It is these local newspapers that much of the local community news is shared and I for one have been fascinated over many years by these pages.
As a grand-father, having raised four children, with my wife of 33 years Delma, we have been regular readers of such pages as they reveal our own children's friends from school and sports baby news items.
Moreover when the family come home for visits or holidays, inevitably the topic of who has had a baby comes to the fore. I was reminded recently by one of my daughters of the various hospital class instructions given to new first-time mothers and fathers after the birth of their babies.
In a recent visit to a newborn in a hospital, my interest was aroused by a weekly calendar hanging on the wall of the maternity room, indicating what and where and when the various classes were held.
These classes were provided to give new mums and dads every assistance in order to ensure that they were well equipped to care for their babe when they returned home.
As I reflected on this, I considered the local church which also provides many similar instruction methodologies for baby Christians – those adult people who for the first time have sought forgiveness from the Lord Jesus for their sin and invited the Lord to become their new master.
The process is something along these lines:
First, a person recognises they are a sinner. This is a revelation from the Spirit of Christ that is essential for becoming a Christian person.
Second, once sin is recognised as being this huge stumbling block in their lives, the new Christian asks the Lord Jesus who died for their sin on the Cross, to forgive them.
Third, that single step of faith provides the forgiveness and freedom of spirit for which human being long. Sometimes they don't realise until after they've made such a fare reaching decision.
Fourth, the new Christian invites Jesus Christ in faith to come into their life as the new controller. The Holy Spirit enters their life and begins a spiritual renewal that gradually takes on the mind of Christ.
The local church involves itself through its people in the instructional process of these steps and they take on various forms.
Some of these are bible study and prayer groups held both at the local church or in homes, there can be classes of bible instruction, along with youth groups and personal bible study opportunities for young people.