Pastor's Blog

Let me begin by saying congratulations to Zach & Charlotte Brown on the birth of their son last Monday, 1/11.  All is well and we are grateful.

Also, congratulations to Josh & Kristi Nelson on the the birth of their daughter this past Friday, 1/15.  Again, all is well and we are grateful.

Thank you to each person who helped feed the Belvin McDonald family this past Friday following the celebration of life service.  I also appreciate Jeff Holifield preaching that service and Cecil Guidry doing the eulogy.

The celebration of life service for Diane Bryant’s father, Jim Brannon, takes place this Wednesday, 1/20.  It will be a private family service.  Pray for the Brannon family.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  The attendance in our first service was up while the attendance in our second service was down.  Our evening service attendance was somewhere in the middle.  I think that I did not take into account that it was a holiday weekend which affected our attendance.  Overall, we had a good day and we give God the glory.

This Sunday, 1/24, is going to be a day of appreciation for Miss Kittie Camp.  Miss Camp faithfully served as a part time secretary in our church office for thirty five plus years before retiring at the end of 2020.  However, she is much, much more than a secretary within the Friendship family.  I refer to her as our “church mother” as she means so much to so many folks within the Friendship family and outside the Friendship family.  More details on this special day to follow.  Thank God for Miss Kittie!

I “think” the Friendship family is virus free at the moment.  Bro. Jerry should be back in the office today if he feels up to it.  Praise the Lord for His watch care over Bro. Jerry and the others within the Friendship family.  We are blessed!

I am not a watcher of the NFL.  However, I did see where the Saints lost in the playoffs and I know that disappoints a good number of folks on the Gulf Coast.  It appears the playing career of Drew Brees is over.  If so, he had a great career.

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

Josh & Kristi Nelson are set to welcome their baby into this world today.  Pray for all to go well.  Boy or girl?  Yes!

As far as I know, everything else on the home front is on the quiet side.  That is good news!

Thank you to those who are going to help with the feeding of the McDonald family tomorrow.

Pray for the McDonald family and the Brannon family.

Keep praying for Bro. Jerry and all others battling the virus.  BTW, according to my calculations, Bro. Jerry’s & Tena’s quarantine will end this Sunday, 1/17, which means they will not be present in our services, Sunday School, children’s choir, et cetera.

Pretty unreal but the airfares for the dates of January 28 – February 4 are still really good.  We have openings for anyone possessing a valid passport.  Contact me like five minutes ago if interested.

The first mission team of 2021 is scheduled to arrive on GRACE Mountain late this afternoon.  They are from Moline CRC and will be led by Dave & Donna Westhouse.  Pray for all to go well with this team and their ministry.

Deidra is killing me with these meetings!  Two days of meetings, meetings, and one more meeting.  I “think” that today will see me only have one meeting.  How nice is that!

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

James Wesley Brannon, age 87, passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2021. James was born June 24, 1933 in Bessemer, Alabama.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Ligon Brannon and Katherine Chamblee Brannon; and sister, Helen Raye Barger.

He grew up in the Bessemer area except for the time during World War 2 when the family moved to Mobile. His father worked in a shipyard there building ships to support the war effort. After the war they moved back to Bessemer.

Jim joined the Navy at 17 years of age. Shortly after boot camp, he was assigned to the USS LSMR-409. The 409 soon deployed to the Korean Peninsula to fight in the war there.

After returning to the US, he went home on leave. While at home, he met the love of his life, Lavelle Newman. They married in November of 1952 and enjoyed 68 years together.

Jim stayed in the Navy for 20 years, retiring in 1969. He served on ships and stations on both coasts and made several more deployments overseas, including the Vietnam War.

After retiring from the Navy, Jim couldn’t sit still. He became a truck driver for the next 25-plus years. He enjoyed being his own boss and having new adventures on the road.

He retired from truck driving to become the spoiler of grandchildren.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 60 years and the Eastern Star over 50 years. His last membership was in Grand Bay Masonic Lodge #767 and the Order of Eastern Star #348 in Mobile.

He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Alabama.

Jim is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lavelle Brannon; son, Wesley (Susan) Brannon; daughter, Diane (Morris) Bryant; grandchildren, Stephanie (David) Frazier, Barton (Julie) Brannon, Kyle (Sueanna) Bryant, William (Brittany) Brannon, and Whitney Bryant; eight great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Our thanks and gratitude go to the staff of the William F. Green Alabama State Veterans home for their care of him the past three years.

Due to Covid restrictions, a private service for the immediate family will be held. In memory donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.serenityfuneralhome.com for the Brannon family.

Pharmacist Ross Hatcher of the Grand Bay Pharmacy has the vaccine in stock.  Any person seventy five years old or older can call 865 5555 to make an appointment.  Please pass the word.  Will someone please tell Wendy Johnston?

I posted the obit for Belvin McDonald.  We need folks from the Friendship family to help with the feeding of the family on Friday. Please call the church office or contact Tina Wilkinson.

Diane and family will go to the funeral home today to make the arrangements for Diane’s father.  Keep praying for the Brannon family.

I ask that you continue to pray for Bro. Jerry Hovel and the others who are battling the virus.

The Lord blessed and my brother, Eddie, & I had an easy day of travel yesterday.  We landed in Guatemala City at 12:33PM and were in the parking garage at 12:54PM.  If you have flown here previously then you will understand what a “miracle” that was!

Yesterday was the first day of school for the students at Colegio JET.  Eddie & I were able to visit the older students who attend in the afternoon session.  We will see the younger students this morning.

Deidra has me lined up with meeting after meeting after meeting beginning this morning.  Of course, that is my purpose for being here.  Pray that all goes well, please.

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

Belvin Levi McDonald, Sr., a native of Grand Bay, AL, passed away January 10, 2021.

He was born November 23, 1932, on Hall Rd in the family home and considered Grand Bay to be his home.

He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Thornton McDonald; parents, Bedford and Harriet McDonald; sister, Joyce Gardner; and step-son, Randal “Randy” Reeves.
Suvivors include his children, Joy Scott, Karen (Hector) Saldivar, Linda (Darrell) Whidden, Belvin “BJ” (Kim) McDonald, Jr.; step-children, Kerry “Speedy” (Lyn) Reeves and Mary Dueitt; sisters, Jeanette (Tommy) Mizell and Betty (Paul) Ford; brother, Gerald (Theresa) McDonald; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; other relatives, and friends.

He graduated from Mobile County High School and served in the Marine Reserves for two years before joining the Navy for four years. While in the Navy he served during the Korean Conflict on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). He retired from Ingalls after 31 years and loved fishing and going out in his boat after retiring.

He enjoyed Mardi Gras and was involved for over 15 years. He and his wife, Betty, were chosen to be Emblems of the organization, and they served as President one year.

He loved most sports. He started the football program in Grand Bay and ran it for 14 years. He coached many young boys in football and baseball. He was president of Grand Bay Ballpark for 5 years and coached women’s softball team “Silk Ridge” for 5 years; they were Alabama state champions in 1974. He loved Crimson Tide and was a crazy Alabama fan. ROLL TIDE

The family will hold a private visitation and funeral service on Friday, January 15, 2021 at Serenity Funeral Home.

The service will be streamed for the public on the same day at 2 PM at serenityfuneralhome.com

The celebration of life service for Belvin McDonald will be private.  It is scheduled to take place this Friday.  The Friendship family  will feed the McDonald family following the 2:00PM service.  Please call the church office or contact Tina Wilkinson if you can help provide food.  Pray for the McDonald family!

I do not know the final arrangements for Diane Bryant’s father, James “Jim” Brannon.  Keep praying for the family as they walk through this valley.

Keep praying for Bro. Jerry Hovel.  He and Tena are in quarantine until this Sunday, 1/17.  Also, pray for the others from the Friendship family who are battling the virus.

Donnie Felps continues to need our prayer support.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  We welcome Kevin & Amanda Steele to the Friendship family by transfer of letter and baptism.

Lord willing, I will board a plane in a couple of hours heading to Guatemala in order to take care of some administrative matters.  Colegio JET begins classes today.  Pray for traveling mercies and a productive trip.  Many thanks to Todd Stork for helping me get the test.  I am telling you that Todd is a jewel!

For those who viewed yesterday’s 8:00AM service online, the password must be all lower case letters.  That will be true this Sunday, 1/17, too.

I have plans to watch the Alabama game tonight.  If I get too, great.  If not, oh well.  Obviously, I am pulling for Alabama to win the championship.

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

I spoke to Bro. Jerry late yesterday afternoon and he was feeling probably some better than he had been in the morning.  Ross Hatcher had sent some OTC medicines to him.  Keep praying!

We have four or five others within the Friendship family who are presently battling the virus.  Pray for those folks too.  (I do not divulge names unless receiving permission from the person infected)

Diane Bryant’s father was moved to a different hospital and some of the family members were allowed to visit with him yesterday.  That is definitely a good thing for Mr. Jim and the family.  Keep praying.

Received word yesterday that Belvin McDonald is not doing well.  Pray for Belvin.

Basketball leagues are in action today.  Pray for Eddie A and this ministry.

Here is the schedule on our campus for tomorrow – worship at 8:00AM, 10:30AM and 6:00PM.  Sunday School at 9:15AM.  AWANA ministry at 5:00PM.  All children, 5K through fifth grade in the CAB with Dylan & TJ during the 6:00PM hour.

I still do not know anything definitive about children’s choir but I know Miss Tena will not be present due to the need to quarantine for ten days due to being exposed to the virus by her husband.  I will announce something definite in the services tomorrow morning.

I now have the password for those wishing to access the live stream during our 8:00AM service tomorrow.  That is the only service that will be live streamed.  I think there have been three or four folks request the code.  I will reply to those folks today.  Remember, the live stream will not be available without the code.  The absolute best way to contact me about the code is via email – pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

The van purchased in Guatemala by SLAM is a 2018 Toyota with sixty thousand miles.  I finally got a picture and some information.

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

The biggest news coming out of the Friendship family today is that our Associate Pastor, Bro. Jerry Hovel, has tested positive for the virus.  When he called me, he was trying to get in touch with his primary care doctor for advice and direction.  Bro. Jerry asks for prayers and I ask that you join me in praying for him.  God is bigger than this virus so let’s pray for a complete healing in Bro. Jerry’s life.

Please know that Bro. Jerry does not need to be bombarded by phone calls during this time.  If you send him a message then please do so expecting no reply.  He needs to rest and focus solely on taking care of himself right now.  Thank you for understanding.

I was told today that folks, age seventy five and older, are now able to make an appointment to get the vaccine for the virus in Pascagoula.  You simply need to call and make an appointment.  Our senior adults in this age bracket may want to consider this option.

Marisa wrote me earlier this week saying that Donnie has good day, bad day.  Good hour, bad hour.  One of her main points of focus is trying to make sure that neither she or Donnie get the virus.  Pray for God’s protection over them!

As far as I know, Diane Bryant’s father was transferred to a different hospital last night.  One closer to Grand Bay which is better for the family.

We lost a fine man who worked with GRACE Ministries in Guatemala.  He was affectionately known as “Juanito” which means little Juan.  He was short in statue but was a giant of a man.  Deidra has written an appropriate blog about Juan that can be found at shininglightabroad.com.  Pray for Juanito’s family.

Speaking of Deidra, SLAM is now the owner of a fifteen passenger van.  It is a 2018 model with low miles.  Honestly, that is all I know at this point.  Thank you to each person who prayed and those who gave to make this purchase a reality.  To God be the glory!

Our basketball leagues resume play in the morning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule this Sunday, 1/10, including the beginning of a new semester of our AWANA ministry.  I am checking with the leaders on the schedule.  I will post an update tomorrow or Sunday.

I am going to assume there will be no children’s choir this Sunday, 1/10, because of Tena’s need to quarantine due to Bro. Jerry’s diagnosis.  I will confirm that and post it either tomorrow or Sunday.

Finance Committee will meet this Sunday, 1/10.  Grant will let the members know the time.

I pray that you will have a good late afternoon, evening and night with Jesus.

A full blog entry will be coming later today.  Sorry for the delay.