Pastor's Blog

Good morning.  A little late with this entry.  Red truck!

The doctors have still not gotten comfortable with removing the vent from Tim’s brother.  The roller coaster ride continues.  Please keep praying!

Bro. Chris repaired the leak coming from the meter to the office.  I am thankful to him for taking care of that matter.  The CAB?  Not certain at this point but I know some men gathered on our campus yesterday afternoon to try and figure out what is wrong i.e. where the leak is located.  I am thankful to these men.  I will get a report from them later.

The weather folks are calling for possible tornadoes late this afternoon into the night.  I am ready.  How? Good question.  Three ladies came to the office yesterday to count the yard sale proceeds and make a deposit.  They were a lively trio – just saying!  I had to go home and take medicine – LOL!  They were also a happy trio as the total reached just over ten thousand dollars – wow!  (One was a little concerned that TJ will not know how to handle this but I assured her that I will work with him.  He depends on me!)

Special evening service with Pastor Roy Crouch and family on Sunday, March 16, beginning at 5:00PM.  Do not miss it!

Revival services with Evangelist Michael Mason Sunday morning, March 23, through Wednesday evening, March 26.  Pray, plan to attend, bring others with you!  “No man is greater than his prayer life.”  (Leonard Ravenhill)

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening!

Lisa has been in Guatemala since 2/26.  She has been taking care of our granddaughters so Deidra can be with the team.  Basically, chained to the mountain.  Then a strange thing happened yesterday – she was able to break free and go to Antigua with the team to eat and shop!  Amazing!  Just saying!

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

Water anyone?  We are having issues with two water leaks on our campus.  A major leak in the CAB and a not nearly as major leak in the office.  Bro. Chris Scofield is presently working on repairing the line to the office building.  Jeff Holifield is coming later today to try and find the leak in the CAB.  Tyrone Crawley Jason Fosmoer are offering assistance also.  Great guys!  (TJ Vice would take care of all of it himself but he claims he is busy this time of the year)

A really good Sunday on our campus yesterday even though we seemingly had several thousand members of the Friendship family out of town or in downtown Mobile.  God blessed and I am thankful!

As of right now, they have not taken Tim Knighten’s brother off the vent.  Again, an emotional roller coaster ride for this family.  Keep praying!

The yard sale was a success.  Several of the ladies have submitted their resignation from this point forward.  I appreciate each person who helped in any way.  Great job!

BIG NEWS – Pastor Roy Crouch and family will be with us on Sunday, 3/16, in our evening service for a “pre-revival” emphasis.  Rachel, Titus, Issac & Lydia will lead the musical worship and Pastor Roy will bring the message from the Word.  I am looking forward to this special service.  I ask members of the Friendship family to pray, attend and bring others with you.

REVIVAL services begin on Sunday morning, 3/23, and then continue that evening (5:00PM) and then Monday – Wednesday (6:30PM).  Pray for revival!

Daphne’s team in Guatemala is doing well.  Lisa is holding down the proverbial fort on GRACE Mountain as the team does medical clinics elsewhere.  Daphne & Lisa should return home Thursday night.

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

Happy birthday to Lisa’s sister, Kim.  How old?  I will simply say that she is older than me – enough said!  I hope Kim will have a great day!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Let’s go!

They were planning to take remove Tim Knighten’s brother off the vent during the night in hopes he would do well.  If so, praise the Lord.  If not, they would put him back on it.  Keep praying for Mark and his family.

Pastor Clint Landry and daughter, Maggie, returned home yesterday. The procedure did not go as well as planned as Maggie could not produce the total number of stem cells needed.  The recipient did get all that Maggie produced.  Pray for all involved.

The annual yard sale was a success.  Thank you to each person who helped in any way, donated items, bought items, took part in the auction, et cetera.  To God be the glory.

Chris Howell put new flooring in the auditorium foyer yesterday.  Nicely done.  I appreciate Chris & Sherry for handling this part of the renovation.  Sherry tells me that the plan is to be completely finished with this phase of the renovation before our revival services begin on 3/23.  I am thankful for Jerrod & Chris and all they have done up to this point.  (They are getting orders from Sherry, Katelyn & Sue – bless them!)

Daphne & Lisa say things are going well in Guatemala.  Thank the Lord!  Garry & Teresa Hutto are doing a great job of helping Brad here on the home front.

Our grandson, Titus, was in the state robotics competition in Auburn yesterday.  Not sure of the results but we are proud of Titus.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Pray for revival!

When asked whether revivals last, Evangelist Billy Sunday replied, “No, neither does a bath. But it is good to have one occasionally!”  (Thank you Burl Brewer for sending this to me)

At the top of my prayer list today is Maggie Landry.  She is in a NYC hospital donating stem cells for a lady battling with a central nervous system sarcoma.  I do not know all of the details but do ask that you join me in praying for Maggie and the stem cell recipient.

The following came to me from Pam Baker yesterday morning:

JZ had an appointment in Birmingham last week with a new doctor that thinks he may be a good candidate for gene therapy. It was just FDA approved over the summer and very few older boys have had it because most of them have lost their ability to walk and/or have heart problems. It would require a 1 week stay in Birmingham and then traveling to Birmingham once a week for 12 weeks. It’s not a cure, but best case scenario, it could stop the progression of the disease for 4-5 years.

He will have a blood draw Friday or Saturday to determine if he has antibodies against the virus that is used. If it is positive for antibodies, he will not be able to get the treatment. As long as it is negative, we will go to Birmingham April 1 to discuss everything with the doctor.

The only other thing that could keep him from getting the treatment is that he has a separate genetic disorder that affects his liver. So we will have to go back to the liver specialist April 16 and see if she will clear him to have the treatment.

It is a risky procedure, so please pray that we have wisdom to make the right decision for him!

Join me in praying for Brandon, Pam and JZ.

I continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark.  He had a good day yesterday per what Tim shared with me following our service last night.  Folks, I am impressed with Tim.  He was teaching RA’s last night when he basically had every reason in the world to not be present.  Wow!  Thank you Tim for being an example of commitment.

Bro. Abel is at an urgent care this morning with a bum shoulder.  Lots of pain.  Pray that all goes well.

The 2025 yard sale is up and running having started at 7:00AM today.  The hours are 7:00AM until 5:00PM today and tomorrow.  Saturday will be 7:00AM until noon and a live auction begins at 3:00PM.

It seems that the yard sale provided a good excuse for a good number of our folks to miss church last night.  Makes no sense but it is true.  Our attendance yesterday morning was very good.  Apparently, we have more “red truck” owners who attend in the evening than in the morning.  Just saying!

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

This entry is to focus on saying happy ninety-fifth birthday to Miss Vinnie Brewer!  If any person deserves a huge “happy birthday” it is Miss Vinnie.  She is without a doubt one of the finest Christian ladies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing personally.  I could go on for paragraph after paragraph writing of her many virtues.  Just let me say this – Miss Vinnie loves Jesus, her family, her church family and the list goes on!  I am blessed to serve as her pastor and to have her as a friend.  I love you Miss Vinnie and thank God for you!  What a blessing Miss Vinnie is to me personally and professionally!  Thank God for Miss Vinnie!  Happy birthday, Miss Vinnie.

Keep praying for Tim Knighten’s brother.  Two new prayer items – JZ Baker and Maggie Landry.  I will share details in our services today and then in tomorrow’s blog entry.  Pray especially for Maggie tomorrow!

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

Tim’s brother showed signs of improvement yesterday.  Praise the Lord and keep on praying.

Mike & Dottie Clark’s thirty-one year old daughter is having surgery in Guatemala today.  Pray that all goes well.

We had a good service yesterday morning with a sweet spirit.  Bro. Abel tells me the evening service went well too.

Lisa & I went to a cake auction for missions (GRACE Ministries) last night.  Gary & Rachel Walton were our gracious drivers/hosts.  My brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, met us there.  I was asked to speak briefly.  The Lord blessed us with a really good night.  Pastor Ben and his folks were gracious hosts to all six of us.

The beehive is busy here today as our folks prepare for the auction which begins this Thursday, 2/27.

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

Continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, the family, the medical folks, et cetera.  Thank you to Pastor Alton Stokes for going by and praying with Mark the other day.  The family is grateful for all prayers – even from Pentecostals!  LOL!

I continue to pray for John Whalen and his family in the passing of his brother.  Join me in those prayers.

Roseanne Baria continues in a sling until the MRI on Wednesday.  Pray for Roseanne.

There will be a meeting in the CAB tomorrow, 2/23, beginning at 4:00PM.  This meeting is for the students (and their parents) who want more information regarding the camp this July.  Bro. Chris will lead this meeting.  Please note that this meeting/camp is for those students who have completed the fifth grade to those who will graduate high school this Spring.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  The forecasters are calling for rain for most of tomorrow.  I pray that the Friendship family members will be faithful.

My time as pastor of the Friendship family has been extended thanks to John Milton Ladnier, Larry Whitehurst and Grant Tillman.  Thank you brothers for helping me keep a promise made to the Friendship family.

I pray that you will have great Saturday with Jesus.

Good morning on this cool Friday.  Really nothing new to report this morning.  I can sense the blessing and excitement in Peggy’s messages to me regarding Tim’s brother.  So, pray, pray and then pray!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

Workday on 3/15.  Breakfast at 7:30AM followed by work at 8:00AM.  Over no later than noon.

Revival services with Evangelist Michael Mason from 3/23 – 3/26.  Pray without ceasing!

Soccer leagues begin play on Thursday, 3/20.

Interested in joining us for the June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries trip?  Very limited space as of this morning.  Contact me personally.

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

I received the following this afternoon:

Hey Bro. Teddy,

I am typing this with SO MUCH EXCITEMENT!!! Mark just opened his eyes for his Mama! He did it again under dr. command as well as wiggle his toes and give a high five all on command. It was such a moving thing to witness!!!

So, he is NOT done! He will get through this with God’ mighty healing power!

Please keep praying! Today is a Great Day to have a Great Day!

I was wrong!  Not once but twice.  Let that sink in for a minute!

First, I was told yesterday that students having cell phones in class is forbidden by the MCPSS and that has been so this entire school year.  I stand corrected.  (Does this apply to staff members too?  Asking for a friend!)

Second, I said Roseanne Baria was having a MRI yesterday.  Not true.  It is scheduled for next Wednesday, 2/26.  Again, I stand corrected.  Folks, you cannot fix stupid – I am living proof!  My apologies.

Please continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark.  The family has been on an emotional roller coaster.

Our Ladies Helping Hands will meet tonight in the Preschool Building beginning at 6:00PM.  All ladies invited.

Important upcoming dates:  March 23 – 26 revival services with Evangelist Michael Mason; February 27 – March 1 yard sale; March 15 church wide workday; March 20 opening day for soccer.

Scott Fontenot is headed home today.  I appreciate Scott and his service in Guatemala the past two weeks.

Speaking of Guatemala, after yesterday we only have a spot or two left open for our June 12 – 19, 2025 trip.  That could change but I do not anticipate it doing so.  Again, check with me before purchasing your ticket.

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