor, and after they ran some tests on him, it turned out to be liver cancer. He assured me that it was no big deal and not to worry about it, he would be okay.
He did some work for our chamber on a few occasions shortly after that, but never came to our chamber meetings. I became concerned again and spoke to him, but again he assured me everything was going alright with him. I asked if I could post his prayer needs on Houston Christian Chamber website under prayer requests, but he didn’t want anyone to worry about him, insisting that everything was okay.
On September 24, his wife Kerrin messaged me that Duke had lost his battle to cancer at the age of 55. I was shocked to say the least. There is no doubt that Duke is with the Lord right now. I have never met anyone more sincere about his faith in Christ than he. I ask that you pray for his wife, Kerrin, and his three daughters Amy, Laura and Michelle as they walk through this difficult time in their lives.
I could write so much more about the wonderful things that Duke did for me and others, but this magazine would quickly run out of space. It is such a shame to lose someone of Duke’s stature. I know that Heaven is a better place now that he is there, but our world lost a great treasure.
In Christ,
Joseph R. Menslage
President/Publisher
Katy Christian Magazine
www.KatyChristianMagazine.com