Pastor's Blog

Word came to me through my wife that our service last night was good and well attended even though the temperatures were on the cool side for South Mobile County.  Thank you to those who were faithful to attend.

The celebration of life graveside service for Charles Calvin Keyes will take place this Saturday, 1/31, at the Mt. Williams M.B. Church 235 Mt. Williams Road in Taylorsville, MS 39168 beginning at 11:00AM.  This is approximately a two hours fifteen minutes drive from Grand Bay.  I cannot attend since I am in Grand Bay and Bro. Abel cannot attend because of our basketball ministry.  I have had a few folks tell me they plan to attend.  Eddie Albritton has been the epitome of faithfulness to our church since the day he got saved.  He is a deacon, SS teacher, involved in our sports ministry, goes on mission trips, et cetera.  I pray our folks will support Eddie and his family extremely well during this time.  One word of caution – this is scheduled to be a graveside service and high temperature in Taylorsville, MS on Saturday is forecast to be thirty-two degrees.  Keep praying for Wendy and her family during this difficult time.

Final Friday night and Saturday of our basketball ministry for this season.  Closing ceremony Saturday afternoon/evening. I appreciate Bro. Abel leading this ministry.  The beginning of Spring soccer is just around the corner!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

The team from Michigan is scheduled to arrive on GRACE Mountain today.  Pray for traveling mercies.

My Mama took a fall yesterday morning and hit the back of her head pretty hard.  She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and because of the fall and other reasons she was admitted.  Prayers appreciated.  I am thankful that my siblings are there with her.

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

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Abel will be teaching in my absence.

The graveside service for Eddie Albritton’s brother-in-law will take place this Saturday, 1/31, in Taylorsville, MS beginning at 11:00AM.  Pray for Wendy and family.

I arrive on GRACE Mountain around 5:30 – 6:00PM after landing in Guatemala City around 12:30PM.  There was an accident on CA-1 so we had to take a detour.  Thankful for a safe arrival.

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

I will soon be boarding a plane in Mobile heading to Atlanta in order to make a connection to Guatemala City.  On Thursday, I will be joined by Evangelist Michael Mason and forty-six Yankees.  Not sure which is worse – being with Dr. Mason or being with the Yankees?

Bro. Abel and Bro. Jacob will be in the office and ready to serve in the event of a need.  Our nine deacons also stand ready to serve should the need arise.

I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.  I will miss one Sunday and two Wednesdays.  If you only come to church because of this pastor, well. . .

Pray for this mission team.  Pray for the Friendship family.

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

Our God is an awesome God!  Hallelujah! I had a strong faith that the Lord was going to use the members of the Friendship family to reach our goal of one hundred thousand dollars yesterday.  HE DID!  Glory to His name!  I was contacted Saturday night by a family pledging to give the need amount of twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars to reach our goal.  How awesome is that!  However, I told that family we would still receive the offering Sunday as I believed we were going to reach the goal.  Felt like I had a word from God!  We were like eight hundred dollars short going into last night’s service and someone came to me and said he and his wife would make up the difference.  So, we reached our goal and have another twenty-one thousand and five hundred dollars as an added bonus.  This puts our Refresh committee in a good spot.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you Friendship family!  Our God is an awesome God!

A “Valentine for Vinnie” will be our theme on Sunday, 2/15, in both of our services.  Miss Vinnie is a sweetheart and is so loved by all members of the Friendship family.  So, on that Sunday we will celebrate Jesus by celebrating Miss Vinnie.  We will end the day with a fellowship meal in the CAB.  More details to follow!

Bro. Johnny did a great job of preaching the Word to us yesterday.  Thank you Bro. Johnny!

Our revival service dates are Sunday, 2/22, through Wednesday, 2/25.  Pray, attend and bring others with you.

The meeting to discuss the 2026 proposed budget was an excellent one.  The proposed budget was affirmed during our evening service.

Thank you to each person who bought the spaghetti meals yesterday.  Thank you to those who cooked, prepared, et cetera.

Lord willing, I will leave early in the morning heading to Guatemala.  This team will be Yankee heavy so pray for me!  Evangelist Michael Mason will be our team pastor.  Bro. Abel will preach in my absence on 2/1 and I will then be back in the pulpit on 2/8.  Prayers appreciated.

Mr. Fosmore is home and doing well.  Keep praying.

The service for Eddie’s brother-in-law is scheduled to take place this Saturday in the Laurel, MS area.  Pray for the Charlie Keyes family.

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

Friendship family, it appears the hard rains will not begin until around 10:00AM. I am asking you to please join me in attending our services today regardless of the wet weather.

Bro. Johnny Tucker preaching in our 10:00AM service.

Special offering for our Refresh project in both services.  Our goal is at least twenty-nine thousand dollars.

Details revealed for our special day on Sunday, 2/15.

Grant & Katie Tillman singing a duet in our morning service.

Baked spaghetti lunch fundraiser lunch immediately following the morning service.

Meeting to discuss the proposed 2026 budget beginning at 4:00PM.

Affirmation of the proposed budget in our 5:00PM service.

Pray without ceasing throughout today!

Hope to see you soon!

Happy eighth birthday to our grandson, Jayden.  I pray that he will have a great day.  We celebrated his special day last weekend.  We love Jayden.

Basketball begins this morning at 8:00AM.  Should end around 2:00PM.  Spring soccer registration ends this weekend.  Pray for our sports ministry.

Tomorrow is a big day at Friendship.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will be preaching in our 10:00AM service.

Our second special offering for our Refresh project will be received in both services.  I will have my ink pen with me!  We need twenty-nine thousand dollars to reach our goal.  Pray, pray and then pray some more and then give sacrificially.  You can give online.

A “to go” baked spaghetti meal will be available immediately following our morning service as a fundraiser for our June mission trip to Guatemala.  Eight dollars per plate with a maximum of forty dollars per immediate family.  Preschool building.

Proposed 2026 budget discussion meeting begins at 4:00PM in the auditorium.  Affirmation of this proposed budget will take place in our 5:00PM service.

Sunday, 2/15, will be a special day.  More details will be shared tomorrow morning.

Revival services begin on Sunday, 2/22, and will go through Wednesday, 2/25.  Pray for Evangelist Dan Lanier.

Yes, tomorrow is supposed to be a rainy day.  Friendship family, please make a special effort to attend these services.

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

Visited with Jason’s dad yesterday morning and it appears he will be discharged from the hospital today.  He is past ready to get out of the hospital.  Keep praying!

I am praying for another health situation but am not at liberty to share the details.  Join me in praying, please, as God knows.

Here is what Dr. Mike Clark wrote about the happenings in Guatemala: “The violence has gone silent now that the army is in charge.”  All is quiet on GRACE Mountain.  One team left yesterday and another one arrived.

Service at the Mission of Hope tonight beginning at 7:00PM.

Basketball tonight (7:00PM) and tomorrow (8:00AM).  Pray for this ministry.

Speaking of our sports ministry.  Spring soccer sign up ends this weekend.  Filling up quickly!  Do not delay.

We will be hosting  “basketball basics” clinics during February and March.  Eddie Albritton has the information and you can sign up by sending an email to eachevy66ii@hotmail.com.  Only twenty-five spaces per clinic.  Cost is three dollars per person, per clinic.  Questions?  Contact Eddie (251) 454 6403 or me.

I appreciate those who worked on the campus yesterday.  Not sure who all was involved but I did see Scott Fontenot holding a cup of coffee.  I will leave it at that!

The weather folks are still predicting a rainy Sunday.  I am asking the members of the Friendship family to, if at all possible, be faithful to attend our services.

Bro. Johnny Tucker will be preaching in our 10:00AM service.

We will receive a special offering for our Refresh project during both services.

Baked spaghetti lunch (to go only) immediately following the 10:00AM service.  Eight dollars per plate with a maximum of forty dollars per immediate family.  All proceeds to help with our June mission trip.

Proposed 2026 budget discussion begins at 4:00PM.  Affirmation of the proposed budget in our 5:00PM service.

I will announce the plans for Sunday, 2/15, during our morning service.  I am excited!

Mariam Moates was correct!  The weather predictors were off.  Evangelist Michael Mason will be preaching at Providence Baptist this Sunday for Pastor Dylan & that church family.  Pray for a great day for them.

The weather folks are now calling for the following lows in Grand Bay this Sunday through Thursday:  22, 18, 26, 29 & 29.  That is a lot of absence of heat for us!  Just saying!

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

The arrangements for Eddie Albritton’s brother-in-law, Charlie Keyes, have not been finalized but it is looking like there will be a graveside service on Saturday, 1/31, in the Laurel, MS area.  This is a fluid situation but that appears to be the plan at this time.  Keep praying for the Keyes family.

Jason Fosmore’s dad is doing well and “may” be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  Bro. Abel visited him yesterday and, Lord willing, I will do likewise today.  Keep praying!

This Sunday, 1/25, is going to be a full day for the Friendship family.  First, we will be blessed to have Evangelist Johnny Tucker preaching in our 10:00AM service.  This was not planned but I am thankful to have Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy with us.

Second, we will receive a special offering for our Refresh project in both services.  We need around twenty-nine thousand dollars to reach our goal.  II Corinthians 9:7.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.  Not equal gifts but equal sacrifice!

Third, there will be a baked spaghetti lunch available immediately following the morning service.  This is a fundraiser to help our students going on the June mission trip to Guatemala.  Spaghetti, green beans, bread and dessert.  Cost is eight dollars per plate with a forty dollar maximum per immediate family.  These will be “to go” plates and they will be available in the Preschool Building.  Cash, checks (payable to Friendship Baptist) or Venmo will all be accepted.

Fourth, our Finance Committee will present our proposed 2026 budget in a meeting beginning at 4:00PM in the auditorium.  This will be a time for questions and discussion.  The proposed budget will then be affirmed, no discussion, by the Friendship family during our 5:00PM service.

Fifth, I will share the plans for our special Sunday, February 15, 2026.  I am excited about that day!

Mission of Hope service tomorrow night, 1/24, at 7:00PM.  Everyone invited!

Revival services Sunday, 2/22, through Wednesday, 2/25 with Evangelist Dan Lanier.  Pray for revival.

If the weather folks are correct, this Sunday is going to be a wet one.  I am praying that we will be “unbaptistic” and show up in record numbers in spite of the rain.

Basketball tomorrow night and Saturday morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Myrtle Junior aka Tiffany has agreed to join Bro. Abel as co-director of our VBS this year.  Hooray!  The dates are Monday, June 1, through Friday, June 5.  Times will be from 9:00AM until noon daily.  Begin praying now for this most important week.

This entry has been too long.  Katie Tillman wanted me to mention how proud she is of her husband, Grant, being the chairman of our deacons but I do not have space to do so.  Sorry, Katie.

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

I spoke to Eddie Albritton earlier this morning and the arrangements are still pending for his brother-in-law, Charles Keyes.  Everything will take place in the Laurel, MS area at a date TBD.  Keep praying for Wendy and the family.

I did not visit with Jason’s dad yesterday.  Either Bro. Abel or I will do so today.  Laura tells me that he is doing well and “may” be moved to a room at some point today.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus today – 10:00AM & 6:30PM.

Special offering for our Refresh project this Sunday, 1/25.  Tired of hearing about this offering?  Me too.  Let’s give and reach our goal and I will say nothing else except “to God be the glory!”  This is in my letter for this week regarding this special offering, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'”  (II Corinthians 9:7 NLT)

I spoke with someone yesterday about our special day on Sunday, 2/15, and it got me excited just thinking about it!  I can tell you that it does involve food and that makes even a Baptist shout!  Just saying.  Details this Sunday, 1/25.

Proposed budget presentation this Sunday, 1/25, beginning at 4:00PM.  Affirmation of budget’s adoption during our 5:00PM service.

Evangelist Dan Lanier will be with us Sunday, 2/22, through Wednesday, 2/25.  Pray, pray and then pray some more!

The dates of January 18, 19 & 20 are significant to me as nine years ago Miss Mary Lee Owen’s passed on the 18th, Miss Kathleen Henderson passed on the 19th and then Carla Felps Kyser passed on the 20th.  Death stings even nine years later!  Pray for these families!

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

Happy fiftieth birthday to my nephew, Josh Turrentine.  The dude is getting old!  (And he got there so quick!).  I pray that he will have a great day!

Sad news.  Charles “Charlie” Keyes, brother-in-law to Eddie Albritton unexpectedly passed from this life around 6:30PM last night.  Lisa and I had just gotten to the hospital when he passed.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for his wife, Wendy, and the entire family.

Good news.  Jason Fosmore’s dad did well through his surgery yesterday morning.  They did three bypasses.  He was very calm and at peace prior to the procedure.  I appreciate deacon Scott Fontenot being present to sit with the family during the procedure.  Pray for Mr. Fosmore as he recovers.

Our Finance Committee will present a proposed budget for 2026 this Sunday, 1/25.  A meeting for discussion will take place in our auditorium beginning at 4:00PM.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place during our 5:00PM service.  I appreciate the brothers who have worked, prayed and met to put this proposal together.

A special offering will be received this Sunday, 1/25, for our Refresh project.  We need around thirty-three thousand dollars to get where we hope to be in regard to this project.  Thank you to those who have given already and to those who will give going forward.  May it all be to the glory of God.

I plan to share this Sunday about our special day that will take place on Sunday, 2/15.  Come and hear!

Pray for revival.  Evangelist Dan Lanier will be our guest messenger from Sunday morning, 2/22, through Wednesday evening, 2/25.  Friendship family, do not miss being present for these services.

Yes, there is a situation in Guatemala but all is well on GRACE Mountain and in the area around it.  Just pray for God’s protection over all and I am thankful for the decisions being made to help maintain law and order.  I spoke to Deidra yesterday and this morning.  She and the girls are good.

Elizabeth Sessions just came to the church office and brought me a blessing!  What did she bring?  Fresh tomatoes!  I mean picked this morning fresh tomatoes!  Are you kidding me!  Nope!  I have already eaten a handful of the smaller ones.  Yum!

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