Pastor's Blog

Emma Kate Ladnier was not discharged from the hospital yesterday.  The medical folks are growing another culture to be more sure of their diagnosis.  The results should come in today.  Keep praying for Emma Kate and her parents.

Steve Morris remains in rehab.  He almost had another mishap yesterday.  Steve & Virginia have been through the proverbial ringer.  Keep praying!

Myrtle Bowden had a tough Monday afternoon.  She was doing better yesterday afternoon.  This fact remains very evident – Myrtle has a very strong faith in God!  Her faith does not waver!  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and the family.

Keep praying for Shawn Grant as she remains in rehab.

Tim & Peggy are basically just counting down the hours now until the surgery takes place tomorrow morning.  Pray for Tim & Peggy to have a great day today as they wait.  Pray for the surgery to go well.

Lord willing, I will be leaving in a couple of hours to drive to Houston to be with Tim & Peggy during the surgery.  Prayers for traveling mercies will be appreciated.

I am actually going to leave a bit later than planned as I am being blessed with the opportunity to visit with Harold, Mary Anne and Ezabella Dueitt this morning.  I have know Harold forever since the days of his youth.  He was actually one of the twelve boys who played on Friendship’s first Royal Ambassador basketball team back in the day!  It is going to be good to see this family!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  Bro. Jerry will be filling in for me.  I hope the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

I am considering changing teams in regard to my college football support.  You may be thinking, “what?  You have been an Alabama fan all of your life!”  You are correct.

Looking forward to our anniversary celebration this Sunday, 11/13.  Pray, attend and bring someone with you.  It is going to be a great day!

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

Emma Kate Ladnier, young daughter of Johnny & Felicia Ladnier, has been in the hospital since Sunday afternoon.  She is much improved and will most likely be discharged today.  Pray for Emma Kate and her parents.

Steve & Virginia Morris are discouraged.  The folks moving Steve from the bed to the wheelchair yesterday morning basically dropped him (not completely but almost) and caused him much pain in his surgically repaired back.  His physical therapy was then limited to his upper body and not much of that.  The overall therapy does not seem to be having the desired effect.  Pray for Steve & Virginia!

It appears that all systems are “go” for Tim Knighten and his surgery.  His surgery should begin shortly after 7:00AM on Thursday, 11/10.  If all goes well, Tim & Peggy could be traveling home next Monday, 11/14.  He “may” have to stay in the hospital overnight on Thursday.  Pray for Tim & Peggy!  By the way, Tim’s surgery will be robotic.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.

I am hearing the Brooke Whitehurst is doing “ok” as she continues to wait on some more definitive answers from a doctor regarding her pain issues.  Pray for Brooke.

Shawn Grant remains in a physical therapy rehab center.  Keep praying for her.

I strongly encourage those who can to vote today.

Lord willing, I will leave in the morning driving to Houston in order to be with Tim & Peggy during Tim’s surgery on Thursday morning.  Tim has to be there at 5:30AM.  So, Bro. Jerry will be teaching in my place in both services Wednesday.  Hopefully, I will return home on Thursday but that depends on the outcome of the surgery.

Our fall season is over and our basketball leagues are up next.  It appears we are going to have a very strong basketball season with almost one hundred and fifty players on sixteen teams.  Kristi Siker is giving Bro. Abel a huge assist with this ministry.

Looking forward to our seventy fifth anniversary as a church family this Sunday, 11/13.  Pray, attend and bring others with you.

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Tim & Peggy Knighten arrived in Houston last night.  Tim’s first test is this morning at 7:00AM with his surgery still scheduled for this Thursday, 11/10.  Pray for Tim & Peggy!

Steve Morris got some encouraging news this past week concerning his kidney function.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying!

Keep praying for Bro. Abel’s grandson, Asher; Myrtle Bowden; Brooke Whitehurst and Shawn Grant.

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

Bro. Abel’s grandson, Asher, is having some physical difficulties.  If you have social media then you are probably more up to date on his situation than I am.  Bro. Abel keeps me updated but social media is more current most of the time.  Just keep praying for infant Asher and the family.

Brooke Whitehurst was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She will go today for an epidural.  Pray for Brooke as she navigates this situation and tries to manage the pain.  Brooke and family are grateful for the prayer support.

Tim & Peggy Knighten are set to leave tomorrow heading to Houston to get ready for Tim’s surgery which is scheduled for next Thursday, 11/10.  Pray for traveling mercies and a successful surgery.

Steve Morris remains in rehab.  Had a good visit with him on Wednesday.  Keep Steve & Virginia in your prayers.

Shawn Grant is now in a rehab facility in Pensacola.  It is my understanding that she will be there for two weeks or so.  Pray for Shawn.

As always, keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.  Pray for Myrtle to be able to eat as she continues to lose weight which is not a good thing.

Nanette Fontenot was scheduled to have surgery yesterday morning.  It was on, off, on, off (you get the idea) before she was finally told to go home and reschedule at a time when it could be done in a hospital instead of an outpatient facility.  Frustrating.  Pray for Nanette.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Brooke Ladnier Whitehurst was admitted to the hospital due to extreme pain in her back.  The doctors are trying to determine the exact cause of the pain and find a solution.  Pray for Brooke and the doctors.

Miss Vinnie called me yesterday to let me know that her son, Buddy, will have another treatment this week.  He is feeling good and continues to maintain a positive attitude.  Keep praying.

Talked to Steve & Virginia yesterday morning.  Steve is making a little progress in his rehab.  Not walking yet and very tired at the end of each day due to the physical therapy.  Pray for Steve & Virginia.

Tim & Peggy Knighten will soon head back to Houston with Tim’s surgery scheduled for Thursday, 11/10.  Pray for traveling mercies and a successful surgery.

I did not talk to Bro. Abel yesterday.  I assume all continues to be well with Francesca and Asher.  I also assume that one can get all of the details via social media as Bro. Abel is good at communicating through that means.  Keep praying!

It is my understanding that John Milton Ladnier got a good report from the doctor – praise the Lord!

Pray for Myrtle Bowden and then pray some more!

As far as I know, Shawn Grant remains in the hospital.  Pray for Shawn.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  There will be a meal served at the church tonight beginning at 5:00PM.  Cost is five dollars per person with a maximum of twenty dollars per immediate family.  Contact Bro. Dylan for more information.

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

Bro. Abel’s oldest daughter, Francesca, gave birth to Asher James Romano at 5:03PM yesterday afternoon.  He checked into this world weighing seven pounds and twelve ounces.  He is twenty one inches long.  Mother and son are doing well.  Congratulations to the entire family and thanks to God!  (Bro. Abel is a happy camper!)

I did not talk to Virginia Morris yesterday to get an update on Steve but will do so today.  I do know that we need to keep praying as Steve goes through his rehab.

I also plan to contact Miss Vinnie today to get an update on her son, Buddy.  Keep praying.

Shawn Grant was doing well, all things considered, when I visited with her yesterday.  She can leave the hospital with the main decision right now being where she will go for rehab.  Pray for wisdom on her behalf.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.

Our focus this Sunday morning, 11/6, will be on our bus ministry as we celebrate fifty years in this ministry.  The following Sunday, 11/13, we will celebrate seventy five years as a church family.  Pastor Randy Von Kanel will be our guest in our only morning service (10:30AM) and our 5:00PM evening service.  We will gather in the CAB for a church wide supper around 6:00PM.  More details on that later.

Keep the dates of Sunday, December 11, and Thursday, January 12, open.  Big happenings!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day yesterday.  We saw another profession of faith in our second morning service which also included a very special parent/child dedication with Coley, Katelyn, Amelia & Samuel.  Folks, that one got to me!  We give God the praise for all He did!

The Trail of Truth and Treats went very well.  Five hundred and fifty nine folks went through the auditorium and received the Truth.  Bro. Dylan did an excellent job of presenting the Gospel.  Tons of candy was given away on the back forty along with hot dogs, popcorn and drinks.  I appreciate Bro. Abel & Candy and TJ & Lindsey for leading this ministry opportunity.  A huge “thank you” to each person who helped in any other way.  To God be the glory!

Today is going to be a big day for Bro. Abel and family as his oldest daughter, Francesca, is scheduled to give birth to her first child.  This will take place in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  Pray for all to go well.

Shawn Grant was involved in a serious automobile accident last week and has already undergone two surgeries – knee and ankle.  She is in a hospital in Pensacola.  My plan is to visit with her today.

Steve Morris remains in a Mobile hospital doing rehab.  The thought is that he will be there for another two to three weeks.  Keep praying for Steve and Virginia.

I talked to Tiffany last night and she told me that Myrtle did not have a good afternoon.  Keep praying!

I was blessed to see Carol Lucky, Marjorie Peacock and Richard Tillman in our first service yesterday.

Chino’s mother, Gladys, arrived in Grand Bay late Friday evening and will be with us until this Friday.  Thank you to Aninha and the Spanish ministry for hosting her yesterday.

This Sunday, November 6, we are going to focus on our bus ministry which turned fifty years old this month.  What a blessing!  What a ministry!

We will be blessed to host Pastor Randy Von Kanel on Sunday, 11/13, as we celebrate seventy-five years as a church family.  We will have one morning service.  Our evening service will begin at 5:00PM followed by a church wide supper in the CAB.  Please pray, make plans to attend and bring others with you.

Please keep the date of Sunday morning, December 11, clear on your calendar and make plans to attend one of our morning worship services that day.  Special Gideon emphasis that morning.

Go ahead and keep the date of Thursday, January 12, 2023 open too.  We will host The Inspirations that evening beginning at 7:00PM!  (That is why Andy Hamil is smiling so much these days!)

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

William Maxie Peacock, age 86, a resident of Grand Bay, AL, passed away October 20, 2022. He served his nation by serving in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years where he was an aircraft electrician and later worked as an electrician for oil exploration. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather to his family and a true patriot to his country.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bertha M. Peacock; son, Kenneth B. Peacock; parents, Burchie and Ola Frances Peacock; sisters, Glendell Peacock and Norma Jean Thompson; brother, Jimmy Peacock. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Mayo Peacock; son, William R. Peacock (Carolyn); daughter, Zaneta Kay Warren; 8 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Karen Peacock; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Visitation will be held at Friendship Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 from 9-10 AM, followed by service at 10 AM. Interment will be held in Serenity Memorial Gardens.

Max Peacock passed from this life and entered Heaven yesterday afternoon.  I can with all honesty that Max Peacock was a very good man.  He was faithful to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Pray for Marjorie and the family as they walk through this valley.  Arrangements pending.

Steve Morris remains in the hospital.  The request is that he not have visitors for the time being.  He & Virginia are most thankful to each person who is praying and look forward to hosting visitors soon.  Keep praying.

Exciting news – Pastor Randy Von Kanel is going to be our guest messenger on Sunday, November 13, as we celebrate seventy five years as a church family.  Details to follow soon.  Going to be a great day in the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday – morning and evening.

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

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, was told by his doctor yesterday that, for now, the insurance company has approved paying for his treatments.  Amen!  So, the treatments begin.  Pray for Buddy!