Pastor's Blog

Sharon Jardee has been in the hospital for over a week.  She was taken off of her medicine to keep her from getting a staph infection.  She now has a serious staph infection.  Surgery is scheduled for Monday, 10/27.

Max Peacock has been in the hospital all of this week.  He is not doing well and Marjorie has asked for the church to pray fervently for Max.

The container we shipped to Guatemala has now had all of the necessary paperwork completed.  It is now a waiting game for SAT (think IRS) to specify the amount of taxes owed.  SAT has been backlogged due to the virus.  Pray for a fair tax ruling a quick release, please.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Miss Vinnie Brewer’s son, Buddy, is battling a reoccurring malignancy.  Please pray for Buddy.  Miss Vinnie is a faithful prayer warrior for so many others so lets pray for her son and his family during this time.

Are you praying for Larry Crawley?  I sure hope so.  Nothing has changed with him but we need to keep him near the top of our daily prayer list.

My friend, Tracy Prater, continues to decline physically.  Pray for the medical folks to be able to manage the pain.  Pray for Tracy’s family.

Jeff Anderson passed from this life last Sunday, 10/11.  There will be a visitation with the family this Monday, 10/19, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place in our church auditorium.  The burial will take place in Pascagoula.  Pray for Jeff’s family.

Lisa and I are leaving early this morning to travel to Hartselle in order to attend the visitation and service for Evangelist Michael Mason’s father.  We have plans to return home tonight.  Pray for Dr. Michael and his family.

Basketball sign up is underway.  Eddie Albritton & Amy Reynolds are coordinating these leagues.  Contact them to sign up or with any questions.

Soccer is going full steam ahead.  It seems all is well there.

We ARE putting together a team to travel to Guatemala the dates of December 1 – 8, 2020.  If you have a current passport in hand and want to join us go celebrate Christmas with our Colegio JET students and their families then contact me like yesterday.  Fares are fair right now but could change at any moment.  Do not delay!  Pass the word, please.  (Trip is open to anyone age fifteen and above)  Folks, the needs in Guatemala are greater now than they have ever been during our twenty one years of ministering there.  Just saying!

Answered prayer?  TJ Vice finally put his foot down and told his wife, Lindsey, that the AWANA banquet will take place in the CAB and not outside as originally announced.  That is what I am talking about!

Has any husband within the Friendship family bought his wife flowers this week?  Has Soy bought Deidra flowers this week?  Asking for a friend!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

I would ask that you continue to pray for my friend, Tracy Prater, in Priceville, Alabama.  She is battling this malignancy really hard but it is really raging in her body.  Pray for her daughter, her father, her sister and the other family members.  Pray for the hospice care nurses.

Evangelist Michael Mason’s father passed from this life yesterday.  He is now in Heaven.  Dr. Michael and his family will be making the arrangements today.  Pray for this family as they walk through this valley.

Keep praying for Larry Crawley.  Larry has such a positive attitude and such a strong trust in God.

The container our folks loaded on 9/26 arrived in a port in Guatemala this past Tuesday, 10/13.  Please pray for two things now – that the customs officials will be fair in assessing the taxes owed and that the container will be released in an expedited time frame.  I am very thankful to Pastor Mike Parker for his expert help in handling this container.

We had good services yesterday but our numbers were down in the auditorium morning and evening.  I assume folks knew that I was back in the pulpit and simply stayed away?

Remember, “hey, boss, the plane, the plane, the plane?”  (All of the old folks are nodding their head)  Well, I say, “hey Lindsey Vice, the CAB, the CAB, the CAB!”  Some things do not require prayer – just common sense!  Forecast calls for a high of eighty three degrees on Sunday with the humidity at eight eight percent.  TJ, time to man up!  LOL!

It is going to be really different (you think?) without Coach Saban on the sideline for the Bama game this Saturday.  Word has it that Coach Collier may be replacing him for this game?  I am trying to verify that and will let you know.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

I have been “silent” as far as the blog is concerned for eight consecutive days.  You may be thinking, “what can be so difficult about writing a blog entry?”  Well, you want to take it and run with it?  Just let me know.

Actually, I have just been mimicking our daughter, Deidra, and her blogging skills.  She blogs once a month whether she needs to or not!  She has a wealth of subjects to choose from i.e. one hundred and forty three students, a dozen teachers, workers everywhere, et cetera and yet she remains silent.  Oh well!

The major question that came from my messages this past Sunday was “has Soy bought Deidra any flowers this week?”  Are you serious?  Soy does not have a clue!  From what I am hearing there are guys around here who are basically clueless too!  Yes, I am talking about you!

We welcome Dylan Westbrook to our staff as our Bus Director/Children’s Pastor.  This is a part time position.  Dylan has been doing a great job as interim.  I am very blessed to have him on our staff.  The best thing about Dylan is his sweet wife, Elizabeth!  Their children are awesome too!

Regular schedule this morning and evening.

I am hearing that a couple of you are having problems with the live stream.  Let me suggest that you go right now and send an e-mail to Deidra (dtaylor0811@gmail.com) or Soy (soytaylor0818@gmail.com).  In your e-mail put your phone number and one of them will contact you and help solve any issues you are having.

The AWANA banquet takes place this Sunday night and I can only hope those in charge will have enough sense to move it inside the CAB – hello!  Can you say air conditioning?  Can you say better sound system?  Can you say better video monitors?  Can you say lights?  Let me guess – women are in charge of this thing!  (I am so LOL!)  Actually, I am just saying what guys like TJ Vice are thinking but will not say!  I have not been told any different so I plan to preach at 6:00PM “inside” the auditorium with the air conditioners turned wide open.  Remember, “we are family!”  Bayou La Batre Reeboks to be had?  Just saying!

After this past Sunday night’s service, one of the families within the Friendship family contacted Lisa and made one of the most generous offers I have ever known about.  Talk about being kind and willing to sacrifice – wow!  I stand amazed!  (No one has ever offered to give us an all expenses paid trip to the Holy Land!  They still have not but I just thought I would throw that out there!  LOL!). I am very serious when I say this family blessed me way beyond measure.  Who are they?  What did they offer?  Yes!

I reconnected with Heather Breedlove this past Monday night as I was leaving Tracy Prater’s house.  You talk about a breath of fresh air and a Holy Spirit encounter.  The girl blessed me!  What a sweet spirit.  Heather is the daughter of Pastor Jack & Miss Peggy Freeman.  They both have gone to be with the Lord now.  Bro. Jack was my pastor from the time I was like seven years old until I was eleven years old.  He helped lead my dad to Jesus.  He was a great pastor and preacher.  Bro. Jack was the second pastor I had to come preach at Friendship after I became the pastor.  Why do I think so highly of Bro. Jack?  Well, Bro. Johnny Tucker followed him at Shady Grove.  Need I say more?

Speaking of Tracy, she definitely needs our fervent prayer support.  She is a very, very strong young lady.  Can I just say that I hate cancer!  Some of the absolute best folks in my life have been taken from us by this dreaded disease!  Pray!

Soccer is going full steam ahead.  Basketball sign ups are taking place now.  Eddie Albritton and Amy Reynolds are the point persons for basketball so contact either of them for more details.

Trying to put together a team to go celebrate Christmas with the students of Colegio JET.  Looking at the dates of December 1 – 8. Interested? Contact me immediately if not sooner!  Pass the word.

This entry has been too long!  My apologies.  I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

It appeared that we were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  I appreciate the Word from Bro. Abel and I was blessed to attend Will’s SS class via electronic means.

Regular schedule this Wednesday morning and evening.

Bro. Jerry is on vacation this week.  Bro. Abel is in the office and on call 24/7.

Basically no response on the 11/11 – 11/18 mission trip so it looks to be a “no go.”  Ditto for the December trip.

Do not look for a blog over the next two or three days.  Just FYI.

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

Happy twenty fourth birthday to our “two” twin daughters, Dana & Gina!  I am sorry that I am not there with them today but they have celebrated a ton already.  Brad & Daphne are taking them out for supper tonight so they are in good shape.  I love Dana & Gina and am very thankful God placed them in our lives.  Happy birthday, girls!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

As far as I know, things are well in South Mobile County.  That is good news.

Four.  That is the number of folks who have requested the necessary information to watch our Sunday service via live stream.  If you are homebound in South Mobile County or live out of town and want the log in information then you need to contact me by noon today.  pastor@friendshipfamily.net

My Friday was spent in meetings and signing papers.  Perhaps the most important meeting of the day was with the gentleman who is over the education department for the entire state of Chimaltenango.  Our request was for the students of Colegio JET to be allowed to resume in person school in January.  Simply stated, our students do not have access to computers or the internet so virtual learning is not an option at all.  The director was pleased with the plan put together by Deidra and promised an answer from his superiors at some point in October.  Please pray for favor.

Can Auburn go into Athens and beat the Bulldogs tonight?  I think they can.  If last week’s games are any indication, then they will.  It is good to see SEC football being played!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

I begin this entry by praying for our President and his wife as they have both tested positive for the virus.  Early reports are that they are doing well while quarantining at home.

Larry Whitehurst will have his second eye surgery today.  Pray all goes well.

Mike Parker (Clubhouse Guatemala) has a very serious medical condition within his family.  Pray for this situation.

The container did not leave Gulfport as planned.  US customs has decided to scan it.  Now maybe we will be able to find that missing member of the loading team!  Pray that the scan goes well and that the container will ship on Monday.

Morris Bryant painted the interior of our youth building.  Bro. Jerry says it looks like a new building.  Thank you Morris for this labor of love.

Danny Lewis put shingles on the office building.  We had a few disappear during Hurricane Sally.  Danny is always working on the church campus without any fanfare at all.  What an awesome church member!  Thank you Danny!

Let’s talk live streaming of our services.  The only way to receive the live stream signal now is to contact me personally in order for you to receive instructions on how to receive the signal.  I need to hear from you no later than tomorrow at noon.  At this point, I have only heard from Maxine Ervin Dupont in Texas.  You will need to be homebound locally or out of town to get this information.  If you live in the South Mobile County area, we want you involved in our services in person.

The Day of the Child in Guatemala was great!  Deidra, Angelina, Chino and I left at 8:00AM yesterday and got back to GRACE Mountain around 1:30PM.  We delivered pizza, chips, cookies and drinks to almost all of the one hundred and forty three students enrolled at Colegio JET.  They were meeting in small groups in various locations around the area.  While they cannot attend school due to the virus, they voluntarily come to a designated place several days each week to received educational instruction from our teachers who are voluntarily tutoring them.  They are doing the social distancing thing, wearing the face coverings, et cetera.  Yesterday was a day of fun and games.  Basically like a field day or Spring Fling in our US schools.  The students were happy campers.

Speaking of Guatemala, the needs here have always been great but they are even more so now with the virus.  Folks have seen their lives disrupted in a major way.  We need boots on the ground doing ministry.  So, the dates of Wednesday, November 11, through Wednesday, November 18, 2020 will see us bring a team to do ministry with Soy & Deidra coordinating the work.  The price of the tickets are favorable right now out of Mobile and Grand Rapids.  Please know that ticket prices can change at any moment.  So, if you are absolutely sure of your desire to join this team then please contact me via e-mail immediately.  Please know that once the tickets are purchased they cannot be refunded and they cannot be transferred.  I have one firm commitment to fly out of Mobile at the time of this writing.  Will there be tickets available to purchase later if someone decides to go?  Yes, but that person will have to pay the fare difference.  At today’s ticket rate, the trip will cost $950.  Any other participants?  Contact me now!

Also, as it stands right now, the price of tickets are also favorable out of Mobile for the dates of Tuesday, December 29, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021.  (Tickets out of Grand Rapids are much higher those dates)  If you prefer coming to Guatemala on those dates then please contact me immediately too.  Can a person do both trips?  Yes.  This trip will also cost $950 if the tickets remain the same fare.  Folks, time is of the essence here!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Good Thursday morning from GRACE mountain.  I arrived here around 2:30PM yesterday afternoon after a long day of traveling and a close call on my connection in Houston.  More about that in a minute.

I appreciate Bro. Jerry teaching in my absence yesterday morning and last night.  I did not hear from anyone as to how things went but I am sure all was good.

Larry Whitehurst is scheduled to have his second eye surgery tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

Keep praying for Larry Crawley.

The container did not leave Gulfport on Monday but is supposed to leave today.  The port was backed up because of the recent hurricane activity.  Pray for us to find favor with the customs officials.

Jonny Gaston and Reach My City will be having a fundraiser this Saturday, 10/3, from 10:0AM until noon in the parking lot of Lisa’s office (across from the Grand Bay post office).  You can get one pound of shrimp, corn and potatoes for a suggested donation of fifteen dollars.  The proceeds will help with their upcoming ministry needs.

The flight from Mobile was scheduled to leave at 7:00AM yesterday.  A problem arose and it was 8:00AM before it departed.  Basically it meant that I did not have enough time in Houston to make my connection.  The flight attendant, Deborah, was extremely kind to me, moved me to the front seat and encouraged me to run.  In the meanwhile Deidra was working the phone with the airline telling them to hold the plane.  I literally ran from Concourse B to the train and then from the train to the gate in the E concourse.  Felt like the old Hertz rental commercials (all of the old folks know what I am talking about).  Obviously, I made it in time to get on the flight to Guatemala.

It was great to see Deidra and the girls.  Soy & Deidra have done so much work on GRACE Mountain that it is basically a new place – wow!  You have to come see it!  As a matter of fact, I am going to lead a team the dates of Wednesday, November 11, through Wednesday, November 18, 2020.  Plans are to fly out of Gulfport.  Trip cost will be one thousand dollars which is basically all inclusive.  If you are interested, have a passport, and will pay a seven hundred dollars non-refundable deposit then contact me.  The tickets will be purchased online and are non-transferable.  Pass the word.  This also applies to our friends in Michigan who want to fly out of Grand Rapids on those same dates.

Today is the “Day of the Child” in Guatemala.  Big holiday here.  Not sure what all of that means for me today but I do know I am going with Chino to pick up pizza at 8:30AM.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Friendship family, please be faithful.

I am doing something today that I have not done since January.  I am going to board a plane and take a flight to Houston and then one to Guatemala City.  There are a boatload of things that need to be handled for GRACE Ministries as well as Colegio JET.  Deidra has been making decisions but is ready for me to assume the leadership position on several issues.  She has me lined up to meet, meet and then meet some more.

Flying has obviously changed drastically since March.  I had two tests on Monday for the virus.  Both came back negative.  Let me say what a huge help Todd Stork was through this entire process.  I could not have asked for a person to do more than Todd has done to get me tested and to get the results back in a timely manner.  Thank you Todd!  Todd has always been about as nice of a guy as you could possibly meet.  I am most grateful to Todd and to the nurse, Tammy, who “rammed” that Q-tip up my nose – LOL!  Actually, she did an excellent job and was very gentle.

I also want to say a huge “thank you” to Mike Borja who drove over from Long Beach, MS this past Saturday to help with the loading of the container.  Mike is a great friend and I literally first met him while he was leading the loading of a container bound for Guatemala.

Nic Gray from Bay Minette also drove over to help with the loading of the container.  Nic has no expertise in this area but heard there was going to be a free breakfast so he decided to come.  Nic is a great guy!  The best thing about Nic is his sweet wife, Annie. Thank you Nic!

The weather forecasters are now calling for daytime highs in the seventies and nighttime lows in the forties and fifties for the Gulf Coast.  The forecasted low for Friday night is forty two degrees.  Hallelujah!

I plan to blog while in Guatemala.  I hope to catch us up on some of the happenings there.  By the way, Deidra has posted some good blog entries recently on shininglightabroad.com.  You would do well to read them.

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