Pastor's Blog

I spoke to Anna Carol Bosarge via the phone this morning.  She is at home recovering but is still in a lot of discomfort/pain.  She goes back to the doctor on Monday to have the packing taken out.  She said her sinuses actually feel better i.e. no pressure but she just has to get over the surgery.  Keep praying for her.

Dale & Karla Bosarge are traveling to Columbia, SC this weekend.  They will be ministering on Saturday night and returning home on Sunday.  Pray for safe travels and a blessed time of ministry. 

We have four members of the Friendship family joining eleven Yankees tomorrow morning for a mission trip to Guatemala.  Pray for them as they travel and minister.

Not much on the news front this morning so this will be short & sweet.  Lisa & visited with Miss Vivian late yesterday afternoon and also saw Miss Helen Ruth Brinkman.  Miss Helen is going to two doctors today and then will spend a few days with her son & his wife. 

We will ordain Jerry Whitmore as a deacon this Sunday night with the council meeting at 4:00PM and the ordination taking place as a part of our evening service. 

We will host the “surprise” 50th birthday party for John Ronald “Buddy” Jones after the worship service this Sunday evening.  I hope a good number of the Friendship family members will attend. 

I look forward to joining you this Sunday morning & evening in our Bible study & services. 

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

I love ending my Wednesdays with our young adults.  Thirty something of them gathered for Bible study last night and Bobby Henley did a great job of challenging them from the Word!  Great group!

The morning & evening services yesterday were a blessing too.  It is always good to see adults gather for prayer and to study the Word.

However, the absolute greatest news of the day came from our student ministry as a large number of students gave their lives to Jesus.  I don’t know all of the details but hope to see public decisions made in the following weeks.  Praise the Lord!

Miss Vivian was moved to another hospital and is adjusting.  Keep praying!

After seeing my “dance” moves on the platform last night (you should’ve been there), Karla Cooper doesn’t think I should give up my day job.  I’m hurt by that observation! 

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

I never cease to be amazed!  I read yesterday where the largest hospital in Rhode Island was cited for doing a wrong site surgery.  This is the teaching hospital for Brown University and this is their fifth wrong site surgery since 2007!  Wow! 

A mother in North Alabama was sentenced yesterday to 90 days in jail and she will be required to serve five days, do 40 hours of community service, and be on probation for two years.  Why?  She was transporting a box which was too big to fit into her vehicle so she put her 13 year old daughter in the box on top of her vehicle to hold it down as she drove.  (Folks, merely riding with a female driver can be a challenge let alone being on top of a car in a box!)  Wow!

A guy in Colorado stabbed himself Monday and claimed he was attacked by three men dressed in black.  He described them as being Hispanic or skinheads.  Why did he stab himself?  To get out of going to work!  Wow!

It was reported that ACORN was collecting absentee ballots in a New Jersey hospital related to yesterday’s election.  The charges have been denied.  I am checking with my friend, Pastor Jack Bailey, to see if he may have been involved.  I do know he was out of town yesterday! 

By the way, I found the elections of yesterday to be interesting.  For the 31st time the public has spoken and voted down gay marriage!  The latest victory for the family came in Maine which isn’t exactly a leader in conservatism.  Of the five states that have approved same sex marriages, all have been done through legislation or court rulings – never by popular vote. 

The ski town of Breckenridge, CO passed a law yesterday that allows adults to legally possess a small amount of marijuana.  Should make for some interesting skiing! 

We are scheduled for a regular Wednesday with our morning and evening activities.  I hope to be joined by a good number of the Friendship family. 

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

Good weekend – the Lord is good!  I was humbled and honored to be asked to take part in Valerie Sewer’s funeral service on Saturday.  It was over three hours long but it was one of the best funeral services I have ever witnessed!  Keep praying for Pastor Donald and his family. 

Dr. Tico did a nice job yesterday morning in our two morning services.  Armando did likewise in the afternoon service.  The preaching in last night’s service wasn’t much but the student choir did a nice job! 

Bro. Dale told me that the Hallelujah Festival went very well with good attendance and a good number of workers.  Thanks to all who helped in any way! 

Miss Vivian is scheduled to be moved to a rehab hospital tomorrow.  Pray that happens! 

I haven’t mentioned Carla Kyser or Miss Joyce Bosarge in a while but they still need our prayers.  Also, Courtney Hubbard is spending time in Houston receiving chemo which is to be followed by surgery in February and then radiation.  Pray for Mark & Courtney. 

John D. Hudson passed from this life on Friday night.  The visitation will take place tonight at Serenity with a 1:00PM service tomorrow from Union Baptist.  John is an uncle of Marie Brooks & Lee Sessions. 

Our 62nd anniversary as a church family takes place on 11/9 and we will celebrate this Sunday, 11/8.  I will preach on “No Place Like Home” during the morning services and we will then have a meal beginning at 4:45PM.  The church will furnish the meat & drinks.  We ask that you bring the side dishes and desserts. 

April McNiel & Jaclyn Weaver will lead our 6:00PM service.  I like these ladies and the way they lead worship.  Don’t miss that service.

I called it!  After AU lost to UK, I said they would lose to LSWho but would win against Mississippi.  I was a Duck fan on Saturday night too!   

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

Faith wins!  Faith wins!  Faith wins!  Congratulations to state tourney MVP, Chelsea Cummings, and all tournament team members, Jamie Hall & Jessica Hall, as they led the Faith Academy Lady Rams to the 5A volleyball state title yesterday morning.  Awesome!  They went to Pelham “expecting to win” and they did!  A perfect end to a great season and high school volleyball career for these three girls! 

Miss Vivian is much improved – praise the Lord!  So much so that she will hopefully be moved to a rehabilitation hospital either Monday or Tuesday.  She is upbeat and so is her family!  Keep praying! 

I visited with Pastor Donald Sewer last night for a few minutes.  He and the family are doing well.  Pray for them as they walk through this dark valley.  The service will take place at 11:00AM tomorrow from the auditorium at First Baptist of Grand Bay. 

Don’t forget the “Hallelujah Festival” tomorrow from 5:00 – 8:00PM.  Also, time changes tomorrow night so “fall back” one hour before going to bed. 

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

I spoke to Pastor Donald Sewer via the phone yesterday afternoon.  The visitation with the Sewer family will take place from 9:00AM until the 11:00AM service time this Saturday, 10/31.  The visitation and service will take place from First Baptist Church of Grand Bay.  Valerie was 49 years of age and her passing was totally unexpected per Pastor Donald.  Pray for the Sewer family during this trying time. 

This morning at 10:30AM, the Faith Academy Rams volleyball team will meet the St. Paul’s Saints to determine the state champion in Class 5A.  Yesterday, they won two matches to advance to this final game.  Good luck to Chelsea, Jamie, & Jessica and the entire Lady Rams team.  I believe they can win it! 

Lisa, Tico, Armando, & I will leave Michigan today heading to Atlanta and Grand Bay respectively.  My plans are to arrive in Mobile and then make hospital visits. 

It has been a whirlwind three days but it has been great to visit with so many of our friends and GRACE Ministries supporters.  Special thanks to Tom & Shari Compagner and Ross & Kathy Genzink for allowing us to stay in their homes.  These Michigan folks are great folks! 

However, there is no place like home and I look forward to seeing our girls and the Friendship family. 

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

At 10:11AM today, I officially pronounced Allen Glover & Edna Grace Miller Holifield as husband and wife!  The wedding ceremony was simple and short.  Allen & Edna were joined by family members and a small circle of friends. 

There will be a reception in their honor on Sunday, November 1, from 2:00 – 4:00PM and the members of the Friendship family are cordially invited to attend. 

Congratulations to Allen & Edna.  They are two fine Christian folks and I pray God’s best on their marriage!

We had another good Wednesday in our services.  It was good for me to finish another Wednesday with about 25 of our young adults in their 8:00PM Bible study. 

Miss Vivian failed a swallowing test yesterday morning.  I was told they were going to do another one yesterday afternoon but don’t have confirmation of that. 

I was also told that Miss Kathleen Henderson was in surgery yesterday but don’t have the details. 

Martha Pierre’s mother, Doris Waltman, remains hospitalized.  Ben Glass is at home.  Shannon Young is now in a regular room.  Pray for all of these folks.

Lindsey Vice told me last night that her brother, Neely Hatcher, is in the hospital and is facing surgery.  Pray for him. 

I don’t whether it is the “first annual” or the “first & last” “Sunday School Thrift Store Fashion Show” takes place tonight at 7:00PM in the CAB.  I am told that 32 folks will be displaying their outfits.  Should be interesting to say the least! 

We need candy & cakes for the Hallelujah Festival.  Contact Dale Bosarge for more info. 

I am thinking Ryan Johnston must be leading the NC team presently in Guatemala as they are not blogging.  Normally, they are “johnny on the spot” when it comes to updating daily.  What’s going on Louise? 

Jamie & Jessica Hall along with Chelsea Cummings will lead Faith Academy in their volleyball match this afternoon as they attempt to return to the Elite Eight in Pelham next week.  Personally, I think they will dispatch of Carver and move on.  Good luck girls! 

Personally, I almost always get my news updates from Fox News.  However, I guess that I will have to stop now since it is not a credible news agency. 

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

Lauren Joyner was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  I am sure that she & Landon will be on the mend for a few days but at least they are home. 

Martha Pierre’s mother, Doris Waltman, has been admitted to a local hospital.  Young Ben Glass has been placed back into a local hospital too.  Edna Holifield’s sister, Arlene Hepinstall, is in a Hattiesburg hospital. 

Miss Kathleen Henderson remains hospitalized.  I found out yesterday that Mr. Shannon Young also remains hospitalized which is about a month or so for him now.  I am not sure if Mrs. Jackson (Teddy Ray’s mother) is still in the hospital. 

The doctor removed the stent from Miss Vivian’s esophagus yesterday and he said the procedure went very well.  He is thinking that is going to help her tremendously.  Her mindset had changed for the better in the past couple of days and she was up walking in place yesterday morning.  Keep praying!

Today is a regular Wednesday as far as our services are concerned.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services this morning/tonight. 

A group from Wilmington, NC is presently using the mission house to do ministry this week.  They didn’t blog yesterday but I assume no news is good news.  They are building houses and doing medical. 

Our CAB renovation committee will meet tonight at 6:00PM in the CAB. 

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