Pastor's Blog

Our high school students who will be taking part in our June 2019 mission trip to Guatemala are doing two fundraisers.  You are asked to consider supporting them by taking part in these fundraisers.

First, they are selling cases of satsumas from Hatcher’s farm.  The cost is thirty dollars ($30) per case with the money due no later than Sunday, November 4.  Delivery will be on Saturday, November 10.

Second, they will be selling homemade pies for Thanksgiving.  Pie choices are pecan, sweet potato or pumpkin.  The cost is ten dollars ($10) per pie.  Payment is due by Wednesday, November 14, and the pies will be delivered no later than Tuesday, November 20.

So, who is cooking these pies?  Jenni Baggett & Jennifer Brinkman.  Can they cook homemade pies?  Personally, I have every confidence in Jennifer’s ability.  I will leave it at that!

Need more information?  Contact Jennifer or Jenni.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from a plane parked at the gate at the Pensacola Airport.  Pastor Jordan and I left Grand Bay at 2:30AM to catch a flight to Atlanta before meeting up with Pastor Clint Landry for a flight to Guatemala City.  We will meet Bro. Johnny Tucker and four pastors from El Salvador at the airport in Guatemala.  Eventually we will meet up with Randall & Rita, Pastor Mark Mast, Pastor Terry Rainey and four ladies from the Motlow Creek Baptist Church.  Pastor Ben Labriel has been doing the leg work for this conference and will get to be with him and his family too.  Of course, the best thing will be to see Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey!  Soy?  Did you seriously just ask that question!

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Pastor Jordan did a very nice job of preaching in our evening service.  I am blessed to have him as a friend.

We are on a regular schedule this Wednesday.  Bro. Jerry will do the preaching in my absence.  Lord willing, I will be back in the pulpit for all three services this Sunday, 10/21.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good Sunday morning.  I pray that many members of the Friendship family will join us in Bible study and worship this morning and then again tonight.

Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on September 14.  One of the areas hit was Wilmington.  First Baptist Wilmington is actively involved in our work in Guatemala.  (They actually got started in that work upon learning about it while staying in our CAB during relief work following Hurricane Katherina)

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida this past Wednesday, October 10.  One of the areas affected by this storm was Port St Joe.  The Long Avenue Baptist Church of Port St. Joe is also actively involved in our work in Guatemala.  This area has been hit extremely hard.  Our contact, Norman Hammock, left during the storm and still has not been allowed back into the area.

So, I have extended an offer to help First Wilmington or Long Avenue in any way we can.  We certainly need to continue to pray for these communities and the people affected.

Randall & Rita Broome were set to leave for Guatemala yesterday afternoon as they were to be involved in a service there today and then will lead worship during the pastors’ conference Monday through Wednesday.  Their flight got delayed, delayed some more and then cancelled.  They were to fly from Mobile.  Now they are scheduled to fly from Pensacola this morning at 6:00AM and will get into Guatemala City somewhere around noon.  Pray that happens.

Bro. Andy Hadley and five others from the Cropwell Baptist Church in Pell City, Alabama are also involved in our work in Guatemala.  These six went down last Saturday, 10/6, and spent an entire week of working in the mission house and feeding center building doing repairs.  They did a fantastic job.  They were to depart at 1:30PM yesterday afternoon but were delayed because of some engine problems.  They eventually headed down the runway for take off when someone began to scream “fuego, fuego, fuego!”  The right engine was on fire.  A replacement plane was flown in and they were supposed to leave around midnight our time which would put them in Atlanta around 4:30PM Atlanta time.  CBP does not open until 5:00AM so they would have to sit on the plane until CBP could process them.  Pray for Bro. Andy and these men.

Other than that it has been a good week!

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from Birmingham.  Titus and I came up early yesterday afternoon and I will admit it was a tough drive for me after having driven from 1:30 until 5:00AM.  However, we made it and we are thankful to God.  Today, Lisa, Titus & I will meet Dr. John Nicely from Michigan and his two sons, Sam & Jacob, for the Bama game.  Dr. John is very, very involved in our work in Guatemala.  Jacob is from Guatemala.  Someone influenced him several years ago to become an Alabama fan and the rest is history.

Brandon, Pam & JZ leave tomorrow for Gainesville.  Pray for them.  Pray for the trial to go well.  Pray for JZ to receive the actual medication.

Keep praying for those affected by Hurricane Michael.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Finance Committee meets at 4:00PM.  Pastor Jordan Lollar will preach in our evening service.

I am really blogging for one reason which is to say a huge “congratulations” to Coach Eric Collier and the Theodore Bobcats for their victory last night.  Coach Collier was quick to give God the glory.  Eric is such a nice guy.  Grateful to have him and his family as a part of the Friendship family.  I wish I could have been in attendance but then again that would have meant sitting somewhere around Sanna Collier listening to that cowbell!  Just saying!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The celebration of life service for Dorothy Weeks will take place today beginning at 10:00AM from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  It will be preceded by one hour of visitation with the family.  This is Elizabeth Martin’s maternal grandmother.  Pray for the family.

The celebration of life service for Carolyn Diane Halbrook will take place today beginning at 2:00PM from the Coden United Methodist Church in Coden, AL.  It will be preceded by one hour of visitation with the family.  This is Vera Bosarge’s sister.  Pray for the family.

Visited with Kelsey yesterday morning and she was getting close to giving birth.  I “assume” that she did.  Pray for Kelsey, the baby and the family.

Brandon, Pam & JZ Baker leave Sunday heading to Gainesville, FL for the clinical trial for JZ.  Pray for JZ as well as for his parents.

Keep praying for the folks whose lives have been impacted by Hurricane Michael.  Really strong storm.

It is a long story but suffice it to say that in the past nineteen hours I have driven about seven hundred miles (eleven hours), visited for two hours with my parents/family and slept two and one half hours.  I just hung out the remaining time!  I will drive another four hours this afternoon, Lord willing.  Pray for traveling mercies for me.

Dodgers vs the Brewers tonight.  Not sure if the Dodgers can handle the Brewers as they have been red hot!

Let’s go Bama!  Ready for the games this weekend.

Coach Collier and his team have my best wishes on the game tonight.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Riley & Donna Glass’ granddaughter, Kelsey, was admitted to the hospital last night.  They will induce her labor today as there is a potential problem if she continues to carry the baby in her womb.  Pray for mother and child along with the rest of the family.

The visitation and service for Miss Dorothy Weeks takes place tomorrow morning with the visitation going from 9:00AM until the 10:00AM service time.  Everything at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Pray for Doug, Holly & Elizabeth Martin along with the rest of the family.

The visitation and service for Diane Halbrook also takes place tomorrow with everything being at the Coden Methodist Church.  Visitation begins at 1:00PM and lasts until the 2:00PM service time.  Pray for David & Vera along with the family.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday morning and last night.  Will Reynolds even joined us for the evening service.  I am very thankful to those who are faithful to attend our Wednesday services.

My numbers were a bit off concerning the number from the Friendship family who attended the visitation and/or service for Phillip’s mother.  Some had come and gone before Lisa and I arrived.  I am very grateful to each person who went to support Phillip & Claire.

As I write this entry there have been two deaths contributed to Hurricane Michael.  Pray for those families and for all of the folks who must now begin the process and picking up and carrying on following the destruction.  Pray for the first responders, the utility folks, law enforcement, et cetera.

Speaking of the weather, Kendall Falana has now told me when we can expect to receive some Fall weather.  Give it a couple of weeks he says.

Speaking of Fall, I am ready for the college football weekend.  Mizzou could give Alabama’s defense some problems.  AU will handle UT easily.

Coach Collier and his Bobcats have a huge game tomorrow night against the Yellow Jackets.  I am wishing the Bobcats the absolute best and hope they can win the Region!  If so, you may be looking at Coach Saban’s eventual replacement.  Just saying!

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

Doug Martin’s mother-in-law passed from this life last night.  Pray for the family as they walk through this valley.  Arrangements pending.

Brandy Gazzier was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

Just posted the obituary for Vera Bosarge’s sister.

Obituary for Carolyn Diane Vesper Halbrook

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

As of yesterday morning, Brandy Gazzier remained in the hospital.  She was in hopes of possibly being discharged at some point yesterday.  Not sure if that happened.  Pray for Brandy.

Doug Martin’s mother-in-law was in ICU and not doing well when I visited yesterday morning.  Pray for her and the family.

Hurricane Michael has turned into a monster of a storm.  We certainly need to pray for those who will be affected by it as it makes landfall today.  It appears that the folks in South Carolina and North Carolina are going to get even more rain as a result of this storm.  They are still dealing with high water from Hurricane Florence.  I really appreciate Kendall Falana keeping me in the loop with these storms.

We are on a regular schedule today and tonight.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The visitation with the Wanda Turner (Phillip’s mother) takes place today from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM celebration of life service.  Visitation and service at the Trinity Bible Church in Escatawpa, MS.  I am in hopes that a good number of the Friendship family members will be able to attend either the visitation or service.  Phillip & Claire are really great members of the Friendship family.  Pray for the family.

The arrangements for Vera’s sister are on hold.  It seems that a service will take place on Friday but nothing has been finalized yet.  Just pray for the family.

Brandi Wescovich Morgan’s paternal grandmother, Ella Mae Wescovich, passed from this life this past Sunday, 10/7.  The visitation will take place today from 2:00 – 3:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home.  The graveside service will take place at 3:30PM from the Oddfellows Cemetery in Bayou La Batre.  Pray for the family.

Brandy Gazzier was chomping at the bit to get out of the hospital yesterday.  Not sure if that happened.  She was waiting on test results when I visited.  Pray for Brandy.

Doug Martin’s mother-in-law is in ICU.  Pray for her.

Zach Switzer tore his ACL playing football this past Friday night.  Surgery on 10/30.  Pray for a successful surgery and a complete healing.  (Joey wants us to take up an offering but we are not going to do so)

Mandi Fortner is one of Lisa’s best friends.  Mandi’s parents are great friends too.  This past Wednesday, 10/3, Mandi’s mother took a fall.  Hurt her leg.  Went with Mandi on Thursday in order to lead a ladies’ conference at Pastor Terry Rainey’s church in South Carolina.  Finally went to the doctor yesterday.  Fractured femur.  Emergency surgery last night.  Three pins inserted.  Surgery deemed successful.  All I can say is that Katherine is one tough lady!  Read up on a broken femur and you will know what I am talking about.  Pray for complete healing.

Karlie Garnett’s fiancé, Kaleb Barker, is the starting quarterback for Troy.  He hurt his knee in the game this past Saturday and is out for the season.  Will have surgery on Friday.  He was enjoying a really good season.  His life is about to change drastically when Willard becomes his father-in-law!  That may be tougher than a torn ACL!  Just saying!

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow.  I thought Hurricane Michael might pay us a visit but that does not appear likely now.  I talked to Kendall Falana and he agreed to move it away from our area of the coast.  Pray for those who will be impacted by this hurricane.  It is presently forecasted to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall.

Folks, Kendall Falana knows weather.  Basically never gets it wrong.  If you want to know what the weather will be at your place on November 12, 2018 at 3:05PM just ask Kendall!  That goes for any date, any time.  The man is amazing!  You do not believe me?  Just ask his wife, Lee!

Well, the Dodgers won the series against Leslie Hacker’s Braves.  Honestly, the Braves arrived a year early.  They are so young.  The Brewers are on fire.  Not sure if the Dodgers can handle them.  I hope so but then it will be the Astros or Red Sox in the series which would be another tall order.  Meanwhile, Red Sox 16 Yankees 1 – are you serious?

Speaking of the MLB, it was great having Bobby Henley back in our services this past Sunday.  I wish the Nationals had made the playoffs but am really glad to have Bobby home.

This entry has been too long.  My apologies.

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