Features

Braswell family grows by 4 with adoption of siblings
By Don Kirkland, Editor
don@baptistcourier.com
Date February 2, 2012

After years of living apart in foster homes, four young brothers and sisters have been reunited as the adopted children of an Aiken County minister and his wife who “simply tried to be obedient where God already was working.”

Mother believes autistic son’s singing is a miracle
By Kelly Jasper, The Augusta Chronicle
Date February 2, 2012

It was a miracle as far as Jamie and Kelley Murphy are concerned. Their son, Micah, who is autistic, could not speak until he was 6 years old. He didn’t say “Mama” until he was 11. But at the age of 13 or 14, Micah started singing. The song he chose was “Jesus Loves Me.”

Seniors ministry ‘a blessing’ and ‘fun’
By Don Kirkland, Editor
don@baptistcourier.com
Date February 2, 2012

Clyde and Jayne Porter, members of Washington Baptist Church, Pelzer, both agree it is “fun to do” and “a blessing” as they are already at work on the next Springmaid Senior Beach Retreat set for Sept. 10-14.

Shanghai
‘Doorway to China’
By Emily Stockton
Date February 2, 2012

Madison Zhang*, 27, hangs on to the subway’s overhead belt, trying to keep her balance as the train constantly starts and stops for passengers. The young professional’s two-hour one-way commute to her government job requires her to travel by foot, bus and subway.

Inmates’ letters spark insight into New Testament epistles
By Sharayah Colter
Date February 2, 2012

In a cinder-block room with a concrete floor and metal bunk bed, no phones or computers ping or ding with text or Tweet alerts. For those serving time in prison, the onward march of technology could just as well be a lifetime sentence or two away. Instead, amid the unmuffled clang of heavy metal doors and the routine spontaneity of pat-downs and shake-downs, letter writing thrives as it did in the first century.