Pastor's Blog

Happy birthday to our daughter, Deidra.  I pray that she will have a great day and will be abundantly blessed.  If only she could go to Tecpan today!  We love Deidra!

13, 68, 202!  What?  Thirteen salvation decisions in yesterday’s VBS!  Sixty-eight folks in prayer meeting last night!  Two hundred and two children in VBS yesterday!  Can you say, “Amen!”

Our tenth, and final, night of our prayer time takes place tonight beginning at 7:00PM in the auditorium.  We are averaging forty-six folks each night.  Tonight, we have a surprise – something way different!  I am looking forward to it.  Friendship family, let’s finish this thing strong!  Real strong!

Pastor Roy Crouch and family this Sunday morning at 10:00AM!  Student pastor, BJ Parson, and some of his youth from Thelma Baptist Church will be our special guests in that service too.  Pray, attend, bring others!

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Thursday with Jesus!

No regular services (10:00AM or 6:30PM) on our campus today.  VBS from 9:00AM until noon!

Kathy King was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Obviously, she is still taking treatments so much prayer is needed on her behalf.

Remember the visitation with the Grady Walker family this Saturday, 6/8, from 1:00PM until the 2:30PMish service time.  Everything in our church auditorium.  Pray for Carolyn and family.

Our hope was for the attendance at last night’s prayer meeting to be at least sixty-six.  God heard us and the Friendship family responded as we had seventy-one folks present!  How awesome is that!  Bro. Chris & Pepper did a great job of leading us and Bro. Abel is always doing whatever it takes to make it work!

Two more nights and my hope is that we will reach one hundred folks in attendance tonight.  We will meet in the auditorium beginning at 7:00PM.

Pray for Pastor Roy Crouch and his family as they come to minister to us this Sunday, 6/9, in our 10:00AM service.

Remember the joint worship service with the folks from the GBCOG on their campus beginning at 5:00PM this Sunday, 6/9.

Friendship family, please support our youth camp by purchasing a meal(s) following the service this Sunday morning.

I wrote yesterday that I hoped something good would happen to you.  That was intentionally aimed at our daughter, Deidra.  It did!  God is good!

My goal today is to be like Myrtle and get accurate VBS attendance totals for Monday, Tuesday and today.  LOL!

One more thing – Jason Husband was at VBS yesterday.  Plans are for him to be with us all week including this Sunday.  However, in order for that to happen he needs a place to stay Friday night and Saturday night plus someone to take him home following the service on Sunday night.  Otherwise, he will have to go back to MS Friday afternoon.  Any takers?

VBS!  VBS! VBS!

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

I apologize for no entry yesterday.  I had plans but. . .  (I do have a red truck!)  Sorry!

Kathy King remains in ICU.  Pray for Kathy, Matt & Jasmine.

There will be a memorial service for Grady Walker this Saturday, June 8, beginning around 2:30PM.  The Air Force will be involved in that service which will take place in our auditorium.  A visitation with Carolyn and the family will begin at 1:00PM.  Keep praying for the Grady Walker family.

Rita Boutwell is coordinating the feeding of the Walker family.  Contact her if you will help with this ministry.

Miss Annie Hayes was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Praise the Lord as she is much improved.

Our first morning of our Vacation Bible School went very well!  We had two hundred (+/-) children in attendance which is awesome!  Things seemed to run “smoothly” and for that we are grateful!

Our seventh night of our ten consecutive prayer went well.  We had thirty-three present.  My prayer for tonight is that we will have at least twelve folks who missed last night but have attended a previous night will be able to attend tonight AND that we will have at least twenty-one folks in attendance who have been unable to join us up to this point.  Will you join us?  Thank you!

I need HELP!  I have dropped the proverbial ball on promoting the meal being served this Sunday, 6/9 by our youth camp students.  These will be “to go” plates and will consist of baked spaghetti, green beans, bread and dessert.  Cost is eight dollars ($8) per plate with a maximum of forty dollars ($40) per immediate family.  Will you PLEASE send our daughter, Daphne Hutto, an email (daphnehutto@gmail.com) to place an order no later than this Thursday, June 6, at 4:00PM?  The church office will be open this afternoon and Thursday afternoon from 1:00PM – 4:00PM if you would rather call in your order.  Please help support our students!

Pastor Roy Crouch and his family will be our special guests this Sunday morning, June 9, for our 10:00AM service.  Pray and invite others to join you for this special service!

We will join the fine folks from the Grand Bay Church of God for a service this Sunday, 6/9.  This will be on their campus and will begin at 5:00PM.  We want to have a tremendous crowd from Friendship!

One final thing – the folks attending the prayer service this past Sunday planted a seed offering of one hundred thirty-five dollars for the love offering to be received on Sunday morning for Johnny & Sharlene Sessions’ mission trip.  We prayed for God to bless it ten fold.  He did!  The offering total was sixteen hundred and six dollars!  But God!

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  I also pray that something good will happen to you today!

Kathy King and Miss Annie both remain hospitalized.  Pray for these ladies.

Day four of our ten consecutive days of prayer was very well attended (37) and the spirit in the room was genuine!  Day five tonight beginning at 7:00PM in the auditorium (West side door).  Tonight, we are planting some seeds and bringing our specific prayer requests.  Everyone invited to join us.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow!

Special “cash only” missions love offering for Johnny & Sharlene Sessions in the morning service tomorrow.  Come prayed up and prepared!

Our Vacation Bible School ’24 begins tomorrow afternoon at 5:00PM with a rally led by Bro. Abel and our great VBS workers!

Sunday, June 9, will be a great day.  Pastor Roy Crouch and family will be ministering in our 10:00AM service.  Our students going to camp will be serving “to go” lunches after the morning service.  We will travel to the campus of the Grand Bay Church of God for a joint worship service with them beginning at 5:00PM.  Pray for this most special day!

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

Kathy King has been moved to a regular hospital room.  So, she is obviously doing some better.  Keep praying for Kathy, Matt & Jasmine.

Miss Annie Hayes has been admitted to the hospital.  A huge “thank you” goes to Brad & Daphne Hutto for spending hours helping with that situation.  Pray for Miss Annie!

Friendship family, please remember the “cash only” missions love offering that will be received this Sunday morning, 6/2, for Johnny & Sharlene Sessions as the will travel to Missouri for a church build trip.  Jarrod will be going later in the week.

Our 2024 VBS begins this Sunday, 6/2, at 5:00PM in the CAB.  High energy!  Exciting!  Pray for our VBS!

Our third night of our ten consecutive days of praying was really good.  Bro. Abel led our time together and did a nice job.  There were forty folks present.  Praise the Lord!  We will meet in the auditorium tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  Everyone is invited to join us for this time of prayer.

Please mark the morning service on June 9 on your calendar and make plans to be present.  Pastor Roy Crouch will be God’s messenger to us in that service.  Pray for Pastor Roy and his family as they minister to us that day.

Our student ministry will be providing “to go” lunches following the morning service on June 9.  Please help our students with their summer camp expenses.  Pray for our students and adults who will be attending camp June 21 – 24.

Thank you to those who reached out to Lisa on her birthday.  She will be home in three more days.  Time sure flies when you are having fun!  (Talking about me or her?  No comment!)  I do appreciate Al & Cindy Stokes helping keep me fed during Lisa’s absence – just saying!

I saw it with my own eyes!  Johnny & Jarrod Sessions both wore an Alabama shirt to the service for Ernie Myer.  They were so proud and their respective chests stuck out so much that the shirts were almost too small.  They were grinning from ear to ear!  Yes, there is hope!

Speaking of Jarrod, he repaired the leak on our screened in patio’s roof.  There has not been a single leak since his repair job.  When it rained the other night there was not a “single” leak.  It came through in five gallon buckets!  I had to go outside to stay dry!  Just the facts!

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

Happy birthday to my wife, Lisa!  I have celebrated each birthday with her since 1979 so today is definitely different with her being in Guatemala while I remain in Grand Bay.  However, I am sure that Deidra and the girls will make sure she will have a great day.  I am very thankful for Lisa!  Lisa, happy birthday!  I love you!

We were blessed with a really good day in our Bible study yesterday morning and last night.  Thank you Jesus.

The second night of our ten days of prayer was special as fifty-five folks joined us in the auditorium.  I cannot explain it but there has been something “different” in these first two times of prayer.  As someone prayed last night, a time of refreshing!  Tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night will see us meet in the auditorium at 7:00PM.  Folks are asked to use the West side door to enter and exit.  Everyone invited to join us!

The visitation with the Ernie Myer family takes place at the Cottage Hill Memorial Funeral Home today from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service time.  Pray for Ernie’s family.

Kathy King remains in ICU.  Keep praying!

Infant Everly Perry is doing much better!  Keep praying!

Friendship family, a “cash only” offering will be received this Sunday morning, 6/2, to help Johnny & Sharlene Sessions as they travel to Missouri for a church build mission trip.  Their son, Jarrod, will do likewise the following week.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.

VBS, VBS, VBS!  We begin this Sunday evening at 5:00PM in the CAB and then will continue for the following five days from 9:00AM until noon daily!  Pray for this week of ministry!

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

Our first ever ten consecutive days of prayer as a church family got off to a very good start last night.  We had a total of twenty-seven folks (fifteen ladies/twelve men) gather at 7:00PM.  Small groups prayed and then we gathered at the altar and prayed as a collective body to close out the evening.  I am thankful to each person who attended this meeting.  (We had five additional ladies who prayed earlier)  I am in hopes that our numbers will increase daily but my real prayer is that those who know they are supposed to be there will obey God.

One of the things that impressed me most was that when we finished our prayer time almost each person present just stayed around and fellowshipped.  That lasted for a solid thirty minutes for the majority and longer for a few.  That is good stuff!

Tonight, we will meet at 6:30PM for Bible study and then begin praying promptly at 7:00PM.  Then Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights we will begin at 7:00PM.  Sunday night will see us begin praying as soon as the evening service concludes.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Join us!  By the way, we do not promote class wise until August 1.  There seems to be some confusion surrounding this so this if just for clarification’s sake.  I appreciate all of our teachers/workers.

VBS 2024 begins this Sunday evening at 5:00PM in the CAB!

GRACE Ministries mission trip takes place June 13 – 20.

Youth camp will be June 21 – 24 in Panama City, Florida.

Kathy King is in ICU.  Pray for Kathy, Matt & Jasmine.

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

Our ten days of prayer begin tonight at 7:00PM in our auditorium.  Those who can are invited to join us for this time of praying – nothing else.  Praying for a move of God within us and among us.  Something only He can do!

The church office will be open this morning from 9:00AM until noon as it will be manned by Bro. Chris Scofield.  (Speaking of Bro. Chris – there will be a “to go only” lunch provided following the morning service on Sunday, June 9.  Proceeds to help offset the cost of youth camp.  Eight dollars per person with a maximum of forty dollars per immediate family.  More details forthcoming!)

I am very grateful to those who are ministering to Matt, Kathy & Jasmine King during this time.  Good stuff.  Keep praying for this family.

The visitation with the Cleo Breland family will take place today from noon until the 2:00PM service.  Everything will take place at the First Assembly of God in McLain, Mississippi.  Pray for Aunt Cleo’s family.

Continue to pray for Carolyn Walker during her time of sorrow.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

The visitation with the Ernie Meyer family takes place Thursday, 5/30, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  Everything will take place at the Cottage Hill Memorial Funeral Home.  Pray for Sharlene and the Myer family.

Special “cash only” love offering this Sunday, 6/2, during our morning service to invest in the ministry of Johnny & Sharlene Sessions as they will leave Sunday afternoon heading to Missouri to take part in a church building construction.  Pray for safe travels and a fruitful ministry.  Give as the Lord leads!

VBS, VBS, VBS!  The Friendship family will join the other one hundred thousand churches who will be hosting VBS next week.  Pray for this ministry opportunity which begins this Sunday night, 6/2, in our CAB.  Going to be great!

Three recent blessings I have observed – Johnathan Jordan repaired the popcorn machine in the CAB.  “Big deal, you say?”  Well, no one has been able repair it.  Simply plugging it in was a huge help!

Jarrod Sessions repaired the leak on our screened in porch.  That was last Monday and it still has not leaked even one drop!  I was able to “bless” Jarrod with a very special check!

Yesterday afternoon, Rhett Butler showed up at my house bringing a freshly cooked batch of corn beef hash!  It brought back so many memories of Soy as, he too, loved corn beef hash.  I am very thankful to Rhett for remembering this old, fat pastor!  Very good stuff!

I will be out of pocket today with the visitation and service for Lisa’s Aunt Cleo.  However, Lord willing, I will be back for the prayer meeting at 7:00PM.

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

Ronald Ernie Myer Jr., age 67, passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in
Grand Bay, Alabama. Born September 25, 1956, in Mobile, Alabama, Ernie
attended Alba High School. There he excelled in basketball and football.
Those of you who had the pleasure of knowing him, can say he was an
avid Alabama fan. Ernie enjoyed the company of family and friends. He
took pleasure in hunting, fishing, and football season.

Ernie worked at the papermill after his schooling, some years as a
construction worker, and then went on to retire from the Alabama State
Docks. He was a Master Mason of the 767 Masonic Lodge.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents: Ronald E Myer Sr. and Shirley
A. Myer (Hollis). He leaves behind: wife, Cindy Myer (Beach); children:
Mandy (Mickey) Godwin, Telisha (Yancey) Allen, Stephanie (Dennis)
Kinnell, Trey Beach; grandchildren: Bayleigh Godwin, Payten Allen, Gavin
Kinnell, Ty Kinnell, Solomon Beach, Bricklynd and Presleigh Godwin; great
grandson, Anthony (A.J.) Bolton; sister and life-long best friend, Sharlene
Sessions (Myer).

Active pallbearers are Mickey Godwin, Tyler Bolton, Eric Raley, John
Sessions, Jarrod Sessions, and Johnny Patronas. Wake services will be
held at Cottage Hill Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 and chapel service will immediately follow.
Interment at Odd Fellows Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, we ask you donate
to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Services for Mrs. Cleo D. Breland, age 104, of McLain will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the McLain Church of God. Mrs. Breland passed from this life on May 24, 2024 at her residence. Bro. Lance Hobby, Bro. Randall Broome and Bro. Ken Hembree will officiate the service with burial to follow in the McLain Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Tim Odom, Richard McClendon, Frank Smith, Gary Stevison, Ronnie Landrum, Tracy Freeman, Randall Broome and Dakota Hobby as alternate.

Praise to the Lord! Mrs. Cleo was a founding member of the McLain Church of God. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all. She loved to sew, talk on the phone, and work outside in her flower beds. She served as Sunday School teacher and church clerk for over 50 years. She loved to spend her days sharing her love for the Lord with everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy A. Breland; parents, C.L. and Florence Lorena Broome; son, Barry Wayne “Zeke” Breland; daughter, Roberta B. “Polly” Breland; sisters, Frances Broome, Lokey Stevison, Sue Freeman, Beatrice Ladner, Betty Landrum and Edith Maxie; and brother, Gene Broome.

She is survived by her daughters, Wanda Mizelle and Joette Hobby, both of Lucedale; sisters, Ann Clark of Grand Bay, AL, Laura Milam and Vivian Odom, both of Richton; brothers, Billy Broome of Richton, Bobby Broome of Grand Bay, AL, and V.R. Broome of Richton; 8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 28th at McLain Church of God.