Pastor's Blog

Happy birthday to my mother-in-law, Ann Clark.  We celebrated on Sunday but I hope she will have a great day today.  She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet.  She has been a great mother-in-law to me for the past forty-four years.  I love and appreciate her!  Happy birthday, Ann!

Word came last night that our friend in Michigan, Dean Kapenga, passed from this life.  Pray for Jan and the family as they walk through this valley.  Dean was truly a good man!

Mike Clark wrote that Miss Dottie’s surgery is scheduled to take place this Thursday, 8/8.  Pray for the surgery to be a success.

Many thanks to all of the folks involved in feeding the Francisco family yesterday following the celebration of life service for Jerry Francisco.

Pray for Johnny & Sharlene Sessions as they leave today going to help build another church building.  I think I remember correctly that they are going to Tennessee.  (Rather them than me!  LOL!)

Bro. Abel, his wife, Candy, and Paul Davila ran the flag football evaluations last night.  In our sports ministry, there is much that takes place behind the scenes in order for the leagues to be successful.  Thank you to each person who works behind the scenes!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

We need at least five volunteers to serve in the extended session during our 10:00AM service  for our two & three years old.  We had eight folks sign up for nursery duty following our service this past Sunday evening.  That is great!  Contact Katelyn Johnson if you will help with this ministry.

Speaking of mission trips, there will be an important meeting this Monday night, 8/12, at our house beginning at 6:30PM.  This will be for anyone (finished 9th grade) and up who would like to be a participant on our June 12 – 19, 2025 GRACE Ministries trip.  This trip will hopefully be heavy on the high school students side.  I fully expect this trip to reach capacity quickly.

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

The visitation with the Jerry Francisco family takes place this morning from 10:30AM until the 11:30AM service.  Both will take place in our auditorium.  Pray for Sandra and family.

Lavon Hudson’s family will be meeting with the funeral directors tomorrow.  Keep praying for them.

Our friend, Dean Kapenga, in Michigan is not doing well.  Honestly, the medical folks have now moved to just managing his pain and keeping him comfortable.  Dean is a great guy!  Pray for Jan and family.

Miss Dottie Clark continues to weaken physically.  Prayerfully her surgery will take place very soon.  Pray for Miss Dottie and Dr. Mike.

Larry Whitehurst has been cleared to have a heart cath.  Pray that can happen soon.

Good day in our services yesterday.  The highlight was seeing four young people follow Jesus in believer’s baptism in our evening service.  Praise the Lord!

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

Happy second birthday to our youngest grandchild, Cooper Hayes Burch.  We were blessed to host a party for Cooper yesterday and look forward to celebrating as a family today.  We love Cooper and hope his day will be great!

Marie Brooks sent me a message yesterday letting me know that her brother, Lavon Hudson, passed from this life around 3:00AM yesterday.  Marie is now the last of the Hudson siblings living.  Pray for Lavon’s family.  Arrangements pending.

I posted the obit for Jerry Francisco.  Pray for Sandra and family.

Dean Kapenga is a friend from Michigan.  His wife, Jan, found him unresponsive Friday morning.  He had surgery later Friday and needs a miracle.  Pray for Dean, the medical folks treating him and his family during this time.

Dottie Clark in Guatemala will have surgery on her spine within the next two or three days.  She is unable to walk and needs a miracle.  Dr. Mike and Miss Dottie have asked us to pray.  Please join me in doing so.

Regular schedule on our campus today.

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

Jerry Thomas Francisco, born May 21, 1937, in Sale Creek, TN, passed away on August 1, 2024, at the age of 87. Jerry married Sandra Mulkey Francisco on December 21, 1956, and they were married for 67 years. He worked at Northrup Grommen (Ingalls Shipyard) for 37 years and retired as paint supervisor in 2005. He was a loving husband and friend.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Alice Francisco; his mother and father in-law, Stancil and Nell Mulkey; his sister and her husband, Doris Ann and Chuck Randolph; as well as his wife, Sandra’s, sister in-law, Geraldine Mulkey.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Francisco of Grand Bay, AL; his siblings, George (Cheryl) Franciso of Sale Creek, TN, and Annette Williams of Grand Bay, AL; brother in-law, Larry Mulkey; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and two beloved dogs, Heidi and Abby.

The family extends a special thanks to Alabama Hospice staff, Leila, Angela, Tyler, Crystal, Johnny, Carli, Greta, Austin the Chaplin, and Becky the night sitter for all your support and care. A very special thank you to our pastors from Friendship Baptist Church; the ladies for the food and everyone that has prayed for Jerry.

Pallbearers will include Glenn Mulkey, Randall Mulkey, Stephen Williams, Jon Williams, Tyler Williams and Jon Luke Williams.

Officiating services will be Bro. Teddy Turrentine, Bro. Abel Garcia and Bro. Chris Scofield. Musical arrangements will be handled by Jeanette Bates, Cindy Stanton, and Brad Hutto.

Services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 11:30 am from Friendship Baptist Church, 12581 Saeger Rd. Grand Bay, AL 36541. A visitation will be held from 10:30 am until service time. Interment will follow at Grand Bay Cemetery.

Word came to me via Bro. Chris and my wife, Lisa, around 10:00PM that Jerry Francisco has passed from this life.  Please join me in praying for Sandra.  Arrangements pending.

Jerry Francisco continue to show a decline physically.  I appreciate Bro. Abel and Bro. Chris visiting with him and Sandra.  Bro. Abel is keeping me updated.  Please continue to pray for Jerry & Sandra.

Bro. Abel tells me that we had good services yesterday.  That is music to my ears as pastor.

I am hearing that Tina Sprinkle continues to improve.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying.

Bro. Abel also tells me that the sign ups for flag football and cheerleading are going well.  Over two hundred students are signed up at this point.  Good deal!

Lord willing, I will board a plane tomorrow afternoon heading home.

I pray that you will have a great first day of August 2024 with Jesus.

The visitation with the Pat Bates family will take place today beginning at 10:00AM and lasting until the 11:00AM service time. The visitation and service will take place at Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church in Pascagoula, MS.  Pray for Larry and family during this time.

The doctor was unable to do the heart cath on Miss JoNell due to a bend in an artery with calcification.  So, the doctor will see her again in three weeks.  Pray for Miss JoNell.

Jerry Francisco continues to be declining physically.  Keep praying for Jerry, Sandra and the folks giving care to him.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I fully expect the morning attendance to be low due to the visitation and service for Pat Bates.  Pray for these services and, if possible, attend.

Natalie Jenkins messaged me yesterday and they are happy campers.  I think she and the baby will be discharged from the hospital today.

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

Miss JoNell Barnes is having a heart cath this morning.  Pray for the doctor to get a good look at what is taking place within her body.

The visitation and service for Pat Bates will take place tomorrow morning beginning at 10:00AM (visitation) followed by the service at 11:00AM.  Both visitation and service will take place from the worship center at Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church in Pascagoula, MS.  Pray for Larry and family.

The service for my Aunt Peggy will take place today at 3:00PM in Hartselle, Alabama.  Pray for her family.

Bro. Abel visited with Jerry Francisco yesterday. I appreciate that.  Keep praying for Jerry & Sandra.

I assume that Natalie and the baby remain in the hospital.  Praises and prayers!

Lisa arrived safe and sound to Millbrook.  She and Mandi are driving to North Carolina today.  Pray for traveling mercies.

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

Word just came to me that Blaine & Natalie Jenkins welcomed their first child, Lillie, into this world last night.  She checked in weighing eight pounds and six ounces.  She is twenty one inches long.  Congratulations to Blaine & Natalie.  Thank the Lord for a healthy baby.  Pray for Blaine, Natalie & Lillie!

Jeanette messaged me during the night to share that Pat Bates, Sonny’s sister-in-law, entered Heaven around 12:15AM today.  She has valiantly fought cancer for years.  Pray for her husband, Larry, and the family.

I have been praying for JoNell Barnes as Peggy Knighten sent me an email last Wednesday saying there were some potential issues taking place.  Tomorrow, 7/30, the medical folks will do a heart cath on JoNell.  Pray that all goes well.  JoNell is as sweet as they come.  Faithful church member.  Committed prayer warrior.  A real blessing to me.  Pray for JoNell.

Lisa told me that it “appears” Jerry Francisco is nearing the end of his life’s journey.  He remains at home under hospice care.  Pray for Jerry and Sandra.

Kevin & Tina Sprinkle were in the morning service at Friendship yesterday – how about that!  Tina is a trooper!  Keep praying as she recovers day by day.

Robert Wiley (Birmingham) will be having surgery on his ankle at some point today.  Pray that all goes well and it appears he will be recovering for an extended period of time.  Robert is a quality person!

My Aunt Peggy Turrentine passed from this life on Friday night.  The service for her will take place tomorrow in Hartselle, AL.  Pray for Aunt Peggy’s family, please.

Lisa will be traveling to North Carolina beginning today.  She and Mandi Fortner are going to the Biltmore Estate. Pray for traveling mercies.

Pastor Joe David Bailey will be flying to Guatemala today.  Pray for traveling mercies for him too.

Bro. Abel says we had a good day in our services yesterday.  He said Jeanette did a great job in Brad’s absence.  Thank you, Jesus for having folks in place who know how to serve.  (Jeanette is going to play/sing at my funeral)  I appreciate Bro. Abel, Bro. Chris and our deacons as they minister in my absence.

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