Pastor's Blog

Fifty-five years ago today my maternal grandfather passed from this life.  Sadly, he was not prepared to meet Jesus.  I vividly remember the events of that day as though it was yesterday.  Death stings!

Terrel Brooks will have surgery today.  He is scheduled for a noon start which may mean 3:00PM.  I pray not.  Pray that all will go well in the surgery.

Clinton Stringfellow was in our service this past Sunday and will be having another chemo treatment this week.  He has such a positive spirit.  Keep praying for Clinton.

Eddie Albritton’s sister, Wendy, is also still taking chemo treatments.  She went to the doctor yesterday but I am not sure if that was for a chemo treatment.  Pray for Wendy.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Bro. Abel will be teaching in both services in the auditorium.

Lord willing, I will travel to Hartselle early tomorrow morning and return at some point on Thursday as my dad passed from this life five years ago tomorrow.  I am blessed to know that dad was ready to meet Jesus.  However, death stings!

Want to help our June 12 – 19 mission team do ministry?  Pre-order a fish dinner for either this Friday evening (5:00 – 6:00PM) or Saturday morning (10:00AM – 1:00PM).  Ten dollars a plate.  Send an email to daphnehutto@gmail.com.  Or, you can simply come to the concession tent either time but that are no guarantees that plates will still be available.  All proceeds will go directly to the ministry portion of the June trip.

Want to finance the building of a house ($550) or provide food for one hundred families ($800)?  Contact me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net for the details.

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

We, like so many churches, were blessed with a really good Mother’s Day Sunday.  Strong attendance and a sweet spirit.  God is good and we give Him the praise.

Dede & Ian Tagert did a nice job of leading our children’s choir in their presentation yesterday morning.  I appreciate the work put in by them as well as the preschool choir which is directed by Leslie Herrington.  Choir is now off until the 2025-26 school year.

The flowers that were available yesterday morning were given by a couple within the Friendship family.  What a nice move on their part.  Much appreciated.

What a joy to recognize Miss Vinnie Brewer as the oldest mother present in our service yesterday.  She is faithful for a twenty-five year old or a ninety-five year old.  She is a very much loved and respected part of the Friendship family and I count it an absolute joy to serve as her pastor.

We had no new members join us yesterday.  Pretty much expected because it was Mother’s Day.  I do not know how much offering was given to the June GRACE Ministries missions trip ministry.  Two more Sundays to go for Members and Missions.

This Friday afternoon, 5/16, from 5:00 – 6:00PM and then Saturday, 5/17, from 10:00AM until 1:00PM there will be fish dinners available at the soccer concession stand.  US farm raised catfish.  Plates are ten dollars each.  Pre-orders end today.  Email Daphne at daphnehutto@gmail.com today to place your order.  Please note that the Saturday fish dinner sales could end earlier than 1:00PM if they sell out.

We will recognize our high school graduates for 2025 this Sunday morning during our morning service.  All graduates who plan to take part in this service need to make sure they have contacted Bro. Chris by this Wednesday.

Regular schedule this Wednesday morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in Hartselle so Bro. Abel will be doing the teaching in both services.

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

Wow, what an afternoon of rain yesterday.  As I write this entry, the rain is seemingly coming down in fifty-five gallon drums!  I simply encourage each person to be safe if they have to be on the roads (local, interstate or expressway).

No soccer games today on our campus.  If you live in the South end of Mobile County you just said “duh!”  Today’s games will now be played on Tuesday, 5/13, beginning at 5:00PM.

Grant & Katie arrived home around 2:30PM yesterday.  A procedure was partially done on Thursday but the doctor got called away due to an emergency.  A televisit is scheduled for Monday.  Keep praying for Grant.  By the way, Katie gets a “F” as in failure for keeping me posted during this ordeal.  Pitiful!  Peggy Knighten, please help Katie know how to keep the pastor properly informed during times like these!

Speaking of Peggy, keep praying for Tim’s brother, Mark.

Still praying for Clinton Stringfellow and Wendy Keyes and their respective treatments.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning only.  No evening service or activities.  Children’s choir singing in our morning service.  Families of our children’s choir – sit on the left hand side (think piano) of the auditorium for the best view.

Members and Missions is our theme for the month of May.  We will receive a special offering in our morning service tomorrow for our June mission team’s ministry opportunities.  Please pray and give as the Lord leads.

The fish meal for missions takes place Friday evening (6:00 – 7:00PM), 5/16, and Saturday morning (10:00AM – 1:00PM), 5/17.  Plates are ten dollars each and pre-orders are being taken until Monday, 5/12.  You can send Daphne an email at daphnehutto@gmail.com to place your order.

“Bags of GRACE” are coming during a Christmas Summer (June & July) to be shipped to Guatemala for distribution in December.  Twenty-five dollars will fill a bag and pay for the shipping ($5).  Other churches interested in this ministry can contact Daphne or me (pastor@friendshipfamily.net).

Our 2025 VBS is almost here – June 2 – 6.  More details coming.  Bro. Abel will, once again, lead this ministry.

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see many of you in our service tomorrow morning.

Happy fourteenth birthday to our oldest granddaughter, Emmy.  She and her mom will spend the day together and I hope she will have a great day!  We love Emmy and wish her the absolute best!

By the way, my “sister” Deidra Tucker Burleson is also celebrating a birthday today.  She is a bit older than fourteen.  I hope her day goes well too!

Tried to blog earlier this morning but “this page is temporarily unavailable” message kept appearing.  However, it just became available.  I know Deidra and Daphne are excited!

Katie Tillman gets a failing grade in providing her pastor with updates regarding her husband’s medical tests, consults, et cetera.  (Maybe she should take lessons from Peggy Knighten!).  It is my understanding that Grant will have more tests tomorrow.  Pray for all to go well and for answers as to why Grant is having issues.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow.

Bill Kendrick shared a prayer request with me Sunday that relates to this morning – right now as a matter of fact.  I pray all goes well.

Gospel songwriter/singer, Squire Parsons, passed from this life on Monday.  He was seventy-seven years of age.  What a legacy he leaves behind.  Pray for his family.  Thank you to Andy Hamil for letting me know

Members and Missions are the theme for May when it comes to the Friendship family.  We are praying to add members and to give graciously to the ministry portion of our June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries mission trip.  This will include building houses, distributing food, helping another ministry and giving toward an annual salary for a teacher at Colegio JET.

How did we do on the first Sunday?  We added one member so that is good.  Our goal is ten new members in May.  We received four hundred seventy-five dollars in a special offering.  Our goal is ten thousand dollars.  So, we did not get off to a great start but I am thankful for each cent given.  We have three more Sundays to reach these goals.

This Sunday, 5/11, will see us celebrate mothers in our morning service.  Our children’s choir will be singing in that service.  Please note that the children will be standing on the piano side of the pulpit.  We will recognize the oldest mother in attendance.  We will have a baby dedication.  It is going to be a great service.  Also note that we will not be having any evening service or activities.  If possible, celebrate the day with your mother.

We will have a catfish dinner donation meal on Friday evening, May 16, and Saturday morning, May 17.  All proceeds will go toward the ministry portion of our June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries trip.  This is something totally separate from the special offerings in our May services.  Pre-orders can be placed by sending Daphne an email at daphnehutto@gmail.com.  Deadline for pre-orders is Monday, May 12.

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

Grant & Katie Tillman are in Birmingham today in order for the medical folks to do some tests to try and find the cause for Grant’s headaches.  (I have an opinion but I will keep that to myself – just saying!). Pray for Grant & Katie!

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow and Eddie Albritton’s sister, Wendy, as they go through their respective treatments.

I appreciate the many folks who helped with the soccer concession stand last night.  I am told the help was more than sufficient and the crowd watching soccer was really good numerically.

Soccer again tonight beginning at 5:00PM.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Wow, the Lord blessed us with a really good day in our worship services yesterday.  First, it was a blessing to see the church to give a unanimous call to Bro. Chris Scofield to become a full time staff member at Friendship.  He will begin this new role on Sunday, June 1.  Pray for Bro. Chris and his family.  Thank you to the deacons for their months of praying, seeking God and meeting on this matter.  We have great deacons!

What a joy to see Charlie (sp?) Baker coming desiring to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism in our morning service.  Jeff Holifield did a nice job of sharing a “mission moment” with us during the evening service.  Thank you to those who gave to the “missions” love offering in each service.  I will get that total later and report it.

Katelyn Johnson and the other young ladies did an excellent job of hosting our senior adults for lunch.  (I do love aggravating Katelyn!  LOL!).  Thank you to each senior adult who joined us for the meal.  A great time of food and fellowship!

Grant Tillman will be in Birmingham tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday for tests.  He has been having issues with headaches for months now and they are trying to locate cause.  Pray it goes well.

Miss Annette Williams took a fall and was in the hospital yesterday.  I “think” she was discharged yesterday afternoon and will be monitored for the next month.  Pray for Miss Annette.

Soccer tonight beginning at 5:00PM.  Concessions will be available including the meal deals along with pulled pork nachos and pulled pork sandwiches.

Heading toward Ellisville, MS to take my cousin Lydia home.  She has been a blessing this weekend.  Sweet young lady!

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

All soccer games scheduled to be played on our campus have been cancelled this evening and tomorrow.  However, the pulled pork meals are still being served to those who placed pre-orders.

So, if you placed an order for this afternoon, Friday, 5/2, then you can get your meal(s) in the Preschool Building between the hours of 5:00 – 6:00PM.

As for tomorrow, Saturday, 5/3, the meals will be available for pick up from 10:00 – 11:00AM.

If you did not pre-order but would like a meal either day, contact Daphne Hutto at (251) 533 4595 no later than 4:00PM today or 9:00AM tomorrow.

Questions?  More information?  Contact Daphne Hutto at (251) 533 4595 or daphnehutto@gmail.com.

We apologize for any inconvenience but we cannot control the weather.  We thank God for the rain.  He obviously knows what He is doing!

Good morning on this cloudy Friday.  I have a story to tell but that will have to wait until probably tomorrow.  It is a re-telling of a New Testament story.  Just saying!

Widows/widower brunch in our Preschool Building this morning from 10:00AM until 11:30AM.  Jeanette Bates is leading this ministry.  Pray for a good day.

Soccer tonight/tomorrow?  Good question.  That is above my pay grade so I defer to Bro. Abel.  Once he makes a decision, I will try to post an entry here but the best option is to look on FB.

Regardless of whether there is soccer or not either day, the pre-sold pulled pork meals will be served.  With soccer taking place – under the bus barn.  No soccer – in the Preschool Building.  They will be served tonight from 6:00 – 7:00PM even if there is no soccer.  Tomorrow they will be served from 10:00AM – 11:00AM if there is no soccer.  Again, check FB for updates.

Regular schedule this Sunday.  Looking forward to honoring our senior adults during the 10:00AM service and then serving them lunch immediately afterwards.  Senior adults, come join us!

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

Today is the national day of prayer.  I encourage you to either gather with others or to simply set aside a special time to pray for our country today.  Pray for your family.  Pray for your church family.  Pray for your neighbors.  Pray for your enemies!  Pray!

Tomorrow, 5/2, from 10:00AM until 11:30AM there will be a widows/widowers brunch in the Preschool Building.  Jeanette Bates, with the help of others, is coordinating this event.  If you are a widow or widower in the Friendship family and have not received a personal invitation then I apologize and ask that you come join Jeanette and crew.  You can contact Jeanette for the details.

Joey Bosarge reminded us last night that the Friendship family will host the “McKemie Place” ministry this coming Monday evening beginning at 5:30PM.  Contact Joey if you want to be involved. All of us can pray.

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  Next Wednesday, 5/7, there will be some special equipment on hand for our older ladies – LOL!

Soccer tomorrow night (6:00 – 7:00PM) and Saturday (9:00AM – 1:00PM).  Those who have pre-ordered the pulled pork meals can simply go to the bus barn and they will be ready to go.  I appreciate Stacey Dyess and Jeff Holifield being the chef masters.  Pulled pork sandwiches will also be available in the soccer concession stand as long as the pork is available.

Senior adults, I am “begging” you to be present for this Sunday morning’s service and the lunch following.  If you have signed up, great.  If not, come join us anyway.  We are going to have a great Sunday!

The Sunday evening, 5/4, the church will be asked to move on a motion that will be presented by our deacons.  This relates to Bro. Chris Scofield and his position with the Friendship family.  Much prayer, thought and discussions precede this decision.

The Lord allowed me to be in the garden pulling weeds shortly after daybreak today.  I was enjoying myself and then the rain came.  I simply went to the back porch and just watched/listened to the rain – heaven to me!  God is good!

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – 10:00AM & 6:30PM.  Friendship family, be there, please!

Side note – I miss Keith & Aninha!  Guys, get home!  Now!  That is an order!  LOL!

Widows/widowers luncheon this Friday!  Contact Jeanette Bates for details/information.

Pulled pork plates to support mission trip ministry this Friday (6:00PM) and Saturday (9:00AM – 1:00PM) at the soccer concession stand.  (There will be a separate area for those who placed pre-orders)

Senior adult day this Sunday, 5/4.  Special morning service followed by lunch in the CAB for all of our senior saints.  Sign up is encouraged but not absolutely required.  We should be completely finished by 11:45AMish.

Mother’s Day celebration during our morning service on 5/11.  Our children’s choir will be singing during that service.  No evening service/activities that day.

High school graduate recognition service on Sunday morning, 5/18.

Members and missions is our emphasis during the month of May.  Special missions offering will be received in each service.

Keep praying for those who are battling sicknesses and/or having other issues.

Lisa & Jayden arrived home safe and sound yesterday afternoon and then Brad, Daphne & their tribe did so a few hours later.  Thank God for traveling mercies.

Several folks have asked about coffee.  Yes, I will have some with me today.  Twelve dollars per pound with four dollars going to ministry efforts by the older students at Colegio JET.  (Checks payable to GRACE Ministries)

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