Pastor's Blog

I received an e-mail yesterday from Judy Creal asking us to pray for Holland family in Virginia as Lois Holland passed away this past weekend.  Lois was a friend of Judy’s and we had been praying for her so please pray for her husband, Mark, and family now. 

On the other end of the spectrum, I received an e-mail last night from Danny & Angie LeBlanc informing me that they are now grandparents.  Matt Daniel LeBlanc checked in weighing around seven pounds.  Danny & Angie’s son, Clay, is the proud father.  Congratulations! 

I haven’t gotten a further update from Rita Vice’s father in California but do know that he continues to need our prayes. 

Our friends in Guatemala, Mario & Amuy Monroy, continue to need our prayer support too.  Amuy is pregnant and is on complete bed rest as she has been having some problems carrying this baby.  Presently, everything is okay but please keep praying. 

Derrick & Jodie are in the final few days of their ministry in Guatemala.  They are hosting a team from 1st Baptist Wilmington, NC this week.  They are scheduled to arrive in Mobile late this Sunday night, 8/19. 

Today is a normal Wednesday for the Friendship family.  I look forward to seeing many members of the church family in our various Bible studies and prayer meetings.    

The funeral arrangements for Mark Smith, brother-in-law to Tena Hovel, are as follows:  visitation tomorrow night, 8/15, from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Valhalla Memorial Funeral Home 8730 Sims Road in Eight Mile.  Funeral service on Thursday morning, 8/16, at 11:00AM from the Indian Springs Baptist Church 4241 Lott Road Eight Mile, AL preceded by an hour of visitation.   

Sorry to be delayed in posting an entry today but my morning has gotten away from me.  The funeral service for George Parker, Lindsey Hatcher’s maternal grandfather, will take place from the Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS today at 2:00PM.  Pray for the family as they go through this time of grief. 

The arrangements are still pending for Mark Smith, Tena Hovel’s brother-in-law.  I expect that those arrangements will be completed at some point today and I will post them once they have been finalized.  Continue to pray for the Smith family too.

Kevin Vice e-mailed me yesterday to let me know that Rita’s father, Pete Nelson, suffered a heart attack.  Mr. Nelson lives in California.  Rita was in Missouri visiting family and was to fly to CA yesterday to be with her dad.  However, the flights didn’t work out and she spent the night in Atlanta, GA instead.  She is supposedly on her way to CA today.  Her dad is in a small hospital with no cardiac unit and they won’t move him to another hospital until he is stable.  So, pray for wisdom for all involved in this situation. 

Rita Arriola left early this morning returning to Guatemala.  Pray that she will have a good day of traveling.  Speaking of Guatemala, Derrick & Jodie have six more days (including today) as our interim missionaries as they are scheduled to come home this Sunday evening, 8/19.  Derrick resumes his seminary studies next Tuesday, 8/21.  I thank God for their ministry over the past eighteen months and ask you to join me as they now finish seminary and look to be appointed by the IMB of the SBC. 

Happy birthday wishes go to my niece, Jamie Glenn, who is celebrating her 29th birthday today.  She is a sweetheart and it has been good to see her often this summer due to the weddings, showers, et cetera.  Hope you have a great day Jamie! 

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

First, I want to share the arrangements for Mr. George Parker.  The visitation will take place tonight, 8/13, from 6:00 – 9:00PM at the Holder-Wells funeral home in Moss Point, MS with the service taking place tomorrow afternoon, 8/14, at 2:00PM. Please continue to pray for this family. 

The Lord certainly blessed us yesterday in all three of our services.  The special music by Rita Arriola, Mary Jane Turrentine, and Vince & Madison Bosarge was great and Pastor Terry Rainey did his usual wonderful job of delivering the message from God’s Word.  Thank you to each person who prayed, attended the services, invited others, et cetera to help make the day a blessing.  Of course, the ultimate praise goes to God for His blessings.  We had a great day! 

Thanks to Melissa Brown & Teresa Ladnier for putting together a surprise birthday party for Pastor Terry after the evening service.  Today, 8/13, is his 58th birthday.  I really appreciate folks who are willing to help in whatever way is needed. 

We received word after the service last night that a brother-in-law of Tena Hovel was involved in an automobile accident in Georgia yesterday and passed from this life.  The arrangements are incomplete but I would ask you to pray for Tena and her family. 

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

I received a call from Lindsey Hatcher early yesterday morning informing me that her maternal grandfather, George Parker, had unexpectedly passed away during the night.  The arrangements are incomplete as the family will meet with the funeral directors this afternoon.  Please pray for the Parker family as they go through this time of sorrow. 

The wedding of Deidra & Michael was wonderful.  Thanks to each person who helped in any way – before, during, or after – to make the evening so memorable.  Thanks to each family member and friend who came from out of town to attend the ceremony.  Thanks to each member of the Friendship family and other local residents who attended the ceremony.  Thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessing us in so many ways!  We are thankful indeed! 

Pastor Terry Rainey will be preaching in all three of our services today.  I hope those in the south Mobile County area will join us for these services.  If you live elsewhere, go to church today.  You need the church family and the church family needs you! 

Our oldest daughter, Deidra, will become the bride of Michael Taylor tomorrow afternoon.  Obviously, I have missed the days leading up to this event as I have been with the GRACE team in Guatemala.  However, Deidra is fine with that because she knows that the mission trip was scheduled months before she and Michael set their wedding date.  I am very appreciative of those who have helped thus far in getting things ready for this wedding.  The auditorium and CAB already look great. 

So the next two days my focus will be on helping with the wedding preparations.  Our out of town family members and friends have already begun arriving and most of them will come in today.  We are not having a rehearsal tonight as Deidra & Michael opted to do everything in one day which, in my opinion, is a good move.  Please pray that these next two days will go smoothly and pray for Deidra and Michael as they begin their life together. 

Of course, Charles has already called wanting to know when I going to get his grass mowed.  So today will see me spending several hours in some fairly extreme heat to try and stay in that will!  You talk about shock – coming from the “land of eternal Spring” to this lower Alabama heat wave – wow! 

We are excited for Deidra & Michael and are praying that this weekend will be one that is led by the Spirit, exalts Jesus, and brings glory to the Father.  Please join us in that prayer!  

It is almost 1:00AM and I decided to take a break from packing for our GRACE trip and post.  We are scheduled to leave the house in about two and half hours as our flight leaves Mobile at 6:00AM. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday with good services and classes.  The folks in the evening service wholeheartedly approved the new slate of workers for this new year.  Anyone desiring to have a printed copy of that list simply needs to contact Bro. Jerry or one of the secretaries.  Thanks to Bro. Jerry and each member of the Nominating Committee for a job well done.

Jack Leasure was supposed to come home yesterday afternoon but I don’t know for certain that he did.  His daughter, Karen, was intent on him coming home as she is a nurse and can give him proper care.  Morris Dupont is improving but still has a ways to go before going home. 

Lee Sessions and Brenda Poiroux both battled kidney stones yesterday.  I know Brenda came home but I am not sure about Lee.  Lee’s mother is the hospital too. 

I want to encourage each member of the Friendship family to begin the new church year on a good note by attending Sunday School, Discipleship Training, and the worship services.  You will be blessed and will be a blessing in return. 

Pray for Troy & Sommer Brock, Caroline Ford, Allen Glover, Lindsey Hatcher, Amy Sessions, TJ Vice, Jennifer Wetterer, and Jordon Zirlott as they go on this GRACE trip.  They will be joined by 22 Michiganders and one guy from Wisconsin.  I have plans to blog on the Grace blog later tonight but that depends on our schedule and signal. 

I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus.  Pray often for us!   

Wow, where did the first seven months of 2007 go?  Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  Christmas will be here the day after tomorrow!

I had a chance to visit with Morris Dupont in the hospital yesterday.  He has improved but is not able to get up yet so it appears he will be there at least through this week. 

I was unaware of the fact the Jack Leasure was still in the hospital until yesterday.  I also visited with him.  Jack is not doing so well.  We had a good conversation as I assured him of our prayer support and he assured me that he is praying for our GRACE trip too.   Please pray for Morris & Jack!

Daniel Smith, Diane Cordell’s son, cut his hand on some glass and will have surgery this Friday morning, 8/3.  I did not hear from Sharon Skipper and the results of her heart cath.

Today is Jodie Wilkerson’s birthday!  If you want to send her an e-mail birthday greeting, her address is jodieandderrickinguatemala@hotmail.com.  I forgot to mention Derrick’s birthday which was last Thursday, July 26.  However, that’s okay as Jodie’s is the more important one anyway! 

Our final GRACE trip of the summer is scheduled to begin tomorrow as ten of us will be joined by twenty-three Yankees.  We are all taking the early morning flights and are scheduled to be in Guatemala shortly before noon their time.  God blessed and the final passport needed did arrive early yesterday morning.  Please pray for this team as they have much to do – build fifteen houses, grout the tile and do the electrical work in the Rios de Agua Viva parsonage, paint the seminary’s gymnasium, work on a house in Panimaquin, et cetera. 

As usual, I will switch to the GRACE blog beginning tomorrow or Friday.  I will be getting updates from Bro. Jerry and will alert you if you need to check this blog for any news relating to the Friendship family.  I plan on using guest bloggers each day to give you a different perspective on our trip. 

We are scheduled to return home on Thursday, 8/9, and I will then immediately ready for the final (can you say hallelujah?) wedding of the summer for me as Deidra and Michael will tie the proverbial knot on 8/11 at 5:00PM.  Pastor Terry Rainey will be helping with that ceremony and will then be leading our Harvest Day on the 12th.  Please pray for that Sunday and invite folks to join you for those services.  At this point, I am undecided which of us will preach the 8:00AM service but I know he will preach the 10:30AM & 6:00PM services. 

Our missionary friend in Canada, Mark Mast, posted a comment following yesterday’s entry.  Seemingly, he thinks that he is the only one reading these entries but he must have forgotten about my mama, three siblings, and five cousins!  As a matter of fact, July was our most read month ever and I thank you for keeping up with the happenings within the Friendship family.  Invite a friend or two to join us!

Today will be a busy day as it is the first Wednesday of the new church year.  I will be involved in the morning and evening Bible studies with our adults, senior high Bible study, and our college/young professionals Bible study.  I need to visit the hospitals, pack, and do all of the other last minute stuff to get ready to leave so your prayers are appreciated. 

I will be praying for you today as you share the Light! 

I would ask you to join me in praying for the Horace Sparkman family and the Ronnie Cox family as both of these men passed away over the weekend.  Horace was a neighbor to my parents and I attended school with his three sons.  His funeral service took place yesterday.  Ronnie was a dear friend, hunting & fishing partner, et cetera to my dad and his service will take place today.  Death stings! 

I would also ask you to join me in praying that one of the young ladies in Michigan will receive her passport today.  She is scheduled to go to Guatemala on Thursday on our GRACE trip but her passport has been delayed big time.  One young man going on the trip received his just yesterday which was an answer to prayers.  Again, folks need to apply for their passports very, very early as the system is back logged big time.

Our final GRACE trip of the summer begins this Thursday, 8/2, and ends 8/9.  This is our college/young professionals trip with everyone on the trip, with the exception of eight folks, being 25 years of age or younger.  This trip will see 33 folks from Alabama, Michigan, and Wisconsin join together to do ministry.  After this trip, we will have hosted folks from twelve States and Canada since we moved into our mission house in 2002.  Wow, we serve an awesome God!  By the way, Daryn Kuipers is coordinating getting the Michigan folks to Guatemala and I appreciate his help.  It can be really hard leading Yankees!

I learned yesterday that Morris Dupont has been moved from ICU to a room in a local hospital.  Sharon Skipper is scheduled to have a heart cath at some point today. 

We are focusing on getting ready for the new church year which begins tomorrow.  I continue to be excited about the selection of classes being offered during our Discipleship Training hour this quarter.  Bro. Jerry has done an excellent job of putting together a great line up of teachers and classes for all age groups but especially for our adults.  I want to encourage you to make plans to join us for DT on Sunday afternoons at 5:00PM.  The Lord continues to bless our Sunday evening services and we give Him thanks! 

There will be a wedding shower for Autumn Rivers Brooks this Sunday, 8/5, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  (I broke out into a cold sweat thinking I had another wedding but this one has already taken place)  Autumn is a granddaughter of Linda Green. 

I trust that you will have a blessed day today! 

We give thanks to God for His blessings on our services yesterday as we had a good last Sunday of the church year.  What a joy to see Hien (pronounced Henny) Tran make a public profession of faith in our evening service and then to see her and Ashley Crawley follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

Wow, our bus ministry faced some challenges yesterday morning as one bus was involved in an accident and another one caught on fire.  Thankfully, the accident happened early in the route and no riders had gotten on the bus and the other bus had a brake fire so all of the passengers exited orderly and safely out the front door.  God has faithfully watched over our buses, drivers, and riders since 1972 and we give Him the praise for His continuing watchcare.  We must be diligent in praying for Bro. Benny and this ministry.

Our students had a good time of fellowship at late night bowling.  Thanks to Ben & Diane Vickers for taking care of the food, to Melissa Brown, Diane Cordelle, Chris & Nicole Taylor, Rita Vice, & TJ Vice (mother/son?) along with a number of our college folks for serving as our chaperones. 

Also, thanks to Chris & Nicole for leading Endure this past weekend.  It was good and we learned a few things along the way that will help in future events. 

Our Girls In Action and Royal Ambassadors will have their awards/recognition service this Wednesday night, 8/1, at 7:00PM.  This service will take place in the fellowship hall, I think.  Parents and other family members are invited to attend. 

Our deacons have selected Larry Whitehurst to serve as chairman for the new church year, Morris Bryant as vice-chairman, and Ben Vickers as recording secretary.  We have a great group of guys serving as our deacons and I look forward to seeing how God is going to use them to help us grow spiritually over these next twelve months.  Pray for our deacons. 

The Personnel Committee has entered into an agreement with Betty Creech to serve as our interim custodian.  Pray as this committee seeks God’s guidance in filling the permanent custodian position. 

Dale Bosarge preached yesterday in both the morning and evening services for Trinity Baptist Church on Tanner Williams Road.  They are presently without a pastor and this was a good ministry opportunity for Dale.  I appreciate Dale being willing to go minister in this way. 

Pray as we begin this new church year.  Pray for our new slate of teachers who will begin this Wednesday night and those who will begin Sunday.  Thanks to those who attended the meeting yesterday afternoon.  Pray that God will bless our efforts this year as we seek to win the lost to Jesus and make disciples. 

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