Pastor's Blog

Lisa and I went to Serenity Funeral Home around 5:15PM or so yesterday and I was very thankful to see a large representation of the Friendship family there to support Tyrone, Michael, & their families.  I am sure that many more passed through there before the evening was over.  I appreciate you guys ministering to this family during their time of sorrow.  The funeral service will take place today at noon from Faith Baptist Church.  Pray for Pastor David Jones as he shares the Word with those in attendance. 

Lisa and I also went to 1st Baptist last night to visit with the Pate family as Miss Bennie Dean Pate passed away.  We saw a fairly good number of the Friendship family there too.  Pray for the Pate family and Pastor Benny Still as he preaches that service at noon today from 1st Baptist. 

Margie Shefffield and Bobby Switzer went home from the hospital yesterday.  I am not certain about Bill Teasley but he was thinking he would go home too.  I have failed to mention Tina Sprinkle’s uncle, Henry Bosarge, who is in an ICU.  I saw Daniel yesterday and his dad had made some improvement.  Alivia Seab remains hospitalized.  Amy apparently sees me coming and hides each time I visit the hospital because I have yet to see her there.  Shea Childress is scheduled to receive another treatment today.  Gloria Morrison is being prepped this week to receive her first treatment next week.  I am not sure what Carla’s schedule is for her next treatment.  Charles Taylor, grandfather of Keith Brown & Diane Cordelle, is in a local hospital after being in an automobile accident.  Pray for all of these folks. 

FA calls!  I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus! 

The arrangements for Jimmy Crawley are as follows:  visitation with the family tonight, 2/16, from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.  The service will take place tomorrow, 2/17, at noon from Faith Baptist Church in Grand Bay.  Pray for Bobby & Deidra as they travel from Alaska today, pray for the entire Crawley family, and pray for Pastor David Jones as he prepares to preach the service tomorrow.

Alivia Seab remains hospitalized in an ICU.  I was unaware of this until yesterday.  Carl Ray said last night that she may be allowed to come home either tomorrrow or Wednesday.  Amy has been discharged from the hospital but is staying in a courtesy room in the hospital.  Pray for Alivia.

Bill Teasley was admitted to the hospital Saturday night.  He is again having difficulty breathing.  They thought he would be discharged yesterday but that did not happen.  Pray for Bill.

Margie Sheffield and Bobby Switzer remain hospitalized too.  Margie is recovering from her heart surgery of last week and they are trying to determine why Bobby’s blood count is so low.  Tom Hill, Jodie Crawley’s grandfather, is home from the hospital but is in need of fairly constant care.  Shea Childress, Carla Felps, Joyce Bosarge, and Gloria Morrison all continue to battle their respective cancer so pray for them. 

It was good to see Bro. Jerry Hovel and Tina Sprinkle in our services yesterday as they continue their recovery from surgery.

We had a good day in our services yesterday as God blessed.  The family portrait in our second morning service was great.  What?  Had to have been there!    You came in good numbers last night to the service and I am thankful!

Danville Baptist has called Joe David Bailey as the Minister to Students/Associate Pastor.  I spoke to JD via the phone last night and he is looking forward to this new step in his life.  Pray for JD as he works with Pastor Jack – he’ll need it!  Worse yet, he will be working with Mandy Bowling – ouch!   

It’s Monday!  FA calls!  We have our FAITH ministry tonight.  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus! 

Jimmy Crawley, father of Tyrone, Terry & Michael, passed away this afternoon.  Arrangements are obviously incomplete as the family waits to see when Bobby can get home from Alaska.  Pray for the Crawley family.   

I stand corrected!  In case you haven’t noticed, that is becoming my theme!  According to Aunt Tiffany, Shea Childress did get a good report from the doctor this past Tuesday.  However, she was not able to receive her next treatment due to a low blood count.  (I can only assume that Myrtle’s hearing aid was not turned on or the battery was dead in the service on Wednesday morning)  The oncologist is continuing the treatments as a precautinary measure.  Thanks for the correction Aunt Tiffany! 

Bobby Switzer, Joey’s dad, was placed in the hospital last night as his blood count is way low.  He had gone for a test and they called to tell Miss Shirley to get Bobby to the hospital immediately.  Pray for him. 

As far as I know, everyone else we have listed in previous days is basically the same.  I am almost scared to share any updates due to the verbal lashing that I have received from Kim French & Tiffany Fox over the past two days.  I sure am glad this site monitors the comments – wow! 

It is shortly before 3:00AM and I just read the account of the Continental plane that crashed and burned in Buffalo, New York late last night.  It appears that 49 folks lost their lives in that crash – 48 on the plane and one in the house struck by the plane as it crashed.  We certainly want to pray for those families. 

LifeSouth will be in the west parking lot at Friendship this Sunday, 2/15, for a blood drive.  It begins at 10:30AM for folks who attend the early service and Sunday School.  I think they will be here for 4 hours. 

The “Taste of Friendship” is coming Saturday, 3/7.  Get your tickets to this great event which helps our students go to Wild Week this summer.  Great food and great fellowship! 

Pray for Danville Baptist as they vote this Sunday regarding a Minister to Students/Associate Pastor. 

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

I stand corrected!  Margie Sheffield actually had three by-passes yesterday instead of the five I reported.  Obviously, I need to do a better job of verifying information before putting it in print.  She did well through the surgery and is now recovering in the hospital. 

We had a good day in our services/Bible studies.  Our Wednesday morning service seemingly gets stronger month by month.  I am glad those folks are taking advantage of this opportunity to join us in Bible study during the morning hour. 

Shea Childress did not get the results of her scan yesterday.  It has something to do with her blood counts so she is now scheduled to get those results next week.  Keep praying for Shea and all of the others we usually mention who are battling cancer. 

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

Margie Sheffield, Rita Boutwell & Diane Trotti’s sister, is having five by pass surgery on her heart this morning. 

Amy Seab did give birth to Alivia Renee last night.  She checked in weighing almost seven pounds.  Adam & Grant are fine! 

Happy birthday Mama & Dad!  Yes, my parents share the same birthday as my Dad turns 73 today and my Mama is now 70.  I pray that today is a blessed day for my parents!  Ironically, they also share the same wedding anniversary!  (11/13) 

It is 4:15AM and I am thinking/assuming that Carl Ray & Sara Nell Moulds are grandparents again but I don’t know that for certain.  Amy Seab was placed in the hospital yesterday and the expectations were that she would have a baby at some point during the night.  Lisa and I were there shortly after 5:00PM and she had dilated to 4.  Sara Nell promised to call once Alivia entered this world and I am thinking that maybe she came so late that Sara Nell didn’t want to bother me.  At least I hope Adam & Amy are parents for the second time by now.  If not, Amy may be pulling a Dana Childress at this point! 

Sandy Felps remains hospitalized but yesterday they didn’t know the cause of her problems.  It is my understanding that Mr. Tom Hill, Jodi Crawley’s grandfather, was placed in the hospital yesterday too.  Rachel Jackson’s father, Mr. George Hill, had surgery on his knee yesterday.  I didn’t hear from Shea Childress’ scan results.  Please keep praying for Carla Felps, Joyce Bosarge, Jimmy Crawley, Tina Sprinkle & Bro. Jerry.  It is my understanding that Rita Boutwell & Diane Trotti’s sister, Margie, will be having heart by-pass surgery but I don’t know the details. 

I visited Alice Pigorsch in the GBCH yesterday and she was doing better although she is still having breathing difficulties.  I also had the opportunity to visit with Miss Exie Woods and Miss Lurline Webb.  Pray for the residents of the GBCH. 

Danville Baptist in the northern part of the State will be voting this Sunday morning, 2/15, to call Joe David Bailey as their full time Minister to Students/Associate Pastor.  Joe David is a good friend and I spoke to him via the phone last night.  He asked for our prayers.  It is an unusual situation because Joe David’s dad, Jack, is the Pastor of Danville Baptist.  Pray for Joe David, Bro. Jack, and the Danville family.  By the way, I think Rex Looney is distant kin to the Baileys through JD’s mother, June. 

It is Wednesday which means a full day for me beginning with our 10:00AM service and ending around 10:00PM tonight with our young professionals Bible study.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will join us in one of our services/Bible studies today or tonight.  Lois Kirschenman almost always attends the morning & evening services on Wednesdays – she must be in tough shape! 

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

Okay, so I forgot to post yesterday morning.  I was up early so that wasn’t a factor but it didn’t dawn on me until about noon that I did not post.  It was a Monday all day long!  Actually, I have to miss an entry once in a while just to make sure you guys are reading.  I apologize and appreciate your understanding. 

I am going to give a final recap of our GRACE ’09 I trip at some point today on the GRACE blog.  I have been slothful in doing that too. 

I was called to the hospital yesterday afternoon as it was thought that Miss Alice Pigorsch was passing from this life.  I visited with her daughter, Phyllis, and actually spoke with Miss Alice too.  She made improvements through the day.  Pray for Miss Alice – what a kind heart she has been to me in my years here as Pastor. 

Shea Childress gets the results of her latest scan today so pray for her.  Carla Kyser continues to receive her treatments.  Joyce Bosarge and Jimmy Crawley remain at home in their respective battles against cancer.  Bro. Jerry Hovel & Tina Sprinkle are recovering at home from their recent surgeries.  Will Reynolds’ father, Frank, tore ligaments in both of his knees.  He has had surgery and should go home from the hospital today.  Sandy Felps was admitted to the hospital last night. 

I watched the Kansas versus Missouri basketball game last night – good game!  However, I grew so very tired of hearing/reading about A-Rod.  Please! 

Speaking of the MLB, Bobby Henley leaves today to oversee the camp of the Washington Nationals.  Obviously, he isn’t the manager but he will be the one directly running the day to day operations of the camp.  Pretty impressive to me!  Pray that Bobby will be a great example of a Christian to those guys and pray for his family as they are here. 

Thanks to all who participated in our FAITH visitation last night.  We had a good night. 

Faith Academy is calling so I have to go.  I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.   

It is unusual for me to post on a Sunday but even more so given that I am in Guatemala.  However, I wanted to ask that you continue to pray for Sonny Bates and his family as they go through the grieving process for his nephew, Eddie Crocker.  They had that service yesterday and will be having a memorial service at Eddie’s church today. 

I don’t know a lot of news from home in regard to the folks hospitalized, recovering from surgery, et cetera.  I did hear from Bro. Jerry that Tina Sprinkle was about the same in her recovery but that was on Friday. 

Bro. Jerry will be preaching in our morning services today and Ralph Rimmer will be preaching during the evening service.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to be in their rightful place today. 

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

Eddie Crocker, Sonny Bates’ nephew, passed away yesterday morning.  Pray for the Crocker family.  I will add to this post later today as I am being paged to get on the plane in Houston.  Pray for us as we travel today and the group traveling tomorrow. 

Pastor Travis, we got the meds and have them with us – thanks! 

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