Pastor's Blog

We had a great weekend of worship at Friendship.  The response during the invitation in the morning services was good.  Comments came to me in person and via e-mail with folks sharing how God is working in their lives.  Thank God for His moving in our midst.

The evening service with Seraph was great too.  Those guys really do a nice job of sharing the message in song.  I had a number of folks, old and young, tell me how much they enjoyed the service.  We had a great crowd and I thank all of those who were in attendance.  Also, thanks to those who gave to the love offering and purchased Seraph’s products. 

Merle Weeks, Jackie Goff’s sister, passed away yesterday afternoon.  The arrangements are incomplete at this time.  Phillip Wilson’s funeral service will take place this morning.  Pete Nelson, Rita’s dad, had double by-pass heart surgery on Friday and is doing well.  Rita arrived home safely.  Dollie Trout and Bea Unrue are both recovering nicely fromt their respective surgeries.  Vance May did come home from the hospital last week too.  Please keep all of these folks in your prayers. 

This weekend is a holiday weekend but we have some exciting things taking place at Friendship.  Clint Landry will be preaching in our 8:00AM service and Dr. Mike Clark, Casa Aleluya, will be sharing during our 6:00PM service.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family who are in town will make a special effort to attend these services. 

We will begin our forty days of prayer and fasting next week.  Members of the Friendship family are encouraged to sign up to join us in this season of fervent prayer.  We will pray in the auditorium each evening during those forty days. 

A.J. Shappi and his wife, Katie, have been attending our services for the past several Sundays.  A.J. pitches for the Mobile BayBears and they end their season this week so A.J. & Katie will be going home to California.  Pray for them as they travel home and then as they get involved in their home church.   

I hope you will have a great day with Jesus!   

I just received word this morning that Phillip Wilson passed away during the night.  Please pray for Molly, Stuart, & Myles as they go through this valley.

All of our folks who are in the hospital are doing okay with no significant changes in anyone’s condition.  I think that Rita Vice came home from CA yesterday but am not for certain.  She or Kevin will be in touch and I will post an update on Rita’s dad, Pete Nelson.

Seraph will be our guest ministers this Sunday evening, 8/26, during our worship service.  I hope each member of the Friendship family will join us for this special service and remember that we will receive an offering for this group.

We no longer have any openings on our next GRACE trip (11/23-30).  We did add Gene Davis to that group – wish it would have been Gena but we will have to settle for Gene!  Also, the dates for our medical trip are going to change – most likely to February ’08.  We simply couldn’t find a decent airfare for the March dates.  Again, we have a very limited number of openings on that trip.  Our summer ’08 trips are filling nicely too. 

I had the opportunity to talk to my uncle in Michigan via the phone last night.  I won’t share the details but suffice it to say that, in my opinion, the Lord is working in his life.  Please pray for him as he gets the results of his bone density test (not biopsy as I wrote yesterday) next Friday.  The doctor will then chart a course of action which will almost certainly include surgery.

High school football begins tonight as the AISA schools take the field.  Faith Academy travels to Bessember while Cottage Hill Christian Academy hosts Jackson.  Our own John Vickers plays on the CHCA team and we wish him and the team the best tonight.  Also, in the great north, the Holland Christian Maroons take the field tonight too.  Matt DeYoung plays for HC.  Matt is a regular participant on our November GRACE trips so we wish him the best too. 

I don’t have plans to post again until Monday.  However, I do want to wish an early “happy birthday” to our church secretary Edna Holified as she will celebrate birthday #?? (or is it #???) this Sunday, 8/26.   Happy birthday Edna! 

I did determine that Michigan doesn’t have internet access as none of my Yankee friends heard my cry for help yesterday!  Queen & Shari – I am crushed! 

My prayer is that all of the folks reading this entry will be in church this Sunday.  Obviously, my hope is that the members of the Friendship family will join us for Bible study and worship. 

I pray that today will be a great day in the Lord!   

The Lord certainly blessed us yesterday with good services/Bible studies.  I appreciate those who take the time to pray, prepare, and teach our Wednesday night classes.  We have a lot of folks involved in the various activities on Wednesdays as we study the Bible, learn about missions, have choir rehearsals, et cetera and it takes a committment to staff all of these ministry opportunities.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

They were not able to do the procedure on Carla Kyser as her bone is healing.  She will go for further consultation as to the next move.  Bea Unrue did well in her knee replacement surgery.  Dollie Trout continues to do well and should be home by the weekend.  Pray.

I got word via e-mail that one of my uncles in Michigan has prostate cancer and the initial report is not good.  This is one of my mama’s brothers and I would appreciate your prayers for him.  A bone marrow biopsy will be done to determine if the cancer is limited or has spread to any of his organs.  Please pray! 

Please remember that the musical group, Seraph, will be ministering in our 6:00PM service this Sunday.  All members of the Friendship family are encouraged to attend this special service.

Bro. Kerry will be taking the members of our student ensemble to Pelham this Saturday for a day of ice skating and shopping.  All members and prospective members are invited to attend this event.  You can contact Bro. Kerry for more details. 

We are looking for seven adults to serve on our senior high student ministry committee and seven more adults to serve on our junior high student ministry committee.  Interested persons should sign up using one of the forms which are in the foyer of the auditorium.

Due to the fire at the Chevron Refinery last week, we have a few openings on our November 23 – 30, 2007 GRACE trip to Guatemala.  We need to fill those immediately so, if interested, please contact me asap.  Also, we are hosting a medical trip the dates of March 1 – 8, 2008.  Space on that trip is limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.  If interested, sign up immediately. 

Today is Miss Judy Tucker’s birthday!  This sweet lady has had a tremendous impact on my life since I was an eleven year old boy and she was my pastor’s wife.  We used to do Saturday bus visitation together and she was my “mama” for a brief time as I lived with Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy.  Happy birthday Miss Judy! 

I think I understood correctly that Missionary Mark Mast is presently in Michigan.  If so, would one of our Yankee readers have him contact me today?  If he gets my voice mail, ask him to leave a number where he can be reached.  Mark is a regular blog reader but I don’t know if he has access to the internet this week.  (I am not even sure Michigan has internet access yet!) 

I hope you have a great day with Jesus! 

Carla Felps Kyser is going to the hospital this morning for the cancer treatment procedure.  Please pray for her as she will be in the hospital all day for precautionary measures.  Pray that this treatment will prove effective. 

Bea Unrue will go a little later this morning and have knee replacement surgery.  She is so ready to have this procedure done.  Pray for her.

Dollie Trout was moved to a room yesterday.  The doctors believe that Rusty Lewis’ cancer was contained and are positive about his situation.  Pete Nelson did not have his tests done on Monday but did have them done yesterday.  I don’t know the results but do know that if everything went well then Rita is going to try and fly home today.  Pray that there will be space on the flights she needs to be on in order to get home.  Rita Steiner, Bill & Bea’s daughter, did well in surgery yesterday too. 

The couple who had their lives taken in Irvington on Monday morning were Christy Wynn’s great aunt & uncle.  Please keep this family in your prayers. 

Also, Angie LeBlanc from Louisiana e-mailed me asking us to pray for a family in their church.  Long story but a young mother took the lives of her two children.  These two children, the mother, and the grandmother all attended the church where Danny & Angie are members.  Pray for this family and the church family as well. 

It’s Wednesday which means a full day of services and Bible studies.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to join us either this morning or tonight for the prayer meeting/Bible study for their respective age group. 

Dollie Trout did well through her heart surgery yesterday and is expected to be home by the weekend.  I haven’t gotten a report from Rusty Lewis or Pete Nelson.  I did learn that Vance May is going home tomorrow. 

Bill & Bea Unrue’s daughter, Rita, will have surgery today.  Bea will have knee replacement surgery tomorrow.  Carla Kyser will have a “microwave” treatment on her cancer tomorrow too.  Please keep all of these folks in your prayers. 

I didn’t get to attend the funeral service for Tammy Litton but Coach Nate Blaylock told me it was a service that exalted Jesus.  Pastor Ed and his family definitely will continue to need much prayer support. 

The report from our first night of our FAITH ministry for this semester was encouraging.  I thank each member of a FAITH team for their involvement in this ministry.

Members of the Friendship family are asked to make plans to be present this Sunday for our 6:00PM worship service.  This service will feature the ministry of the musical group, Seraph, which has Steven Kelley as a member.  I ask you to pray for this service and to be present for it too. 

Derrick & Jodie arrived home safely and are now in New Orleans where Derrick is attending his first day of class this semester.  Please pray for them as they adjust to life in the States. 

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

We had a blessed day in our services yesterday and we thank God for His blessings.  The trio, Felicity, sang in the PM service and I appreciate their willingness to come minister.  It was good to see a number of folks respond to the invitation last night as they spent time encouraging one another. 

Dollie Trout will be undergoing heart surgery around 10:30AM this morning so please keep her and her family in your prayers. 

It is my understanding that Rusty Lewis will have one of his kidney’s removed today.  His son, Cam, attends our student Bible study from time to time.  Please pray Rusty and his family too.

Pete Nelson, Rita’s dad, will have some testing/procedures done today in California.  Please pray that the doctors will be able to get a clear picture of what is happening with his heart and that they will be able to correct it.  Pray for Rita as she waits beside her dad.

The funeral service for Tammy Litton takes place at noon today so pray for Pastor Ed and his family during this time.

The final mission team, 1st Baptist Wilmington, NC, to use the mission house this summer came home yesterday.  We are thankful to them and all the other churches that have used the mission house thus far this year.  It has been a blessed year of ministry. 

Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson ended their interim ministry as our resident missionaries to Guatemala yesterday too.  I appreciate the ministry they have had for the past eighteen months.  Derrick resumes his seminary studies tomorrow, 8/21.  Pray for them as Derrick completes this final year of seminary and they apply with the IMB for appointment. 

FYI – the Foundations of Friendship class is completely filled.  Thanks to all of those who have signed up.  It will be offered again beginning the first Sunday in October. 

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

I had said that I would not post again until Monday but I wanted to share a few prayer requests with you.  First, Rita Vice’s dad, Pete Nelson, did not have the test done yesterday as it has been postponed until Monday.  I spoke with Rita via the phone this afternoon and she is pretty  upset over the whole situation.  Her dad did not have a good night Friday night and now has pneumonia.  Rita was scheduled to fly home Monday but that has obviously been changed.  Please pray for Rita and her dad.

The visitation for the Litton family will take place tomorrow night at First North Mobile with the funeral service for Tammy Litton taking place Monday at noon.  Pray for Pastor Ed, their three children, and all of the family as they go through this valley of sorrow. 

Dollie Trout will have open heart surgery Monday morning.  Hopefully, it will involve a single by-pass only.  Pray for Dollie and her family. 

Hope to see the members of the Friendship family in church tomorrow morning and evening. 

Yesterday proved to be a very interesting day.  The funeral service for Mark Smith, Tena’s brother-in-law, was very well attended and the pastors did a nice job of bringing comfort from the Word of God.  Continue to pray for that family. 

I was in my office preparing for a staff meeting when Miss Kittie informed me of a major fire at the Chevron refinery in Pascagoula.  A couple of phone calls gave me an assurance that no one was missing, injured, or deceased as a result of the fire.  That was certainly good news considering the fact that we have a large number of the Friendship family who work for Chevron or at Chevron for a contractor.  We thank God for His watchcare.  Kerry Woods was the person responsible for making the announcement via the intercom to the refinery workers and I am told that he did it very professionally and calmly even though it was a major fire indeed.  I really would expect nothing less from Kerry.  Pray for those guys as they evaluate the damage and begin rebuilding that portion of the plant. 

Word came late yesterday afternoon that Tammy Litton, wife of Pastor Ed Litton, was involved in an automobile accident on Highway 98 in Mississippi just west of Lucedale.  The accident proved fatal to her but their 13 year old daughter survived and is going to be okay physically.  Ed serves as the pastor of First Baptist North Mobile.  Please join me in praying for this family during this difficult time. 

Rita Vice’s father, Pete Nelson, is having an angioplasty done today at a hospital in CA.  Rita is still there with him.  Please pray as he goes through this procedure. 

Derrick & Jodie have two more days of ministry in Guatemala.  Pray that all will go well as they bring this phase of their ministry lives to a close and move forward in another phase.

I don’t plan on entering another post until Monday.  I hope that the members of the Friendship family will join me in Bible study and worship this Sunday morning and evening.  May your weekend be blessed!

We had a good day yesterday in our respective Bible studies, prayer meetings, et cetera.  The attendance in our morning prayer meeting was very good and the same can be said for our evening attendance.  Our children’s choir under the leadership of Kathy Wadkins began a new year last night.  I encourage the parents of children in the 1st – 5th grades to involve those children in this choir each Wednesday night at 6:00PM.  They will present a musical one Sunday evening during the Christmas season.

Speaking of music, we will host the musical group, Seraph, on Sunday, 8/26, during our 6:00PM service.  Steven Kelley is a member of this group.  Please make plans to join us for this special service and note that we will receive a love offering in that service. 

Our adult choir will have “Christmas In August” on Sunday, 8/26, from 4:00 – 5:00PM to preview their Christmas music.  This is a good time to join the adult choir. 

Rita Vice’s father made a significant turn for the better yesterday.  They will do some more testing today.  Thank you for your prayers. 

Lord willing, I will be attending the funeral service for Mark Smith this morning.  Please continue to pray for Velvet (Tena Hovel’s sister) and her family. 

We are in the process of signing up for our GRACE ’08 summer trips.  We have extended the deadline to Sunday, September 9.  We hope to have some definitive dates by Sunday, 8/26.  One of these trips is filling up very quickly so please don’t delay in signing up.  Again, if you don’t have a passport then you need to go ahead and apply now because the passport agency is really backed up. 

I trust that you will have a wonderful day with Jesus.