Pastor's Blog

Want to begin your Wednesday with great news?  Larry Whitehurst called me last night to share that the total VBS offering given during the celebration of life service for Myrtle Bowden was twenty-five hundred and seven dollars!  Hallelujah!  So, the girls are off to a commanding lead of $2,507 to zero for the boys!  How about that!  Myrtle would be thrilled and God is glorified!

Speaking of our VBS – the dates for our 2023 school will be Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 14, from 9:00AM until noon daily.  We will have a pre-VBS rally on Sunday, July 9, beginning at 5:00PM.  More details coming soon!  Pray for our VBS.

Larry Whitehurst also shared that his brother, Charlie, is not doing well physically.  Pray for Charlie.

Liz Whalen’s surgery went well yesterday.  Pray for Liz as she recovers at home.

Continue to pray for Michelle Fore’s mother.  She remains at home with around the clock care provided by family and friends.

Nanette updated me on her dad’s condition.  Terrel’s main two problems are very low blood pressure and his heart simply is not strong enough yet to fight off the build up of fluids.  So, Terrel is sleeping a lot and tires very easily.  Keep praying for Terrel, Marie and family.

Dale Ellerman remains at his mother’s residence as he recovers from his recent surgery.  Keep praying.

Miss Vinnie had a little health issue last Friday but is now doing well.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying for her son, Buddy Brewer.

Lisa and Deidra arrived safely in Guatemala.  We are thankful.

JZ Baker and his entourage will leave Friday morning heading to Guatemala.  I am very excited for JZ and family.  Pray for this to be a huge blessing in JZ’s life.

As far as I know, Andy, Betty and girls arrived safely in California yesterday.  I know Andy is excited!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

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

Liz Whalen is having surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

The visitation with the Hill family takes place from noon until the 1:00PM service time.  Both take place at the Cowboy Baptist Church in Irvington.  Pray for the family.

Eddie Albritton and I took Lisa and Deidra to the Mobile airport early this morning and they are headed to Guatemala.  Praying for them to have a great week together.  The Bakers will join them beginning this Friday, 4/14.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.

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

Good Monday morning!  Jesus is still alive!  Hallelujah!  As did every church that I know about, we had a good day in our services yesterday morning.  I am thankful to God for His blessings!

Thank you to those who attended the visitation and/or service for Myrtle Bowden and family.  Tremendous crowd Friday night and Saturday morning.  It was a different service.  I pray that God was pleased and that Sammy & family were also.  I can tell you that Myrtle’s family has been very kind to me through this whole situation.

The girls have jumped out to a huge lead in the Myrtle Bowden VBS Missions offering.  How much?  Do not know at this point but will eventually have a number to share.  Jason Husband says Gary “Cooter” Walton is going to help the boys get “back in the game!”  He may be right!

Marie Brooks told me yesterday morning that Terrel remains “up and down” in his recovery.  Keep praying.

I do not have an update on Dale Ellerman but assume no news is good news.  Keep praying.

I talked to Lee Fore Friday night and there has not been any significant change in Michelle’s mother’s situation.  Keep praying.

The visitation with the Hill family and the service for Mrs. Hill takes place tomorrow, 4/12, at the Cowboy Baptist Church.  Visitation begins at noon with the service beginning at 1:00PM.  Pray for the Hill family including our own, Katelyn Jackson Johnson.

Liz Whalen is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow, 4/12.  Pray that all goes well.  I love the faith of Liz and John.  I also love their faithfulness to the Lord through the Friendship family.  Great couple!

Deidra returns to Guatemala in the morning.  She is actually traveling with Lisa as Lisa will spend eight days there loving on her grandchildren and doing a bunch of cooking!  I am happy for Lisa to have this time away.  A break well deserved!

Andy & Betty Hamil will also leave tomorrow heading to the Reagan Library in California.  Praying for them to have a great trip with their two daughters.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 4/13.

JZ Baker and family head to Guatemala this Friday!  Hooray!  I am excited for them.

Our soccer leagues resume play this Saturday, 4/15.  Pray for this ministry.

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

The visitation with the Myrtle Bowden family takes place tonight, 4/7, beginning at 6:30PM for the public.  I respectfully ask that those who are not family members wait until at least 6:30PM before entering the church auditorium.  The Bowden family is going to have a very limited time of “family only” visitation so please respect their need for privacy.  This applies to all of us even those who may say, “I am just like family.”  Thank you.

The visitation is scheduled to end at 9:00PM although that is not a hard ending time.  I do ask that folks pass through the line and express their sympathies without monopolizing the time realizing there will most likely be a long line of others waiting to speak to the family.  The is just good funeral visitation etiquette and I know you will do well.

If you will help with tomorrow’s post service meal, please contact Rita Boutwell or Clara Broadus today.  The service will begin at 10:00AM tomorrow so that will be a good time to have all food in our Preschool Building.  Thank you to these ladies for doing this and for all who will help with this ministry.

The arrangements for Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandmother are as follows:  visitation with the Hill family on Tuesday, 4/11, from noon until the 1:00PM service time.  Everything at the Cowboy Church in Irvington.  Pray for the Hill family.  Katelyn is a sweetheart!  (I like Coley but Katelyn is a sweetheart!)

Nanette Fontenot sent me a very nice email yesterday regarding Myrtle’s impact in her life.  She also updated me on her dad’s, Terrel Brooks, situation.  His blood pressure continues to be real low and his heart is only functioning at about one fifth of the needed amount.  So, the doctor has put Terrel on a medicine to help improve his heart.  The problem is that this medicine “could” lower his blood pressure even more which would be problematic.  Pray for Terrel, Marie and family.

Keep praying for Michelle Fore’s mother, Dale Ellerman, Buddy Brewer, Liz Whalen and the others for whom we have been praying.

Remember, no activities on our campus tomorrow other than the celebration of life service for Myrtle.  Pass the word!

Easter Sunday – two services.  8:00AM and 10:00AM.

One final word – if Nanette and I had gotten married, Myrtle would have been our wedding coordinator.  Just saying.

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

Myrtle Earlene Ladnier Bowden, 74, of Grand Bay, AL, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 6, 2023. She is preceded in death by her parents Vivian and John M. (Dub) Ladnier Sr. and half-brother Dalton Ladnier.

Myrtle was a faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. She retired from the Mobile County Public School System after 30 years of service. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Myrtle was a wedding planner, coordinator and flower designer. She was a kind, warm-hearted woman who would do anything for anyone. Throughout her life, Myrtle was involved in numerous church activities including the bus ministry at Friendship, director of Vacation Bible School, Ladies Helping Hands ministry, and devout Sunday School teacher. She loved the Lord and demonstrated His love through serving others.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Samuel Allen Bowden Sr., sister Cecil (Warren) Guidry, brother John M. (Teresa) Ladnier Jr.; her children Dana (Dave) Childress, Samuel A. (Jennifer) Bowden, and Tiffany Fox; her 6 grandchildren Shea Collier, Todd Blackmon, Carleigh Bowden, Alivia Fox, Cade Bowden, and Peyton Fox; her great-grandchildren Ava Collier, Barrett Blackmon, Max Collier, Emi Kate Collier, and Cullen Blackmon along with numerous other relatives and friends.

The visitation will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. and the celebration of life service on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Both will be held at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL. Interment will be at Grand Bay Cemetery. John Warren Guidry, Joey Guidry, John M. Ladnier III, Scotty Bowden, Todd Blackmon, and Cade Bowden will be serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mission of Hope, Mobile, AL or Ladies Helping Hands, Friendship Baptist Church.

The visitation with the Myrtle Bowden family will take place tomorrow (Friday) night, 4/7.  Times to be announced.  The celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, April 8.  Time to be announced.

Everything (classes, services, egg hunts, et cetera) previously scheduled for our campus on Saturday has now been cancelled in order to give our complete attention to the service for Myrtle Bowden.  Please help us pass the word to as many folks as you can.

The arrangements for Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandmother are pending but everything will most likely take place on Monday, April 10.  I will update as soon as I hear the definite arrangements.

Pray for these families as they walk through their respective valleys.

It is 5:00AM and I am heading to Sammy & Myrtle’s home as Myrtle passed from this life around 4:30 this morning.  Pray for the Bowden family.

Yesterday afternoon around 4:30PM, Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandmother passed from this life.  Pray for the Hill family.

Our student ministry will be hosting a meal today following the morning and evening service.  Menu is potato soup, salad, roll and cookie.  Cost is eight dollars for an adult plate and six dollars for a child’s plate.  All proceeds go to help our students attend camp in June.  Cheap meal for a good cause!

Robert Baria will have the second, and final, part of his nerve procedure done this Friday.  He has been pain free since having part one done.  Pray that things will continue to go well for Robert!

Michelle Fore’s mother is basically bedridden at the present time.  It is going to take a couple of weeks for the radiation treatment to be fully effective.  Pray for Michelle’s mother and the family during this time.

Myrtle remains at home being lovingly cared for by her family.  She remains resolute in her fight!  A lady of great faith.  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and family.

Terrel Brooks remains at home but his oxygen levels are not consistent.  I spoke to Nanette via the phone yesterday and they will see a doctor tomorrow.  Hopefully, Terrel will be approved for at home oxygen.  Keep praying!

Obviously, Katelyn Johnson’s grandmother remains on hospice and in need of our prayer support.

Dale Ellerman arrived at his mother’s home yesterday.  He will be there for several days.  Again, a huge thank you to Keith & Aninha for their kindnesses to Dale.  Keep praying for Dale.

Please continue to pray for Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy.  He is at home but is not jumping fences.  Also, pray for Miss Vinnie’s granddaughter who is battling a hereditary disease.

Bro. Abel will be back in the dentist’s chair this morning for more work in his mouth.  Pray for this procedure and for his drive home.

My Mama was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She is a bit feeble right now.  Pray for my brother and his wife to have wisdom as to the next step in caring for Mama.  As I have said many times, Eddie & Sue are awesome caregivers to Mama.  I am thankful.

Regular schedule on our campus today.

The classes/services scheduled for this Saturday, 4/8, will take place regardless of the weather.  We will meet as a staff this morning to map out an alternate plan for Saturday’s activities in the event of rain.

Two services this Sunday – 8:00AM & 10:00AM.  Drinks and refreshments in between the services.

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

I was doing some online reading this past Friday night, 3/31, when I came across the following article by Thom S. Rainer.  Personally, I liked what Rainer wrote and wanted to share it with our nine readers of the blog.  Here is goes:

You’ve been with your church for a while now. Something is now urging you to leave the church. We will not get into evaluating your reasons. Let’s just say you have made the decision, or you are close to making that decision.

Let’s assume you are not moving to another location. You are leaving your church because you think you should make this exit.

While I do not want to judge you or argue with you, would you consider reading the rest of this article? Would you look at the following seven considerations before you make the decision final?

1. Make certain you have prayed about the decision. It is not a move to be taken lightly. Ask God to check your heart to see if the prompting is His or your own.

2. Ask yourself if you are making the decision because of personal preferences. Perhaps the sermon seemed too long. Maybe the music is not the perfect blend that you like. Still yet, maybe you have decided “you are not being fed” spiritually. That is a common reason given by exiting members. Please know, though, the next church you attend will not meet all of your preferences and desires either. Church membership in its truest biblical form is self-sacrificing and forgiving (see 1 Corinthians 12 and 13).

3. If you are using the exit as an escape to quit churchgoing altogether, please don’t do it. We have seen church members, elders, and deacons leave churches saying one thing but dropping out of church life completely. Please remember that God gave us the local church as His plan A for His mission, and He did not give us a plan B.

4. Understand that your decision will hurt many people. In fact, such decisions are one of pastors’ greatest hurts. Many take it personally. Others in the church are discouraged and confused when members, particularly active members, leave the church.

5. Please do not leave the church if you haven’t reconciled with those with whom you have conflict. Jesus was clear and unwavering on this matter: “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matthew 5:24, NLT).

6. Don’t leave with complaints and criticisms. Such behavior is not good for the Kingdom, and it certainly reflects poorly on you. And by all means, keep your negativity off social media.

7. If you still decide to leave, give your pastor a good and honest reason why you are doing so. Don’t leave in a huff of silence. Don’t give a reason that is not the true reason. Your pastor has been your shepherd. Your pastor likely has made sacrifices for you of which you are not aware. It would be cruel and unbiblical to walk out with no explanation or a bad explanation.

Obviously, I believe that dropping out of your church should be rare and biblically reasoned. I am not questioning your motive or judging your heart. I am simply asking you to consider the seven points I just made.

Thank you for taking the time to read these words. May God bless you. And may you truly be in His will.

(Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before coming to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.)

Keith & Aninha are traveling to Birmingham today and will bring Dale Ellerman home (to his mother’s house) this afternoon.  Obviously, Dale is doing better thus the discharge from the hospital.  Pray for traveling mercies and for Dale’s recovery.

Myrtle Bowden met with the doctor yesterday and another appointment has been scheduled for 4/17.  In the meanwhile, Myrtle is focusing on feeling better and resting as much as possible.  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy & family.

Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandmother, Mrs. Hill, has been placed on hospice care.  Pray for her, the nurses involved and the entire family.

Also, keep praying for the others for whom we have been praying for recently.  Prayer changes things!

Our work day this past Saturday was a huge success.  As I have mentioned earlier, we did not have a record number of participants but the ones who came did so with a mind to work!  The hedges have been trimmed, new flowers have been planted, the front of the auditorium has been cleaned and the restrooms in the auditorium are sparkling now!  Probably a hundred plus squash, tomatoe, and pepper plants were planted in the church garden.  I was thankful that some of our long term family members were joined by a good number of our newer family members.  Good stuff!  Thank the Lord!

Eddie Albritton asked if he could look at my zero turn mower on Sunday.  Took him to the shed, started the engine and all seemed well.  However, Eddie went back to the shed yesterday afternoon while I was in Huntsville and now tells me that my mower has died!  He has offered to “help” me get it up and running away.  He has about eight thousand reasons for wanting to help.  Killing me!

John Milton Ladnier has been helping me and I noticed beans and corn have burst through the ground rather nicely.  How are the twins and their help?  Are you serious!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.