Pastor's Blog

Mrs. Emma “Donia” Hickman, born March 28, 1938 passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 21, 2021. She was 83. She leaves behind her husband of 46 years, Gary K. Hickman; children, Joseph K. Tagert of Mobile, AL, Donna K. Abercrombie of Mobile, AL, Ronald K. Tagert of Valley Cottage, NY, James K. Tagert (Deanna G. Tagert) of Theodore, AL; four grandchildren, Wayne Abercrombie, Jr., Brittany Tagert, Seth Tagert, Ian Tagert; two great grandchildren, Bryce Tagert, K. K. Tagert; nephew, Kenny Miniger of Florence, AL; nieces, Pam Miniger of Florence, AL and Joy Seltzer of Trumbull, CT. Mrs. Hickman was a retired Real Estate Agent “Million Dollar Seller” and an avid Bowler for many years, she “Loved her Bowling Partners on Monday Nights” She loved her family and friends unconditionally, her love for self taught oil paintings of Magnolias and landscapes was one of her greatest accomplishments, pride and joy. She will truly be missed by ALL….Rest in Peace, Beautiful Sweet Angel of God. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 25th, 5-8pm at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 26th, at 12noon from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.

Jimmy Tagert’s mother passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for Jimmy and family during this time.

Received an email from Jerry Whitmore yesterday telling me that their son, Brian, remains in the hospital with hopes of being discharged this weekend.  He has an infection related to his appendix that will be treated by antibiotics for four to six weeks and they will then remove his appendix.  Pray for all to go well.  It was good hearing from Bro. Jerry & Miss Gloria.

Keep praying for Jennifer Brinkman’s father, Mr. Lester Kirk.  As far as I know, he remains in the hospital.

It is wedding day for Bro. Abel & Candy.  Pray that all goes well in the ceremony.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Children’s choir musical tomorrow evening beginning at 6:00PM.

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

The doctor found some blockage in Mr. Kirk’s previous bypasses.  They also drained fluid from one of his lungs.  They will check him today and then make a decision as to what comes next in his treatment.  Pray for Mr. Kirk.

I did not talk to Jimmy Tagert yesterday regarding his mother’s condition.  I do ask that you continue to pray for Mrs. Hickman and the family.

I also did not talk to Miss Vinnie about Buddy or her niece.  Keep praying.

Bro. Abel & Candy will have their wedding ceremony tomorrow afternoon.  Pray that all goes as planned.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Our children’s choir will present their Spring musical beginning at 6:00PM.

It has been a joy to have my younger brother, Freddie, and his wife, Amanda, with us since last Saturday.  They will travel home today.  Pray for them as they travel.

Full day for me today in the garden and in the yard.  Lisa has given me a “list” of things to get completed today!  What she does not know is that I have a list for her to get completed tomorrow!  Just saying!

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

The church office is closed today.  In the event of an emergency just contact any staff member and we will respond.

Jimmy Tagert’s mother remains physically low.  Pray for Mrs. Hickman.  Pray for the family as they wait beside her.  Pray for the medical folks providing care.

Jennifer Brinkman’s father, Mr. Kirk, is having a heart cath today.  Pray that the doctors can get a good look at what is taking place in his heart.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, will be having a biopsy today.  Pray for the doctors to get what they need to make wise decisions moving forward.

Miss Vinnie has a niece who is battling a malignancy, is in the hospital, and is in a fight for her life.  Pray!

Well, glory!  The Lord blessed our six services (Sunday – Wednesday) and we had a very good service last night.  The attendance was very good and the Spirit was excellent.  The Friendship family blessed Bro. Danny & Miss Pam with a tremendous love offering – thank you!  I feel that God showed up.  My prayer is that this is just the beginning of something special within our lives personally and within our live corporately.

Pray for Bro. Danny & Miss Pam as they travel home today.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Our children’s choir will present their Spring musical Sunday night beginning at 6:00PM.

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

If you purchased a Boston butt from one of our students, you can pick it up beginning at 10:00AM today.  Contact Bro. Abel if you have any questions.

I spoke to Charles Grant at last night’s service and he shared that Jimmy Tagert’s mother continues to decline physically.  Very low.  Keep praying for Mrs. Hickman and her family.

Keith Barrett was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon and was then in the service last night.  Praise the Lord!

Marie Brooks has been in attendance for the services the past two nights.  I do not think she is jumping any fences just yet but thank God she has been in church.

One of Jerry & Gloria Whitmore’s sons is in the hospital with an infection.  I think he has been hospitalized for several days now. Pray for him!

Well, God knows.  Bro. Danny got caught in the stalled traffic on the interstate yesterday afternoon and got to the service way late.  So, Pastor Roy Crouch was God’s messenger for the evening and he did an outstanding job of preaching the Word.  Praise the Lord!

Thank you to those who honored their commitment and invited others to join them for last night’s service.  I know that some of you invited and no one accepted.  However, many others did and we had a great crowd.  Thank you!  Also, thank you to those who accepted the invitation and attended!  God is good!

One more night of these services.  Friendship family, let’s end these services strong!  There will be no activities i.e. RA, GA, youth tonight.  Everyone will be in the auditorium beginning at 6:30PM.

Let me say a special “thank you” to Dana Taylor of Anna’s Seafood for going above and beyond yesterday to show Bro. Danny & Miss Pam and the Roy Crouch family the process of processing oysters.  She was so very kind and took a couple of hours with them.  Very kind, very nice, very much appreciated!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  Hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance tonight.

Happy birthday to our son-in-law, Brad Hutto.  I hope he has a great day!

Have you invited someone to join you in our revival service tonight beginning at 6:30PM?

I am asking the members of the Friendship family to give priority to these final two nights of these revival services.  Some of you have not attended even one of the four services thus far and others have only attended one.  Folks, you are missing a blessing!

Bro. Danny did another excellent job of preaching the Word last night.  Rachel, Titus, Issac & Lydia did a great job of sharing two messages in song.  The Spirit of God was present.  The response to the altar call was special.  Pray for revival.

I spoke to Kim Tillman last night before the service and she said Jimmy Tagert’s mother’s condition was basically the same.  As far as I know, nothing has changed during the night.  Keep praying.

Keith Barrett was not discharged from the hospital.  More tests.  Pray for Keith.

As I type this, Deidra is at the Mobile airport waiting on her flight to Atlanta and eventually to Guatemala.  Pray for traveling mercies for her.  It has been a blessing to have her here but her girls will be glad when she gets home.

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

Jimmy Tagert’s mother is seemingly near death according to the medical personnel.  I spoke to Jimmy last night and they are just focusing on keeping her comfortable.  She is at home and her family is there with her.  Pray for Mrs. Hickman.

Keith Barrett is feeling much better and should be discharged from the hospital today.  That is good news.  Keep praying for Keith.

Rachel Walton continues to recover at home from her knee surgery.  Keep praying for Rachel and Gary.

I need to make a clarification on the young boy who was tragically, accidentally killed in Michigan.  The gun that accidentally discharged was a pellet gun and not a BB gun.  Regardless, the family needs our prayer support during this most difficult time.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Evangelist Danny Long did an excellent job of preaching the Word yesterday.  We had a young lady pray to receive Jesus as her personal Savior after last night’s service.  To God be the glory.

Tonight’s service begins at 6:30PM.  My prayer is to see many members of the Friendship family and others in attendance.  We will be joined by Pastor Roy Crouch, his wife, Rachel, and their three children.  Rachel & the children will be singing the special.  Folks, this is going to be a blessing.  Aunt Pam did a great job of singing in yesterday’s service.

Pray, attend and invite others to join you for tonight’s service.

Deidra will leave in the morning heading back to Guatemala.  We are thankful to have had her here for these few days.

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

Jimmy Tagert sent me a message yesterday saying that his mother is not doing well and asked for our prayer support.  Join me in praying for Jimmy’s mother and the family.

Keith Barrett remains in the hospital.  Pray for Keith!

Services today at 8:00AM, 10:30AM and 5:00PM.  Pray for revival.

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

Aninha Barrett sent me a message early this morning saying that her husband, Keith, has been admitted to the hospital.  He has had a tough couple of days physically and he has now been diagnosed with a possible infection in his liver.  In Aninha’s words, “he is pretty miserable” so join me in praying for Keith, Aninha and the doctors.  Keith had a liver transplant around fourteen years ago.

Rachel Walton was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Keep praying for Rachel.

Marie Brooks continues to recover at home.  Keep praying.

I have not spoken to Miss Vinnie about her son, Buddy, but do ask that you keep praying.

Our soccer season ends today.  Pray for this ministry.

Tomorrow’s schedule – worship at 8:00AM, Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30AM and then worship at 5:00PM.  No other evening activities.  Pray for revival!  Pray for Evangelist Danny Long.

I am so very appreciative of the many messages I have received over the past couple of days.  It has been encouraging to know that so many folks have been praying for me.  I was blessed with a good time with my family and Deidra and I had safe travels.  It is possible the Lord used that time to help the school in Guatemala.  What?  Long story.  Good story.  God story.

I hope to be joined by many of you in the services tomorrow.  Come prayed up.  Come expecting a move of God.

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

Rachel Walton remains in the hospital.  The thought was that she would be discharged today but that may not be the case because of her pain level.  Bro. Abel visited her yesterday.   I spoke to Gary on the phone he was so very gracious.  Keep praying for Rachel.

Marie Brooks continues to recover at home and needs our prayer support.

Buddy Brewer met with a new doctor yesterday for a second opinion.  Pray for Buddy!

Pray for revival!  Pray for Evangelist Danny Long!  Sunday’s schedule is worship at 8:00AM; 10:30AM and 5:00PM.  Sunday School at 9:15AM.  The services Monday – Wednesday will begin at 6:30PM.  Pray for revival.

The Lord gave me a really good day of traveling yesterday.  I am grateful.  Eddie treated us to supper at a Mennonite restaurant in the Massey, Alabama area.  Good food but better fellowship with family.  I plan on being at dad’s grave at daybreak and will then spend the morning, lunch and early afternoon with mama.  Deidra and I will turn South soon after lunch.

The promises of prayers and words of encouragement began yesterday morning and have continued up until now.  I received messages at 4:00AM today with people assuring me of their prayer support.  Thank you!  Folks, you will never know how much the prayers mean and the words of encouragement have blessed me beyond measure.  Again, thank you!

I spent a good portion of the night wide awake just remembering my dad.  Thank God for precious memories.  I stood alone at dad’s gravesite yesterday afternoon and had a good cry.  I am finding God’s grace sufficient!  He is truly the God of all comfort!  “Weeping my endure for the night but joy comes in the morning!”  I thank God for my dad and I continue to love and pray for my mama!

Will Reynolds may very well be right – I may very well need prayers most of all as I will be traveling in a car with Deidra for six hours today!  He does make a good point!

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