Pastor's Blog

Happy eleventh birthday to our granddaughter, Sydney.  Sydney loves living in Guatemala and will have a great time celebrating today with her friends.  She is an easy going girl and, other than food, it does not take much to keep her happy.  We love Sydney!  Happy birthday, Sydney!

No updates on the folks mentioned in yesterday’s blog.  Keep praying for those facing upcoming surgeries.  Jason continues with his daily treatments.

Fourteen of the team in Guatemala left GRACE Mountain at 2:15AM today.  Fourteen more will leave at 7:00AM.  Pray for traveling mercies.

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

Happy eighth birthday to our grandson, Asher.  He and I had breakfast at Waffle House the other day to celebrate.  However, he will celebrate big today!  We love Asher and hope his day is amazing!  Happy birthday, Asher!

I have not gotten an update on JZ so I am assuming no news is good news.  Pray for JZ.

Marie Brooks is scheduled to have surgery this Friday, 2/9.  Pray all goes well and that it will bring immediate relief.

Paul Davila is scheduled to have surgery one week from today (2/14).  Keep praying as he navigates this next week.

Shawn Grant is scheduled to have surgery on 2/21.  This is from her car accident.  Serious surgery.  Pray for Shawn.

Robert Baria will get his test results this Friday, 2/9.  He has been having some issues but is trusting God through it all.  Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne.

Jason Husband has now had five of his planned forty-three radiation treatments.  Pray for Jason.

Bro. Abel wrote to share that our spring soccer leagues now have three hundred participants – wow!  He is being invited to come to other places to share with them how to have a soccer club.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.

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

Happy belated birthday (2/4) to our daughter, Hein (Henni) Tran.  Hard to believe that she is now thirty-two years old.  I hope she had a great day yesterday.  Happy birthday, Henni!

Pam Baker wrote me yesterday to share that JZ is battling a potential infection.  Pray that the newest antibiotic he is on will work.

Marie Brooks is scheduled for surgery this Friday, 2/9.  Pray that she can stay well and nothing will delay this procedure.

Paul Davila is scheduled to have knee surgery on 2/14.  Pray for Paul.

I am told that we had a good day in our morning service yesterday.  I am thankful.

Bro. Abel messaged me to say that the basketball awards ceremony went great!  We thank God for a really good season.  Thank you to all who helped make it a success and to God be the glory!

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday.

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

Paul Devila has a torn ACL.  Surgery is set for February 14.  Pray for Paul & Denise.

Marie Brooks’ surgery is scheduled for one week from today.  Pray for Marie to be able to manage her pain.

Jason Husband has two of his forty-three radiation treatments behind him now.  Number three today.  Keep praying for Jason.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning – Sunday School at 9:00AM and worship at 10:00AM. Bro. Abel will be preaching in the morning service.

Basketball awards ceremony this Sunday in the CAB beginning at 5:00PM. Everyone invited to attend.  It will be fun!

Basketball tonight and tomorrow.  Pray for this ministry.

Lisa arrived home safe and sound just before midnight last night.  Thank you for praying.

All but three of the team members for this week arrived yesterday with the final group pulling up to the mission house at midnight.  The remaining three should arrive today.  Pray for this team.

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

The visitation and service for Ann Clark’s sister-in-law, Gaye Broome, takes place today in Richton, MS.  Pray for V.R. and the family.

Jason Husband had his first radiation treatment late yesterday afternoon.  His major concern while there was if they were going to have him out in time for him to get to church.  He was pushing for them to get him in and get him out.  Daphne got him to church at 6:55PM and he was a happy camper.  If only each of us had that same desire!  What about the radiation?  Oh yeah, that too.  He did fine!  Goes again late this afternoon.  Pray for Jason.

Marie Brooks is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, 2/9.  Pray for her pain to be managed until that time.

Ronnie Calvert is scheduled to fly back to Ecuador on Tuesday, 2/6.  Praise the Lord!

Miss Edna is in the church office today from 8:00AM until noon.  Just FYI.

Basketball leagues tomorrow night and Saturday.  Closing ceremony on Sunday, 2/4, beginning at 5:00PM in the CAB.

Regular morning on our campus this Sunday, 2/4.

Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy flew home yesterday.  I am thankful for their time ministering in Guatemala.

Lisa flies home today.  Pray for traveling mercies, please.

The team that is in Guatemala flies home today while the team that will minister for the next week arrives today/tonight.  Again, pray for traveling mercies.

The “baker’s dozen” challenge was issued on 1/13 with a deadline of 1/31.  God blessed.  Folks responded.  I am thrilled to write that not only do all of the teaching positions now sponsored but so is every worker on GRACE Mountain.  All done before midnight on 1/31.  Mission accomplished!  To God be the glory!  Thank you to each person/group that has given and to those who will be honoring their pledges over the rest of the year.  God is good!

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

Our “baker’s dozen” began on 1/13/24 with the emphasis deadline being today, 1/31/24.  Folks, the Lord has shown up and He has shown out.  We are only eight thousand three hundred and thirty dollars ($8,330) away from having every worker on GRACE Mountain covered salary wise for 2024.  How about that!  Yes, God is good, God is great!

I have been asked a million times how folks can help Deidra during this time.  I cannot adequately explain how much relief will come to Deidra if she knows the salaries on GRACE Mountain have been covered for this entire year.  Obviously, you can pray for Deidra but having this lifted from her will be HUGE!

I so want to reach our goal by midnight tonight.  Can/will you help?  You can give online by going to shininglightabroad.com and use the drop down box to go to Colegio JET.

Our workers on GRACE Mountain are some of the finest folks I know.  They are deserving of our support.

What if we get too much money?  Any overage will be used on other badly needed ministry projects at Colegio JET.

At the time of this writing, we have twelve and one half hours before the deadline strikes!

Thank you to those who have given already and to those who are going to join today!  Pass the word!

tcturrentine@gmail.com

The first month of 2024 is only hours away from being gone – wow!

Regular schedule on our campus today.  Bro. Abel will be teaching in the auditorium.  Friendship family, please be faithful to attend!

Jason Husband begins his radiation treatments today.  I “think” his appointment is at 6:30PM.  Pray for Jason.

Paul Davila had his MRI on Monday.  Not sure what the results were but do pray for Paul.

Nanette is not doing a good job of keeping me updated on her mom’s situation.  Just saying!  Pray for Marie.

Last Thursday, the proprietors of Grand Bay’s newest pizza place blessed Gina & me and my wife’s office with pizzas.  Folks, they were very good!  Freshly made by Joey & Amy Switzer.  Yes, I watched as they made two or three pizzas.  The place is call MoJo’s and it is located just North of Vianna Street on Newman Road.  It is literally in Joey’s car wash building.  Soft opening next week and grand opening the week of 2/12.  Tell Joey that I sent you and he will give you an uncharge of ten percent.

Today, 1/31/24, is the self imposed deadline to reach our goal for the “baker’s dozen!”  We have made great progress but still need twenty-six thousand dollars to be completely funded for 2024.  You want to sponsor a teaching position at Colegio JET?  Join the baker’s dozen at five hundred dollars for the year?  Give some other amount? Give the entire $26,000 needed to reach our goal?  Pray for this effort!

Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy will travel home from Guatemala today.  Pray for them to have traveling mercies.

I cannot say enough about the tremendous help Heidi Butler has been to me this week – amazing!  Thank you, Heidi!  What an amazing couple Rhett & Heidi are!

Mark & Ben Mast are traveling to India the dates of February 5 – 16, 2024.  Pray for them and this tremendous ministry opportunity!

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

The visitation and celebration of life service for Gaye Broome will take place this Thursday, 2/1, from the Brewer Baptist Church in Richton, MS.  Visitation with the family will be from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Pray for V.R. and family during this time.

Jason Husband’s radiation treatments begin tomorrow, 1/31.  He will have forty-three treatments.  Brad & Daphne will take him to the first five.  Here is the schedule from that point forward:  Carl Ray & Charlotte Moulds will handle Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; Scott & Nanette Fontenot will handle Thursdays; David French will handle Fridays.  A number of us are on stand-by should these folks not be able to take a day or more.  Pray for Jason.

Keep praying for Marie Brooks.  Not sure what the doctor told her yesterday.

Well, glory!  Cecil Guidry and Edna Glover had the privilege yesterday morning of presenting Ronnie Calvert with a check in the amount of eleven thousand two hundred and seventy-one dollars!  Yes, $11,271!  That is the love offering given Sunday plus the matching four thousand dollars.  Ronnie wept and could not believe it!  He wrote me to say that he was overwhelmed with gratitude.  Friendship family, thank you for giving to the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Good morning from the Mobile airport as I will soon board a flight heading to Atlanta and then connect to a flight to Guatemala City.  I appreciate prayers for traveling mercies.

One of Ann Clark’s sisters-in-law, Gaye Broome, passed from this life yesterday morning.  Arrangement pending.  Pray for the family.

Marie Brooks will have a consultation with the doctor today.  Hopefully, they can treat her soon as she is in much pain.  Pray for Marie.

What a blessing to worship with Laney Hyatt yesterday morning as she followed Jesus in believer’s baptism.

Praise the Lord!  The Friendship family gave generously yesterday to the love offering for Ronnie, Nanny & Sofi Calvert.  I am not going to list the total given until tomorrow for a couple of reasons but let me say “thank you” Friendship family for helping Ronnie & family.  I will write more tomorrow.

Brandon Baker, Joey Bosarge & Bill Kendrick rotated off as serving as deacons.  Paul Davila, Grant Tillman & John Whalen were duly selected to serve as deacons for the next three years.  We will ordain John & Paul on Sunday evening, February 11.

Our Finance Committee presented the 2024 proposed budget yesterday and it was approved by the church family.  I appreciate the work of this committee.  Pray that we will be faithful stewards of all God entrusts to us.

Thanks to Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church the Friendship family now owns a 2005 Chevrolet fifteen passenger van.  It should serve us well.

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

Katelyn Johnson sent me a message last night to let me know that Coley’s dad has been discharged from the hospital.  I know he is a happy camper!  Keep praying!

Marie Brooks has cracked her L4 vertebrae.  She sees the doctor on Monday to hopefully schedule a kyphoplasty procedure.  She is in great pain and this procedure brings immediate relief.  Pray for Marie.

Keep praying for Joey Switzer’s dad.  He is at home but is having much difficulty breathing.

Basketball leagues today.  Another Diaper Dandy emphasis!  Pray for Bro. Abel, Shawn & Kristy as they coordinate these leagues.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Budget proposal discussion meeting at 4:00PM.

Adult choir rehearsal at 4:00PM.

Special offering for Ronnie & Nanny Calvert in our services tomorrow.  Please pray, attend and then give as the Lord leads.

Baptism in the morning service tomorrow.

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