Pastor's Blog

Roseanne Baria is scheduled to have a MRI of her shoulder today.  Pray that the doctors can get a good look at what is taking place with her shoulder.  Roseanne’s hope is no surgery required.  Pray!

No update on Tim Knighten’s brother but prayers are obviously needed.  Pray fervently.

Claude Landry got a good report from the doctor this week.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Come join us!

Pray for revival!  Save the dates of Sunday, 3/23, through Wednesday, 3/26.  Pray for Evangelist Michael Mason.

Also, save the date of Saturday, 3/15, as we will have a work day.  Breakfast at 7:30AM.  Work day begins at 8:00AM.

Soccer practices began this week and, per Bro. Abel, all is well.  Pray for this ministry.

As it presently stands, we have some spots open on our June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries trip.  Team members must purchase their own tickets and the fares are increasing daily.  So, think long, think wrong.  Please contact me before purchasing your ticket in order to make sure the arrival and departure times align with the rest of the team.  No openings on our July trip.  Openings on our 12/2 – 12/9 trip.  Contact me for more information.

I applaud the LA school district as they have implemented a ban on cell phones and other electronic devices while the students are at school.  Can anything good come out of California?  It appears so!  MCPSS – take note and perhaps follow suit.

Scott Fontenot has been in Guatemala for the past two weeks.  He is scheduled to fly home tomorrow.

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

Tim Knighten’s brother remains in ICU in a local hospital.  He has not awaken yet.  Pray for the doctors.  Pray for the Knighten family.

Roseanne Baria messaged me this morning to tell me that she will have a MRI tomorrow.  Pray that she will not have to have surgery.  One praise is that she is not in pain – praise the Lord!

Bro. Chris will have a meeting this Sunday, 2/23, regarding Summer camp for all students (those who have completed the sixth grade through this year’s high school seniors) and the parents of those students.  The meeting will take place in the CAB and will begin at 4:00PM.  Please note that each person who attends this meeting must also attend the 5:00PM worship service in the auditorium.

Items being donated to the yard sale can be brought to the church immediately following this Sunday’s (23rd) evening service, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (24th – 26th).  The actual yard sale will be Thursday, 2/27, through Saturday, 3/1.  A live auction will take place in the CAB beginning at 3:00PM on 3/1.

We will have a series on revival services beginning on Sunday morning, 3/23, and concluding Wednesday evening, 3/26.  Sunday’s service times will be 10:00AM & 5:00PM.  Monday through Wednesday will see the services begin at 6:30PM each night.

Church wide work day on Saturday, 3/15.  Breakfast at 7:30AM with the work beginning at 8:00AM.  We will conclude no later than noon.  The focus will be on the grounds but it will also be a time of cleaning out closets, classrooms, et cetera.  As Miss Kittie always said, “many hands make light work!”  Make plans to join us in this effort.

I pray the you will have a great Tuesday afternoon with Jesus!

Tim Knighten’s brother had an emergency episode and was taken to a hospital in Mississippi before being transferred to a Mobile hospital for emergency surgery.  Surgery finished around 3:00AM and he is now in ICU.  Pray for his wife and family.

John Whalen’s brother passed away yesterday morning.  So, John & Liz are driving to the UP in Michigan today and tomorrow.  Pray for the family and for traveling mercies.

John Whalen’s aunt also passed away yesterday morning.  She lived in south Florida.  Pray that that family too.

Roseanne Baria’s shoulder came out of place again and she had to go back to the hospital.  Keep praying for Roseanne & Robert.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  Yes, the preaching was too long – I am aware!  However, the spirit was excellent in both services.  The comments made to me in person and electronically have been very kind.  Thank you to each person who has reached out to me.  God is good.

Clara Broadus asked me to emphasize the yard sale in last night’s service.  I failed.  The actual sale will take place Thursday, 2/27, through Saturday, 3/1.  Donations of goods may be brought to the church following the evening service this Sunday, 2/23, through Wednesday, 2/26.  Contact Clara or Rita Boutwell for more information.

Today, marks the forty-sixth anniversary of my conducting my first bus workers weekly meeting at Friendship.  I am told that I am the longest tenured staff member in the Mobile Baptist Association.  I sure wish that Pastor Terry Glasscock was still living as he and I basically were traveling the same road ministry wise.  I miss Pastor Terry.

I have had several folks mention our June GRACE Ministries trip and their intentions to possibly join us.  As it stands today, we have a precious few spots open and they will be given away on a first come, first served basis.  Just FYI.

By the way, congratulations to Coach Pearl and the Auburn basketball team.  I have said all season that they are the best team in the land.  My opinion has not changed.  Is Alabama good?  Yes.  Could they win it all?  If everything would fall just right.

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

Lee Sessions was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Roseanne Baria tripped and fell at home late yesterday dislocating her shoulder.  She was taken to the hospital where she was put to sleep while the shoulder was put back in place.  She then returned home.  Pray for Roseanne and Robert.

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see many members of the Friendship family on our campus tomorrow.

Happy birthday to my brother, Eddie.  I hope that he will have a great day!  Eddie has done so much to help me personally and professionally.  I am appreciative.  Words cannot describe the impact he has made through GRACE Ministries.  I love Eddie and am thankful for him.  Happy birthday, Eddie.  (If only he were not an Auburn fan!)

Kristy Siker was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.  Like the earliest discharge ever!  Pray for Kristy as she recovers at home.

Lee Sessions “may” be discharged from the hospital today.  Keep praying for Lee.

Our daughter, Dana, had an outpatient procedure done yesterday.  Prayers appreciated.

Workday on the soccer fields tomorrow.  Contact Bro. Abel for the details.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning and evening.

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

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  To Him be the glory!

Kristi Siker had surgery yesterday and all went well.  She should be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray for Kristi and Shawn.

Went to visit Lee Sessions yesterday morning but he was not in his room.  Word from Bro. Abel is that he will be discharged from the hospital today.  Keep praying for Lee.

Visited with Mike & Janie Moreland yesterday.  Mike has been diagnosed with a malignancy and will have a surgical procedure this morning.  Pray for Mike, Janice and their family.  Great folks!

Carolyn Brouillett, wife of Pastor Kevin Brouillett, passed from this life yesterday morning.  Jennifer Everett shared in the service last night that Carolyn’s celebration of life service will take place this Saturday.  Pray for Pastor Kevin and his family during this difficult time.

Bro. Abel has called for a soccer work day this Saturday.  Contact him for the details.

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

Lisa and I had a really good trip to visit with my Mama and Eddie & Sue.  Excellent lunch at Big Bob’s and I even brought something back for Stacey Dyess – he is going to be so excited!  I cannot tell you how many folks contacted me after Sunday night and encouraged me to go spend the day with Mama.  What a good positive!

On the way back to Grand Bay, BJ Parson and his two sons, Hudson & Eli, were kind enough to meet us in Prattville.  We spent almost an hour just remembering Nicole and encouraging each other.  I was blessed to get to spend this time with BJ and his boys.

Surgery today for one of the members of the Friendship family.  Bro. Abel is covering this one and I appreciate him doing so.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Yard sale Thursday, 2/27, through Saturday, 3/1.  Live auction at 3:00PM on 3/1.  Donated items to be received Sunday evening (following the service) through Wednesday, 2/26.  Contact Rita Boutwell for more information.

Bro. Abel had a meeting with the soccer parents Monday night and it went well.

Spring clean up day coming one Saturday soon – details TBA.

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

Happy eighty-sixth birthday to my Mama!  Lisa and I are in Hartselle to celebrate with her.  (Stacey Dyess – is there a better place to celebrate than at Big Bob’s?  I think not!). I know Eddie & Sue and Freddie & Amanda are going to join us.  Not sure about James & Melissa.  Mama is doing well and I look forward to being with her on this special day in her life! I love my Mama and am very thankful for her!  Happy birthday, Mama!

Lee Sessions was admitted to the hospital this past Sunday.  I visited with him yesterday and Bro. Abel will do likewise today.  Pray for Lee & Elizabeth.

Pray for the one from the Friendship family who will be having surgery later this week.

Bill Kendrick sent me a message yesterday saying his surgery was a success.  Praise the Lord!

The following came to me from Rita Boutwell yesterday:

YARD SALE
Thursday 2/27 and Friday 2/28 7AM – 5 PM
Saturday 3/1 – 7 AM – Noon
Live Auction Saturday 3/1 at 3 PM
Please bring donated items to CAB Sunday evening 2/23 – Wednesday 2/26

I failed to mention in yesterday’s entry what a great job Harold Dueitt and Jerry & Sharon Poiroux did in sharing in Sunday’s services about their time on the GRACE Ministries mission trip.  I was impressed by all three of them.  They also impressed me greatly during the time in Guatemala.  Great team members!

Speaking of GRACE Ministries trips, we have like two or three openings on our June 12 – 19, 2025 trip.  Interested?  Contact me personally via email.  First come, first served.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus. Pray for us as we will drive home in the rain today.  It is all good!  (I may even bring Stacey some good barbecue!  Just saying!)

Hey, it’s good to be back home again!  Yes, I had a blessed time in Guatemala and enjoyed celebrating Sydney’s birthday with her.  However, there is no place like home!  Thank you to Eddie A for picking up from the airport.  Bro. Chris had taken me to the airport on 1/25 and that is much appreciated too.  I am grateful to God for great flights schedule wise on the way home.

One of the great parts of being home is getting to worship with the Friendship family yesterday morning and evening.  I love the Friendship family!  Actually, someone messaged me last night telling me how much they enjoyed the evening message.  God is good!

Shawn Grant messaged me last night to let me know that she was home and is recovering from her surgery.  Her hope is to be in our service next Sunday morning.

We have a member of the Friendship family having surgery later this week.  They want it to be kept private at this time.  Pray!

Bill Kendrick had knee surgery earlier today.  Pray that all went well and his recovery will be quick.

Lisa and I will leave late this afternoon heading to Hartselle in order to see my Mama tomorrow on her eighty-sixth birthday.  I love my Mama and am thankful she has reached another birthday.

I am impressed with the renovation of the foyer in the auditorium thus far.  Not sure how long it is going to take to complete it but it is going to be nice.  Thank you to each person involved in this process with a special thanks to Jarrod Sessions for leading this project.

The electronic sign, the flag pole, the bus barn, the new flowerbeds, et cetera are all in the works!  Pray!

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

Happy twelfth birthday to our granddaughter, Sydney, second daughter to Soy & Deidra.  Obviously, she lives in Guatemala.  She loves it.  Her paternal grandfather, Curtis Taylor, is here to celebrate this special day with Sydney too.  I pray that Sydney will have a great day!  Sydney, happy birthday!

Bro. Abel sent me an update on The Inspirations.  He had nothing but good to say.  Thank you to each person who attended and to those who gave.  Thank you Lord for a great evening.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit both services tomorrow.  Pray for on time departures and arrivals.

Yesterday was a long and emotional day for me.  God knows.

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