Pastor's Blog

Happy birthday to our granddaughter, Audrey Clark Taylor!  She is now seven years old and lives in Guatemala.  (Soy & Deidra’s girls are now nine, eight & seven years old)  I hope Audrey will have a great day and I know she will because her MeMe is there to make that happen!  We love Audrey!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I pray that the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

On Monday, September 6, Pastor Cecil “Doc” Wainwright passed from this life.  This past Sunday, September 19, his wife, Nina, passed from this life.  The visitation with Nina’s family takes place tomorrow night at the Independent Church of God in the bayou and a service will take place on Friday morning.  Pray for the Wainwright family during this difficult time.

We have a member of the Friendship family who remains hospitalized and is not doing so well.  Pray!

Church fellowship this Sunday, September 26, at Presley’s Outing from 4:00PM until 7:00PM.  The members of the Friendship family are asked to bring a dessert.  The church will provide everything else.

Daphne & Ann have taken good care of me food wise in Lisa’s absence.  I am fat and happy!

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

Continue to pray for Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, as the doctors in Birmingham put together a plan for his procedure.  It all depends on his heart.

Keep praying for Max & Marjorie Peacock.

Also, pray for those folks who are battling the virus.  We have no new cases within the Friendship family but some folks are still in the “recovery” phase.  One member remains hospitalized.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

We are going to have a church fellowship at Presley’s Outing this Sunday, 9/26.  We will begin at 4:00PM and quit by 7:00PM.  Meal will be served at 5:00PM.  Come and go format.

Wow, the boss on my new job is tough even though she is thousands of miles away!  She is making me clock in and out.  I am dragging up Friday whether she is home or not!

Eddie Albritton can spin some huge tales.  Believe nothing he says!  Just saying!

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

Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  I spent the night going through Lisa’s closet getting rid of the excess clothes.  LOL!

The visitation with the Dianne Clark family takes place at Serenity Funeral Home today from noon until the 2:00PM service time.  Pray for Dianne’s family which includes Clara Broadus who is a very faithful member of the Friendship family.

The response to the “homework” assignment was really strong!  Thank you to each person who responded.  I believe it was a God thing and while giving you thanks I also give God the glory!  May lives be changed for His glory!

As you know, Lisa is in Guatemala to celebrate Audrey’s seventh birthday.  I promised her that I would take vacation days in order to help in her office during her absence so that is my plan this week.  Obviously, I am in town and will be doing some ministry things but will not be in the office.  Certainly available in the event of an emergency.  Bro. Jerry and Bro. Abel will be in the office as normal.

We are on a regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday morning and evening.

Alabama eked out a win over Florida on Saturday.  That was costly to me as I paid for Rick Bradley’s game ticket, fuel, lodging and meals in order for him to attend the game.  Rick is a Florida fan and Alabama has never lost to Florida whenever Rick is in attendance!  Saban owes me!  Just saying!

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

Happy wedding anniversary to my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue.  I “think” this is number forty five.  I hope they will have a great day.  I anticipate Dr. Rex Looney will take them to Big Bob’s for lunch today – how nice is that!

If everything went as planned, the medical folks put Buddy Brewer’s cells back into his body yesterday.  Keep praying for Buddy and his family.

Word came to me last night that Jennifer Knipper Moss’ mother passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Pray for Craig, Jennifer and family during this time.

I imagine Bill & Debbie Kendrick are enjoying some really cool weather as they are in Alaska.  Makes me envious and, yes, that is a sin!

Danny Lewis is set to retire on the thirtieth of this month.  Good for Danny!

We are planning a church wide fellowship on Sunday, 9/26, at Presley’s Outing.  Make plans to attend.  More details this Sunday.

Lisa boards a plane this morning heading to Guatemala.  Audrey turns seven on Wednesday and MeMe is going to be there to celebrate with her.  So, I will hold the fort down here.  As a matter of fact, I will be using vacation days Monday – Thursday in order to help in Lisa’s office.  That should be interesting – LOL!  Pray for Lisa to have a safe, good trip.  (Anyone interested in buying some insurance?  Asking for a friend!)

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

Good Thursday morning.  We were blessed with a really good evening our Bible study and classes last night.  I am grateful to the Lord and thankful for the good number who attended.  The call to not have a Bible study yesterday morning was the correct one as the rains were very heavy in the AM.

Keep praying for Max & Marjorie Peacock.  Max will see the doctor again today.

Robert Baria is battling a major sinus infection so he needs our prayers.

A niece of Jeff Long’s passed from this life on Monday.  Her celebration of life service will take place this Friday in Georgia.  Pray for the Long family during this time.

The service for Clara’s sister, Dianne Clark, takes place this Monday, 9/20.  Pray for Clara and family.

My friend, Ranny Cockrell, passed from this life and his service will take place on Saturday, 9/25.  Pray for Ranny’s family.

Keep praying for Buddy Brewer.  Also, for Lee Sessions.

Leah Falana’s son is in Kuwait.  Pray for his continued safety.

Lisa will leave tomorrow heading to Guatemala in order to celebrate Audrey’s birthday next Wednesday, 9/22.  Pray for traveling mercies.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  The morning service and the evening service will be connected.  Pray for those services.

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

NO 10:00AM service on our campus today!  Our readership is down to eleven folks so I need those eleven to get the word out!  NO 10:00AM service on our campus today!

However, we are good to go for tonight’s classes and Bible study all beginning at 6:30PM.

I learned last night of a couple within the Friendship family who are both battling the virus.  One was taken to the hospital yesterday in serious condition.  I am asking you to stop right now and pray for this couple!

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, is in Birmingham.  If all goes as planned, he will be there for one month this time.  Her other son, Burl, is there with his brother.  Pray for Buddy and for his family.

Keep praying for Lee Sessions.

The arrangements for Clara Broadus’ sister, Dianne Clark, are as follows:  visitation with the family will take place on Monday, September 20, from noon until the 2:00PM service time from Serenity Funeral Home.  Keep praying for the Clark family.

Our children will be having an off campus event this Sunday morning, 9/19.  It is different and parents need to contact Dylan or Elizabeth for the specifics.

I am sending two deacons to the Alabama vs Florida football game this Saturday.  One (Rick Bradley) to monitor the Gators and one (TJ Vice) to monitor the Tide.  I just hope they do not get into a fuss while at the game!  If they do, I hope they will not be wearing their “I am a deacon at Friendship Baptist” shirts!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  NO 10:00AM service on our campus today!

Hurricane Nicholas made landfall in Texas early this morning.  It appears that it will be a very slow moving storm now that it is over land and will bring significant rain to the Gulf Coast.  So, I am going to make the call that we will NOT have our 10:00AM service tomorrow.  All of our regular attenders to that service are senior adults and that is the major factor in this call as I do not want them getting out in that type of weather.  So, please pass the word.  No 10:00AM service on our campus tomorrow.

If you disagree with my decision then call me and I will send you a cassette of one of my messages.  But wait, if you call within the next five minutes then you will receive not one, not two but three copies of my messages!  (Sorry, we are out of our copies on eight tracks)

As it stands right now, we will have a regular schedule on our campus tomorrow evening beginning at 6:30PM.  The cancellation only applies to our morning service.

Yes, the church office will be open regular hours tomorrow, 9/15.

I strongly encourage the parents of our children (fifth graders and down) to contact Dylan or Elizabeth Westbrook if you are interested in your child(ren) taking part in the skating outing this Sunday, 9/19.  This will be an off campus event.

Keep praying for Lee Sessions and the folks from within the Friendship family who are presently battling the virus.

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

Let’s begin with some good news – Lee Sessions was present in our second morning service yesterday.  He has had a tough go but he has strong faith and a great caregiver.  It was a blessing to see Lee.  Keep praying!

Clara Broadus’ sister, Dianne Clark, passed from this life late last night.  Obviously, arrangements pending.  Pray for Clara and family.

Pastor Cecil “Doc” Wainwright passed from this life last Monday, 9/6.  Here are the arrangements as posted by the funeral home – Celebration of life services will be held at Independent Church of God in Irvington, AL on Tuesday, September 14th, 2021 at 6 PM. Visitation will take place before the service from 4 PM until 6 PM. Graveside services will take place the following day (Wednesday, September 15th, 2021) at 11 AM from the graveside at Oddfellows Cemetery.

Pray for Pastor Doc’s family.  I did not know him well but he was always very kind to me.  His brother, Charles, and family are part of the Friendship family.  My heart always hurts when a fellow pastor passes from this life.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  The girls who shared the message in song last night did a nice job.  I spent some time with a family following our evening service and they plan to join the Friendship family this Sunday evening.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory.

Our children’s ministry will be off campus this coming Sunday.  If you are the parent of a child, fifth grade and under, then you need to contact Dylan or Elizabeth Westbrook for the details.

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

The church office will be open today, tomorrow and Thursday.  Open from 8:00AM until noon and 1:00PM until 4:00PM.  I am taking vacation days this week but Bro. Jerry and Bro. Abel are in the office and on call.

Lee Sessions was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon as he is feeling much better.  He is a happy camper to be home!  Keep praying for Lee!  Personally, I want to thank Elizabeth for being so faithful to keep me updated on Lee’s condition.  She has done great!

Lisa is going to verify the date with Lynn Presley but our plan right now is to have a church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday afternoon, September 26.  This will be deacon/staff led.  The key word is “fellowship!”  I believe the church needs in person fellowship in order to be spiritually healthy.  More details coming!

Our hill was empty of my family this past weekend.  However, my sweet mother-in-law, Ann Clark, did not let me starve.  She always looks after me food wise whenever Lisa is away.  Best mother-in-law ever!  (Grant Tillman has no idea what that is like!  Just saying!)

I predicted Bill Kendrick’s Rebels would win big last night and they did!  Remember, I am not a prophet but I do work for a not for profit!  I am going to predict that Alabama will beat Mercer this Saturday!  You heard it here first!

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

The church office is closed day for the Labor Day holiday and will reopen in the morning, 9/7, at 8:00AM.  Our staff members can be reached via cell phones in the event of an emergency.

We were blessed with a really good spirit in all three of our services yesterday.  The 8:00AM service as actually not far below a normal Sunday numerically.  We were blessed with a good number of guests in that service.  The Friendship family did well in welcoming those guests.  I was a proud pastor!  We had guests in our 10:30AM service but we were not as efficient as the first service folks in welcoming them.  Our goal is excellence in this area in all of our services.

Keep praying for those folks on our prayer list.

No doubt you are aware that our church website has undergone a renovation.  Brandon Baker led a team that has done a nice job renovating our site.  We need folks to give us good reviews on Google.

It was good to enjoy some football this past weekend and it is not over just yet as Ole Miss plays tonight.  I predict Ole Miss will win big.

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