VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | OCT. 7, 2009

Pastor's honor is well deserved

First, thank you to Andrew Dys of The Herald for reporting in Friday's newspaper that Rock Hill pastor Bob Porterfield received a nationwide honor, the prestigious Angels in Adoption Award. And thank you to Children Attention Home's executive director Libby Sweatt-Lambert for nominating this individual for an award that, in my opinion, is long overdue!

I personally know this man, the Rev. Bob J. Porterfield, and I am proud to call him my friend! Just as Andrew Dys' column shares, Bob is not afraid to get his hands dirty, and, as a former Winthrop's Baptist Student Union (BSU) and also a proud member of the Hamilton family, I can personally attest that the Rev. Porterfield was doing some sort of Habitat for Humanity work long before the phrase was coined or even before ex-President Jimmy Carter ever thought about it! Many years ago, he was already involved in this type ministerial work out of state. I once had the pleasure to attend one of his BSU mission trips to help convert a former office building into housing and a church.

But most importantly, even though Bob is a true minister, unlike many ministers I have met or have personally known over the years, Bob is a great cook and he is not afraid to be �human� as well!

I love Bob Porterfield just as our God also does, for he has been a true, sincere mentor for me and thousands of others whose lives you have touched and helped �save�!

Scott Coleman

Chester

Nation must reform health care

This speaker is 86 years old, an Army veteran, having served in combat in Europe from D-day to the war's end, has an earned a Ph.D., and spent most of his life as a teacher/conductor of instrumental music.

I have listened for hours to arguments for and against health care reform, and most of the arguments are sound and should be carefully considered. However, the whole issue is whether or not we, as a people, are (or should be) ready to make the necessary sacrifices to make healng of our people a prime objective in our lives.

We can, we must do this, including the public option. Anything less is continuation of policies based on greed.

Earl H. Martin

Rock Hill