Pastor's Blog

Went to the hospital to visit Clinton but he was not there.  He was moved to a rehab facility in Mobile.  Pray that the PT will help Clinton regain his strength.

It is worse than I thought – I am considering attending not one, but two, girls soccer games later today.  Somebody please have me committed!  NOW!

My plan is to visit Mama on Thursday.  Hopefully that will become reality.

Clinton Stringfellow is perhaps a bit better but he still has a long way to go.  He is very weak physically.  Pray for him to moved to a rehab facility.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

The Refresh of our auditorium will begin the week following Easter Sunday.  Volunteers will be needed to help.  Henry Wyse will get us the details as to the timing and scope.

We are “Marching to Easter” and part of that will be receiving a special offering each Sunday with the entirety of the offering going to sponsor a teacher at Colegio JET in Guatemala.  Our goal is seven thousand dollars.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.

Soccer practices have resumed on our back forty.  Pray for this ministry.

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

Happy birthday to Lisa’s sister, Kim.  How old?  Well, she is definitely older than me.  She used to babysit me which is how I met Lisa.  Just saying!  I hope Kim will have a great day!

Wow, what a great Sunday at Friendship!  We had two professions of faith, one salvation and two baptisms.  The spirit was excellent and the attendance was very good!  The worship during Jeanette’s special was very special.  To God be the glory!

Clinton Stringfellow remains hospitalized.  Rita told me that he had a better day on Saturday.  Lord willing, I will visit him today.

There was a celebration of life service for Bernard Cohen on Saturday and one for Ernest Tucker on Sunday.  Pray for these families.

Our deacon’s meeting on Sunday was excellent!

Gary & Rachel Walton, along with a great nephew, did a great job of removing the shrubs from around our church buildings this past Sunday.  The landscaping is a work in progress so please be patient.  The flag pole out front is nice!

The annual “spring forward” time change takes place this Sunday!  My least favorite Sunday of the year!  I am praying for a really great day in the Lord!

We are now “Marching to Easter!”  Details to be announced.

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

“Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!”  That is exactly how I felt as the service concluded last night.  Three salvations along with many decisions at the altar.  Praise the Lord!

How about the love offering the Lord gave to Bro. Dan through the Friendship family!  Absolutely amazing!  Glory to God!  (How much?  You should have been there.  Just know it was good and we thank God!).

Bro. Abel sent me a most encouraging email early this morning.  It was spot on!

Thank you to Bro. Abel for coordinating the meal for the men from the Mission of Hope last night.  Thank you to our Ladies Helping Hands for cooking, serving, et cetera.  It was all good!

Keith Barrett was admitted to a local hospital late yesterday afternoon.  Seemingly a possible issue with his heart.  More tests to be performed today.  Pray for Keith & Aninha.

Clinton Stringfellow remains hospitalized.  Keep praying for Clinton.

The Lord protected a young motorcycle drive passing by our church campus as last night’s service was just dismissing.  The young man was grateful and I am too.

Congratulations to the Alma Bryant girl’s varsity basketball team for advancing to the final four in Birmingham.  They will play Hoover at noon on Thursday, 3/5.  A very tall order!  Bryant has never been to the basketball final four (boys or girls) so my hat is off to this team.

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

No morning service on our campus today, 2/25.

Only one service remains in our series of revival services with Evangelist Dan Lanier.  It begins tonight at 6:30PM sharp.  I am praying for a packed house.  Will you join us?

Bro. Dan will be in the auditorium around 6:00PM which will allow folks to speak to him.  Why?  Because as soon as the service ends tonight he will be driving home and I want him to be able to leave as quickly as possible.  This is all on me and not on Dr. Dan.  Yes, folks can speak to him following the service but I do ask that we not keep him for a long period of time.  Thank you for understanding and cooperating with this request from me.

Tonight’s service will not be live streamed or recorded.  This is also a decision made by me.  I feel I am being obedient in doing this.  Again, thank you for understanding.

Friendship family, we need to receive a strong love offering for Dr. Dan tonight.  He and I have not even discussed finances.  Last night’s offering was good and I am praying that tonight’s will be very good.  The Friendship family has never disappointed me when it comes to revival love offerings.  So, I am expecting great things tonight!

So, pray, attend, and bring others with you.  Thank you to those who have been bringing guests.  What a blessing!

It was a joy to have Dr. Spencer Bell in our service last night.  Yes, he drove three hundred and fifty miles to be with us.  Thank you, Dr. Spencer.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow.

Bernard Cohen unexpectedly passed from this life yesterday morning.  He lived in Florida but was a co-laborer with us in Guatemala.  I spoke to him via the phone just a week or so ago.  I do not know the cause of death but do ask you to pray for his family.

Bro. Ernest Tucker continues to live physically.  Keep praying!

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

The Lord blessed us last night with another good service.  Dr. Dan delivered a powerful message.  Attendance was good.  Spirit was great.  Thank you to those who brought guests with them – good stuff!

I am asking the members of the Friendship family to give top priority to attending the services tonight and tomorrow night.  We begin at 6:30PM but folks came in late last night which is fine.  We were dismissed around 7:50PM last night.  Praying for a unique service tonight.  Pray, attend, bring others with you.

Bro. Ernest Tucker (Bro. Johnny’s older brother) continues to live physically.  Keep praying for him and his family.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Friendship family, hope to see you tonight at 6:30PM.

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our two services yesterday.  Not often do you have someone come forward for immediate baptism but that is exactly what happened in our morning service. Praise the Lord!  The altar was filled in both services.  Dr. Dan did an awesome job of preaching the Word!

Our morning attendance as pretty strong.  Our evening attendance was good.  I am praying that our attendance tonight will be very strong.  Please pray for Dr. Dan today as he prepares to prepare.  Attend and bring others with you.  Lord, send a revival!

The service tonight begins at 6:30PM.  If you cannot arrive on time, just come when you can.  Friendship family, please give prayer and attendance priority (in that order) as we seek God.

Also, please pray regarding the love offering God would have you give to support Dr. Dan the ministry God has given him.  I am praying for a miracle offering.

Bro. Johnny Tucker’s brother, Ernest, is seemingly near death’s door.  Pray for Bro. Ernest and for his family.  As you probably know, Bro. Ernest’s wife, Miss Pat, passed from this life just a couple of weeks ago.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow.

Thank you to those who have prayed for my Mama.  Unless something changes, I will not go back to Hartselle until Friday, 3/6.

Friendship family, all of the church pews have been spoken for BUT, if for some reason, you missed the announcement that you can have one, please contact Henry Wyse by this Sunday, 3/1, and he will make it possible for you to get one.  Please note that all pews must be removed either Monday, April 6, or Tuesday, April 7.  Those getting the pews are totally responsible for moving them from the auditorium and off campus during those two days.  Questions?  Contact Henry.

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus and I hope to see you tonight at 6:30PM.

The visitation with the Leroy Fore family begins today at 1:00PM and lasts until the 2:00PM service time.  Pray for Mitchell, Lee and entire family.  Lee & Michelle were in our service last night.  I appreciate those from the Friendship family who will be able to attend either the visitation and/or the celebration of life service today.

Spoke with Evangelist Dan Lanier yesterday afternoon.  He is excited about coming to Friendship and I am probably more excited to have him come preach the Word to us.  Pray for revival!

Lisa, Asher, Jayden and I drove to North Alabama last night.  It is a chance for us to spend some time with Mama in addition to me having a meeting this morning and Lisa having one tonight.  The main purpose is seeing Mama as I promised her last Saturday.  I appreciate Lee being understanding of the situation with Mama.

Per my source (Kayla Hatcher), a Jack’s Hamburger franchise is being built on the corner of Airport Boulevard and Snow Road in Mobile.  O happy day!

My niece, Jamie, tells me that I have given way too much credit to Eddie & Sue regarding handling Mama’s stuff.  Jamie says she is the one behind the scenes doing much of the work while getting zero recognition.  So, a shout out to Jamie!

Lord willing, we will return home tomorrow (Friday).  Looking forward to Sunday.  Pray for revival.

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

The obit for Leroy Fore, Mitchell’s  & Lee’s father was posted on this site a bit earlier.  Join me in continuing to pray for the Fore family.  I have spoken to Lee and he understands that I will be visiting my Mama tomorrow along with doing some other ministry related things in North Alabama so I will not attend the visitation or service.  However, Bro. Abel will attend in my absence (he would attend regardless) and hopefully some of our deacons and other Friendship family members will be able to attend the visitation and/or celebration of life service.  All necessary information is in the earlier blog entry.  Again, pray for the Leroy Fore family.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Jacob will be out of town attending his great-uncle’s celebration of life service so deacon Grant Tillman will be teaching our students tonight beginning at 6:30PM.

I am asking each member of the Friendship family to resolve to faithfully pray and attend the services this Sunday, 2/22, and then the ones Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.  The weekday services will begin at 6:30PM each night.  Folks, join me in praying for revival.  Pray, attend and bring others with you.

As I mentioned earlier in this entry, Lisa and I will drive tonight (I will drive while Lisa sleeps) in order to attend an early morning meeting and then we will head toward Hartselle to spend time with Mama before attending another meeting tomorrow night.  Lord willing, we will arrive home Friday night.  Pray for traveling mercies for us.

My brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, have handled the lion’s share of getting Mama moved into the convalescent home.  Eddie has officially ended the contract with the assisted living facility and done all of the things necessary for Mama to be admitted as a resident in the convalescent home.  Yes, it has bothered me to not be present but thank God for Eddie & Sue. Did you know a person can sell their funeral arrangements?  I did not know that.  That is crazy!  Eddie signed the necessary papers to assure the government that Mama cannot sell her’s and it is not a cash asset to her or anyone else.  Do not get me started – just saying!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  Pray for revival!

Nelson Leroy Fore, Sr “Leroy” passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on Monday, February 16, 2026, surrounded by his family. He loved the simple pleasures of the outdoors – early morning hunts, quiet hours fishing, caring for wildlife, and preserving its beauty through his photography, many Saturdays, you could find him faithfully watching Alabama football. He was a Pipe Manager at Ingalls Shipbuilding for 37 dedicated years before retiring.

Leroy is proceeded in death by his wife, Rita Lanelle Fore; daughter, Karen Fore Rachal; granddaughter, Heather Fore Cunningham; mother, Carolyn Gulsby Fore Nunn; father, Nelson Irvin Fore; brother, Thomas Eugene Fore; and sister, Barbara Ann Fore Braswell.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Christopher Leroy (Paula) Fore, Robert Mitchell Fore, Rolland Alan (Cheryl) Fore, Nelson Leroy “Lee” (Michelle) Fore, Jr., Susan Kay (Chris) Collins, and Brian (Christina) Fore; grandchildren, Steven (Misty) Kelly, Leroy Christopher “Lee” (Paige) Fore, Corey (Nicole) Fore, Vickie Mallette, Robert (Tiffany) Mallette, Channing Fore, Amber Fore, Jessica (Daniel) Bresher, Kaleigh (Hayden) Roberts, Madison Collins, Brayden Fore, Caleb Fore, and Parker Fore; fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; siblings, Dusty (Marsha) Fore, Choan (Jimmy) Daughdrill, Trey (Jill) Fore, and Mark (Kathy) Nunn; along with many other relatives and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Collins, Chad Taylor, Corey Fore, Brayden Fore, Caleb Fore, and Bryce Forrester. Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Ruth, Michael Oppie, and Jack Forrester.

The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to Stephanie Cothran and Whitney Goff whose kindness and dedicated care brought comfort to both them and their beloved dad.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel beginning at 2 p.m. with Rev. Bobby Morris, Chadd Cumbest, and Chuck Ruth officiating. Interment will follow at Tanner Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a tree be planted in Leroy’s memory.

Heritage Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Nelson Leroy Fore, Sr.