"Oak" Ritchie and "J.B." Frush-Marple are the hosts of a successful weekly devotional meeting in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. With them are friends who have attended the gatherings, shown left to right: Alexa Skandar, Emily Crawford, Mr. Frush-Marple, Mr. Ritchie, Steven Lail.

Beyond Expectations: Weekly Gathering Surprises Hosts

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, United States
25 December 2007 (BWNS)

A couple of neighbors in this Southern city have been throwing a weekly "spiritual party" - a prayer meeting - and the reaction to it has surprised them.

"When the devotional gathering started, all our friends just came out of the woodwork," said James Benson Frush-Marple, who with his friend Jason Ritchie co-hosts the meetings at Mr. Ritchie's house.

"People who I never would have thought would be receptive to prayer were just energized by it," said Mr. Frush-Marple, 33, who is commonly known by his first initials, J.B.

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