Pastor's Blog

We will have a 6:00AM service on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.  Pastor Wes Bates will be preaching.  Since it is an outside service it will not be live streamed.  It will be a drive in service and folks are asked to park at least six feet apart and must remain in their vehicles at all times.  Upon arrival, you are asked to drive through the carport and you will be told which station will be broadcasting the service.  You will simply then tune your vehicle’s radio to that station and you are good to go.

We will have an 8:00AM service tomorrow.  The pastor will be preaching from inside the auditorium.  Folks are asked to come through the carport and can then park anywhere on our campus as the radio signal will obviously reach all of those areas.  This service will be broadcast on the radio and will also be live streamed.  Everyone must remain in their vehicles at all times while on campus.

We will have a 9:15AM service tomorrow.  Bro. Abel will preaching from inside the auditorium.  Same scenario here as in the 8:00AM service i.e. pull through the carport, park anywhere on campus, radio, live stream.  Everyone must remain in their vehicles at all times while on campus.

I strongly encourage our parents who have children living at home to bring them to one of these services.  We need to instill in our children the importance of church attendance.  Yes, I know they will not go in a building, to a class, et cetera but they will know they have been to church.

Jesus is alive!  Hallelujah!

Friendship Church Family,

On behalf of my family and Laura’s family I want to thank you for all you did for us during our mother’s final days.  Bro. Teddie’s visits were a comfort to Ms Dollie & to us.  We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers for us during this time.  

Bob Trout & family

Laura Trout & family

Kirk Lightfield’s father passed from this life around 4:15AM today.  This is a difficult situation as Kirk is not allowed to leave Guatemala in order to be with his family during this time.  Pray for Kirk & family.

We have “changed” the carport to be used tomorrow to the one located on the EAST side of the auditorium.  Auto correct.  Folks, you cannot fix stupid! How many times do I have to tell you that?  LOL!  (I have zero problems laughing at myself!)

Jeff Holifield in going to man the offering bucket and do the head count for the 6:00AM service tomorrow.  Kendall Falana has agreed to do the 8:00AM & 9:15AM services so we are all set in that regard.

I am trying to learn from other churches who have already has drive in services.  My brother, Eddie, sent me some tips that we want to incorporate into our sunrise service tomorrow.  Please read and follow:

We ask that the ladies not bring their afghans tonight and leave them overnight to save a parking space for tomorrow’s service!

We ask that folks not arrive early in the morning to get a back row parking spot!

We ask that you not recline your seat during the sermon!

We respectfully ask that you not blow your car horns as an “amen!”

We ask that you please do not start your engines and leave during the invitation!

We may need to add to this list as we are living and learning regarding this drive in service thing!

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)

It now appears that we will be able to have our sunrise service beginning at 6:00AM without any, or very little, rain.  The forecast at the time of this writing now calls for thirty five percent chance during that hour.  I am grateful.

We will be staging the sunrise service on the South side of our Christian Activities Building.  Everyone is asked to park on that side with their vehicles facing the CAB.  The porch on the East end will be the platform (unless we change that today).  Please park the vehicles six feet apart and everyone must remain in their vehicle – no exceptions.  You will then be given instructions as to which radio station to which you need to tune your car radio.  Pastor Wes Bates will be preaching that service.

We are asking the each vehicle enter the campus from off Saeger Road on the East side of the auditorium and pass through the carport area before driving around back.  Several reasons for this – it will allow us to get a head count, it allows for folks to contribute to the offering and we will have a “treat” for each child in the vehicle fifth graders and below.

Please note that all buildings on our campus will be locked so there will be no restrooms or water fountains available.

Our 8:00AM service will take place from inside the auditorium where it will be live streamed and also available on the radio.  Folks driving into that service can park anywhere on our campus but we do ask that they go through the carport area first for the same reasons as listed above.  I will be preaching that service.

Our 9:15AM service will also take place from inside the auditorium and will be an exact duplicate of our 8:00AM service with the only exception being Bro. Abel will be bringing the message.

I want to encourage folks to consider “driving in” to at least one of our services unless you are providentially hindered or the weather is too bad.  While you cannot get out of your vehicles and fellowship with each other you can at least wave, honk the horn, et cetera.  If you are willing to use your phone’s data then you can even watch the second two services while listening on the radio.

I could use a few guys to help with the offering/head count during all three services tomorrow.  If you can help, please contact me via e-mail today before 4:30PM.  This is important.

The Lord has blessed and the Friendship family has done well in giving financially through this entire “different” scenario.  I am praying for a miracle offering tomorrow.  Even if you have already given in April, will you consider giving an “extra” gift tomorrow in order to help us stay on track budget wise?  Lisa and I plan on doing this and hope many others will join us.

The easiest way to view the live stream of our service is to simply go to our website – www.friendshipfamily.net.  Once there you simply click on the screen that says Sunday service and you are there.

Some of our blondes will spend today trying to figure out which side of the CAB is the South!  Ladies, you have about twenty six hours from now to figure it out.  You can do it!  With God all things are possible!

Remember, drive through the auditorium carport first tomorrow regardless of which service you attend.  Early service folks need to park on the South side of the CAB.  All monster trucks in the back, please!  Folks driving in to either of the second services can park anywhere on our campus as you will not see the messenger regardless since he will be inside.  Consider bringing an offering and/or an “extra” offering to the service tomorrow.  We will finish everything by 10:00AM and any bad weather is not expected until some point in the afternoon.

Which radio station?  Great question!  You will be told as you drive through the carport tomorrow morning.  Our media folks have their reasons for not allowing me to publish it beforehand.

I left fairly early yesterday morning and drove solo to Rocky Ford, Alabama in order to visit my parents.  I had an extremely good visit with dad and mama.  Dad was much improved and I left there encouraged.  I appreciate the many prayers for him.

Lisa graciously offered to go North with me yesterday but I refused to allow her to do so.  Driving up and back (over seven hundred miles total) in the same day is a little tough on the body and she just went with me last Saturday.  I usually can sleep some while she drives but yesterday I had no choice but to sleep some while I was driving!  It all worked out!  LOL!

My one observation today – absolutely no way Bob Evans can self quarantine until May 4!  Just not possible!

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see you tomorrow!

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46)

Normally I do not post on Good Friday.  However, things are so different this Easter season and this is an important way for me to communicate with the Friendship family and others.

Let’s begin with some good news.  Tim Knighten had a virtual meeting with the doctor yesterday.  He has all of the details but long story short they could not come to a definite conclusion that he has a malignancy.  He is being referred to another specialist.  Tim is optimistic and is strongly leaning on Jesus.  Keep praying!

I was unaware that Miss Mary Jackson was admitted to the hospital the other night.  Her pneumonia is better but she is battling some other issues.  Pray for  Miss Mary.

Jennifer Kirschenmann sent me a message yesterday telling me that Craig’s best friend, Dono, is in ICU in a local hospital.  This is a difficult situation because he cannot have anyone with him.  Pray for Dono and his family.

Here is our plan for Easter Sunday – all three of our services will be drive in which means that folks will need to stay in their respective vehicles at all times – no exceptions!  All of the buildings on our campus will be locked so there will be no access to the bathrooms, water fountains, et cetera.  We plan on each service lasting approximately forty five minutes as we realize some folks will have children in their vehicles.

Plans are for our 6:00AM service to be outside – rain or shine.  Pastor Wes Bates will be preaching in that service.  We will be staging on the South side of the CAB.

Our 8:00AM & 9:15AM services will be drive in as well but will also be streamed from inside the auditorium.

There will be an offering receptacle mounted on a pole under the carport on the East side of the auditorium.  It will be clearly marked and folks just need to drive through and place their offering in the receptacle.  Much appreciation to Jeff Holifield for taking care of this matter.

I will share more details about Sunday in tomorrow’s blog.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Remember His sacrifice!

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

The church office is open today from 8:00AM until 3:00PM.  It remains open during the lunch hour too.  However, we are not advocating that folks get out.

Have you tried the Kitchen of the Sea restaurant which is located on Highway 90 in Grand Bay just two doors West of the post office?  The owners, Vernon & Lisa, are involved in the Friendship family and they serve some really good seafood.  I like their grilled shrimp plate but I have tasted their fried shrimp and “oh my!”  Friendship family, why not make it a point at some point today, tomorrow or Saturday to stop by and get some food from Kitchen of the Sea?  Just tell them that Pastor Teddy sent you by and they will add five percent to your ticket!

Deanna Wetterer sent me a message a couple of days ago saying that she has exceeded the number of days that she has to be in quarantine and is feeling much better.  However, she is still basically remaining in isolation except for going out for the essentials.  Obviously, her advice is to take this virus seriously.

Karen Walker had been in self quarantine because of suspected case of the virus in a place where she had been.   She sent me a message last night saying the person had tested negative so Karen is no longer in quarantine.  That is good news for her too.

Eddie Albritton’s maternal grandmother passed from this life last night.  Pray for the family during this time.

Eddie’s dad remains in the hospital.  He has had another surgery but the hope is to possibly get him home this weekend.

Tim Knighten will meet with the doctor this afternoon to get the results of the scan taken last Friday.

Marie Brooks’ brother, James Lee, is not doing well and is seemingly in the last days of his earthly life.  He remains at home under the care of his family.  Pray for James Lee.

I do not have an update on Terrell Brooks’ friend who is battling COVID-19 but do ask that you keep praying for him.

Keep praying for Mary Jackson as she battles pneumonia.

My dad is not doing good at the present time.  My brother and the nurses feel he has lost his will to live.  We had a conference call with two of his nurses yesterday afternoon.  Thank you for your prayers.

We had a good online Bible study last night.  I appreciate Daphne hosting it.  However, I am changing gears next Wednesday night.  I will move to the church auditorium and will have a maximum of eight others join me there with the potential of having nine others in the Preschool Building.  Keith & Aninha Barrett get the first passes to be in the auditorium during this time.  More details later.

Grant prayed for the sick during last night’s Bible study but I could not hear him.  I messaged Daphne and said, “I cannot hear Grant!”  Deidra began to share and I could not hear her.  It was at that point that I realized the volume on my laptop was not on – hello!  Folks, you simply cannot fix stupid!

We are now in possession of a FM transmitter – hooray!  I am very grateful to my pastor friend, Mike Parker, for allowing us to borrow this important piece of equipment.  What does this mean?  It means that we will have drive in services this Sunday at 6:00AM, 8:00AM & 9:15AM.  How does this work?  Details forthcoming.  (Thanks to Will Reynolds for making sure this transmitter got delivered yesterday.  Will is Mr. UPS himself!)

I can tell you that I have asked Kim French to lead the opening prayer for our 6:00AM service Sunday.  She is excited!

Really?  Ninety degrees for a high today in Grand Bay and then a low of fifty six degrees tonight?  They are calling for a high of seventy one degrees tomorrow with a low of forty nine degrees tomorrow night – hallelujah!

There are some things in life that simply are not possible.  Classic example – it is not possible for Bob Evans to stay at home all day!  He is going to find a reason to drive somewhere – guaranteed!  He needs to be staying home but. . .

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

Several folks have asked about how to join the online Bible study that begins tonight at 6:30PM.  You can send me an e-mail requesting information and I will forward you what you need.  Or you can e-mail Daphne (daphnehutto@gmail.com) and she can do the same.  It is a really easy process.  I hope you will be able to join us.

Again, please identify yourself so Daphne knows who is trying to join the meeting.  Just listing it as your electronic device i.e. “iPhone”, et cetera is not sufficient.

Hope to be joined by a good number of folks tonight.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

Will Reynolds sent me this passage yesterday morning after I had posted. “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house; then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.”
(1 Kings 8:37-40 NASB)

The church office will be open today from 8:00AM straight through until 3:00PM.  Once again, I am reminding folks of the “stay at home” order given by our governor.  If you have to be out for essential purposes and want to bring your offering by the office then that is fine.  Please do not get out just to bring your offering!

As has been the case for the past several weeks, you can mail your offering to Friendship Baptist Church P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, Alabama 36541.  Or, if you are out for an essential purpose, you can drop your church made payable to Friendship Baptist in the payment slot in Lisa’s office.  Obviously, the easiest way is to simply give online by going to friendshipfamily.net and clicking on the giving tab in the upper right hand side.

We will have the auditorium open this morning from 10:00AM until 11:00AM and then again from 6:30PM until 7:30PM in order for folks to come and pray.  You can bring your offering during one of these times too.  Wait, is this essential?  Personally, I think so!  Please enter the West side door and exit the front door so as to maintain social distancing in case someone else is coming or going simultaneously.

I will also be teaching our Wednesday night Bible study tonight from 6:30PM until around 7:15PM.  It would work best if you would send me your prayer requests via e-mail no later than 5:30PM today.  Daphne will host the meeting via Zoom and she will have to allow you entrance.  Therefore, we need you to sign up with your name and not just as “iPhone”, “iPad”, et cetera.  Each participant will have their audio and video disabled by the host during the actual teaching portion tonight.

The expectation is that we will receive the necessary equipment today in order to do some different things for Easter Sunday.  If so, I will begin to give instructions via this blog tomorrow.  I can tell you that we will have three times of musical worship and preaching – 6:00AM, 8:00AM & 9:15AM.  It appears that this Sunday is going to be a rainy day.  I am planning accordingly.  Stay tuned!

Mary Jackson has been diagnosed with pneumonia.  Pray for her.

Terrell Brooks has a really good friend who is in the hospital battling COVID-19.  He is on a ventilator.  He was in Terrell’s wedding and Terrell was in his wedding.  Their friendship goes back many years.  Pray for Terrell’s friend.

My dad is having some tough days.  Prayers appreciated.

Spoke to Sammy yesterday and he said that Myrtle had a bit of tough day on Monday but yesterday was better.  Keep praying for Myrtle.

Keep praying for Andy Hamil.

Keep praying for Tim Knighten.

Soy, Deidra and the staff of Colegio JET have scurried the past two days to purchase food for the families of the Colegio JET students.  It has become increasingly difficult to purchase in bulk but they were able to secure enough food for this week and next week too.  Basically everything in Guatemala shuts down today through Sunday for Easter week so they had to get everything purchased Monday and Tuesday.  Great job by those folks!  Yes, you can still give to the “lunch bags” by going to shininglightabroad.com.  (I have had folks asking me this question)

Speaking of Colegio JET, if you sponsor a student would you be so kind as to make sure your sponsorship is up to date?  It is very important that our sponsors give on time as this is a major lifeline in keeping the school up and running.  You should have given at least one hundred and twenty dollars this calendar year through March 31.  Just a very friendly reminder.  Thank you for supporting our students!

I sure do miss gathering with the Friendship family in person.  Pastor Jim Cymbala says he pastors the best people which means that he has obviously never met the Friendship family.  Pastor Cymbala is biased and so am I!

For the older folks like me – do you remember watching as Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record on this date in 1974? I do very vividly.

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

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

The church office is open today from 8:00AM until 3:00PM.  Bro. Abel and I will be manning the fort.  However, I am asking folks to stay at home unless it is an emergency.  I would love to sit and chat with you but this is not the time.  You did well yesterday and I know you will do likewise the rest of the week.  Lord willing, we will go back to regular office hours beginning Monday, 4/13.

I really do not have any updates on those folks I listed in yesterday’s blog.  God knows each one and their particular situation so please keep praying.

Pray for the medical folks who are on the frontlines in the battle against this virus.  Pray for our President and our Vice-President.  Pray for our Surgeon General.  Pray for those presently infected and for those who have lost loved ones to this virus.  Pray without ceasing.

Our Easter Sunday is set – drive in worship at 6:00AM with the message being delivered by Pastor Wes Bates.  Another drive in service at 8:00AM with the message being delivered by the pastor.  An online streaming service at 9:15AM with the message being delivered by Bro. Abel Garcia.  I need to actually get the necessary equipment in hand before I get too elaborate with the details of these services.  Hopefully, that will happen no later than Wednesday.

I am even praying about the possibility of having a late Saturday afternoon drive in service.  Just something in the early stages of prayer right now.  Trying to involve as many folks as possible in our Easter weekend.  Join me in praying for direction concerning this Saturday service.

We will not have our Easter musical this Sunday but I am totally committed to having it eventually.  When is eventually?  Great question!  I am thinking at some point in May or it could be June.

Same scenario for our children’s choir program.  If possible, we will just go back to back Sundays for these programs.  Pray for this to become a reality.

I am going to ask that the folks attending the various drive in services this Sunday bring a sacrificial offering with them.  We will have offering envelopes available and a designated drop off point to receive this offering.  You have done well over these past three Sundays and I am grateful.  We need to have a hallelujah offering this Easter Sunday!

I did not mention in my Sunday night blog entry that not only did we exceed the $11,000 mark in the bag lunch gifts but we also had another one thousand dollars given to be used at Deidra’s discretion.  Plus, someone signed up to sponsor a teacher for the entire school year.  What a strong forty eight hours!  Thank you Jesus!

Will & Amy Reynolds gave me some garden plants yesterday.  I am not sure of all that they gave me but some looked like Mary Jane plants.  I will let you know!  LOL!  I hope to get these plants in the ground this Friday.

If the weather forecasters are correct then we are going to get some much needed rain this Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  How will that affect our drive in services?  I am thinking not at all as everyone will be confined to their vehicles.  We just have to figure out something for the musicians, messenger and the electronics.

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

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

The church office is open today from 8:00AM until 3:00PM.  However, I strongly encourage folks to not get out for any reason as the medical folks think this is going to be the worst week yet for the virus.  How about our offering?  My suggestion is either mailing it (P.O. Box 756) or giving online this week.  This would be a good week to not go to the grocery store or any where.

I am still rejoicing over God’s blessings and the wonderful job the “terrific thirteen” did for forty eight hours this weekend.  Just amazing!

Mary Jackson was taken to a local hospital last night.  Not sure of any of the details but do ask that you join me in praying for Miss Mary.

Belvin McDonald remains at his daughter’s, Karen, house in Mobile.  He is thought to have some pneumonia and was placed on medication for it.  Keep praying for Belvin.

Tim Knighten is awaiting the results of his PET scan.  Keep praying for Tim.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.  Likewise for Andy Hamil.

We were blessed with a good day in our ministry efforts yesterday.  I still do not like the concept but I understand the need for it right now. I appreciate all who are helping make getting the Word out possible.

This Wednesday, 4/8, I will lead our regular Bible study through Zoom beginning at 6:30PM.  I will ask Daphne to host the meeting and participants will have to be granted permission to enter in order to help us know who is joining.  We need for you to sign in using your name and not just “iPhone”, “iPad”, et cetera.  Also, I think it is best that once the teaching begins that all participants turn off their video portion so as to not distract others who are watching.  Living and learning.

Here are our plans for Easter Sunday 2020.  We will have a drive in sunrise service beginning at 6:00AM featuring the preaching ministry of Pastor Wes Bates.  We will then have another drive in service which will begin at 8:00AM.  We will then live stream a service beginning at 9:15AM.  This is a fluid situation as we will have to watch the weather and make some definitive calls maybe as late as Saturday afternoon.  Stayed tuned!

John Milton Ladnier’s garden is looking very good.  He is about one month ahead of me.  Mine is not fairing so well at this point as it needs rain.  I can honestly say that the garden has not been on the top of list priority wise as other things have weighed on my mind.  However, I hope to have something to pick come late May and then in June.  We shall see.

Lisa and I made the decision around 9:00PM this past Friday night to drive to Rocky Ford, Alabama to visit my parents on Saturday.  So, we left at 3:30AM and arrived back in Grand Bay at 7:00PM.  We drove around twelve hours for a three and one half hours visit but it was worth it.  Dad was very quiet but seemed to be doing ok.  Mama was not quiet – enough said!

Want to hear a really good interview?  The U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, did one with Focus On The Family last week.  Kendall Falana sent it to me via e-mail.  You can go online and Google it.  It is like twenty something minutes long but you need to listen to all of it.  Really good stuff.  Thank you Kendall for sharing with me.

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