Pastor's Blog

The doctor did not deliver good news to Ronnie Owens and his family yesterday as they found a serious malignant condition during the exploratory surgery.  As a matter of fact, they did not proceed as planned in the surgery.  I do not know what the next step will be but do ask that you pray for Bro. Ronnie, Miss Mary and their family.

Margaret Davis suffered a “stroke in her right eye” late Tuesday afternoon which caused temporary blindness in that eye.  She was hospitalized but is now doing much better.

Word came from the hospital yesterday that Miss Audrey Brooks is doing better.  She remains in CCU but did make some progress and for that we are grateful.

It is still not clear whether we will be unloading a trailer into the storage container this Saturday morning or not.  Contact me if you are willing to help. 

On a personal note, an oncologist in Decatur, AL told my sister late yesterday afternoon that he is ninety percent certain that our dad has lymphoma.  A CAT scan was done this past Monday and that is what he is using to base his diagnosis.  A biopsy will be done in the coming days.  So, we simply ask that you join us in praying about this too. 

Congratulations are in order for our own Michelle Rolls as it was announced in today’s Mobile Press-Register (Section B, Page 5) that she has been elected as President of the Press Club of Mobile.

Faith was able to win the softball and baseball games last night versus Cottage Hill but that is not the important thing.  I was proud of the students (FA & CHCA) who are members of the Friendship family for the way they conducted themselves and for their efforts on the field.  I look forward to joining them in Bible study tonight.  (By the way, CHCA did best FA on the field in baseball a few games ago – just trying to be fair in my journalism!) 

I will preach Mary Burkholder’s funeral service this morning and then will attend a funeral service this afternoon at Forts Lake Assembly for Jason Creel’s grandmother.  Pray for these families. 

Ronnie Owens will have his surgery today.  I will update either later today or in the morning.  Audrey Brooks continues to need our prayers too.

We are in the beginning stages of helping load a container which will be sent to Casa Aleluya in Guatemala.  I believe a load of goods will arrive this Saturday morning and we could use a few guys to help us offload them to the storage container.  Let me know if you would be willing to help. 

The following Saturday, 3/31, we will have another work day.  All hands are needed! 

Hope is alive!  Have you invited anyone to join you in our services on Easter Sunday?  If so, great!  If not, there is still time! 

As has been expected for several days, Mary Burkholder (Alisia Crawley’s mother) passed away this morning around 7:30AM.  There will be a visitation tomorrow morning, 3/21, from 9:30AM until 10:00AM at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  A service will take place at 10:00AM from the chapel of the funeral home.  Thanks to those who are ministering by taking food to this family during this time.  Please pray for the entire Burkholder family.

Miss Audrey Brooks seemingly took a turn for the worse during the night and is listed in critical condition.  She remains in the CCU at a local hospital.  Please pray for her along with her family. 

Faith Academy versus Cottage Hill Academy – today the softball and baseball teams from these two schools compete on the playing field.  We have members of the Friendship family representing us at both schools so we can simply wish them all well.  Hopefully, they will be well played games and Christ will be exalted. 

A couple of updates – Alisia Crawley’s mother, Mary Burkholder, remains at home but it appears she is very near passing from this life.  Pray for her four children and the other family members who wait beside her. 

Miss Audrey Brooks remains in an intensive care unit and has taken a turn for the worse.  She has been placed back on a ventilator. 

Judy Ziglar and Neal Barnes have been discharged from the hospital. 

Obviously, you have noticed that we have not been able to post a blog since last Thursday.  The company which hosts our website has been moving us to a new server and it has caused us to have some down time with the site and especially he blogs.  As I write this, the Guatemala blog is still down but hopefully that will be resolved soon.  I apologize for the inconvenience of the past few days. 

Liz Whalen’s father, Floyd Bosarge, was buried this past Saturday in Bayou La Batre.  I would ask you to continue to pray for that family. 

On Thursday night, we received word that a US soldier from Michigan, Jimmy Arnold, had been killed while serving in Iraq.  A close friend to Jimmy, Sara Millard, was on our August ’06 GRACE trip so we are obviously praying for the Arnold family along with the Millard family.  Tim & Ree Millard, Sara’s parents, have been on several GRACE trips with us.

Audrey Brooks, Judy Ziglar, and Neal Barnes continue to be hospitalized as far as I know at this moment.  Mary Burkholder remains at home and her situation has not changed.  I will update as we receive new information on any of these folks. 

Ronnie Owens is scheduled for six to eight hours of surgery this Wednesday.  My understanding is that this is basically exploratory surgery but is very extensive and serious.  Please pray for Ronnie and his family.

The Lord blessed us with a good day yesterday.  Dale Bosarge preached for the first time at Friendship during the 8:00AM service and Edwin Williams preached during the 10:30AM service.  We were happy to see Linda May make a public profession of faith during that second service.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory.

I had the privilege of preaching for Pastor Roy Stebbins and the folks at Travis Road Baptist during their 11:00AM service yesterday as they hosted their annual missions conference.  Bro. Jerry Hovel preached there last night. 

Speaking of missions, the BCM from USA returned home from Guatemala yesterday and the folks from Capshaw Baptist  from Huntsville, AL arrived in Guatemala yesterday. 

I pray that you will have a great day in the Lord!

The Friendship family received some more sad news last night just before our evening activities began as we learned that Liz Whalen’s father, Floyd Bosarge, passed away.  Mr. Floyd and Miss Joyce live in Coden next to John, Liz, Bridget & Thea.  At the time of this writing, I do not know the arrangements but will post them once they have been set.  Please pray for this family (which includes David Bosarge and Dirk Johnson) as they go through this difficult time. 

As far as I know, Alisia’s mother, Mary Burkholder, has had no significant change in her condition.  The medical personnel with her do not feel that she will live through today but she has already proven them (and me) wrong several times.  Continue to pray for her and the family.

Audrey Brooks, Judy Ziglar, and Neal Barnes are still in the hospital so please pray for them too. 

Our ladies are asked to remember the wedding shower for Kayla Huffstutler, daughter of Kathy Wadkins, this Sunday, 3/18, from 2:00PM until 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Kayla is registered at Wal Mart and Target. 

Remember, Hope is alive!  Invite someone to join you for our services on Easter Sunday, April 8th. 

As always, today will be another busy day around Friendship with our morning service at 10:00AM, senior high Bible study and children’s choir at 6:00PM, junior high Bible study, mission friends, RA’s, GA’s, and prayer meeting at 7:00PM, and college/young professionals Bible study at 8:00PM.  As you can see, there is an opportunity for every member of the family to join us in a Bible study/worship experience. 

Audrey Brooks, Judy Ziglar, and Neal Barnes remained hospitalized.  I am not for certain if Mickey Howard is still in the hospital.  Alisia Crawley’s mother, Mary Burkholder, is very near passing from this life.  I spent several hours with Alisia last night and really didn’t expect Mrs. Burkholder to live through the night.  However, it is now a little after 8:00AM and I just spoke to Alisia via the phone and the situation remains unchanged.  Pray for Mrs. Burkholder and the family during this time. 

Our printed newsletter will be mailed today via the U.S. postal service.  We are attempting to move interested folks to an e-newsletter.  If you would like to receive the newsletter electronically, please contact the church office at 445-5412 or kittie@friendshipfamily.net. 

Jerrod Brown, campus minister at the University of South Alabama, and a group of students who are a part of the Baptist Campus Ministries are presently in Guatemala doing ministry/missions.  They have been joined by one school teacher from Canada who is also on Spring break.  He was connected through our missionary friend, Mark Mast.  Pray for this group as they finish the week. 

Please pray about what the Lord would have you to give to our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for home missions.  Our goal is $10,000. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good day yesterday in our three worship services, Sunday School, and Discipleship Training.  Yes, a look at the figures shows that the time change did negatively affect our attendance in the morning services (especially the second service).  The good news is that we will not have to deal with that on the first Sunday in April! 

Our ladies are asked to remember that there will be a wedding shower for Kayla Huffstutler, daughter of Kathy Wadkins, this Sunday, 3/18, from 2:00PM until 3:30PM in the fellowship hall. 

A big thank you goes to each person who participated in our work day this past Saturday morning.  Much was done and we even had folks working around the church buildings and grounds today. 

Plans call for us to host one more Spring work day on Saturday, 3/31, from 8:00AM until noon as we ready for Easter weekend.  We will have our classes, children’s church, and an eggstravaganza on Saturday, 4/7.  So, we need to make certain the area for the egg hunt, et cetera is ready plus we need to do some clean up on the west property now that the house has been removed.  Please put this on your calendar and make plans to join us! 

Please note that our Easter Sunday morning will consist of three worship services – 7:30AM, 9:00AM, and 10:30AM.  We will also have an evening worship service featuring the music ministry of our adult choir at 6:00PM.  Please make plans to attend one of the morning services, the evening service, and to bring others with you. 

Presently, we have one member of the Friendship family in the hospital – Miss Audrey Brooks.  We have three others associated with the Friendship family hospitalized – Neal Barnes (Burney & Jeannine’s son); Judy Ziglar (Jodi Johnson’s mother); and Mickey Howard (Jennifer Jackson’s father).  Neal & Judy are battling cancer while Mickey is battling diabetes.  Pray for all four of these folks and their families. 

Also, I learned from a secret source yesterday that our own Ronnie Owens will have exploratory surgery performed next Wednesday, 3/21.  I don’t know all of the details but do ask you to pray for Ronnie as he awaits this procedure. 

We have received a little over $2,300 toward our $10,000 goal for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for home missions.  Please pray and give as the Lord leads to help us reach our own country with the Gospel.

Jerrod Brown, campus minister at USA, is presently leading a group of BCM students and one high school teacher from Canada on a mission trip in Guatemala.  They are staying in the L.G. Camp, Jr. house in Chimaltenango.  Pray for them. 

SPRING FORWARD is the theme for the day as time changes tonight.  Please remember to set your clock forward one hour before going to bed tonight! 

In a few hours we will have a work day at the church as we get the buildings/grounds ready for Spring.  If you are reading this entry in the morning, please come join us. 

As I mentioned yesterday, Bobby Crawley & Deidra Ramires will be married tonight.  Keep them in your prayers. 

I learned from Bro. Kerry yesterday afternoon that Mrs. Audrey Brooks has been admitted to a local hospital.  She is averaging losing about one pound of weight per week which is not a good thing for her.  Also, Frank (Mickey) Howard, Jennifer Jackson’s dad, has also been admitted to a local hospital.  His is related to his heart.  Please pray for these folks!

I saw Alisia Crawley last night and her mother’s physical condition is seemingly growing worse daily.  Please continue to pray for Mrs. Burkholder, Alisia, and the entire family.

I hope to see you in our services tomorrow. 

The Lord has blessed and we have had a good week.  Thankfully, we have no one from the Friendship family in the hospital right now and that is a good thing.  We are still praying for several folks battling cancer with the most serious of those seemingly being Alisia Crawley’s mother, Mary Burkholder.  Mrs. Burkholder is under hospice care and certainly needs our continued prayers.  Also, please continue to pray for Carla Kyser, Judy Ziglar, and Mike Blaylock as they go through their respective treatments. 

Our interim missionaries in residence, Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson, have begun a blog which includes updates and pictures.  You can see this at www.derrickandjodie.blogspot.com.  This will be a good way to keep up with them until their assignment with us ends on August 21, 2007.  Please continue to pray for them too.

Speaking of Guatemala, Jerrod Brown, campus minister at the University of South Alabama, leaves tomorrow, 3/10, with a team of USA students to spend a week doing ministry in Guatemala.  Their home base will be the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house and they will be working alongside Derrick & Jodie.  Pray for them!

We will have a work day tomorrow, 3/10, beginning at 8:00AM and ending at noon.  We need to do much in getting our buildings/grounds ready for the Spring.  All available members of the Friendship family are encouraged to help us in this effort.  Bring your tools and equipment!

Bobby Crawley & Deidra Ramires will become one as they will be united in marriage tomorrow night, 3/10.  Pray for them as they begin their new life together. 

Spring forward is the theme for this weekend as time changes.  This is my least favorite Sunday of the year as folks tend to forget to set their clocks forward on Saturday night thus missing church the next day.  Please don’t forget and I hope to see you this Sunday.  Remember, hope is alive!