Pastor's Blog

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  Gideon Brandon Sutton did a great job of sharing his personal testimony in our morning service.  The feedback from the Friendship family has been really positive.  We saw six folks pray to receive Jesus as their personal Savior during that service – to God be the glory!  We had a full house and an excellent spirit!

Our evening service was great too as Miss Jeanette and the choir did a superb job of leading us in worship through song.  Numerically, that was the largest adult choir we have had in years – thank you Jesus.  Our technical staff also did a great job.  Just an all around great musical worship experience with an excellent spirit!  Again, to God be the glory!

Myrtle Bowden is presently at the doctor’s office and hopefully she will receive another treatment and there will be no side effects.  Keep praying for Sammy & Myrtle.

I plan on visiting with Steve & Virginia today.  I ask you to join me in continuing to pray for Steve.

Nanette Fontenot and Teresa Ladnier were both in a service yesterday.  Pray as they go through their respective recoveries.

Bro. Abel & Miss Candy are both battling the flu.  Pray for them to get well soon.

Keep praying for Sharon Jardee!

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 12/14, – morning and evening.  The forecast calls for it to be a very wet day all across Alabama with possible sever weather in the afternoon/evening hours.  Just FYI.

Want to support JZ Baker and the fulfillment of one item on his bucket list?  Order a t-shirt.  The cost is twenty dollars (upcharge for larger sizes).  Order form and payment must be submitted no later than January 4, 2023.  Also, bracelets are being sold for two dollars each.  Contact Bibbi Bosarge or Daphne Hutto for more information or to purchase a bracelet.

Our schedule for this Sunday, 12/18, will be Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30AM and 5:00PM.

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

P.S. – You can get a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts for one dollar today when you buy a dozen at the regular cost.  (Only at participating locations)  (Does any other blog give you this type information?)

Happy adoption day to our daughters, Dana & Gina!  Twenty-four years ago today Judge Red Noonan legally declared them to be our daughters for life!  We love Dana & Gina and are grateful to God for placing them in our life.

I normally do not blog on Saturdays but there are a few things I want to make sure the members of the Friendship family remember.  First, I am encouraging each member of the Friendship family to attend our services tomorrow morning and evening. Our morning service will feature a Gideon testimony which is a great word of the saving power of God.  We will receive an offering for the ministry of the Gideons.  Please pray and give as the Lord leads.  Jeff Holifield will we our point person for this service as he serves as a Gideon.

Also, Carl Ray Moulds is leading the ministry of feeding the men from the Mission of Hope who will attend our 10:30AM service and then be treated to lunch compliments of the Friendship family.

Our 5:00PM service will feature the ministry of our adult choir under the direction of Miss Jeanette Bates.  They will be presenting their Christmas musical.  I pray that the Friendship family will be faithful to attend and support this service.

Folks, you do not want to miss these two services!

We have a committee of five ladies who are leading the charge in helping fulfill JZ Baker’s desire to check an item off of his bucket list – taking a trip to Guatemala with his family.  This eleven year old wants to do mission work – specifically build a house for a needy family.

Tomorrow morning, there will be forms available to pre-order t-shirts that will benefit this cause.  Shirts are twenty dollars each with an upcharge (from the shirt company).  Payment (cash, check or Venmo) needs to be made whenever your form is given to Bibbi, Chelsea, Daphne, Elizabeth or Tena.  Questions/more information?  Contact Bibbi or Daphne.

Also, there will be bracelets available for two dollars each.  I think they are embossed saying “JZ4JC” and will serve as a reminder to pray for this eleven year old boy and his family as they walk through this journey.  (JC4JC?  Yes, JZ for Jesus Christ)

One final thing – we have a fresh batch of coffee in festive red bags just in time for Christmas gifts.  Ten dollars per pound.  Very limited supply.  Ground only.  See Lisa to get yours.

Basketball is taking place today in our CAB.  Pray for this ministry.

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Join me!

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

Teresa Ladnier sent me a message yesterday thanking folks for the prayers during her surgery and hospital stay.  She is still in the recovery phase so keep praying.

John Miltons’ and Teresa’s daughter, Brooke Whitehurst, updated me on her situation.  It seems that much of her problem will be related to her thyroid.  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the doctors as they continue to diagnose Brooke’s problems.

Keep praying for Steve Morris, Myrtle Bowden, Sharon Jardee and Shawn Grant.

Week two of our basketball leagues begin tonight with our first and second graders taking the court.  The older leagues will play tomorrow.  Pray for this ministry.

Soon you will begin to hear of some great opportunities to help raise the necessary funds to send JZ Baker and his family to Guatemala in April 2023.  One opportunity that is available now is our GA post office which is now open.  By the way, Gary & Rachel Walton have already agreed to provide the finances for a house to be built in JZ’s honor – how nice is that!

Folks, you do not want to miss our services this Sunday, 12/11, morning or evening.  The 10:30AM service will be our Gideon Sunday and an offering will be received for the Gideon Ministry.  Miss Jeanette will lead our adult choir in the evening service as they present their Christmas musical.  Pray for this Sunday!

Three young girls and I have about to head to the airport in Guatemala City with hopes of being at the Gulfport airport just prior to midnight.  Looking forward to being at home.

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

Nanette Fontenot’s surgery went well yesterday afternoon.  Pray for her as she goes through the recovery process.  Scott & Nanette are a great couple and such an important part of the Friendship family.

Teresa Ladnier was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Keep praying for Teresa as recovers from her unexpected surgery.  John Milton and Teresa are also a great couple, important members of the Friendship family and awesome neighbors to Lisa and me.  Not to mention that John Milton is a master gardener.

William Sessions had some tests that concluded he does not presently have cancer but they want him to some genetic screening.  Pray for William.

Debbie Kendrick’s friend, Christa, received a great report from the doctor – all clear as far as cancer is concerned.  She will go every six months for check ups.  Christa is most grateful for the prayer support she has received from the Friendship family.

Keep praying for those folks on our prayer list!

I am thankful for those who took part in our services/classes yesterday morning and last night.  Special thanks to Bro. Dylan and Bro. Abel for teaching the Word and also to all of our other teachers in the respective classes.

Remember, the GA post office is open.  Use this means to be involved in ministering to JZ Baker and his family.  Contact Tina Sprinkle if you have questions or need more information.

I am excited about our services this Sunday, 12/11.  Looking forward to joining the members of the Friendship family, the men from the mission and other guests for a special AM service.  I believe our choir is going to do an outstanding job of leading us in worship on Sunday evening!  Pray, attend and bring others with you.

Just saw Jeanette Bates and four others leave the mountain heading to the airport.  Three others left the mountain at 10:00PM last night.  Only two remain on the mountain for now as their flight is scheduled to leave tonight.  Of those who have left already, only one has not gotten home yet as his flight from Atlanta to Mobile was rerouted back to ATL last night due to the fog in Mobile.  He is being flexible and has a great attitude!  Pray for those who are traveling home today.

As I sit here, my thoughts are filled with memories of Miss Kittie Camp.  She would be absolutely thrilled to know that fifteen families are better off now because of their new dwelling places.  I can hear her now as the first thing she would say to me as she would come to the office this Wednesday would be “Jeanette has told me about the great trip to Guatemala.  Tell me more about what God did during those days.  I prayed for the team and read the updates daily.  Praise God for His blessings! I sure would love to go on just one more trip.”  Miss Kittie loved this ministry and was such a vital part of it through praying, giving and coming to this mountain.  Thank God for Miss Kittie!

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

Supper will be served in our Preschool Building tonight, 12/7, from 5:00 – 6:00PM.  The menu will be pulled pork, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, dessert and a drink.  The cost is six dollars per person with a maximum of twenty-four dollars per immediate family.  Any profit from this meal will go toward our student ministry.

Delivery is available for our senior adults.

Rumor (good source) has it that my wife’s pound cake is on the dessert menu.  That alone is worth the six dollars – just saying!

I begin this morning’s entry by remembering the 2,403 United States military personnel and civilians who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  Take a moment and thank God for our military personnel.

Also, I remember Craig Kirschenman as today marks his birthday.  I miss Craig and remember him very fondly.

Nanette Fontenot is scheduled to have surgery on her hand today.  Surgery is supposed to begin at 12:30PM.  Pray that all goes well.

I do not know if Teresa Ladnier was discharged from the hospital but I do know we need to keep praying for her as she recovers from her surgery.

Continue to pray for Myrtle Bowden, Sharon Jardee and Steve Morris in their respective situations.

Bro. Jerry left GRACE Mountain at 2:20AM today heading home to Grand Bay.  He did a great job of ministering while in Guatemala.  Fourteen other folks will be leaving the mountain later this morning in order to fly out this afternoon. Pray for traveling mercies.  (I do want to say a very belated “thank you” to Rachel Walton for getting Bro. Jerry to the airport last Wednesday for his departure flight – much appreciated!)

Friendship family, please pray and then attend our two worship services this Sunday, 12/11.  Our 10:30AM service will feature a great Gideon testimony of God’s saving power.  The men from the Mission of Hope will join us for this service.  We will receive a love offering for the Gideons and will provide lunch for the men from the mission.  Going to be great!

Our evening service will feature the ministry of our adult choir under the leadership of Miss Jeanette Bates.  I appreciate these folks and look forward to worshipping God in this special service.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Our GA post office is up and running.  Easy way to exchange Christmas cards within the Friendship family while also supporting a great cause – JZ’s bucket list fulfillment.

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

Happy eighty-seventh birthday to my father-in-law, Charles Clark!  I pray that he will have a special day.  Charles has been a great father-in-law to me for the past forty-two years plus. Happy birthday, Charles!

Nanette Fontenot is scheduled to have surgery on one of her hands tomorrow.  She anticipates this will be a painful recovery process.  Pray that all goes well and that she will be wrong about the pain part.  I appreciate Scott & Nanette and their faithfulness to the Lord through the Friendship family.

I am being told that Teresa Ladnier could be discharged from the hospital today if all goes well.  That will be a good thing!  Pray for Teresa and John Milton.  Great couple!

Also, keep praying for Brooke (Ladnier) Whitehurst as she navigates all of her physical issues and for pain management.

Word come from Sammy through Bro. Abel that Myrtle is indeed having some good days.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying.

Steve Morris continues his battle against his malignancy at home.  He is confined to the bed.  Virginia is an excellent caregiver.  Keep praying for this fine couple.

Pray for Sharon Jardee and her continued battle against this open wound.  Sharon is basically confined to the house and bed these days.  She wants to be out and about and I pray that will happen soon.

Shawn Grant continues her rehab in Pensacola.  Pray for Shawn.

Regular schedule tomorrow, 12/7, on our campus.

Friendship family, do not miss the services this Sunday, 12/11!  Both are going to be special!

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

Disclaimer – I thought this entry got posted this morning but it obviously did not.  My apologies.  Technology is not my strongest suit!

Teresa Ladnier had emergency surgery yesterday.  As far as I know she did well.  She will be in the hospital for a couple of days.  Pray for Teresa and John Milton.

Steve Morris’ condition remains basically unchanged.  Keep praying!

Myrtle continues to need our prayers but she has been having some better days.  Keep praying!

I am told that our morning service went well and that our children’s choir did a very good job in presenting their musical.

I am encouraging each member of the Friendship family to be present this Sunday morning at 10:30AM for a special Gideon’s Sunday service.  The men from the Mission of Hope will be our guest in addition to our guest speaker.

Miss Jeanette Bates and the adult choir will lead us in worship during our Sunday evening service which will begin at 5:00PM.  Attend this service and pray for God to bless it.

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

Happy birthday to our daughter, Daphne.  How old?  Yep!  I know she has a busy day in front of her but I hope her birthday will be good!  She has a great husband who will make sure it is!  Lisa and I love Daphne!  (By the way, Bo Jackson just killed Alabama in the 1983 game and led Auburn to a 23 – 20 victory.  Just FYI!)

Our basketball leagues begin this morning and will play until after noon.  Pray for this ministry and that today will be a good day! I am very grateful to each person who helps in any way!

Tomorrow’s schedule on our campus is Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30AM and evening service at 5:00PM.  Miss Tena Hovel and the workers will lead our children’s choir in presenting their Christmas musical.  I pray the members of the Friendship family will faithfully attend all of these services.

Our ministry to the convalescent home will host their annual Christmas party on Wednesday, December 14.  Folks who have signed up to purchase a gift for a resident need to bring those to the church no later than next Sunday, 12/11.  Contact Miriam Moates if you have questions or need more information.

Remember, the GA’s post office is now open for card exchanging within the Friendship family.  All proceeds from this ministry will go toward helping JZ Baker and his bucket list trip to Guatemala.  Thanks to Tina Sprinkle, the workers and the children for their involvement in this ministry.  Prayerfully consider supporting this great cause!

Keep praying for Steve Morris, Myrtle Bowden, Sharon Jardee, Kristie and the others for whom we have been praying.  Also, Brooke Whitehurst is having a multitude of health problems.  She also needs our prayer support.

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

Spoke to Virginia Morris yesterday and Steve is doing better.  The medical folks made a change to Steve’s medications and that has made a positive difference.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying!

Still praying for Myrtle Bowden, Sharon Jardee and others.

Our friend from Michigan, Kristie, heard from the medical folks regarding his malignancy.  She has been diagnosed with stage three colon cancer.  It would appear that chemotherapy is in her immediate future.  Pray for Kristie, John and the family.  Great folks!

This announcement is a couple of days late and for that I apologize.  Tina Sprinkle sent me a message saying the GA Post Office will open this Sunday, 12/4, and all proceeds will go toward the “bucket list” trip for JZ Baker!  What a great idea!  What a great cause!  So, send those Christmas cards within the Friendship family through this means and help a great cause!  The receptacle is in the foyer of the auditorium.

Our basketball leagues begin play tomorrow, 12/3.  Pray for these leagues to be a ministry to the glory of God!

The schedule on our campus this Sunday, 12/4, is Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30AM and the adult choir musical at 5:00PM.  Bro. Abel will be preaching in the 10:30AM service.  Miss Tena Hovel will be leading the children’s choir in the 5:00PM service.

Friendship family, you do not want to miss next Sunday’s morning service.  We are going to have a special messenger, it will be our Gideon Sunday and the men from the Mission of Hope will be our special guests.  I am telling you to get all folks you know who battle with addiction to this service.  Sunday morning, 12/11/22, at 10:30AM.

We have a team in Guatemala for the annual Christmas trip.  It has taken two days but all team members are now present and accounted for so the work begins early in the morning.  Pray for this team!

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