Pastor's Blog

Let’s begin with good news.  First, Tim met with a doctor who wants to connect him with a doctor who can possibly surgically remove the tumor instead of treating it.  He probably will not see that doctor until Monday.  It “appears” Tim will then have to go back to M.D. Anderson for surgery but that is not clear at this point.  More tests today and tomorrow and maybe a clearer picture as to what is next by Friday.  Keep praying!

Donnie Felps surgery as late getting started but they did get it done and he arrived home late last night.  He had a ninety five percent blockage in his leg.  They obviously opened the blockage.  Keep praying!

Continue to pray for Steve Morris, Myrtle Bowden and Rodney Whitehurst.  I will get updates on these folks in today’s services.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Remember the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration for Junior & Anna Carol Bosarge that places this Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 – 4:00PM in our Preschool Building.  Everyone is invited to attend!

Also, remember the “gift card shower” for Zach & Mary Anne Huhn scheduled for Sunday, May 22.  Suggestions are gift cards to Walmart or Target.

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

Donnie Felps will have a surgical procedure this afternoon.  Pray that all goes well.  Depending on the outcome of the surgery, Donnie could remain in the hospital overnight.

Tim & Peggy were set to arrive in Houston late last night and I am sure that happened.  Tim has blood work and an appointment with an oncologist today, procedures tomorrow and another procedure on Thursday.  Tim’s fifty sixth birthday is Friday so maybe they are going to keep him there and have a surprise birthday party for him?  Pray for the doctors to get clarity on Tim’s situation.

Steve Morris will begin immunotherapy IV today and will have it every three weeks for the next three months.  They will then check him again.  He has been put on a blood thinner as the scan showed some blood clots.  The therapy can have side effects but Steve is praying they will be minimal.  Pray for Steve & Virginia.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden, Elaine Brown and Rodney Whitehurst in their respective treatment regiments.

Remember the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration for Junior & Anna Carol Bosarge that will take place this Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 – 4:00PM in our Preschool Building.  The Friendship family is invited to attend!

Gary & Amy Huhn are set to become first time grandparents later this Summer as Zach & Mary Anne are expecting a baby.  Therefore, we are going to have a “gift card shower” on Sunday, May 22.  A basket will be placed on the platform that day and cards can be placed in it.  Suggestions would be Walmart or Target but you may have other ideas.  Amy will make sure the cards get to her grandchild!

Barbecue fellowship on Sunday, July 3, 2022.  I am looking for a minimum of twelve homemade cakes or pies that will be auctioned at the fellowship with the proceeds going to missions.  Participants are asked to let me know of their intent to participate as soon as possible.  Who will be the “master baker” of the Friendship family?

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

First on the prayer list today is Steve Morris as he will meet with an oncologist today to discuss the results of his PET scan, treatment options, et cetera.  Please pray without ceasing for Steve & Virginia.

Second, pray for Tim & Peggy Knighten as they leave today heading to M.D. Anderson for Tim’s appointment tomorrow.  Pray for traveling mercies and for a good result from his meeting.

Third, pray for Donnie Felps as he will have a surgical procedure tomorrow afternoon.  Pray that all goes well.

Fourth, keep praying for Myrtle Bowden as she is having some side effect issues relating to her chemo treatments.  Myrtle is a trooper and has a strong faith.

Fifth, keep praying for Rodney Whitehurst too.  He is having some side effect issues relating to his radiation treatments.  He sees his doctor tomorrow.  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the doctor.

Sixth, pray for Elaine Brown as she is in the midst of her radiation treatments.  Elaine is such a sweetheart!

Glory to God!  We had a tremendous Mother’s Day!  Obviously, the attendance in the two morning services was strong!  The spirit was great!  Thanks be to God for two blessed services!

Wow!  Our crawfish/shrimp boil was a huge success!  First, God blessed us with basically a perfect weather day!  Second, the men who did the boiling, the set up, et cetera did an outstanding job!  Just outstanding!  I dare not try to list them all for fear of leaving someone off the list.  Bro. Jerry took the lead from the staff’s standpoint and I appreciate him doing so!  The attendance was very good!  The fellowship was sweet!  The food was fantastic!  It was one of the best church fellowships we have ever hosted. Next up – barbecue fellowship on Sunday, July 3, under the leadership of Stacy Dyess!  Details to come!

Our soccer leagues will host their awards night tonight.  Bro. Abel has done an excellent job of leading this ministry.  It has been a huge success!

This Friday, May 13, will mark the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Junior & Anna Carol Bosarge.  Their three sons and families will host a reception for them this Saturday, 5/14, from 2:00 – 4:00PM in the fellowship hall.  The Friendship family is invited to attend!

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

Happy eleventh birthday to our granddaughter, Emmy Hutto!  I pray that she will have a really good day celebrating this special day with family and friends.  We love Emmy!

Regular schedule on our campus in the morning.  Crawfish/shrimp boil begins at 5:00PM.

There is a backdrop in the auditorium foyer that is designed for photo ops tomorrow.  Come prepared to take pictures of your family, if you so desire.

Today is the final day of this soccer season for our leagues.  Bro. Abel has done a great job of leading this ministry.  Closing ceremonies will take place on Monday night.

Looking forward to seeing many members of the Friendship family in our services/fellowship tomorrow!

Steve Morris received a call yesterday afternoon sharing the results on his biopsy from last Friday.  The lymph node they biopsied was malignant.  Steve was already scheduled for a PET scan today.  He meets with the oncologist this Monday, 5/9, to discuss treatment options, et cetera.  Please join me in praying for Steve & Virginia.

Liz Whalen has an appointment this afternoon to find out the results of her latest test.  Pray for Liz.

Carol Lucky was supposed to be discharged from the hospital last night.  She has been in the hospital since Sunday.  Her problem has been fluid on her lungs.

Myrtle Bowden had her chemo pump removed yesterday.  Keep praying for Myrtle.

Elaine Brown has sixteen radiation treatments in front of her.  One each weekday until they reach the sixteen.  Pray for Elaine.

Tim Knighten will travel to M.D. Anderson next Tuesday to meet with a specialist.  Pray for Tim & Peggy as they travel and then for the meeting.

Donnie Felps will be meeting with the doctor next week too.  I “think” he will have at least one surgical procedure done next week but my memory could be failing me.  Pray for Donnie & Marisa.

We had a really good day in our services yesterday.  Morning attendance was really good.  Thank you, Jesus!

Regular schedule this Sunday morning.  Crawfish/shrimp boil this Sunday afternoon beginning at 5:00PM.

Dr. Rex, will you send me the gender breakdown of the folks going with you & Russell this July?

Praying for the members of the SCOTUS.

Why not blog entries since last Thursday?  Yes.

By the way, Soy, Deidra and the girls have moved into their new house (more or less).  It is beautiful.  Some folks felt impressed to give the money to completely pay for the building of this house.  Those folks got zero tax credit as the money was given to Soy & Deidra personally and not to the ministry.  Folks, God is good!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Our evening service had a really good attendance.  Thank you to those who are faithful to attend.

Steve Morris will have a biopsy done tomorrow, a scan next Thursday, 5/5, and then a meeting with the doctor on Monday, 5/9.  I am thankful that something is being done as Steve has been in a waiting period.

As far as I know, no other significant changes for anyone else for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying!

Seven of us left Mobile this morning heading to Guatemala.  We will be joined by two others in Atlanta.  It is a ministry trip that coincides with a wedding.

We need to hear from the Friendship family regarding the crawfish/shrimp boil on Sunday, May 8, beginning at 5:00PM.  Call the church office today or sign the list this Sunday.

Senior adults who have not signed up for this Sunday’s meal need to contact Bro. Jerry.  It is going to be great.

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

Brian Matthew McMann, 49, of Grand Bay, Al, passed away on April 20th, 2022, after a long battle with pancreatitis. He was born on August 7th, 1972, to Darrell and Betty McMann in Springfield, IL. Brian served as the plant manager for Specialty Piping Products in Theodore, Al for several years, after receiving a special thanks from the Mobile County School Board for demonstrating excellent Plant Safety to a tour group at Tendal. Brian is survived by his wife Alicia who he met in mid 1990s; his parents Darrell and Betty McMann; one daughter Sabrina (husband Tanner), one son (Kyle) and two stepsons, Derek (wife Kirsten) and Corey. He is also survived by four granddaughters (Rae Rae, Carley, Harper, and Hadleigh) and one grandson (Weston) and his two brothers Darrell Jr (wife Cindy) and Glenn (wife Kimberly). His favorite hobbies were fishing in Mississippi and NASCAR.

A memorial service will be held on May 7, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Friendship Baptist Church.

The arrangements for Terry Brinkman were posted late yesterday afternoon.  I expect our attendance in tomorrow morning’s service to be affected as a good number of those who attend that service are part of Terry’s extended family.  However, we will still have the service as we will be finished in plenty of time for folks to attend the visitation and/or service.  Keep praying for the Terry Brinkman family.

Steve Morris’ visit with the oncologist did not reveal much.  Some tests were ordered and another appointment scheduled for May 9.  Steve has been on that proverbial “waiting list” so his patience is much better than mine.  Pray for Steve & Virginia.

Donnie Felps will see a doctor today about the blood flow in his other leg.  Pray for a good report.

My sister, Melissa, met with a doctor yesterday and he was very concerned about her situation.  He ordered two tests for today.  Prayers appreciated.

If you are a part of the Friendship family and have not signed up for the crawfish/shrimp boil scheduled for Sunday, May 8, beginning at 5:00PM then please do so now.  You can call the church office today between 8:00AM & noon or 1:00PM and 4:00PM.  Or, you can send me an email to pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  We need to get an expected number in order to purchase an adequate amount of crawfish and shrimp.  Please take the time to sign up now!

Senior adults, please sign up for the meal just for you that will take place this Sunday, May 1, in the CAB immediately following our 10:30AM service.  The Heritage House will be catering this lunch and they do a great job.  Contact Bro. Jerry Hovel if you have questions or need more information.

Good for Jack Brewer!

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

Ralph “Terry” Terral Brinkman, Sr., age 74, a resident of Grand Bay, AL, passed away April 25, 2022. He was a retired employee of Grand Bay Water Works and served his nation during the Vietnam Way in the U.S. Army. As a car enthusiast, Terry loved going to car shows and even collected scale models. He was also a member of Christ Church in Grand Bay.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Brinkman; sons, Terry Brinkman, Jr. (Amanda), Josh Brinkman (Cindy), and Jeromy Brinkman (Kate); grandchildren, Trey Brinkman (Elizabeth), Robert Brinkman (Destiny), Brandon Brinkman (Skylar), Jeromy Dean Brinkman, and Katie Brinkman; great-grandchildren, Beau Brinkman and Cammie Brinkman; brother, Eddie Lee Brinkman (Lisa); sisters, Elaine Brown (Larry), Linda Rogers (Barney), and Edna Pearl Morgan (Phil); nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Visitation will be held at Serenity Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 from 10 AM-12 PM, followed by service at 12 PM. Interment will be held in Serenity Memorial Gardens

Edna Pearl sent me a message about thirty minutes ago sharing that Terry Brinkman passed from this life earlier this afternoon.  Pray for his wife, Karen, and the entire family.  Arrangements pending.