Pastor's Blog

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17

Ruby Gulley is improving.  Seems her second surgery corrected the problem.

Debbie Kendrick’s mother remains in the hospital but will most likely be heading to rehab soon.

Tim Knighten had his final radiation treatment yesterday – hallelujah!  Now let’s pray that the folks are right in saying he will feel like a new man in three weeks.

Jo Nell’s son who lives in Arizona has been having some physical problems.  Not sure exactly what is taking place and not sure if Jo Nell is going to go to Arizona or not.  Pray for this situation.

Keep praying for Lisa Thompson.

I am told that we had a really good day in our services/classes yesterday.  Our children’s choir had forty in attendance which is great!

I arrived at the mission house safe and sound around 5:30PM yesterday.  Visited with the team that is presently using the mission house.  They leave today.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  Bro. Jerry will be teaching in the 10:00AM and 6:30PM services in the auditorium.   All of the other classes will be normal.  By the way, our Girls In Action are seeing some really strong numbers.  That is good stuff!

Lisa will be home in time to cook for the 7:30PM Bible study.  I think the fare will be ham, macaroni & cheese, et cetera.

Ruby Gulley is doing well following her most recent surgery.

Debbie Kendrick’s mother had surgery yesterday.  She is eighty-nine years of age and did well through the surgery.

Robert & Roseanne Barria’s daughter, Darlene, had surgery too.  I believe she was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Keep praying for Tim Knighten, Becky Sellers and Lisa Thompson.

Lisa and I enjoyed our time in New Orleans.  In my opinion, the best roast beef poboys are in New Orleans.  We ate supper at Katie’s in mid city last night and the food was really good.  I had the aforementioned poboy while Lisa enjoyed a muffuletta.  She said it was the best one she has ever eaten although she could only eat about one fourth of it.

I am sitting in the New Orleans airport waiting on my flight to Atlanta where I will connect to one to Guatemala City.  If all goes well, I will be in GC by 1:30PM.  Lots to do in order to get ready for the team arriving tomorrow.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39

Ruby Gulley had another surgical procedure done yesterday.  Obviously something had gone wrong since her first surgery and they corrected that.  She is on the ventilator for a few days and remains in ICU.

Becky Sellers got a good report from her latest MRI.  That is really good news and we are thankful to the Lord.  Keep praying for Becky!

Debbie Kendrick’s mother has been admitted to the hospital.

I did not get an opportunity to check on Jimmy Tagert’s mother yesterday so I am not sure if she remains in the hospital.

Keep praying for Lisa Thompson and Tim Knighten as they battle their respective malignancies.

The celebration of life service for Miss Kathleen Henderson was well attended.  Her grandson, Pastor Jeff Switzer, did a nice job of sharing a message and remembering his grandmother.  Thank you to those who prepared and served the meal to the family following that service.   Great job and great ministry!

The celebration of life service for Carla Kyser was well attended too.  It is really hard for me to give a fair analysis of any service that I preach.  My main objective was to please God in all that was said and done.  I can only hope He was pleased.  My second objective would be to believe that Carla was pleased if she could have known how the service went.  Knowing Carla, she would have said something sarcastic to me and I would have replied likewise!  (Plus, I would have fussed at her for not telling me what she wanted in her service!)  My third objective was to help comfort the family and to know that they were pleased.  Marisa has most graciously told me that they were pleased.  So, I am thankful!

I was very pleased with Jeanette, Randall, Levi, Adrianna, Alan, Rusty & Brad as they did the musical worship in the service.  Absolutely great job by these talented (ok, Rusty is not talented but I am trying to be kind) folks.  Great spirit of service and cooperation!

I was very pleased with our servant leaders (deacons) and our behind the scenes servants in the fellowship hall serving refreshments, preparing and serving the meal, setting up and taking down the tables/chairs, et cetera.  I can tell you that the family was very impressed with your ministry!  A very grateful and proud pastor!  Carla would have been grateful and proud too!  Thank you!

My original plan was to leave Sunday night and drive to New Orleans as Lisa has a function with State Farm through Wednesday.  So, we adjusted and left from Miss Kathleen’s graveside and came to New Orleans.  Lord willing, I will fly from New Orleans early tomorrow morning and arrive in Guatemala City shortly after 1:00PM.  I will have a full afternoon of preparing for the team that will arrive on Thursday.  I am doing back to back teams this time in order to spend time with more of the folks who are involved and support GRACE Ministries.

So, pray for those who will minister in my absence and for the teams in Guatemala.

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

Mrs. Florence Kathleen Henderson, 89, died Thursday, January 19, 2017. She was born October 13, 1927 in Jackson County, MS. She resided in Moss Point most of her life and was a faithful member of Kreole Avenue Baptist Church. Her final years were lived in Grand Bay, Al, where Mrs. Henderson was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.

She had a deep love for her God and Lord Jesus Christ, her family and her church homes. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Anna O’Neill chapter 37, in Moss Point; and also a member of the Rebekahs.

Mrs. Henderson had an enduring affection for her late husband Earl, whom she is now happily reunited. She enjoyed going to programs, ball games and events as an adoring Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Henderson; parents, John A. Bennett and Mattie Lou Knight Bennett; her brother, James A. Bennett.

She is survived by her three daughters, Shirley Switzer(Bobby) of Grand Bay, AL, Brenda Miller of Owasso, OK, Kathy Baker, Grand Bay, AL, her son, Richard Henderson (Elva) of Pascagoula, MS; her sister, Genevieve Neal, Moss Point, MS; Grandchildren, Greg Switzer, Jeff Switzer, Joey Switzer, Trisha Martin, Tammy Smith, Tara Crocker, and 14 Great Grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Todd Martin, Greg Switzer, Joey Switzer, Jonathan Switzer, Seth Switzer, Zack Switzer, Bruce Smith and Justin Smith.

A visitation will be held on Monday January 23, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Holder-Wells Funeral Home Moss Point, MS. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Dr. Jeff Switzer officiating. Interment will be in Griffin Cemetery, Moss Point, MS.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given in Kathleen’s name to Friendship Baptist Church, P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, AL 36541.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 7-8; Matthew 15:1-20
Tuesday, January 24 – Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39
Wednesday, January 25 – Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16
Thursday, January 26 – Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17
Friday, January 27 – Exodus 16-18; Matthew 18:1-20
Saturday, January 28 – Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35
Sunday, January 29 – Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19
Monday, January 30 – Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16
Tuesday, January 31 – Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34

There will be another time of visitation with the Carla Kyser family this morning from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  We will hold the celebration of life service for Carla beginning at noon in our auditorium.  Interment will take place in the Grand Bay Cemetery.

The visitation with the Kathleen Henderson family will take place today from 1:00PM until the 2:00PM celebration of life service.  Everything will take place from the Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS.  Interment will be in the Griffin Cemetery in Moss Point, MS.

The Friendship family will be feeding Carla’s family and Miss Kathleen’s family today.  Thank you to each person who is helping with this ministry.  Please make sure whatever you bring to the fellowship hall is clearly marked as both families will be eating in the fellowship hall.  You can call the church office if you have questions about where, what time, et cetera regarding the food.

Ruby Gulley remains in the hospital.  Pray for Ruby’s recovery.

Tim Knighten had a better day yesterday.  The feeding process is still a “slow go” but he was able to take some nourishment yesterday.  That is good news!

Becky Sellers attended the visitation with Carla’s family yesterday afternoon.  She looked good and said she was feeling good.  She will see the doctor today and will get the results of a MRI done last week.

Lisa Thompson also attended the visitation with Carla’s family.  Her counts were too low for the treatments to take place last week.  Pray that those counts will rise.

Kim French told me that her dad, Greg Boutwell, had a good day yesterday.  Pray for Greg.  He has been through it and is basically confined to the house which is not Greg at all!

Becky Hatcher’s father is in a Hattiesburg, MS hospital.

Jimmy Tagert’s mother remains in a Mobile hospital.

Jim Chinners’ step-mother will have surgery on Wednesday.

GROW outreach tonight at 6:00PM.

Prayer time in the auditorium tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Enter/exit through the West side door.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday morning.  The Lord added as a young lady came to me after the first service asking to be saved.  She and I sat in the choir loft as I shared the Gospel and she prayed to receive Jesus.  Glory to God!  By the say, how about that choir yesterday morning!  Great job!

Let me give some props – our servant leaders (deacons) did an excellent job of ministering to Carla’s family yesterday afternoon and last night during the visitation.  I was present for almost all of it but I did nothing but greet folks as the servant leaders took care of everything else!  They also helped Maria Wainwright get the auditorium cleaned and ready for the visitation.  Great job brothers!

I do not know all of the “who” but another group of men and women took care of providing refreshments and a light meal for Carla’s family yesterday.  I do know that Carla’s Sunday School class was involved in this ministry.  Also, great job!

Jodie Crawley was able to make the presentation of the check to Dr. Michael Finan and the Mitchell Cancer Institute last night without crying – miracles do happen!  The check was a gift from Carla and the fun run that took place back in November.

As I watched the body of Christ in action yesterday, it made me really thankful to be a part of the Friendship family!  You made this pastor really proud in a good way!

Nanette Brooks Fontenot was ticked at me yesterday afternoon because I would not go through the receiving line with her.  Said that we used to babysit Carla as a part of our dating.  Are you serious?  The girl has issues – just saying!

Well, rumor has it that we are now up to fourteen readers.  A “closet” reader confessed to Lisa yesterday.  However, I am skeptical for several reasons.  First, not sure this person can read.  Second, not sure they can operate a computer.  Who is this mysterious fourteenth reader?  Let’s just say “KFC” and let it go at that!

Watched a “tad” of the NFL game last night but it was already over before I saw any of it.  I am still in hopes the Falcons can win it all.

Lord willing, I begin my journey to Guatemala this afternoon for the first two GRACE teams of 2017.  It is a long story but it involves New Orleans and State Farm.

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

The celebration of life service for Carla Darlene Felps Kyser will take place on Monday, 1/23, at noon.  The 30-39 years old Sunday School class will coordinate the feeding of the family following that service.  All food should be brought to the fellowship hall no later than 11:00AM as the family will eat in the fellowship hall.

The celebration of life service for Miss Kathleen Henderson will also take place on Monday, 1/23.  It will be held from the Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS.  Our senior adults ladies Sunday School class will coordinate the feeding of this family.  All food should be brought to the fellowship hall no later than 2:30PM as the family will also eat in the fellowship hall.

Friendship family, thank you in advance for ministering to these two families.  We have lost two vitally important members of the Friendship family.

Here are the arrangements for Carla – there will be a split visitation tomorrow (Sunday), 1/22.  The first visitation will take place from 2:00 – 4:00PM in our church auditorium.  Please be considerate of the family’s private time by not arriving prior to 2:00PM.

It is our hope that the first visitation time will be an opportunity for our senior adults and folks who will attend other churches in the evening to visit with Carla’s family.

From 4:00 – 5:00PM the family will take a break and will eat a light meal in the fellowship hall.

The second visitation will take place from 5:00 – 8:00PM in our church auditorium.  Obviously, we will not be having Discipleship Training or our evening service.

At 6:00PM tomorrow night, Dr. Michael Finan from MCI will be in attendance and will be presented a check for MCI on behalf of Carla.  This was supposed to happen earlier this week but Carla’s physical condition would not allow it to happen.  Carla very much wanted this check to be presented and her family is honoring her desire.

The celebration of life service (and it will be a celebration) will take place Monday, 1/23, at noon from our church auditorium.  There will be a time of visitation an hour prior to the beginning of the service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Mitchell Cancer Institute in Mobile, Alabama or to GRACE Ministries which is our mission work in Guatemala.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21

Spoke to Marisa this morning.  They were able to get “some” rest. Pray for them as they make the arrangements at some point today.

Failed to mention in yesterday’s regular entry that Jimmy Tagert’s mother was admitted to the hospital Thursday night.  Pray for Mrs. Hickman.

Ruby Gulley remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

Becky Sellers, Tim Knighten & Lisa Thompson continue to need our prayer support as they battle their respective malignancies.

(Do you know how “odd” it is to me personally to make that list of those battling a malignancy and not include my friend, Carla?)

Courtney Hubbard started a new trial drug this past Tuesday.  Pray it works as intended.

The celebration of life service for Miss Kathleen Henderson will take place on Monday afternoon.  Miss Kathleen was faithful to the church and was a tremendous prayer warrior!  She will be greatly missed by me!  What an encourager!  Never complained!

Friendship family, please note that it is “possible” we will be making some changes concerning tomorrow night’s service in order to accommodate Carla’s family.  I will spare you the possibilities now as nothing has been finalized but I did want to give you the heads up.  I will post later today once the arrangements are in place.

Carla’s Sunday School class will be in charge of feeding the Felps family following the celebration of life service.  They “may” need to ask for assistance.  Details to come!  Thank you in advance for being flexible and cooperative.

Bus ministry workers meet this morning at 8:30AM.  Pray for this ministry and those involved.

Friendship basketball begins today at 8:00AM and will last until around 2:00PM.

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

Carla Darlene Felps Kyser departed this life for her heavenly today around 11:30AM.  She was surrounded by her parents, Donnie & Marisa, and her brother, Shawn, at the time of her passing.  Arrangements pending.  The 30-39 year old Sunday School class will be in charge of the meal for the family following the service whenever it takes place.

Folks, this one is tough for me write.  Carla was a special young lady in my family’s life.  I am going to miss the iMessages, the back and forth, et cetera.  What a tough young lady who faced and fought her malignancy with strength and grace!  An inspiration!

Pray for Donnie, Marisa, Larsyn, Shawn and the entire family.