Pastor's Blog

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I am praying that the members of the Friendship family will make attendance on Wednesdays a priority.  “This Is My Church!  How Can I Help?”

The visitation and service for Wendy Johnston’s maternal aunt takes place tomorrow.  I need to get a few of the details i.e. the name of the church being the main one.  Wendy, help me!

The medical folks are going to allow Diane Bryant’s mother to visit with Diane’s father today as they continue to make decisions regarding the next step.  The family is glad for this most recent decision.  Keep praying.

Plenty of openings on the January 28 – February 4 GRACE Ministries team going to Guatemala.  Fares can escalate at any moment so, if interested, please let me know like five minutes ago.

Keep praying for Elizabeth Sessions, Donnie Felps, JoNell Barnes, Larry Crawley, et cetera.

Lisa arrived home safe and sound around 11:00PM last night.  Thank God for Uber!  LOL!

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

The celebration of life service for Sonny Bates’ sister, Royuallyn Crocker, takes place this afternoon from First Baptist Trussville.  Pray for that service.

JoNell Barnes did not have her surgical procedure yesterday.  Her potassium level was too low.  Not sure what the plan is for rescheduling but ask that you keep praying for JoNell.

I appreciate Shawn Siker for the use of his generator for the Jack Sims service yesterday.  It was perfect!  I also appreciate Bro. Abel setting everything up, running the system and then taking things down.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

After many years of working in the church office, Miss Kittie Camp, has decided it is time for her to no longer work.  I agree with her decision.  Miss Kittie has been much more than a secretary and I am very grateful for her many years of service and ministry through this position.  Thank you Miss Kittie.

Lord willing, my wife will arrive home late tonight.  Pray for traveling mercies.  It will be nice for things to get back to “normal” around here for a day or two.

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

JoNell Barnes is having knee replacement surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.  JoNell is a sweetheart and a very faithful member of the Friendship family.

The celebration of life service for Jack Sims takes place in the Grand Bay Cemetery today beginning at 10:00AM.  Pray for Miss Annette, Todd and the rest of the family.

Keep praying for Diane Bryant’s father as the doctors try to decide how to help him.  Pray for the family too.

Also, keep praying for Donnie Felps.

Elizabeth Sessions is at home trying to get her blood pressure at a safe level.  Pray for Elizabeth!

Pastor Fred Wolfe passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Bro. Fred was at Cottage Hill Baptist for twenty five or so years and in recent years founded the Luke 4:18 Fellowship.  Pray for the Wolfe family.

We were blessed with some good services yesterday.  I am hearing from folks who are making the determination to join us in person very soon.  Some who have recovered from the virus were in attendance yesterday and that was a good thing!

I will be taking a small team to Guatemala the dates of January 28 – February 4.  If you want to join us and have a passport, please contact me immediately.  Would love to have more team members.  The needs are so very many right now.

Lord willing and if I can get a negative test result, I will be traveling to Guatemala next week to take care of some administrative matters.  My brother, Eddie, will be going with me.

Lisa is scheduled to arrive home tomorrow night.  That makes me happy!

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

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

The memorial service for Martha Kendrick takes place this morning beginning at 11:15AM.  It will be held in the chapel of the Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa.  Keep praying for the Kendrick family.

Elizabeth Sessions called me yesterday to say that the spent a couple of days in the hospital because of high blood pressure.  She is home now with a new regiment of medications.  She asks the the Friendship family’s prayer support.

Basketball clinic in our CAB today.  I “think” it begins at 8:00AM for the youngest grade level.  Pray for this to be a day of ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Deacons meet at 5:00PM.

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

Happy New Year!

Diane Bryant’s father was to have a procedure yesterday but they determined his blood was too thin to proceed.  They will check again today and then make a decision as to the next step.  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the doctors involved.

The service for Martha Kendrick takes place tomorrow, 1/2, beginning at 11:15AM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa, MS.  Pray for the family.

Basketball clinic tomorrow for the boys & girls.  Contact Eddie Albritton for more information.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Deacons meet at 5:00PM.

I pray that you will have a great New Year’s Day with Jesus.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Marisa Felps sent me an update on Donnie.  He is much improved.  So much so that he is thinking he may go to work next week.  Marisa says, “no so fast my friend!”  Keep praying!

Keep praying for Diane Bryant’s father.

Edna Pearl called and gave me an update on Linda Rogers’ heart surgery.  Everything went well and Linda is doing well.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 1/3.  Deacons meet at 5:00PM.

The most pressing question asked to me yesterday was, “which family are you considering to be their personal trainer?”  Because of the privacy laws I am not allowed to divulge that information.  Just look for the family within the Friendship family who begins to look lean, trim and strong.

I pray that you will have a great New Year’s Eve with Jesus.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

The visitation with the Betty Oliver family takes place this morning beginning at 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service time.  Pray for Dale, Kerry, Stacy and the rest of the Oliver family.

The memorial service for Martha Kendrick takes place this Saturday, 1/2, at 11:00AM in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa, MS.  Pray for the Kendrick family.

A graveside service will be held for Jack Sims on Monday, 1/4, beginning at 10:00AM in the Grand Bay Cemetery.  Pray for Annette, Todd & the family.

No services or activities on our campus this morning or tonight.

The church office will be closed tomorrow.

Lisa and the Taylor clan arrived safely on GRACE Mountain around 3:00PM yesterday.  Thanks to those who prayed for traveling mercies.  I miss my wife but I am happy for her as she has had her share of travel disappointments regarding Guatemala lately.

I have the possibility of what I am going to call a new “ministry” opportunity.  I arrived home from Birmingham earlier than I expected and took advantage by going to WOW for a hour or so.  An entire family from within the Friendship family came in to join WOW.  They seemed excited to see me and the mother asked if I would be their trainer (if my memory serves me correctly)?  I am considering this request.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 1/3.  Deacons will meet at 5:00PM.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Word came early last night that Jack Sims passed from this life.  Jack Sims is a legend in Grand Bay!  An icon!  Has anyone ever done more for the people of Grand Bay than Jack Sims and his wife, Annette?  Pray for Annette, Todd and the family as they walk through this valley.

The celebration of life service for Betty Oliver will take place tomorrow, 12/30, beginning at 11:00AM from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home.  It will be preceded by an hour of visitation with Dale and family.  Pray for the Oliver family during this time.

The celebration of life service for Martha Kendrick will take place this Saturday, 1/2/21, beginning at 11:00AM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa, MS.  Pray for the Kendrick family.

Soy, Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey will fly back to Guatemala today.  Lisa will be joining them (I am sure Soy is thrilled!)  Pray for safety in travel for my family.

Want to hear some great news?  Deidra shared the need for a van to be used by SLAM in Guatemala to transport students to and from school.  Also, to help with the transportation of the students in the church for their youth Bible study.  God showed up and He showed out and the members of the Friendship family stepped up and gave sufficient funds to finish meeting this need – hallelujah!  Thank you to each person who gave.  Glory to God for His blessings!

Lord willing, I will be doing one of those “you are not as young as you used to be things” today.  After leaving the Mobile airport I will head to Birmingham to attend a meeting relating to our mission work in Guatemala.  I will then drive home after the meeting.    Some will think I am crazy and those some will be right!  Pray for traveling mercies!

Remember, nothing on our campus tomorrow morning or evening.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in our services yesterday.  Our attendance was up a bit even though we had some Friendship family members out of town.  I was blessed!  Thank you Jesus.

Three families suffered loss over the past few days – the Betty Oliver family, the Martha Kendrick family and the Pastor Chad Massey family.  As far as I know, none of the arrangements have been completed for any of these services.  Pray for the families.

Diane Bryant’s father is in the hospital battling COVID.  He is not doing well and prayers are appreciated.

Peggy Knighten was in our second service yesterday.  It was good to see her, repaired shoulder and all.

Keep praying for Donnie Felps.

Linda Rogers will have open heart surgery tomorrow, 12/29, in Louisiana.  Pray that all goes well.

As far as I know, outside of Diane’s father, the Friendship family is COVID free at the moment.  That is a blessing!  Coach Collier was in our second service yesterday and it was good to see him.

Deidra did extremely well in sharing during the two services.  Folks gave toward the purchase of the van for SLAM.  Thank you to each person who gave.  The amount needed to purchase the van now stands at approximately seventy five hundred dollars.  I am praying that amount will be given prior to the beginning of 2021.  Checks need to be made to SLAM.

Soy, Deidra and the girls are scheduled to fly back to Atlanta tomorrow.  It has been great having Deidra and the girls here.

No services/activities on our campus this Wednesday, 12/30.

The church office will be closed Thursday, 12/31.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Regular schedule on our campus in the morning with worship at 8:00AM & 10:30AM.  Sunday School will begin at 9:15AM.  I am encouraging all available members of the Friendship family to be in attendance for one of the services and SS.

The 8:00AM service will be live streamed.

There will be NO service or activities tomorrow evening.

Please remember that Bro. Jerry Hovel is on vacation and you are not to contact him.  He will return to the church next Sunday, 1/3/21.

You can go ahead and begin praying for Linda Rogers as she will be having open heart surgery on December 29.  That surgery will take place in Louisiana.

As far as I know, we have no new cases of the virus within the Friendship family and only one member is still within their ten days.  Praise the Lord!

Word came to me yesterday that Pastor Chad Massey, First Baptist Dawes, has passed from this life.  I do not know any of the details but do ask that you pray for Pastor Chad’s family and church family.  (Mike or Janice, please send your phone number to me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net)

Arrangements are pending for the person whom I mentioned in yesterday’s entry.  Lord willing, I will be preaching that service but the details are not yet finalized.  Pray for the family.

FYI, the church office will be closed this Thursday, 12/31.

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