Pastor's Blog

Bonnie Smiley has been admitted to the hospital.  She was taken to the emergency room on Monday morning and yesterday morning she remained in a hallway waiting for a room.  Pray for Bonnie.  Thank you Sheila Booker and Nadine Holifield for getting Bonnie to the hospital.  Mariam Moates has also been a great help to Bonnie.

Keep praying for Tucker Vice and a complete healing of his eye.

I am praying for Katie Tillman although I am still not happy with her as she did not let me know she was going to have surgery.  I will not forget easily!  However, I am praying!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Come join us!

I am very excited about this coming Sunday, May 24, and our 10:00AM service.  Friendship family, if you are in town please help us have a standing room only crowd for this most special day.  May God be glorified!

No evening service this Sunday.

I was wrong!  I know you have a hard time digesting that statement!  However, it is true!  I thought we had ten houses financed through “Chloe’s Challenge” and that is the number I shared yesterday.  One of my daughters firmly scolded me sharing that we had eleven houses financed!  She was correct!  That is good news!  The greater news is that another house was spoken for yesterday which brings our total to the goal of twelve!  How about that!  We still have three Sundays to go and I am praying for more folks to step up and meet the challenge.  We cannot get too many houses!  By the way, Lisa was not surprised that I was wrong – she is used to it!

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

Tucker Vice continues to be on the top of my prayer list.  Prayer for a miracle regarding the healing of his eye.  Join me in that prayer.  June 9 is the important date.

Katie Tillman had a surgical procedure last Friday.  Something to do with her sinuses?  Anyway, pray for Katie!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.  Our adults will meet in the CAB.

“Chloe’s Challenge” is on target to reach (exceed?) the goal of having the funds to build ten houses in Guatemala.  We are presently at ten houses funded and our goal is twelve.  The end date for this challenge is Sunday, June 7.  Who will be next?

By the way, I missed game seven of the game between the Pistons and Cavs.  Anyone know who won?  (Asking for a friend!)

I want to say a huge “thank you” to the folks, men and women, who worked really hard yesterday getting the chairs moved from storage and into the auditorium.  It took all morning plus but things are shaping up nicely as we will return to the auditorium for worship this Sunday, May 24!

Remember, no evening service this Sunday.

Online registration is available for our VBS.  Pray for VBS which will be June 1 – June 5.

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

Happy birthday to our son-in-law, Brad Hutto.  I pray that he will have a great day.  We are thankful for Brad.  He is a great son-in-law, good husband and good father to four of our grandchildren.  The best thing is that he took Daphne off of our hands. . .  LOL!  Thankful for a son-in-law who loves the Lord and serves Him faithfully.  Best wishes to Brad!

We were blessed with a really good final Sunday in our CAB worship services.  Praise the Lord!  I appreciate all who have helped these past six Sundays go smoothly.  Obviously, we give God the highest praise!  He is good!

We will meet in the CAB this Wednesday, 5/20.  Regular schedule.

On Sunday, May 24, we will all enter the auditorium at 9:50AM.  Details TBA. I hope you will be able to join us.  We had a “Let’s Make A Deal” in last night’s service.  Our morning service this Sunday, 5/24, will go past 11:00AM.  We will then not have an evening service due in large part to it being Memorial Day weekend.

Pray for Tucker Vice and the situation with his eye.  Pray for a miracle!

Pray for Andy Hamil as the doctors try to decide the “what is next” scenario.

Our VBS is June 1 – 5 from 9:00AM until noon daily.  Pray for this important week of ministry.  Pray for Bro. Abel & Tiffany as they lead us through this week.

“Chloe’s Challenge” has gone well as we now have finances for ten houses to be built in Guatemala this year.  Our goal is twelve funded by Sunday, June 7.  Who will be next?  Contact me personally if you will help.  Checks should be made payable to GRACE Ministries.

I do want to thank each person who worked in the soccer concession stand and to those who were the customers.  Thank you for supporting missions and the John Peacock family.  May God bless you!

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  The garden (early then late), church chairs and a concession trailer are all calling my name today.

As is now my custom, I take a sabbatical from electronic devices from midnight Saturday until some point after midnight on Sunday/Monday morning.  So, if you email, text, iMessage me on a Sunday do not expect a reply until the following Monday.  In the event of an emergency, you can contact my wife and she contact me.  Again, only in the event of an emergency.  Thank you for understanding.  Are you taking a sabbatical from anything?

The final day of our Spring soccer went very well.  I was there most of the day working in the concession stand and things seemed to go smoothly.  Bro. Abel said the awards ceremony was amazing!  Good stuff!

Still have Tucker Vice at the top of my prayer list.  Pray!

Per Jeff Holifield the medical folks have found the source of Andy Hamil’s blood loss.  Not sure what is next but keep praying for Andy & Betty.

Regular schedule on our campus today, Sunday, 5/17.   The evening service will not be live streamed.  Just FYI.  Today will be our final worship services in the CAB.  I am praying for heaven to come down!

VBS the dates of Monday, June 1, through Friday, June 5.  Online registration open now!

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

I learned yesterday that Tucker Vice’s visit with the eye doctor did not produce the report hoped for.  If I understand correctly, if Tucker has not shown significant improvement by June 9 then surgery will be the option.  Join me in praying that Tucker’s eye will be sufficiently healed by June 9.  Pray for TJ & Lindsey too.

Soccer today beginning at 9:00AM.  Closing day.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning and evening.  High school seniors recognition during the morning service.

“Chloe’s Challenge” remains in front of us.  Will you prayerfully consider sponsoring the building of a house in Guatemala?

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

Bro. Abel tells me that all is well in Grand Bay.  He also shared with me that both Bonnie’s and Heather’s respective surgeries have been postponed for the time being.

Closing day of our soccer leagues is tomorrow, 5/16, beginning at 9:00AM.  Pray for this final day.  May God be glorified!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  The morning service will be on our YouTube channel.  The evening service will not be live streamed in any form.  We will not have our prayer time in the auditorium this Sunday.

Bro. Jacob will be formally recognizing our high school Class of 2026 during our 10:00AM service this Sunday.  All graduates need to contact him, if they have not done so already, for the details.

Thank you to those who contacted me yesterday expressing their prayer support.  Much appreciated.

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

It was six years ago today (on a Thursday) when my dad stepped over into Heaven.  Death stings!  Eddie A and I have the lost of our dads on almost the same day in common.  Wow, the emotions bounce all over the place.  I miss dad.  Did I mention that death stings?

I was able to watch the celebration of life service for Hope Bailey yesterday morning.  I thought things went well and that Pastor Jack and Pastor Joe did great jobs in a most difficult spot.  My brother, Eddie, also did well.  Ditto for Jason Bowling.  Keep praying for Hope’s family!

Heather Baria is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  Pray all goes well.

Soccer finale for this season this Saturday, 5/16, beginning at 9:00AM.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 5/17.  Praying for great services.

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

Today marks the fifty-sixth anniversary of my maternal grandfather’s passing from this life.  Tough day for my Mama and the family.  Death stings.

My prayers continue to be with the Hope Bailey family as the funeral service takes place today beginning at 11:00AM at Danville Baptist Church.  Pray for her father, Pastor Jack, and her brother, Pastor Joe, as they preach the service.  My brother, Eddie, will read the obituary during the service.

I “think” my memory serves me correctly in saying that Miss Bonnie Smiley will have surgery today.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

Heather Baria is scheduled to have surgery this Friday, 5/15.  Pray all goes well.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Keep praying for the Refresh project.  Looking forward to Sunday, 5/24, at 10:00AM.

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

The visitation with Johnathan Jordan and family will take place this morning, 5/12, beginning at 9:30AM in Vicksburg, MS and will continue until the 10:30AM service time.  Bro. Jacob will be attending this visitation and service.  Pray for Johnathan’s family as they walk through this valley.  Pray for traveling mercies for Bro. Jacob.

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

“Chloe’s Challenge” remains before us.  Contact me personally no later than June 7, 2026 if you would like to give or raise funds for a house to be built in Guatemala.  The house will be built in 2026!

Friendship family, remember that the auditorium is now closed until it reopens for our 10:00AM worship service on Sunday, May 24.  We need to allow the workers the time and space to finish this Refresh project.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Our online registration for our June 1 – 5, 2026 VBS is open.  Register today!

Looks like the rain in Grand Bay should end this morning and then we are supposed to be in the clear weather wise for the remainder of the week.  So, it should be a great closing day for our Spring soccer leagues.  Good stuff!

I am still looking for pecan wood.  Odd request I know.  Contact me personally if you have some or know someone who does, please.

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

The Friendship family was blessed with a really good Mother’s Day 2026 service.  As usual, good attendance.  Excellent attendance.  Thank you to Gary & Rachel Walton for providing the flowers.  Also, thank you to those involved in taking the photos before and after the service.  Praise the Lord for all He did in our midst!

Lisa’s dad was discharged from the hospital late Saturday afternoon.  He joined us for Sunday lunch.  The doctors have not been able to specify what is causing him to lose blood.  At least one more test to come.

The visitation and service for Johnathan Jordan’s mother will take place tomorrow, 5/12, in Vicksburg, MS.  Keep praying for Johnathan, Jamie and the girls.  Pray for Bro. Jacob as he travels to and from the service.

My heart continues to hurt for Pastor Jack Bailey, Pastor Joe David Bailey and the entire Hope Bailey family.  Continue to pray.

To my knowledge, yesterday we did not receive anyone willing to donate to build a house in Guatemala.  Who will be next?  Or which group, class, et cetera?  Chloe’s Challenge!

The auditorium is now off limits to anyone not actively working on the refresh project as we are trying to make things easier for those finishing the project.  We will reopen on Sunday morning, May 24, at 10:00AM.

Odd request – does anyone have (or know of someone who has) any pecan wood to give away?  If so, please contact me personally.

If the weather forecasters are correct then after this evening the chances of rain this week in Grand Bay are almost zero.  That means our final Saturday of this soccer season should be in good shape.  Yes!  Friendship family, we need to have a huge day at the concession stand after missing this past Saturday.  Please support us by coming to buy a combo and/or make a donation.  Help the Peacock family and missions in Guatemala with your purchase!

By the way, I praise the Lord for the recent rains.  God is good!

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