Pastor's Blog

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and evening (6:30PM).  I hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family.

I need to share some well deserved “thank you” notes to a few people.  First, Bro. Abel has done a really good job of helping get the foyer renovation to the finish line.  I appreciate his efforts.

Yesterday, Deacon Scott Fontenot worked on putting something together that will go in the foyer.  He had already spent much of the day burning the brush pile on the back forty and spraying weed killer around the church campus.  (He was a bit worried about using the spray but I told him to take deep breaths and keep spraying!). Thank you deacon Fontenot!

John Milton Ladnier has tilled my garden spot twice and yesterday he planted the entire garden.  What a huge blessing.  John Milton absolutely loves it!  I “think” I heard Larry Whitehurst say he would come hoe it as needed – what a blessing!

I will get to the folks who have helped with the foyer renovation after all is said and done.  I am grateful to each one who has helped.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow, Betty Hamily, Vinnie Brewer and Coley & Katelyn Johnson.

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

Why no entry yesterday?  Yes.  Why is today’s entry late?  Yes.  (Everyone repeat after me – red truck!)

Clinton Stringfellow was in our morning service this past Sunday but he was not feeling well – at all.  Clinton still has doctor’s visits, tests, et cetera ahead of him so please pray.

Andy & Betty Hamil were not able to attend our services this past Sunday as Betty, while at home, is still not up to par.  Keep praying for them.

The good news is that Miss Vinnie Brewer was in attendance this past Sunday morning and that totally blessed my heart.  This pastor is always thrilled when Miss Vinnie is present.  What a sweetheart she is!  I am very grateful for the privilege of serving as her pastor.  If I was as good of a pastor as she is a church member then wow!  Pray for Miss Vinnie to be well physically.

Robert Baria continues to have issues with his shoulders.  Pray for Robert & Roseanne.

Coley & Katelyn Johnson have a court case this Thursday.  I will not go into the details but pray all goes well.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening – 10:00AM and 6:30PM.

We will have a several sign up lists in tomorrow’s services.  The first will be for our senior adults who plan to join us for our annual Senior Adult Day on Sunday, May 4, at 10:00AM.  Free lunch in the CAB immediately following the service.  Senior adults, please join us!

The next two lists will have to do with upcoming fundraising meals.  The first is a pulled pork meal which will be available Friday late afternoon, May 2 and Saturday morning, May 3.  The second is a fried fish meal which will be available Friday late Friday afternoon, May 16, and Saturday morning, May 17.  Pulled pork plates will be $8 each while the fish plates will be $10 each.  There will be a maximum per family but the powers that be have not given me those numbers yet.  All proceeds will go to the ministry portion of our mission trip to Guatemala the dates of June 12 – 19.  Pre-orders should be submitted no later than Monday, April 28, for the pulled pork and no later than Monday, May 12, for the fish.  Need to place an order or more information?  Contact Daphne Hutto (251) 533 – 4595 or Scott “deacon” Fontenot (251) 281 5068.

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

Betty Hamil was not discharged from the hospital yesterday but was much improved.  The belief is that she will be discharged at some point today.  Keep praying for Betty and Andy.

Continue to pray for Miss Vinnie Brewer.

Soccer games tonight and then again tomorrow morning.  Pray for this ministry.  The concession stand offers a five dollar meal deal so, even if you do not do soccer, come by and get a meal which will support our students.

By the way, a pulled pork meal and a fried fish meal will be coming soon.  Those funds will go to help the ministry side of our June missions trip.  Details forthcoming.

Regular day this Sunday.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper in our evening service.

Senior adult day coming Sunday, May 4.  Pastor Alton Stokes will be our guest messenger.  A meal for our seniors will follow the service.

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

Betty Hamil was doing much better late yesterday afternoon.  It “appears” that she will be discharged from the hospital at some point today.  Thank you for praying.

Miss Vinnie Brewer has not been feeling well and the doctor has instructed her to rest.  So,  I asked the Friendship family yesterday to not call or visit Miss Vinnie in order that she may not be disturbed.  Please note that this was my call and not the family’s request.  Miss Vinnie is the church sweetheart!  Pray for her!

Willard & Amy Garnett from Danville, Alabama are dear friends and great partners with GRACE Ministries.  Willard’s older brother, Mike Garnett, passed from this life on Monday, 4/7.  Mike was a faithful follower of Jesus and is now in Heaven.  Pray for the Garnett family during this time.

The Lord blessed us with good services yesterday.  The teaching was hard.  False teachers or false tongues?  Both are not good for the church.

Soccer tomorrow night and Saturday morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper during our 5:00PM service.

We need folks to bring candy to fill plastic eggs for Saturday, 4/19.  Please bring it this Sunday, 4/13, if possible.

Easter Sunday worship at 8:00AM (preaching) and 10:00AM (choir musical presentation).  No evening service.

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

Better late than never?

Quick update – Betty Hamil was admitted to the hospital late last night/early this morning.  They “think” they know her problem but will be doing tests to be sure.  Pray for Betty and Andy.

Keith & Aninha leave for Brazil today.  They will be missed by us – big time!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.  I pray for a great attendance.  Come join us!

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

Wow, what a Sunday!  God blessed us in a very special way as we were privileged to see a sixty-eight years old gentleman be born again during our morning invitation.  Hallelujah!  Yes, there is room at the cross for you!

Our student leaders did a superb job of cooking lunch yesterday.  I will not try to list them as I will invariably unintentionally leave someone off the list.  So, suffice it to say “thank you” to each person who helped in any way.  And thank you to each person who supported this effort!  We are better together!

Joey & Bibbi Bosarge will lead our ministry to the McKemie Place tonight.  Pray for this ministry and this opportunity.

Our Ladies Helping Hands Ministry will have their monthly diaper give away tomorrow morning.  Pray for this ministry too.

Mark & Brenda Timberlake’s grandson was discharged from the hospital.  The doctors will now decide on the next move which  very well could be major surgery.  Pray!

There will be a church wide wedding shower for Sienna Bosarge and Ian Tagert this Sunday, April 13, in the Preschool Building from 2:00PM until 3:30PM.  All ladies of the church are invited.

Easter weekend will see us have Sunday School classes for our Preschool and Children’s (1st – 5th grades) Departments beginning at 9:00AM on Saturday, April 19.  Those classes will be followed by Preschool Church and Children’s Church. The buses will run their regular routes at the normal times which means the trip home will begin at 11:00AM.  Yes, there will be an egg hunt beginning at 10:30AM for both the preschoolers and grade schoolers.  We need all teachers in our Preschool Department and our Children’s Department to be in their place no later than 8:45AM on Saturday, 4/19.

Easter Sunday will see us have two morning worship services – 8:00AM & 10:00AM.  The first service will basically be a normal schedule service with music and preaching.  The second service will feature the ministry of our adult choir under the leadership of Jeanette Bates.  Obviously, folks are free to choose which service they attend but are cordially invited to attend both if they so desire.  Pray for our Easter weekend!

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

P.S. – there will be no services, classes, Bible studies, et cetera on our campus on Wednesday, 4/23.  Just FYI.

Want to make sure the Friendship family knows about our Easter weekend schedule.  On Saturday, April 19, we will have Sunday School for our Preschool Department and our Children’s Department beginning at 9:00AM.  This will be followed by Preschool Church and Children’s Church and then a time of fun with an egg hunt.

Our buses will run their regular routes and should return home around the same time as a normal Sunday – maybe a tad earlier.  Pass the word!

Easter Sunday will see us have two morning worship services – 8:00AM and 10:00AM.  I will be preaching in the 8:00AM service and our adult choir will be sharing a musical in the 10:00AM service.  We are asking folks to attend whichever service fits their schedule best.

No evening service on Easter Sunday.

Where did the morning go?  Wow, I totally missed it.  Sorry!  I definitely have the “red truck” syndrome.  (Although I do not forget to bake a cake!)

One of Mark & Brenda Timberlake’s grandsons has battled seizures for years.  He is now in the hospital and they have inserted needles into his head to try and determine the exact origin(s) of his seizures.  If successful, they will do a major surgery in the coming week.  Pray for this situation.

The visitation and service for Andrew Johnson took place this afternoon.  I want to say a “huge” thank you to the ladies from our church who help feed the Johnson family following the burial.  That a great group of ladies the Friendship family with which the Friendship family is blessed.

The visitation with the Jack Dowdy family takes place this Saturday, 4/5, from 2:00 – 4:00PM in our auditorium.  Another shout out to our ladies for ministering to this family following this visitation.

Can we offer you Sunday lunch?  Immediately following this Sunday’s (4/6) morning service our student ministry will be serving baked spaghetti lunches (includes green beans, brownies and bread) to go.  Cost is eight dollars per plate with maximum of forty dollars per immediate family.  The deadline for placing an order is tomorrow (Friday, 4/4) at noon.  Daphne Hutto (251) 533 4595 is the point of contact.

Rumor has it that Bro. Chris will be providing hamburgers for the children this Sunday.  This is mainly designed for those who will not have a parent with them.

IF you cannot afford a meal this Sunday, contact me personally and Lisa & I will purchase your meal.  No questions asked.  (I fully expect TJ to be the first caller!).  If possible, I need to hear from you tonight or before noon tomorrow.

I picked Auburn to win the national championship early in the season and I have not changed my mind.  Kevin & Kim are going to carry the Tigers to victory!

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

Word came to me through Deidra earlier this afternoon that Samuel Acan who used to work with/for GRACE Ministries passed away yesterday afternoon and will be buried today.  Pray for his wife, Reyna, and daughter, Denise.

Samuel was second in charge when the mission house was built 11/01 through 07/02.  He then worked with/for GRACE for many years and was in charge of the building of the houses.

He was able to come to the States one time visiting Alabama and Michigan.  Tom & Shari Compagner visited with him just a few weeks ago.

Life is so uncertain so it pays to be ready!

I know, I know, I know.  I cannot go back to yesterday but I can catch up today.  Sorry for the slothfulness on my part.  I do have a red truck!

Coley Johnson’s cousin, Andrew, passed from this life last Wednesday, 3/26.  He was only thirty-three years old.  The visitation will take tomorrow, 4/3, at Serenity Funeral Home from 12:00PM (noon) until the service which will begin at 2:00PM.  Pray for the Johnson family.

The visitation with the Jack Dowdy family will take place this Saturday, 4/5, in our auditorium from 2:00 – 4:00PM.  Pray for the Dowdy family.

Mark & Brenda Timberlake’s grandson, Tyler, had surgery yesterday.  I pray that all went well and that his recovery will so smoothly.  Pray for Tyler and his family.

Eddie Albritton’s sister, Wendy, was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She will begin treatments in a few weeks.  Pray for Wendy.

Eddie went to work today.  Said he was not going to work a full day which is not unusual as he has never worked a full day in his life.  Just saying!

JZ Baker will not be having the therapy they thought he “might” be able to have.  Pray for JZ and family.

We had a good service (good attendance, great spirit) this morning and I am looking for another good one tonight.  Come join us!

Friendship family, want to take Sunday lunch home with you this Sunday, 4/6, after the service?  Good meal, good price.  Text Daphne Hutto (251) 533 4595 for more information or to place an order.  Deadline to order is this Friday, 4/4, at noon.

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Wednesday.