Pastor's Blog

This morning just before 8:00AM Sandra McElwee passed from this life and entered Heaven.  Sandra’s favorite song was “When I Meet Jesus” and that meeting has now become a reality for her.  Pray for David, Stuart & Leigh Ann and the family.  I spoke to David ever so briefly after Sandra’s passing and he was doing well all things considered.

“I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”  (Jesus speaking – John 11:25-26)

Because Jesus lives, Sandra lives!

“Your prayer life depends on your trust in God.”  (Mark Batterson)

The arrangements for Mark Knighten have been set.  Visitation (10:00AM) and service (11:00AM) in our auditorium this Saturday, September 5.  Burial in the Orange Grove Cemetery.  Those helping with the feeding of the Knighten family need to have all food/drinks in our Preschool Building by 11:00AM Saturday.  Keep praying for the Knighten family.

Last word I received from Leigh Ann is that her mother, Sandra McElwee, remains about the same.  Sandra’s numbers are going down.  Keep praying for Sandra, David, Leigh Ann, Stuart and the entire family.

Carol Lucky did not receive her dialysis treatment yesterday.  Carol & Terry need our prayers.

Marisa Felps asks for us to pray for her husband, Donnie, as he navigates some physical problems.  No visits, calls, texts, et cetera for the time being.  Thank you for understanding and for praying.

John Milton Ladnier seemingly suffered from heat exhaustion on Tuesday.  He got dehydrated.  His wife, Teresa, is now cracking that proverbial whip and will keep him in line.  Pray for John.

A few of our folks have visited Betty Hamil this week.  She is doing well physically but struggling emotionally.  Pray for Betty!  Want to send Betty a card?  Mail it to Betty Hamil Room 105 Carillon Oaks 5461 Kooiman Road Theodore, AL 36582.

Ten of the eleven men traveling to Guatemala depart this Sunday, September 6, with the eleventh one departing on Monday, 9/7.  Pray for these men as they travel and minister.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Thank the Lord!

Church wide fellowship this Sunday, 9/6, following our 4:00PM worship service.  The fellowship will take place at the Spanish Trail Lanes from 6:00PM until 9:00PM.  Bro. Abel will drive our charter bus for those needing transportation.

There will be a student ministry fellowship following bowling in our CAB from 10:00PM until midnight.  All students, 6th – seniors, are invited to attend.  Questions?  Contact Eddie Albritton.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 9/6.  Please note the early starting time for our afternoon service.

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

“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words be without heart.” (John Bunyan) (Day twelve of forty)

Forty years!  In some ways it seems like forty minutes while in other ways it seems like four hundred years.  To me, it mainly seems like yesterday.  I still remember specific details.  Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Lisa’s brother, Michael, passing from this life and entering Heaven.  He would be fifty-eight years old.  I cannot imagine.  He will forever be eighteen in my mind.  Death stings!  I am praying for Charles, Ann, Kim and Lisa today.

The arrangements for Tim’s brother are as follows:  visitation this Saturday, 9/5, from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Everything will take place in our auditorium.  We will provide a meal for the family following the service.  Pray for the Knighten family during this time.

As far as I know, things are the same regarding Sandra McElwee’s situation.  Keep praying for David, Leigh Ann and the family.  Sandra, in my opinion, lived a Martha type life and that is a good thing.

Bonnie Smiley’s hip replacement surgery has been postponed again.  It is now set for next Thursday, September 11.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

I received a message yesterday with some heart breaking news.  I do not know if I am at liberty to share it but I do ask you to join me in praying.  God knows.

Continue to pray for Carol Lucky.

Pray for the eleven men traveling to GRACE Mountain next week.

Regular schedule on our campus today.

Church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday, 9/6, following our 4:00PM worship service.

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

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” (Martin Luther) (Day eleven of forty)

Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark, passed from this life yesterday morning.  Pray for Mark’s family.  The arrangements will be made today but it appears everything will take place on our campus this Saturday, 9/5.  Once the details are completed then I will post them here.

Chuck Hatcher and I had an uneventful trip to Huntsville, AL and back yesterday.  Sandra was not awake but it was a privilege to visit with David, Leigh Ann, Stuart and Abby.  Sandra is close to waking up in Heaven – what a day that will be!  Pray for Sandra and her family.

I even got to stop by and pray with Mama on our way to Huntsville.

Traveling wise, the highlight of the trip was enjoying lunch at Bib Bob Gibson’s on Sixth Avenue in Decatur.  Please do not tell Stacey Dyess as he would be so jealous!

Speaking of Stacey, one of Gayla’s brothers remains in the hospital.  Pray for both of her brothers and their respective situations.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.

Church wide fellowship this Sunday, 9/6.  We will have a service beginning at 4:00PM and then travel to the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier for bowling from 6:00PM until 9:00PM.  Cost is $8 per bowler.  Church attendance is an absolute in order to join us for bowling.  Pass the word!  Come join us!

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Tuesday.

This entry is being written as I travel up I-65 heading to Huntsville, Alabama.  Chuck Hatcher is driving so I can blog and get my weekly letter written and sent to Laura Fosmore.  Chuck & I are going to visit with David McElwee and family.  Not sure of Sandra’s present condition but  do ask you to pray for this family during this time.

Zack Brown’s sister is heading back to M.D. Anderson today.  Pray for a good and positive visit.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  Shawn Grant came forward for believer’s baptism.  Praise the Lord.

Bro. Abel did a nice job of promoting our Sunday School during the 5:00PM service.  We were missing a good number of our regulars but I am thankful to those who attended.  A special thanks to each person who helped in any way.

Ever tried to type a blog entry while riding on I-65?  Tough sledding!  (You would think we are in Mississippi!).

I hope you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing,” (Martin Luther)

Day nine of forty!  Prayer band, keep praying!

Gayla Dyess has two brothers in the hospital.  I will not even begin to tell you their stories but do ask that you pray for them.

Keep praying for Tim’s brother, Mark.  Also, continue to pray for Carol Lucky.  Miss Bonnie Smiley is scheduled to have surgery later this week.  Pray this happens.

Deidra is a happy camper as the doctor removed her cast this past Friday.  She is now wearing a splint for two or three weeks.  Chino is doing really well.

Happy seventh anniversary, Bro. Abel Garcia.  Today we, as a church family, have the privilege of showing our appreciation to Bro. Abel by giving to a love offering for him.  We will receive this special offering in both of our services.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.

Normal schedule and location for Sunday School and our morning worship service.  However, our 5:00PM service will take place in the CAB and will be a rally for our Sunday School.  Bro. Abel is leading this effort and each member of the Friendship family is encouraged to join us for this special service which will include an ice cream social.  Pass the word!

We have a team of nine bubbas and two Yankees heading to GRACE Mountain next Sunday, 9/6.  Pray for them as they prepare for a week of ministry in Guatemala.

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

“None but praying leaders can have praying followers.” (E. M. Bounds)

Today is the eighth day of our forty days of prayer.  Thank you to our prayer band for joining me in this effort!

First, a very heartfelt “thank you” to each person who contacted me yesterday expressing strong words of encouragement and prayer support.  Each one was very much appreciated – very much so!

Tomorrow is a very important day in the life of the Friendship family.  We, as a church family, will have the opportunity to express our love and appreciation to Bro. Abel for his seventh anniversary as a staff member at Friendship.  We will do so by receiving a love offering in both services.  This is a love offering so give as the Lord leads.  No obligation but a great opportunity!

Our 5:00PM service will take place in the CAB and will be a Sunday School rally.  This is for the entire Friendship family and will include an ice cream fellowship.  I am asking each member of the Friendship family to attend this special service and help us build our Sunday School.  Sunday School is important to our church!  Join us tomorrow afternoon at 5:00PM in the CAB.

Congratulations to Bryant, Faith and UMS for their respective victories on the football field last night.

While others were being so kind to me yesterday my wife was cracking the proverbial whip!  She had me working in the yard for about five or six hours.  She was Aunt Bee and I was Otis!  I walked in the house at dark thirty and her exact words were “did you finish?”  What ever happened to grace?  Just saying!

Today we get to attend football games in Citronelle and Fairhope.  Nora plays flag and Jayden plays tackle.  (Lisa and I are trying to be like Eddie & Sue!)

I hope to be joined by many of you in our services tomorrow morning and afternoon.  Remember the love offering for Bro. Abel.

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

Going to be totally transparent and honest this morning.  Emotionally, I am spent.  Do not have it in me to post an entry today.  I am sorry.  Hopefully, tomorrow.  Blessings!

Honestly, this is one of those blog entries that I do not want to write.  This morning we will gather in the Friendship auditorium to celebrate the life of Andy Hamil.  I have known Andy since 1979 and have had the privilege of being his pastor for just under thirty-six years.  He was a tremendous supporter of his pastor and that was true long before that privilege became mine.  Days like today work on me emotionally but I am thankful Andy is no longer suffering and is now in Heaven.  I copied and pasted Andy’s obituary last night.  Pray for Betty and the family today.

Sixty-seven!  Are you kidding me?  Bro. Abel planned a big night for our students last night and sixty-seven students were in attendance.  Hallelujah!  It has been a great while since we had a number that high in our student ministry on a Wednesday night.  I do know that our regular students did well in getting the word out to their friends and fellow students.  May this be the start of something great for God!  By the way, thank you to Bro. Abel and the other adults who helped him last night.

We also enjoyed two good services in the auditorium yesterday.  God is good!

Mark Timberlake had a surgical procedure done yesterday and all went well as far as I know.  Pray for Mark’s at home recovery.

I am very grateful to Gary & Rachel Walton and their crew who worked the flower beds on our church campus yesterday.  I am equally thankful to Kevin & Tina Sprinkle and Jerry Poiroux for the mowing, edging and weed eating they did after the morning service.  Very nicely done!

It has been a minute since we experienced the sweet sound of a steady rain south of the tracks in Grand Bay.  Thank you Lord for the rain!  I love rain!

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

Andrew Glover Hamil, 92, passed away peacefully at his home. He was born July 16, 1934 in Scott County, Mississippi to Merle Glover Hamil and Jennivive Gardner Hamil.

Andrew proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. He went on to build a distinguished career at Ingalls Shipbuilding, starting out as a mechanic and working his way up to General Superintendent over Inside and Outside Machinist. He was always proud of the men and women who worked alongside him throughout his career.

Andrew was a dedicated servant of God and was deeply involved in his church family at Friendship Baptist Church. Outside of work and church, he found joy in cheering on Alabama football and listening to the Inspirations singing quartet. He made so many wonderful friends during his travels of whom love him and loved listening to his stories.

In 1952, Andrew married Dean Sistrunk and together they welcomed a daughter, Anita (“Beebe”). In 1967, he married Betty Taylor, and gained a daughter, Margie. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Betty Hamil; his daughter Anita (“Beebe”) and grandsons Stephen and Joey (Sharon) Pierre; and his daughter Margie (Jim) Tevlin and grandsons Michael (Julee), Robby (Britney), Kyle (Sina), and Paulie (Briana).

5 great grandchildren: Oden, Cooper, Murphy and Patrick Tevlin, and Ashten Pierre.

The family extends a special thank you to their good friend Clara Broadus, and to caregivers Crystal Switzer and Diana Pitt, as well as Southern Care Hospice, for their love and support.