Pastor's Blog

I have always heard “better late than never!”  If that is indeed the truth then here I am with a very late blog entry.  Elizabeth Westbrook had asked if she could do the blogs for a few days following the mission trip.  I agreed.  You see where that got me.  Everyone needs at least one blonde friend!  Just saying!

Dale Ellerman is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery in the morning.  Pray that all goes well.  Dale has been having a lot of pain for several months now.  Prayerfully, this will eliminate his pain once he recovers from the pain of the surgery.

Donnie Felps in rehabbing at home.  Marisa says he is doing much better this time around.  Keep praying for Donnie & Marisa.

We were blessed with a good day in our worship services this past Sunday.  It was good to hear from Matthew & Bonnie Cain during the 5:00PM hour and then from our children’s choir in the 6:00PM hour.  Miss Tena, the other workers and the children did very well in presenting the Christmas musical.  The service was well attended and the musical was a blessing.

Keep praying for the folks who were impacted by the tornadoes this past weekend.  Tragic stuff!

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

Sidney H. Miller, 78, of Ellisville, Mississippi, passed away Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at Merit Health in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He was born Sunday, September 5, 1943, in Jasper County, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m at the Ellisville Funeral Home in Ellisville, Mississippi. Funeral Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. The burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery. Bro. Kent Miller will officiate. Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sidney came from a long line of brick-masons. He took great pride in his work as did his father before him. He also loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Miller, his parents, Thomas and Blanche Miller, his daughter, Tracey Miller, his son, Scott Miller, his brothers, James Miller, Thomas Miller and Henry Miller as well his sister, Arlene Hepinstall.

Survivors include his daughters, Anya Ward (Ben), Tiffany Wallace and Gaby Thornton (Bradley), his sons, Derik Miller (Sarah) and Klyde Tolentino (Kayla), his granddaughters, Karielle Schaeffer, Madison Ward, Sydney Kate Ward, Kamryn Shelby, Lexi Wallace, Aubree Wallace and Natalie Miller, Isabella Thornton, his grandsons, Trenton Wallace, Luke Miller, Christian Thornton and Kayden Tolentino, three great-grandchildren, sisters, Edna Holifield-Glover, Annie Ruth Graham and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Ben Ward, Derik Miller, Klyde Tolentino, Dustin Wallace, Michael Keith, and Patro Ortiz.

Edna Glover’s brother, Sidney Miller, unexpectedly passed from this life on Wednesday.  The visitation and service take place today in Ellisville, MS.  The obituary is posted in another entry.  Pray for the Miller family during this time.

Our basketball leagues begin their second week of league play tomorrow morning beginning at 8:00AM.  There will be a total of six games played followed by two games on Monday night, 12/13.  I appreciate Eddie Albritton and all others who are making this ministry possible.

This Sunday morning, 12/12, will see a normal schedule on our campus with worship at 8:00AM and 10:30AM.  Our Sunday School will take place from 9:15AM until 10:10AM.  I hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family.

This Sunday evening will see us host Matt & Bonnie Cain along with their four children beginning at 5:00PM in the auditorium. The Cains are missionaries serving alongside GRACE Ministries in Guatemala.  I am asking the Friendship family to make a special effort to attend this service.

We will then see Miss Tena Hovel and our children’s choir present their Christmas musical beginning at 6:00PM.  Folks, please join me in supporting these children as they have worked really hard for months in order to present this musical.

One couple from our GRACE Ministries team had to spend the night in Atlanta on Wednesday but they finally arrived home yesterday morning.  The person whose luggage did not arrive in Gulfport on Wednesday night received her luggage yesterday. Honestly, I can see why the security personnel would search her more extensively and keep her luggage for a more thorough check – just saying!

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

Donnie Felps’ surgery went well and he was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Keep praying for Donnie and Marisa.

The GRACE Ministries mission team had a long day of travel yesterday and, at least a couple of them, are still traveling!  Our Michigan friends, Mickey & Judy, had their flight from ATL delayed until this morning.  I “think” one of our Friendship family members never got her luggage in GPT.  As far as I know, everyone else is home and well?

The team went to a local restaurant in Chimaltenango for breakfast and then headed to the airport.  Once there, they found out that their flight from GUA to ATL had been delayed and they left GUA at 3:30PM instead of 2:00PM.  So, they began their travels with a major hiccup.

I want to personally say a huge “thank you” to Bro. Abel Garcia for taking our travel bus and meeting the group that arrived in Gulfport at 11:00PM last night.  He was kind enough to take them to the airport on 12/1 at 2:30AM (assisted by Joey Bosarge) and then pick them up last night.  What a blessing!

Friendship family, we will host the Matthew Cain family this Sunday, 12/12, at 5:00PM.  This service will be f0llowed by our children’s choir presenting their Christmas musical beginning at 6:00PM.  Pass the word and make plans to attend.

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

Donnie Felps will be having knee surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.  Pray for Marisa as she waits with him.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Abel and Bro. Jerry will be preaching/teaching in my absence.  I  pray the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

The entire team in Guatemala will leave today on the same flight from Guatemala to Atlanta.  From ATL they will head to Columbus, MS; Grand Rapids, MI; Spartanburg, SC; Huntsville, AL; Gulfport, MS; Birmingham, AL; Baltimore, MD and Pensacola, FL.  Pray for them to all have safety in travel.  By the way, the covid test were taken yesterday and everyone tested negative.

Yesterday was a day of ministering to the workers at the Chimaltenango dump before the team went to Antigua for a few hours of shopping and then a meal in a local restaurant.  They were joined by the teachers/staff from Colegio JET for the meal.  It was a great time of food and fellowship.

The team then came back to GRACE Mountain and had a second share time that was special.  God stuff!

Thank you for praying for this GRACE Ministries team and checking on them this week.  Thank you to each team member for a job well done.  They finished well!

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

Several years ago, Lisa and I had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor.  I will never forget that visit.  Today, I remember the events that took place eighty years ago.

There will be a memorial service for Richard Glass at some undetermined point in the future.  It will be a private service.  Pray for Richard’s family.

The team in Guatemala had a really good Monday.  Evangelist Spencer Bell brought a devotion and then the team headed to Acatenango to dedicate the fifteen houses that were built.  There were three salvation decisions during those dedications – to God be the glory.

Meanwhile, there was a group of ladies on the mountain getting ready to celebrate a fifteenth birthday for five young ladies from Colegio JET.  What a great night of celebration!

The team then held share time number one and that was special too.

Thank you for praying for this team.

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

Happy eighty sixth birthday to my father-in-law, Charles Clark.  I am thankful for Charles.  I pray that he will have a great day today!

I do not have any update on the arrangements for Richard Glass.  I do ask that you continue to pray for his family.

Keep praying for the others on our prayer list.

I am told that the numbers in our services were down yesterday but that the services went well.  I appreciate Bro. Abel and Bro. Jerry preaching in my absence

Things went well in Guatemala yesterday.  Pastor Roy Crouch preached in the morning service.  Sponsors spent the lunch hour with their students and other family members.  Evangelist Spencer Bell preached to around thirty five pastors and their spouses in the early afternoon.  Chino Galindo led a food distribution for senior adults in the middle of El Tejar.  Shayda led a ministry of serving a meal to the local fire department.  The team then had their fourth, and final, evening of serving Christmas meals.  It was a long day of ministry.

Today, will be another day of ministering.  Pray for the team and their efforts.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Bro. Abel and Bro. Jerry will be sharing the preaching responsibilities.  I pray the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

The team in Guatemala had a “different” Saturday.  The day began with a morning devotion where Evangelist Spencer Bell brought the team a message from the Word.  He did a really good job!

As the team was driving to Acatenango to continue the building process, the tool truck broke down.  Some of the tools were off loaded and placed in the vans so the team could begin building.  The truck was eventually towed to Acatenango and all was well.  Almost!  The truck with six guys left the village last and it broke down again not long after leaving Acatenango.  So, those guys waited for a couple of hours maybe waiting on another truck to come so the tools could be off loaded and take the guys and tools back to GRACE Mountain.  Chino, Edgar, Pastor Adan and someone else (do not remember who) went and towed the truck back to GRACE Mountain.

Meanwhile, the “mountain dwellers” hosted a meal for forty widows.  Pastor Roy Crouch brought the Word and Titus Crouch ministered in song.  Then the team took a group of students from Iglesia JET to the center of El Tejar where they presented a musical presentation along with a live nativity scene.  I am told that was good with one small hiccup – live animals do their “business” regardless of where they are!

Another group of families attended a Christmas supper last night and that went well.

So, it was a really good day.  All fifteen houses are built with only a couple needing minor hardware installed and that will be done Monday.  To God be the glory!

Today will be church, pastor’s luncheon, and more Christmas dinners.  Pray for it to all go well.

I pray you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.

Richard Glass passed from this life yesterday.  It is my understanding that he passed peacefully.  Pray for Richard’s family as they walk through this valley.

Roseanne sent me an email yesterday saying that their daughter, Darlene, was discharged from the hospital after having four stents placed in her heart.  The doctor thought only two were possible but he was able to do four which means no open heart surgery for the immediate future.  This is an answer to prayer.  Robert & Roseanne are giving God all of the glory and are very thankful for the prayers!

Our basketball leagues begin play today. Pray for our ministry coordinator, Eddie Albritton, and the others involved in this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

The team in Guatemala is doing fine.  Rick Bradley arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon.  Ten houses have been built with six receiving concrete.  Five more to go today.

Pastor Roy Crouch gave us a good word yesterday morning.  The Christmas supper with more of the families was special.

Today will see more house building, a lunch for some widows, some of the Colegio JET students singing in a public setting and another group of families coming for supper.

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

Happy birthday to our daughter, Daphne!  I pray her day will be blessed.  Lisa and I are very proud of Daphne, her family and her career.  How old?  Yes!  Love you, Daphne!

Richard Glass is seemingly near physical death.  He is at home under the watch care of medical professionals and his family.  Pray for comfort for Richard and his family during this time.

Continue to pray for Vic Johnson as he remains hospitalized.  Pray for Coley, Tommy and the other family members too.

I do not have any new information on Robert & Roseanne’s daughter, Darlene.  Just keep praying!

Pray for our revival services Sunday, January 2, through Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  Evangelist Danny Long will be the messenger during those days.

Our first day of league play in our basketball ministry begins in the morning at 8:00AM.  Pray for Eddie Albritton as he leads this ministry.  He does a really good job and we have reached families as a result of this ministry.  League play will continue on Monday night.

Rick Bradley will be traveling to Guatemala today to join the GRACE Ministries mission team.  Pray for him to have safe travels.

Speaking of Guatemala, the team had a good first day of ministry yesterday.  Four houses were built to the point of being ready for concrete and two more were framed up.  Meanwhile, back on GRACE Mountain, we had about one dozen ladies who worked feverishly to get ready for the first evening of the Christmas supper ministry.  There were seventeen families who attended the supper.  The children from those families presented a Christmas play.  The new music teacher at Colegio JET, Sabrina, did a wonderful job of leading the play/musical.  The supper was held on the front lawn of the school and it was a beautiful setting.  The team members did a great job serving!

Today and tonight will be a carbon copy of yesterday if all goes as planned.  The day will begin with Pastor Roy Crouch bringing a message in the morning devotion.

It became evident early on that Evangelist Spencer Bell would be the most valuable member of this team when it came to building houses, singing, serving, et cetera.  Think Ross Genzink and you will have some idea as to the work ethic of Spencer.  It makes one wonder as to why other evangelists (think Michael Mason) do not have this same drive?

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