Pastor's Blog

I am told that the members of the Friendship family did very well in attending the visitation with the Buddy Brewer family last night.  I know that I can speak for Miss Vinnie in saying “thank you” to each person who attended, those who have prayed, brought food, et cetera.  Yes, Miss Vinnie is a jewel and perhaps the most respected member of the Friendship family.  Personally, I know she is a joy to pastor!  Pray for the visitation/service in Waynesboro, MS today.

Candy Garcia had some health issues that necessitated her being in an Urgent Care and then the hospital all day yesterday. She came home yesterday afternoon.  Pray for Candy.  Candy’s mother was with her yesterday as Bro. Abel had childcare duty.  He, or they, probably needed our prayers more – LOL!

Keep praying for Chuck Rockwell as he rehabs at home.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning, 6/4, with one exception.  Our evening service is going to begin at 5:00PM. Please note this change.

We now have fifteen folks who have volunteered to bake sixteen cakes for the cake auction on Sunday evening, July 2.  Twenty-five cakes is the desire minimum with fifty cakes them maximum.  Need to know the amount of bakers by Sunday, June 18.

Youth camp (6/12 – 17) and VBS (7/10 – 14) are just around the proverbial corner.  Pray for these ministry opportunities.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

Wow, where did the month of May go?

The obituary for Buddy Brewer is in an entry from earlier this morning.  It can also be found on the Heritage Funeral Home website.  Keep praying for Miss Vinnie and the entire Brewer family.  I do hope the Friendship family will attend tonight’s visitation in strong numbers.

Chuck Rockwell was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is home.  Pray for Chuck, Beth & Greg as they navigate this season of change.  Chuck is a happy camper about being home.  Keep praying.

Looking for folks to bake a cake for the cake auction that will take place on Sunday evening, July 2.  If you will bake a cake and have not signed up already, please send me a personal email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  Thank you to those who have already signed up.

“Home Base” during our Sunday School this Sunday, 6/4.  Praying for a great day!

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

A. B. “Buddy” Brewer, 70, went to be with the Lord on May 30, 2023. Buddy was born on March 28, 1953 to George and Vinnie Mae Brewer. A graduate of Moss Point High School, Buddy spent most of his life in Jackson County, Mississippi until moving to Grand Bay, AL where he currently resided. Buddy was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy Seabees where he was an Equipment Operator 2nd class and had various duty stations over the world during the Vietnam Era. He retired from Mississippi Power as a heavy equipment operator. Buddy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, AL and The Grand Bay Masonic Lodge. He was known for his great personality and usually brought smiles to the faces of those he met. His interests included church, hunting, fishing, and family.

Buddy is preceded in death by his father, George Brewer and his brother-in-law, Hugh Nelson. He is survived by his wife Linda, step-son Darren (Denice) Dunn, step-daughter, Cynthia (Jamie) Welford, his mother, Vinnie Mae Brewer, sisters, Shirley Nelson and Faye (Bobby) Stork, brother, Burl (Lynn) Brewer, 5 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

The family would like to express thankfulness to family and friends for your outpouring of love during this time. The visitation will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, Escatawpa, MS. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 at Corinth Free Will Baptist Church in Wayne County, MS with Rev. David Thomas, Rev. Norman Nowell, and Rev. Ronny Nowell officiating. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until service time at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

A visitation with the Buddy Brewer family will take place tomorrow night, 6/1, from 6:00 – 8:00PM at the Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa, MS.

A second visitation will take place on Friday, 6/2, beginning at noon and lasting until the 1:00PM service time.  The second visitation and service will take place at the Corinth Freewill Baptist Church 2426 Camp Eight Road Waynesboro, MS 39367.

Continue to pray for the Buddy Brewer family.

This entry is intentionally late.  The call came to me yesterday morning that Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, had passed from this life around 9:15AM.  I did not post anything as I wanted to make certain the family had time to contact everyone they needed to before it was put on the internet.  I spent a few minutes with Miss Vinnie late yesterday afternoon and she was doing well all things considered.  Miss Vinnie is a strong lady and a woman of amazing faith.  She has a most solid spiritual foundation.  However, she needs our prayers!  Arrangements pending.  Pray for the Buddy Brewer family.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.

Great news – I had the first volunteer to offer to bake a cake for our cake auction.  Who?  Miss Vinnie Brewer.  How about that!  She is the reigning “Queen” of the cake auction and I am thrilled that she is leading the way for this year’s auction!  Lisa has also volunteered.  Who is next?  The date is Sunday, July 2.

More great news – I mentioned a grand finale for the cake auction in yesterday’s entry.  I spoke to a man’s boss (wife) and she told me that it will happen so that settles that!  It will remain a surprise for the time being.  This couple can cook up something amazing to bring the evening to a close.  Stay tuned!

I am looking forward to our “The Heart of the Family” service on Sunday morning, June 11.  It is going to be a great time of celebrating!  Pray and make plans to join us!

Vacation Bible School July 10 – 14, 2023.  9:00AM until noon daily.  VBS rally on Sunday evening, 7/9.  Pass the word!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

Happy birthday to my wife, Lisa.  She and all of her daughters and granddaughters have been away for a few days celebrating, relaxing and enjoying each others company.  Hopefully, the will decide to come home late this afternoon.  Lisa is a jewel!  I love her and pray that today will be a great day for her!  Happy birthday, Lisa!

The church office was closed yesterday so I do not have any updates on those for whom we have been praying.  I do ask that you add Robert Baria to that prayer list as he has an upcoming appointment regarding his throat.  I hope to get updates today on Chuck Rockwell and Buddy Brewer and will share them tomorrow.

The church office is open today from 8:00AM until noon and then from 1:00PM until 4:00PM.  Regular hours.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

I am still rejoicing in the sweetness and goodness of our fellowship this past Sunday afternoon/evening.  Someone made the comment to me around 7:30PM, “the folks are just hanging around not seemingly wanting to go home and that is a good thing!”  That person was correct!  It was not just a good thing but I feel it was a God thing!

Our next church-wide fellowship will take place on Sunday, July 2.  Stacey Dyess will be the lead chef.  I am giving him the twins as helpers.  (Hey, they cannot garden so I am trying to find something they can do!)  This will be our “cake auction” with all proceeds going to provide “extra” food for the students/families of Colegio JET in Guatemala.  We need a minimum of twenty-five cakes and probably could us fifty cakes.  (We had forty-two last year)  Looking for homemade cakes!  I learned last year that “homemade” is a debatable word!  If you will bake a cake for this auction, please send me a personal email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  Thank you in advance for helping “the least of these!”

We are adding something to our cake auction this year that will be a highlight indeed!  Have a guy cooking up something BIG!  You do not want to miss it!  Details forthcoming!

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

Happy Memorial Day!  I am very thankful for the folks who have given their lives for our freedom as a nation.  Praying for those presently in our military.

We were blessed with a really good day in our services yesterday.  We were not “packed” in our morning service but we did have a very good attendance.  I am grateful to those who attended.  The spirit in the service was excellent.  Praise the Lord!

Our “fish & dogs” fellowship was also very, very good.  The folks who set up, cooked, served, and cleaned up are to be highly commended.  Gary & Rachel Walton provided shrimp, pulled pork, buns, condiments, chips, drinks, et cetera which was an additional and unexpected blessing.  Katelyn Johnson made sure we had all of the other things we needed.  John Milton Ladnier organized everything and did an excellent job.  The food was fantastic!  The folks who brought sides and desserts did well – thank you.  The best part of the afternoon/evening was the fellowship among those in attendance.  Great fellowship – to God be the glory!

Our next fellowship will take place in the CAB on Sunday, July 2, and will feature a cake auction and Stacey Dyess’ barbecue.  I am working on another surprise element.  Save the date!

It is my understanding that Chuck Rockwell has been discharged from the hospital and will come home.  Not sure if that has actually taken place but do keep praying for Chuck & Beth.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, is holding his own and has actually shown some improvement in some areas.  Keep praying for Buddy!

Dana Fawcett’s sister passed from this life last Tuesday.  She was severely burned in an accident involving a propane tank.  The service will take place in North Carolina.  Pray for Dana and her family during this most difficult time.

I have nine couples who have let me know they have been married for fifty plus years.  I have five widows/widowers who have let me know that they were married fifty plus years before their spouse passed from this life.  I need to hear from any other couples within the Friendship family who have been married for fifty plus years or from any widows/widowers who were married that long before their spouse passed.  This special service of recognition will take place on Sunday morning, June 11, 2023.

Vacation Bible School July 10 – 14.  Pray for this ministry.

I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus on this Memorial Day.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, remains in intensive care.  Pray for him!

Chuck Rockwell remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

Jennifer Brinkman’s maternal Aunt Carolyn passed from this life at the young age of fifty-four.  Jennifer will be traveling to Maryland for the service and to spend time with her family.  Pray for traveling mercies and for the family during this time of sorrow.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning with Sunday School beginning at 9:00AM and worship at 10:00AM.

Prayer time immediately following Sunday School.

Anniversary love offering will be received this morning for Bro. Jerry Hovel.

Church-wide fellowship “fish & dogs” will take place this afternoon beginning at 5:00PM on the back forty.  Church is providing crawfish, hotdogs and drinks.  You bring the sides and desserts.

Pray for today’s classes and services.  My the Spirit be followed, the Son exalted and the Father glorified!

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.

Cecil Guidry called me this morning around 10:00AM to let me know that Miss Vinnie Brewer’s son, Buddy, has been admitted to the hospital.  Having an issue with a fluid build-up.  Join me in praying for Buddy, please.

Tomorrow, 5/28, has been set aside to recognize Bro. Jerry Hovel. The month of May marks the twenty-third anniversary of Bro. Jerry serving on our ministerial staff. We will receive a love offering in the morning service as a tangible way to show our love and appreciation to Bro. Jerry and his family.

Bro. Jerry is married to Tena and they have two sons, Josh & Luke. Obviously, Tena is also a major part of the Friendship family.

So, join us tomorrow in celebrating Bro. Jerry’s anniversary of serving the Lord through the Friendship family. Pass the word!

Regular schedule on our campus in the morning with Sunday School beginning at 9:00AM followed by the service at 10:00AM.  I know it is a holiday weekend and we have folks who will be out of town but I ask those of us in town to be faithful to attend in the morning.

Tomorrow afternoon beginning at 5:00PM we will have a “fish & dog” church-wide fellowship.  Crawfish and hotdogs.  The church will provide the crawfish, hotdogs and drinks.  Those attending who are members of the Friendship family are asked to bring sides and desserts.  Please bring enough for those attending with you plus two more.

We will honor the institution of marriage on Sunday, June 11, as a part of our morning service.  We will be recognizing all couples within the Friendship family who have been married for fifty years plus.  We just need to know who those couples are no later than Sunday, 6/4.  Please do not “assume” that we know.  Best way to let us know is by sending me a personal email.  This is going to be a great service!

The church office will be closed this Monday, 5/29.  I am in town and available in the event of an emergency.

I hope that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see you on our campus tomorrow!