Pastor's Blog

On Saturday evening, 1/13, I entered a blog regarding a baker’s dozen in an effort to secure finances to provide one sponsorship for a teaching position at the Colegio JET school on GRACE Mountain in Guatemala.  The plan was simple – get thirteen folks to agree to give five hundred dollars each, over the course of 2024, which would provide the salary for one teaching position.  It was shared that if we could reach this goal by 1/31/24 then an anonymous donor would match it which meant two teaching positions would be sponsored for 2024.

Great news – at the time of this writing, we have twenty-five folks, who have joined the baker’s dozen. We need one more to join to provide two sponsorships for 2024.  Plus, the anonymous donor has already given their sixty-five hundred dollars which means three teaching positions have now been sponsored.  Praise the Lord!  He gives the increase!

The folks who have joined the baker’s dozen have come from three states, two denominations and at least eleven churches.  Young folks and senior adults.  Married couples and single folks.  Folks who are supporters of GRACE Ministries and folks who have not supported up to this point.  What a beautiful sight!

So, the vision has been increased.  We need to provide seven more sponsorships at sixty-five hundred dollars each which equates to forty-five thousand and five hundred dollars.  That could be seven folks saying “I will sponsor a teaching position,” ninety-one folks saying “I will join the baker’s dozen,” or a combination of both.  The belief is that we will have these funds in hand or pledged by January 31, 2024, meaning we have fifteen days to make this belief a reality.

You can commit to sponsoring a teaching position by yourself ($6,500) or to join the baker’s dozen ($500) by sending me an email at tcturrentine@gmail.com.  Individuals, churches, ministries, small groups, et cetera can take part in this worthwhile effort.

How do you give?  Online you can go to shininglightabroad.com, click on the “donate now” tab, under categories click on Colegio JET school and then enter the other information – name, address, credit card, et cetera.

Or, you can make a check payable to GRACE Ministries and mail it to P.O. Box 223 Grand Bay, AL 36541.

Guatemala Relief And Compassion Effort is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.  Employer Identification Number: 83-1849064.

Please know that no donation is too big or too small.  Please refer to my 1/13 entry.

How can you help in addition to giving?  Please share this information with others in conversation, on social media platforms, et cetera.  Join me in trusting God to provide in a miraculous way!  He can!

Major announcement – because of the much colder than normal temperatures forecast for Grand Bay tomorrow  we will NOT have our 10:00AM service tomorrow, January 17, 2024!  I am depending on our thirteen readers help get this word out!  (Dr. Rex if you will cover Hartselle and Sommer please cover east Texas for me).  Just trying to give our more seasoned church members a break!  Those folks attend faithfully regardless and I appreciate each of them!

As it stands now, we will have a regular schedule for tomorrow night beginning at 6:30PM.  I do not see that changing.  I will be here, Lord willing, regardless.

Bill Kendrick’s brother was moved into another area of the hospital yesterday.  He is doing well all things considered.  Keep praying!  Bill & Debbie are two of the most faithful folks in keeping me up to date on any situation they are aware of regardless of who the persons are.  I appreciate them for doing this!

Joey Switzer’s father (Hilda Gunter’s brother) is not doing well physically.  He is at home but is definitely in need of our prayer support.  Pray for Bobby & Shirley!

Gary Walton is taking the necessary steps in order to have knee replacement surgery.  He has battled knee problems for a long time.  Gary is a tough individual with a high pain tolerance.  Join me in praying for Gary & Rachel!

Miss Dottie Clark in Guatemala is not feeling well physically.  Please pray with me for Miss Dottie.

I appreciate those who continue to pray for Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney and Audrey.  Thankful to Tom & Shari Compagner for being there with her.  Daphne too!

The service for Miss Jean Hatcher seemed to go well yesterday.  I am very appreciative for each person who helped with the ministering to the family.  Keep praying for the Jean Hatcher family.

Want coffee from Guatemala?  Daphne is there and can bring some home.  Send your requests to her at daphnehutto@gmail.com.  You can Venmo her if that works for you.  Orders must be placed tomorrow, 1/17, no later than 5:00PM.  Specify ground or beans.

All I can say is that those Iowans are tough!

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

REMEMBER – NO 10:00AM SERVICE TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, 1/17/24!

The visitation with the Jean Hatcher family will take place today in our auditorium from noon until the 1:00PM service time.  Pray for the Hatcher family.

If you are helping with the food for the Jean Hatcher family then please have it in our preschool building no later than 12:30PM today.  Thank you to Clara Broadus, Judy Whitehurst and any others who are leading this ministry.  Thank you to each person who will cook or provide the food, drinks, et cetera.

Bill Kendrick’s brother suffered a heart attack and is in the hospital.  He was in CCU but I am not sure if that is still the case.  Pray for Bill’s brother.

We were blessed with another good day in our worship services yesterday.  What a joy to see young Laney Hyatt come forward for believer’s baptism after having received Jesus as her personal Savior a couple of weeks ago.  Amen!

What a joy to see Chris & Chelsea Staup bring baby Lexie to the altar and dedicate her to the Lord!  Chris shared great words about the “why” and Chelsea had already shared those with me in an email.  Amen!

It did my heart good when a couple of folks who were first time guests in our morning service yesterday shared that they had never been so well received in any church they had attended.  Friendship family, good job!

The Inspirations will be at Friendship on Thursday, 1/25, beginning at 7:00PM.  Pray, attend and invite others to join you.  A love offering will be received.

If the weather channel website is correct, we will see twenty-nine degrees in Grand Bay tonight followed by nineteen degrees tomorrow night.  For us, that is cold.  If you are a widow, senior adult, et cetera and need us to help you in getting ready for the colder temperatures then call the church office (251) 445 5412 and we will try to assist you.

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

I have mentioned several times in recent blog entries of my looking for a baker’s dozen.  Obviously, a baker’s dozen is thirteen.  So, I am looking for thirteen what?  Or who?  Glad you asked.

The school, Colegio JET, on GRACE Mountain in Guatemala just began a new school year for the entire school, K – 11, on Monday, January 8.  The school year will end in October of 2024.  Presently, we have twenty-one administrators/teachers employed.  The annual average salary of those twenty-one folks is sixty-five hundred dollars.

At the time of this writing, 1/13, there are eleven of these folks who have been sponsored for this year by three individuals and three churches.  So, that leaves ten more who need to be sponsored.  These sponsorships are financially crucial to Colegio JET.  Yes, God has faithfully provided every cent needed since January 2020 when Colegio JET opened the doors.  God has used individuals and churches to help fund theses salaries.  As the school grows, so does the need for more teachers which in turn means the need for more sponsors.

At some point in December, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart “the baker’s dozen!”  Was not clear exactly when to propose it but then I felt settled on 1/13 with the thirteen being the important number.

So, I am looking for thirteen folks to join my wife, Lisa, and me being a part of this baker’s dozen which means you will commit to giving five hundred dollars in 2024 to sponsor a teaching position (not a specific person).  You can give a lump sum or divide it up however you need to according to your personal budget.  I simply ask that you not use even one cent that should go to the Lord through your local church.  This is to be above and beyond those tithes and offerings.  Also, this should be in addition to any other offerings you already give to GRACE Ministries or SLAM.

I need to hear from all who will join this opportunity to let me know via email no later than January 31 (thirteen backwards), 2024.

Here is the deal – if we reach our goal of a baker’s dozen by 1/31/24 then an anonymous donor will match it meaning two teaching positions will be filled.  That deadline is in concrete as far as the matching sponsorship is concerned.

Honestly, I would be thrilled beyond measure if we could receive all ten sponsorships by 1/31/24.  Is that possible?  Yes.  With God all things are possible.

I am asking all thirteen of our blog readers to make this a matter of prayer.  Is God speaking to your heart?  Will you be at least one (you can be more than one) of the baker’s dozen?  Will you spread the word to your church, Sunday School class, Bible study group, missions organization, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, et cetera?

Pastor, I cannot give five hundred dollars but I can give some.  Perfect!  Pastor, I can sponsor a teaching position by myself.  Perfect!  Pastor, our church, missions group, et cetera can sponsor a teaching position.  Perfect!  To quote the late Miss Kittie Camp, “many hands make light work!”

I am praying that the first email will come to me before midnight on 1/13/24!  Will that be you sending it?

Nellie Jean Hatcher, age 86, a resident of Grand Bay, AL, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 13, 2024. She was born on March 28, 1937, to her loving parents, Floyd Ernest and Virginia Williams Ledlow. She loved her four-legged canine companions and had many puppy dog friends over the years. She also loved fishing, as well as Duke Basketball, Alabama Crimson Tide Football and her main love, Little League Baseball. She was Owner of CJ’s Par 3 Golf Course for many years and worked and retired from the US Postal Service after over 30 years of faithful service. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great-grandmother, who will be missed by all.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cleveland Hatcher; her parents, Floyd and Virginia Ledlow; her sister, Maggie Ruth McAdory; her brothers, Ernest Ledlow, Raymond Ledlow and Willie Mason Ledlow.

She is survived by her children, Shelia (Melvin) Harris, Chuck (Jamie) Hatcher, Stan (Becky) Hatcher, Steve Hatcher and Vicki (Leslie) Adams; grandchildren, Joseph “Jody” (Kelly) Harris, Jeanna Harris, Keri (Anthony) Watters, Neely (Veronica) Hatcher, Lindsey (TJ) Vice, Marcus (Rachel) Hatcher, Ross (Betty Clair) Hatcher, Ryan (Kayla) Hatcher, Reed (Sarah) Hatcher, Bethany Alcantra, Michael (Christian) Hatcher, Holly (Ayush) Parashar, Jason (Kelly) Adams, Jacob (Alice) Adams, and Kaitlyn (Jonathan) Crawley; sister in-law, Ruby Ledlow; many great grandchildren; great great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and other friends.

Services will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL at 1:00 p.m. A Visitation will be held from 12 o’clock noon until service time. Interment will follow in Grand Bay Cemetery.

Miss Jean Hatcher remains in the hospital and is not doing well physically.  It appears that she is near passing from this life.  Her family has been faithfully standing beside her.  Pray for Miss Jean and her family during this time.

The Inspirations will be at Friendship on Thursday, 1/25, beginning at 7:00PM.  Pass the word!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

If the weather forecasters are correct, we will have a stormy early morning tomorrow and the coldest nights of the Winter thus far next Friday, 1/19, and Saturday, 1/20.

The cork finally bobbled on the baker’s dozen.  Still looking!

A day of mixed emotions for me as I will be leaving soon heading home.  Pray for Deidra and the girls, Daphne as she is traveling to Guatemala and for me.

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

Miss Jean Hatcher remains hospitalized and is not doing well physically.  Keep praying for Miss Jean and her family.

Jason Husband met with the doctor on Monday and will soon have a schedule set for his radiation treatments.  Pray for Jason.

Kaydenz Edwards will see the doctor in Pensacola, FL on 1/18.  It seems almost certain that the doctor in Orlando, FL will call on 1/19 to schedule her surgery.  Keep praying for Kaydenz, Devon, Witney and the doctor.

I was able to catch the last fifteen minutes or so of Evangelist Junior Hill’s celebration of life service online yesterday.  I then went back and watched it from the beginning.  Nicely done by all involved.  Bro. Junior was definitely a man of God!  Pray for his family.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Abel will be teaching in my absence today.  Friendship family, be faithful.

The Inspirations will be at Friendship on Thursday, 1/25, beginning at 7:00PM.

Meeting this Sunday, 1/14, of the parents of our students.  Begins after the evening service.  Important!

Basketball leagues this Friday night and Saturday.  Pray for this ministry!

How is Deidra?  She has had some good days and she has had some not so good days.  Expected.  Please keep praying!

I have a dear pastor friend who is having some struggles right now.  Would you join me in praying for him?  God knows him and his situation.

Still looking for a baker’s dozen!

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

I watched the weather in South Mobile County last night.  I pray everyone is ok.  I gave notification just after 4:00AM telling me the electricity was off on our church campus and that is also true of our house.

Witney Edwards received a call from the doctor’s office in Orlando yesterday to schedule surgery for Kaydenz.  This one was totally out of the blue.  Long story short – Kaydenz will see the doctor in Pensacola on the 18th and the doctor from Orlando will call on the 19th to schedule surgery.  This relates to a pacemaker which they say she needs sooner than later.  Pray for Kaydenz and her parents.

Miss Jean Hatcher remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

Tom & Shari Compagner arrived safe and sound on GRACE Mountain last night.  They will be here for a month leading teams and helping in many other ways.  Thank you Tom & Shari.

The first day of school for all of the students at Colegio JET went well.  Thank you to those who prayed.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

The Inspirations will be at Friendship on Thursday, 1/25, beginning at 7:00PM.  Contact Andy Hamil for more information.

No, I did not watch the game last night.  However, I congratulate the many Michigan fans who are friends of mine.

Here is a little grace – if you want me to bring you coffee from Guatemala then please email Daphne (daphnehutto@gmail.com) by 5:00PM today.  Yes, the original deadline was last night but this extension is a national championship celebration.  You can Venmo Daphne or pay cash.  Please note that all Pentecostals must pay up front – just saying!

Still looking for a baker’s dozen!

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

I have been told by folks who were in our services yesterday that Dylan did a really good job preaching the Word.  I knew he would and I am thankful to the Lord and Dylan.

I have also been told that we had a strong attendance in our morning service.  Amen!  Of course, was told that Jeanette did a nice job sharing the Word in song.

The Lord and Pastor Adan graciously allowed me to preach in yesterday’s service.  Had to change the service times from morning to afternoon but the attendance was very good.  Deidra was a bit surprised.  God is faithful!

Bro. Abel is now back in town.  Glad he enjoyed some great family time.

Keep praying for Miss Jean Hatcher.

It is predicted that some bad weather could hit the Gulf Coast today, tonight and tomorrow.  Be safe!

Go Blue!  Yes, I will be pulling for Michigan in tonight’s championship game.

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

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I praying for a strong attendance at Friendship.  Actually, I am praying for a strong attendance in all of our sister churches!

Pray for our friend, Decker Terrry, in Montgomery, AL.  Nothing specific that I know of but sensed the Lord tell me to ask you in joining me in praying for Decker.  Decker is a great man of God and is a faithful supporter of GRACE Ministries and SLAM.  Decker, we love you!

You want to purchase some coffee from GRACE Mountain (this farm or the neighboring one)?  If so contact Daphne Hutto (daphnehutto@gmail.com) no later than tomorrow (Monday, 1/8) at 9:00PM.  Ten dollars per pound.  This is for folks in the greater Grand Bay metropolis.  If you live in the Rocky Ford, AL area then I can get it delivered to you.  You can Venmo Daphne your payment.  Note the ordering deadline please and specify beans or ground.  (If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase then you will be out ten dollars per bag ordered)

Still looking for a baker’s dozen.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!