Pastor's Blog

Larry Crawley remains hospitalized but hopes to be discharged today.  Larry is fully aware of his weakness and plans on following the doctor’s orders as he regains his strength in order to prepare for the next step in his healing.  Pray for Larry.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow as he battles against this malignancy in his body.

Also, keep praying for Betty Hamil.  Slowly, but surely, she is getting better.

Rick Bradley called yesterday afternoon to let us know that his father-in-law has passed from this life and entered Heaven.  Pray for Mrs. Sinquefield and the family during this difficult time.

Pray for Deidra as she prepares to share with us in our 5:00PM service Sunday.  I am praying for a full house (she is not!).

Pray for our students and chaperones as they ready to leave for camp early Monday morning.  Will you bring cookies to the services this Sunday that will serve as snacks as they travel and then even once they arrive at camp?  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

If you are planning on being part of our GRACE Ministries June 2026 mission trip, do not purchase your airfare until after we meet and begin the official sign up.  Things could change and you do not want to get stuck with a ticket!

“Bags of GRACE” are being collected.  Love offerings coming.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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

Friendship family, as you know, our students and chaperones will leave our campus at 4:00AM on Monday heading to Summer camp.  You have been so supportive as they have raised the finances for this potentially life changing experience.  I am going to ask you to do one more thing in addition to praying – bring cookies to either of the services this Sunday, 7/13.  These can be homemade cookies, cookies from a bakery, Crumbl cookies, Great American cookies, store bought cookies, whatever.  These cookies will be their “snack” on the ride to TN and any leftovers will be eaten during the week of camp.

There will be a receptacle in the foyer of the auditorium where you can place the cookies.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation.  Cookies, cookies, cookies!

The Timberlake’s grandson, Tyler, had successful surgery.  Not sure what is next other than the recovery but I do ask that you keep praying for Tyler.

Larry Crawley remains hospitalized.  He has a very positive attitude and did something yesterday when I visited that no patient has ever done – he got out of bed when I walked in the room and stood for the entirety of my visit.  He had hopes of being discharged yesterday but that did not happen.  Continue to pray for Larry.

Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney, Audrey & Ingrid arrived in Grand Bay safe and sound around 12:30AM today.  Ingrid?  Yes, Ingrid.  Go to shininglightabroad.com and read Deidra’s latest blog entry for the information.  Thank you to Scott Fontenot for making the airport run to bring them to Grand Bay.  (Eddie Albritton’s rates have just gone through the roof!)

Remember, Deidra will be speaking in our 5:00PM service this Sunday, July 13.  I am praying for a full house.  Pass the word, please.

Our students leave for camp on Monday morning, 7/14.  The will depart from our campus at 4:00AM.  Pray for traveling mercies and a spiritually meaningful camp experience for all of them.

Thank you to those who are bringing the “Bags of GRACE” to the services.  Special offerings will be received on Sunday, 7/20, and Sunday, 7/27.  Please pray and give.  Our goal is three hundred bags from the Friendship family.

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

Mark & Brenda Timberlake’s grandson will be having major surgery this morning.  Pray for Tyler, his parents, Mark & Brenda, the rest of the family and the surgical team.

Lisa and I had safe travels and good visit with Mama yesterday.  The best thing I can say about Mama is that she is very content which is a blessing.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Our students are preparing to leave for camp on Monday, 7/14.  Pray!

Bro. Abel is putting the finishing touches on our Sunday School year which begins August 3.  Is the Lord leading you to serve in this great ministry?  If so, contact Bro. Abel.

Today is the final day to sign up for our refresh committee.  Contact Henry Wyse or me.

Deidra will be sharing in our 5:00PM service this Sunday, 7/13.  Please pray and spread the word.  Thank you.

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

Lisa and I will be out of pocket today as we will travel to visit my Mama which will include a trip to Big Bob’s.  (Please do not tell Stacey Dyess as he tends to get so jealous!).

Bro. Abel will man the office today and Bro. Chris will also be available in my absence.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Happy twenty-first birthday to our great-nephew, Grayson Glenn.  Grayson is staying with us this Summer as he is involved in a research project at USA.  We will have a family gathering tonight to celebrate this milestone birthday.  Rebecca Markey baked Grayson a cake and it may just be the ugliest cake ever!  LOL!  (Actually, Becca does a great job baking cakes.  Decorating?  Not so much!).  Happy birthday, Grayson.

The Lord blessed the Friendship family with a good day in both of our services yesterday.  We praise Him.  Yes, we had folks out of town but, all in all, our attendance was good.  Thank you to those who were faithful!

My heart breaks and my prayers have focused on the folks in Texas who were affected by the flooding this past Friday morning.  Tragic!  I am praying for each family who lost loved ones but especially those parents who lost their children.  I am also praying for the first responders.  Join me in these prayers.

Bro. Chris’ schedule has changed.  He will now be working Monday through Thursday with Thursday being his grass cutting day.  He will continue to lead our bus ministry visitation on Saturdays.

Deidra, the girls and Ingrid are set to arrive here late Wednesday night.  The older two girls will be going to camp with our students next week.  Deidra will be speaking during our 5:00PM service this Sunday, 7/13.  She is excited!  (Wink, wink!)

Speaking of Deidra, Edgar, Jr. was involved in a motorcycle accident this past Saturday.  He was kept in the hospital overnight and is now on GRACE Mountain.  He is experiencing a great deal of pain.  Pray for him, please.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow, Betty Hamil and the others on our prayer list.

Sonny & Jeanette Bates celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary yesterday, 7/6.  Happy belated anniversary to this outstanding couple.  I thank God for Sonny & Jeanette and the ministry God has given them at Friendship.

Word has it that Mexico beat the USA in the Gold Cup last night.  If I had known this before going to bed last night then I probably would not have been able to sleep.

“Bags of GRACE” are our focus this month.  Help us as the Lord leads.  Love offerings for this cause will be received on Sunday, 7/20, and Sunday, 7/27.

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

Today marks the fifty-seventh birthday for Lisa’s younger brother, Michael Clark, who passed from this life at the young age of eighteen in 1986.  On one hand it seems like forever ago and yet it seems like his passing was yesterday.  Death stings.  Pray for Charles, Ann, Kim and Lisa.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  I know we have a boatload of folks out of town but I also know we have a boatload of folks in town.  I am praying the folks in that second group will come join us for Sunday School and worship.

Tomorrow will be Bro. Chris Scofield’s fifty-fifth birthday.  He just finished his one year anniversary of being on our staff.  So, we will receive a love offering in our services tomorrow to thank him for the past year of service to the Lord through the Friendship family.

“Bags of GRACE” is our focus for July.  Sample bag in tomorrow’s services.  Special offerings on 7/20 & 7/27.  Pray and participate as the Lord leads.

The “refresh” committee will soon be in place.  Contact Henry Wyse or me if interested in possibly serving.

Deidra and the girls come home this Wednesday.  Happy days!

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

Happy 249th birthday to the USA!  I pray that each of our thirteen readers of the blog will have an awesome day!  May God bless the USA and may the USA bless God!

Keep praying for those on our prayer list.

Want to be on the “refresh” committee?  Personally contact Henry Wyse or me in order to be considered.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Yes, we have a ton of folks out of town but I pray that all of us in town will be faithful to attend the services, give, et cetera.

I remind our deacons that we will meet Sunday morning – same time, same place.

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

The church office is closed today.  Bro. Abel and I are available in the event of an emergency.

Bro. Chris will be taking our students bowling today.  Pray for this to be a good time of fellowship.

Clinton Stringfellow was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Keep praying.

Miss Betty Hamil is making improvement one step at a time.  Continue to pray for Betty & Andy.

Join me in praying for Gary Walton and the situation with his knees.  Hardest working man I know but his knees are in much pain.  He needs relief.  Pray!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

“Bags of GRACE, Bags of GRACE, Bags of GRACE!”  Enough said!

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

Where did the first six months of 2025 go?  Wow, that was fast!

The number one question of yesterday was, “what was the final total from the auction?”  I have the best CPA in the world working on it but he is sorting through the numbers, trying to see if those who said they would pay online, via Venmo, et cetera have done so.  I suspect it may be sometime next week before a final total is known.  For the record, those who did not attend the auction but would like to make a donation can do so either online or by writing a check made payable to GRACE Ministries and mailing it to P.O. Box 223 Grand Bay, AL 36541.  If the Compagner boys (Steve & Tom) donate then there is no telling what the final total will be – the sky is the limit?

I did not get an update on Clinton Stringfellow yesterday but will do so today.  I do know that we need to continue to pray for Clinton.  He is a good guy!

Talked to Andy Hamil yesterday afternoon and Betty is improving one small step at a time.  Keep praying.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Regular schedule this Sunday, 7/6, too.

“Bags of GRACE” are the focus during July.  We will receive special offerings on Sunday, 7/20, and Sunday, 7/27.  These offerings are designed for those who would rather give and let others do the shopping, packing, et cetera.

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