As a native South Carolinian, I remember seeing The Baptist Courier in my home as a kid. Can’t say that I read it, but I knew the paper existed.
I eventually graduated from North Greenville College in 1978 and went on to the University of South Carolina, where I earned a degree in journalism. After working briefly in communications for North Greenville, I went to work for Baptist College at Charleston (now Charleston Southern University). The first article I ever had published in a Baptist state paper was in the Courier. In 1981 I met Don Kirkland for the first time. He was then the assistant editor for the Courier, and I was at Baptist College. We had dinner at an annual meeting of the state convention. We have been friends ever since.
When I was named editor of the Baptist and Reflector in Tennessee in 1998, Don also became my mentor and confidant. I looked forward to meetings where we could spend time talking and reminiscing.
South Carolina Baptists have been blessed to have had Don Kirkland as editor for the past 16 years. He was a trained journalist with a heart for serving Jesus Christ. It is not easy being a state editor, but Don Kirkland navigated the waters with integrity and professionalism while keeping Jesus Christ at the forefront of all that he did.
I am honored to have been a South Carolina Baptist and blessed by being able to call Don Kirkland “friend.”
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