Pastor's Blog

I went and prayed with Carolyn prior to her procedure.  I have not heard from Grady at this point.  I do know that Carolyn will have to spend tonight in the hospital.  Keep praying!

Carolyn’s son, Ryan, was involved in a serious automobile accident this past Friday night.  He is in ICU.  Pray for all involved.

Chuck Rockwell continues to recover at home.  Keep praying for Chuck & Beth.

Robert Baria continues to have problems with his throat.  Pray for the doctors to find the problem and a solution.

We had a really strong day yesterday.  We were blessed with a good number of guests in the morning service.  Pastor Alfredo Garcia did a very good job of preaching in the evening service and Aninha was spot on as his translator.  Our deacons hosted a fellowship for our Hispanic folks following the evening service and they did very well.  To God be the glory for all He did in our midst yesterday!

“Plus One!”  July 30, 2023!

VBS workers meeting this Sunday, June 11, from 4:00 – 5:00PM.  Evening service begins at 5:00PM.  A QR code will soon be available for folks to register their children for VBS.

Cake auction on Sunday, July 2, beginning at 5:00PM.  Special surprise ending!  We have thirty-seven folks who have signed up to bring forty-one cakes/pies.  Yes, pies are perfectly fine.  Ann’s pecan pies were a hit last year.  Looking for fifty cakes and/or pies.  Email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

Stacey Dyess has brought us boatloads of cucumbers over the past week or so.  How nice is that!  John Milton Ladnier is always bringing us fresh produce too.  Two great guys!

I pray that you will have a great rest of your day with Jesus.

Heading to the hospital for Carolyn Walker’s procedure.  Pray for all to go well.

More to come at some point later today.

Miss Vinnie expressed to me yesterday her extreme appreciation to the members of the Friendship family for their support during the time of her son’s Buddy’s sickness and then after his passing from this life.  The number from the Friendship family attending the visitation on Friday night was strong.  I appreciate Betty Creech, Bill & Debbie Kendrick and Carl Ray & Charlotte Moulds attending the celebration of life service yesterday in Wayne County, MS.  Again, Miss Vinnie Brewer is an absolute jewel within the Friendship family and a godly lady.  Keep praying for her and her family.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning.  Our evening service will begin at 5:00PM which is an hour earlier than usual.  Please note the change and pass the word!

Bro. Charles Grant will lead the prayer time in between the ending of our Sunday School and the beginning of our morning worship service.  Everyone invited to join him!

Still looking for folks to volunteer to bake a cake for the cake auction on Sunday, July 2.  I wrote yesterday that we have fifteen volunteers with sixteen cakes.  I received another email yesterday but my list still shows fifteen and sixteen.  So, either I miscounted or failed to write one persons’ name on the list.  Imagine that!  The fact remains that we still need cake bakers for a most worthy cause.  The best way to sign up is to send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

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

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.