Pastor's Blog

Word came to me that we had fair attendance in our evening service last night in spite of constant rain.  Thank you to those who were faithful to attend.  (I do not know about our morning service attendance but those folks are pretty consistent)

The call came to Colegio JET fairly late on Tuesday afternoon.  It was a notice that a group of administrators from the State Department of Health, the State Department of Education and the local Education Department would be coming to Colegio JET on Wednesday morning.  This group included the superintendent for the State of Chimaltenango (Chimaltenango is a state and a city just like New York).

The purpose of the meeting was to inspect the campus for covid protocol, class size, et cetera.  If all went well then Colegio JET would be the first school in the entire state to be allowed to legally open and all other private schools would be told to do what is being done at Colegio JET.  This was a huge deal!

The group of administrators actually arrived over an hour early!  Folks, in Guatemala that is nothing short of a miracle!  When all was said and done they gave Colegio JET an “excellent” grade only asking for a couple of minor things to be done.  All I can say is “to God be the glory!”  Thank you to those who prayed!

The team had a good final day of ministry.  They leave GRACE Mountain at 6:45AM today and are schedule to arrive in Grand Rapids just before midnight.  Dr. John, his boys and grandma have been awesome!

Meanwhile, four folks from Michigan have already boarded their respective planes and are heading South.  Two others from Arizona will do the same later today.  Pray for traveling mercies.

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

No news = good news!  Very grateful!

Let me share a prayer need from Guatemala.  The call came around 5:00PM yesterday that three of our students (brother and twin sisters) house was destroyed by fire around 3:30PM.  No one was at home but this family of eight literally lost everything they owned materially minus the clothes they were wearing.  Deidra and three of the Colegio JET teachers immediately mobilized and began collecting things – clothes, food, personal toiletries, a king size bed, et cetera.  Today will be a day of trying to determine what is next for this family and how to best help them.  Pray for them, please.

Let me share a praise from Guatemala.  A young man (20 years old?) has been working on GRACE Mountain.  Last Thursday I noticed that he was missing his four front teeth.  I asked Deidra about it and she said it was the result of a work related accident last Summer.  The company assumed no liability.  So, he was super sensitive about this matter.  Once again, our staff at GRACE Ministries sprang into action only this time it involved Gene Davis because of his dentist friend, Dr. Ruth Hernandez.  Soy took the young man to visit Dr. Ruth for a consultation.  Yesterday, he had two other teeth extracted and will eventually have permanent implants.  He is a sore but very happy camper today!  I think the entire process will be a little over two weeks.  Pray that all goes well.

Let me share a major prayer request from Guatemala.  The state Education Department and the state Health Department will visit the campus of Colegio JET today.  Folks, I cannot stress enough just how important this visit is regarding the 2022 school year.  Please, please pray fervently!  Important!

The Tuesday in Guatemala was blessed.  Three more houses were built and the first six were dedicated.  Dr. John, Sam, & Jacob along with grandma took some families to purchase food and other things.

This team of four is definitely proving that “little is much when God is in it!”  To God be the glory!

Edgar Chajon, Sr. is now the maintenance supervisor for GRACE Ministries.  Matthew Cain has done a nice job being our first maintenance man and now Edgar will pick up the torch.

Grandma came out of her room yesterday dressed to kill – dress, high heels, make up, the whole deal.  I said, “grandma, why are you so dressed up?”  Her reply, “going to church” to which I replied, “what?”  She said, “you told us that we were doing a dedication today and I always dress up for our baby dedications whenever I am at home!”  She then capped it off by saying, “I even put my Sunday dentures in!”  Oh my!  Then she was literally chasing a man around the mission house last night following supper.  Are you serious?  Yep!

A member of the Friendship family received a huge blessing yesterday.  An answer to prayer!  God can!

I have never watched The View.  However, I would be fine if they fired her!  My only question would be, “what took you so long?”

As I figured, Auburn spanked Alabama in basketball last night.  Even broke a dollar!  Auburn has the great possibility of winning the national championship this season.  Good use of the brooms last night.

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

The celebration of life for Pastor Roy Crouch’s paternal grandfather will take place this afternoon beginning at 2:00PM.  Pray for Pastor Roy and two of his first cousins who are also pastors as they will preach the service.

“No news is good news” continues to be my belief regarding things on the home front.  Thank the Lord.

Revival services the dates of February 13 – 16!  Pray for revival!  Pray for Evangelist Danny Long.

The team in Guatemala had a good day yesterday.  The doctors saw over one hundred folks as they completed the data base for the Colegio JET students and then saw adults who had made appointments.  The building team built two more houses and poured concrete in all six of the houses in Itzapa which means those six houses are completely finished.  Good day of ministry.

The biggest news from GRACE Mountain yesterday involved an exciting announcement from Matthew & Bonnie Cain.  They and their four children moved here in January 2021 with Matthew serving as the maintenance supervisor on GRACE Mountain.  Their ministry is “Hands and Feet Ministry” and they have been seeking the Lord’s leadership as to how that ministry should look/proceed.  They have begun to minister to widows and now feel God is leading their family to devote their full time focus on this aspect of ministry.  So, they will move down into Chimaltenango this weekend to follow God’s leading for their lives.  I am excited for them.  GRACE Ministries has provided them the opportunity to settle in to Guatemala while seeking God’s will.  I told Matthew yesterday that I felt they would either be in Guatemala very short term or God would speak to their hearts about where they should serve in this beautiful country.  I am thankful God has allowed GRACE Ministries to play a small role in this ministry He has given to the Cain family.  Pray for Matthew, Bonnie and their children.

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

Bro. Jerry sent me an update stating that the highlight of our Sunday was seeing one person make a public profession of faith in one of our morning services.  Praise the Lord.  He also wrote that we have decent attendance in our morning services and a good attendance in our evening service.  Bill Kendrick shared that the number in the study of Romans was very good.  Thank you to all who were faithful to attend.  All glory to God!

There have been a couple of deaths to folks related to members of the Friendship family.  Jamie Coffman’s mother passed on Saturday.  Angie Bentley’s cousin passed yesterday.  Pray for these families.

Our Sunday in Guatemala began with the church service followed by a medical clinic on GRACE Mountain, lunch, a food distribution in El Tejar, and then another much smaller medical clinic following the evening service at Iglesia JET.

Last night marked the first time in the history of Iglesia JET that an evening service took place as a regular part of the schedule.  Pastor Adan is wanting to reach those folks who have to work on Sundays meaning they cannot attend the morning service.  The church is actively seeking ways to grow.  Good stuff!

It was an uneventful day with grandma and that is a good thing!

One young boy came to me following the morning service and shared that it was his birthday.  I congratulated him and then he began to shed tears as his sponsor was not here to celebrate with him.  I consoled him and all was well.  Just saying!  (Also, LOL!)

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Pray for Bro. Jerry as he preaches in my absence.  Attend the services, please.  The 8:00AM service will be live streamed with no password needed.

Word came to me this morning that Jamie Coffman’s mother passed away yesterday.  She lived in the northern part of Alabama.  Pray for Jamie and family during this time.

I also learned this morning that Pastor Roy Crouch’s grandfather has passed from this life.  Roy was raised by his grandparents so this is extra tough on him.  Pray for Pastor Roy and his family.

Ben Thomas has written a nice article about a varsity basketball player at UMS.  You can find it on al.com.  Ben writes good stuff!

Well, it was a most different Saturday on GRACE Mountain.  The day began with a morning devotion time which lasted almost an hour.  Small number (obviously) but a really good time in the Word.

It was raining a little bit before sunrise yesterday.  Not a problem as this is dry season and we would not be affected by the wet stuff even though we were going to build houses.  Wrong!  It basically was cold, windy and wet all day.  As a matter of fact, the rain got hard enough around 3:00PM that we called it a day.  Four houses were built to the point of being ready to receive the concrete.

Side note – Grandma Cristina was on Soy’s team.  There was an older lady there who did not have any teeth.  So, being the giver she is, grandma took her teeth out and offered them to the lady.  Dr. John had to explain to Cristina that it simply does not work that say.  Bless her!

The Sergeant told me as I was leaving yesterday morning that she would be inviting some folks to join us for supper (she calls it dinner which is so Scripturally wrong).  When 7:00PM rolled around there were around forty (40) guests who joined our team of four!  A great time was had by all!

After supper, Dr. John performed surgery in the downstairs living area of the mission house.  He surgically removed a thumbnail from one of our teachers at Colegio JET.  She squirmed during the four deadening shots but all is well that ends well.

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

Good Saturday morning from GRACE Mountain.  I pray that you and yours are doing great!  Still living by the “no news is good news” theory as things relate to home.

Eddie Albritton sent me a message yesterday saying that two or three folks have volunteered to help him with the basketball leagues today.  I am most grateful!  You may be thinking, “I do not know enough about basketball to help!”  Folks, if an Ole Miss fan can help. . . .    Just saying!  Thank you to those who are helping with this ministry today.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Worship at 8:00AM; 10:30AM and 6:00PM.  Sunday School at 9:15AM.  Study on Romans at 4:45PM.  Kid’s Bible club at 5:00PM.  Children’s choir at 6:00PM.

Bro. Jerry Hovel will be preaching in my absence tomorrow.  It just seems natural that some folks think, “I do not have to go to church because the pastor is out of town.”  That is correct!  You do not “have” to church but rather you “get” to go to church!  What a privilege we enjoy as Americans.  Plus, if your reason for attending church is because of the pastor, then you need to ask God to do a work in your heart!  So, Friendship family, please be faithful to attend the services at Friendship tomorrow!  The 8:00AM service will be live streamed with no password required.  That is how I will get to be involved with the service.

I learned yesterday of the passing of Pastor Q.T. Curtis.  He was a great pastor, preacher, friend to so many.  I first met him and heard him preach when I was around twelve years old as he came to preach revival services at my home church in Neel, Alabama.  He did an awesome job of pastoring Sage Avenue Baptist Church for many years.  Pastor Q.T. was just short of ninety-eight years old.  Pray for the Curtis family as the visitation and celebration of life service will take place today.

Yesterday was a good day on GRACE Mountain.  You may be thinking “who came from Michigan?”  Dr. John Nicely who is a physician in the ER at Holland, Michigan hospital.  Dr. John’s two sons, Sam and Jacob.  Sam is a senior in high school and Jacob is a freshman.  Cristina Fuglseth who is retired from the medical field.  I “think” Cristina is around ninety-seven years old? She acts much younger.  I just call her grandma.  It really does not matter what you call her as her hearing is about shot!  So, what is your excuse for not coming on a GRACE Ministries trip?

Anyway, Dr. John & Grandma Cristina are seeing the students at Colegio JET this week and organizing a data base on each student.  They saw more than sixty folks yesterday.  They were assisted by Sam & Jacob.  The only problem was that “grandma” would ask each patient, “how are you?”  They would reply, “fine and you?”  Well, she then proceeded to tell them which meant a fifteen minute speech per patient!  Oh my!

Meanwhile, the Sergeant was at full force!  She knocked (putting it mildly) on my door at 4:00AM reminding me of the need to be on the school campus by 5:00AM.  Folks, it is a two minute walk!  So, a great team of workers showed up and finished another section of the parking lot.  Over the past two days, we mixed (with a mixer) and poured the equivalent of fifty-four houses that we build.

Today, we all head out to build houses.  Our biggest challenge will be keeping up with grandma as in “where did she wander off to now?”

My friend, Dr. Jack Bailey, blogs daily and stated this week that he only has thirty to sixty readers.  Man, what would I give to have such a following?  I often wonder what it would be like to reach that fifteen readers plateau?  Please know that I am happy to have the thirteen readers but I guess we all get greedy from time to time.

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

Good morning from GRACE Mountain.

I have always been told that “no news is good news” so all on the home front seems to be good.  I have not even heard of any new cases of the virus within the Friendship family.  That, too, is good news!

Pray for revival!  Pray big!  Pray fervently.  Pray without ceasing.  Pray!

I was in hopes that Eddie A would send me a message sharing that he has been overrun with volunteers for basketball.  Has not happened.  Still time for it to become a reality!

The guys working on the Colegio JET parking lot started at 6:00AM yesterday morning and worked until almost 2:00PM when a shortage of materials forced them to stop.  I joined them at 6:30AM which goes against my grain.  Why was I late?  Because I have always wanted to be like Joey Switzer!  Anyway, about half to the area needing to receive concrete is now done.  Hopefully, the other half will be finished today.

I though the Sergeant would be happy with yesterday’s progress.  Wrong!  She has now ordered that we begin work at 5:00AM today!  Hello, it is still dark at 5:00AM.  You talk about a slave driver!

The four team members from Michigan arrived safe and sound around 7:45PM last night.  They were tired as they left Grand Rapids at 6:30AM yesterday.  Longer than normal layover in Dallas.  I am glad they are here!  Thanks to Pastor Adan for making the airport run.

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

Good Thursday morning from GRACE Mountain.

Sonny Bates got good news from the doctor regarding the scan yesterday.  He “may” have to undergo another round of radiation but that is a very viable option considering what it could have been.  Sonny & Jeanette are giving God the glory!  Keep praying!

I am told that we had a good evening in Bible study last night and that Bro. Jerry did a good job teaching.  I want to encourage the members of the Friendship family to be faithful in their church attendance.

I have mentioned the need for folks to help Eddie Albritton with our basketball ministry this Saturday, 1/29, and then every night next week.  I sure hope folks are contacting Eddie to let him know of their willingness to help as I have heard from no one.   Folks, let’s end this season strong!

Pray for revival.  Evangelist Danny Long will be with us the dates of Sunday, February 13, through Wednesday, February 16.  YAM!  (What is YAM?  Contact Elizabeth Westbrook for the details!)

The regulations have changed regarding the entry requirements into Guatemala.  This impacts a lot of people.  Therefore, I need to know exactly who is going to take part in our June 16 – 23, 2022 GRACE Ministries trip?  Please send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net by no later than February 20.  As it stands now, a person must be fully vaccinated before they can enter Guatemala.  No exceptions.

There are four folks from Michigan scheduled to arrive on GRACE Mountain tonight.  Four, is that all?  It is.  However it is a good four and they will be doing medical at Colegio JET.  We will also build ten or so houses over these next two weeks.

My great nephew, Grayson Glenn, has been recognized as the Bryant-Jordan scholar athlete for Region Fifteen.  That is a really big accomplishment.  Grayson got his brain from his mama, Jamie.  How do I know?  Because she has no brain so someone got it!  Congratulations, Grayson!  (His resume will now read – “Bryant-Jordan scholar athlete award; mentioned on THE blog!”)

My dentist friend, Dr. Ashley Holladay, has taken a new position in Huntsville, Alabama.  Ashley is a sweetheart and has been to Guatemala like one million times.  Congratulations, Dr. Ashley.

I had an uneventful day of traveling yesterday until I rode with Deidra from the airport – oh my!  It gets worse as last night I shared my plans for today with Deidra.  She looked at me and sternly said, “you are doing concrete tomorrow and the work begins at 6:00AM!  The guys are planning on you helping them all day!”  What?  Do I look like hired help?  So, guess what I am doing today?  The sergeant lives!

The good news is that I had two young girls who were thrilled to see me as they had plans to spend the night with their poppie!  So, they went to bed with smiles on their faces after indulging on popcorn and milk – are you kidding me!

My top secret, inside source tells me that Bama is not finished in the portal.  Just FYI.

One final thing, Todd Stork has not helped me at all with the covid testing and such.  Katie Tillman has been the one helping me!  Just saying!  LOL!

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

This entry will be short and sweet as I am about to board a plane heading to Atlanta and eventually to Guatemala City.  Again, I am most thankful to Todd Stork for handling all of the testing stuff.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Sonny & Jeanette will drive over to New Orleans today in order for Sonny to have the scan done.  Pray that all goes well.

Thank you to those who responded to my request for those who have battled the virus.  I have heard some pretty high numbers but the reality is that we presently have three or four members of the Friendship family presently battling the virus.  We are just under one hundred folks who have battled the virus since March of 2020.  We are thankful for God’s blessings.

Congratulations to the number one ranked Auburn Tigers basketball team.  Yes, they struggled in the win last night but a win is a win!  Bama continues to struggle.

If all goes as scheduled, Deidra will get me from the airport in Guatemala City around 1:30PM today.

Bro. Jerry, Bro. Abel and our deacons stand ready, willing and able to minister in any way needed during my absence.  I appreciate these men.

Still looking for folks to help Eddie A with the basketball leagues this Saturday and all of next week.

Pray for revival!

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

Good Tuesday morning from a balmy (46 degrees) and wet Grand Bay, Alabama.

Sonny & Jeanette Bates will travel to New Orleans tomorrow in order for Sonny to have a scan.  Pray for safety in travel and for a clear picture for the doctors to make decisions moving forward.

Debbie Hyatt is on the mend but keep praying!

Pray for revival!  Sunday, 2/13, through Wednesday, 2/16.  Evangelist Danny Long.  Sunday services at 10:30AM & 5:00PM.  Weeknight services at 6:30PM.  Pray for revival!  YAM!

We still have folks within the Friendship family who are battling covid.  I am trying to keep a list of those within the Friendship family who have tested positive (no self diagnosis).  If you (members/attenders of the Friendship family) have tested positive within the past month, please send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  Do this even if you think I already know.

A call for help!  Eddie Albritton leads our basketball ministry.  He is not one to ask for help.  I went to the gym last night and Eddie was running the entire gig solo.  There are games this Saturday, 1/29, and then every night (minus Wednesday) the week of 1/31.  We need some folks to give Eddie some help.  Game officials, clock operators, et cetera.  Please contact Eddie if you will help.  Important!

The Spring soccer leagues will begin soon.  Sign up is taking place each Saturday in February.  Bro. Abel leads this ministry.  Contact him for more information or to sign up.

Lord willing, I will board a plane heading to Guatemala early tomorrow morning.  I received a negative covid test yesterday morning.  I am very grateful to Todd Stork for his help in getting me a test.  Todd is one of the absolute kindest persons I have ever known.  I could not ask for anyone to be nicer and more helpful to me than Todd Stork!  What a blessing!  Thank you, Todd!

On the other hand, Katie Tillman. . . .  (Remember she is Diane Brinkman Howard’s daughter!  Enough said!)

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