Pastor's Blog

We had a blessed day yesterday as we gathered for Bible study, prayer meeting, and fellowship.  Our morning service attendance continues to gain momentum and I encourage folks who normally don’t/can’t come at 7:00PM on Wednesdays to join us at 10:00AM.

We received good news on the hospital front as both Merwyn Gunter and Phyllis Bus were discharged yesterday.  However, both of them still need our prayers.

Ronnie Owens remains hospitalized as he recovers from his surgery and tries to ready for a series of chemotherapy treatments.  Pray for Miss Mary too! 

I spoke with Marisa Felps yesterday afternoon about Carla Felps Kyser’s radiation treatments.  This particular series of treatments is really wearing on her physically so please say a special prayer for her. 

As I mentioned yesterday, today is Derrick & Jodie’s fourth wedding anniversary – congratulations!  This past weekend saw them host four boys from Casa Aleluya and they have done a nice job of blogging about it at www.derrickandjodie.blogspot.com.  Take the time to read it and view the pictures/video. 

My prayer is that each member of the Friendship family reading this will decide now to join us in Bible study and worship this Sunday. 

There are no updates on the folks from the Friendship family who are in the hospital.  My request is that you continue to pray for them as well as the ones who are battling cancer. 

Derrick and Jodie Wilkerson will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary tomorrow, 4/12.  They are on an interim appointment with us as missionaries until August 21, 2007.  Perhaps you could take the time to send them a e-mail of congratulations – derrickandjodieinguatemala@hotmail.com. 

All of our students who participated in the selling of the gourmet apples must turn in the money by this Sunday, 4/15.  That money should be given to Rita Vice. 

Our ladies are asked to remember the wedding shower for Marisa Skipper this Sunday, 4/15, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Marisa is the bride-elect of Curtis Whitehurst. 

Merwyn Gunter was admitted to a local hospital Sunday morning and was having a nuclear stress test done today.  Ronnie Owens remains hospitalized as they try to determine which course of action will best help him.  Phyllis Bush also remains in a local hospital and is apparently battling a serious infection.  So, please pray for these folks.  I am encouraged by their strong trust in the Lord in spite of difficult circumstances.

My dad, my sister, and I met with the oncologist yesterday afternoon to discuss dad’s situation.  The lymphoma is in his bone marrow which necessitates chemotherapy treatments which will begin next Monday, 4/16.  Dad will have five consecutive days of treatments followed by three weeks rest.  He will do this for four to eight months. 

My dad is 71 years old and the doctor is confident that, with proper treatment, this cancer will not be the ultimate cause of his death as it is a slow progressing type.  So, we are thankful to God, to Dr. Lobo, and to the many of you who are praying with us about his situation.  We are counting our blessings and simply ask that you continue to pray for, and with, my dad.  Our prayer is that God would be glorified in all of our lives through this experience.

The ladies of the Friendship family are asked to remember the wedding shower scheduled for this Sunday, 4/15.  It is for Marisa Skipper, bride-elect of Curtis Whitehurst, and will take place in the fellowship hall from 2:00 – 3:30PM. 

I have never seen ice on the ground in Grand Bay on Easter but that was exactly the scene yesterday morning as the sleet remained in our flower bed on the west side of the auditorium almost all morning. 

However, the Lord blessed and we had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Saturday was a windy day but a good day for our classes/church/egg hunt.  Thanks to Bro. Benny, Chris, Josh and all who helped make that day a success. 

Sunday was a blessed day with our three morning worship services.  The pattern has now become that our early service is fairly well attended, the second service is well attended, and the third service rivals the second one in attendance.  Thanks to each person who went the extra mile in service to help us have these three worship experiences.  We didn’t have any public decisions but did have folks at the altar in the final service. 

We had a very nice attendance in our evening service as the adult choir led us in worship by presenting their musical.  I really appreciate Bro. Kerry and our choir and the effort it takes to prepare for a service like that.  The evening service was a blessing. 

Ronnie Owens and Phyllis Bush remain hospitalized and need our prayers.  Bubba Bennefield told me yesterday that he anticipated his granddaughter being discharged from the hospital soon – praise the Lord. 

I was not aware that Betty McDonald had been kept in the hospital following her biopsy last Thursday.  I received word last night that she came home yesterday.  Please continue to pray for Betty & Belvin.

I am traveling to Decatur today to meet with the oncologist about my dad’s situation.  He had a bone marrow biopsy last week and today’s meeting will reveal those results and a plan of action.  We are trusting God in this situation but I just feel the need to be there for my dad.   

We will have a regular schedule this Wednesday and I pray that you will join us for the respective Bible studies, prayer meetings, classes, et cetera.

Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive, alive forevermore.  Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive.  Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, my Jesus is alive forevermore, sing allelulia, sing alleluia, my Jesus is alive! 

I received word tonight of two pressing prayer needs.  First, Ronnie Owens was admitted to a local hospital either last night or today.  He had a very rough night physically and is in need of our prayers. 

Second, a granddaughter of Bubba & Judy Bennefield was involved in an automobile accident either last night or today.  She was airlifted to a hospital in Pensacola and the situation is very serious.  I am not sure the exact condition being given by the hospital but have been told that it is a serious situation at best.  Pray for this young lady and the entire family. 

Phylis Bush is in a local hospital until at least Monday.  Pastor Benny Still, 1st Baptist, has been in a local hospital as they had to place some stents into his heart.  I am not sure if he has been discharged but certainly needs our prayers.

Sherry Lavelle and Maddox came home from the hospital late this afternoon.  Mother and daughter are doing fine. 

Hope you will be in church tomorrow to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!   

Carl Bradley called last night as he and Connie were driving to Jackson, MS to be with his niece, Crystal Davis.  Crystal is 26 years old and has a serious malignancy.  The doctors will be doing major surgery today removing as much of the cancer as possible but know that to remove it all is an impossibility.  Please pray for this young lady and her family today.   

Traci and Vance should be discharged from the hospital today.  All is well with Wes, Traci, Ryleigh, and Vance. 

I spoke to Dewayne via the phone last night and all is well with the Lavelle family too.  I would assume Sherry and Maddox will come home tomorrow. 

The initial word from the doctor to Betty McDonald was not good as it relates to the biopsy they performed yesterday.  Obviously, the pathology report isn’t back yet but the doctors do expect it to come back showing a malignancy.  Pray and I will update you as we receive a more definitive word. 

Raymond Wilkinson’s father, Curtis Wilkinson, has been admitted to a local hospital again.  It appears that surgery may be on the horizon for Mr. Wilkinson. 

Surprisingly, we had two loads of stuff come yesterday to be placed in the container.  We had a last minute notice but after a few phone calls by Miss Camp we were good to go with folks to help off load the first trailer.  Thanks to the men who came and helped unload that container and then the truck load later in the evening.  So, there will be no container loading this weekend. 

Ronnie Owens, Sherry Woods, Caroline Ford, and Teresa Ladnier are all doing well in recovering from their respective surgeries.  Thank you for your continued prayer support.

Easter is here and I pray that you and your family will join us for our services.  Remember, Sunday’s worship schedule is 7:30, 9:00, & 10:30AM and 6:00PM. 

Unless there is an emergency, I do not have plans to blog again until Monday, 4/9.  If you get online over the weekend, check to make sure there are no entries due to an emergency. 

Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive, alive forevermore – He lives!  Hallelujah!

Maddox Vasti Lavelle made her appearance into this world around 6:00PM today.  She checked in weighing 7 lbs 5 oz.  Sherry, Dewayne, and big brother, Palmer, are doing fine.  Thank you for your prayers. 

Sherry Lavelle is presently at the hospital and is scheduled to give birth to Maddox V. Lavelle at some point today.  Pray for Sherry, Maddox and Dewayne as they go through this process. 

Betty McDonald will have a surgical procedure done this morning as the doctor is taking a biopsy from an area near one of her lungs.  Pray for Betty & Belvin during this surgery and then as they await word from the pathology report. 

Word came yesterday that we may have a trailer onsite tomorrow morning at 9:00AM to off load into the container.  I did not get a definitive word but hope to hear something later today.  If three or four guys show up, we will be finished in less than thirty minutes.  If available, send me an e-mail at pastor@friendshipfamily.net asking me to contact you once we have confirmation. 

Please pray for Easter weekend.  I pray you and your family are going to be a part of the many activities happening at Friendship. 

Vance Dewitt Holifield was born today around 1:00PM.  He weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long.  Mother, son, father, and big sister are all doing fine.   Congratulations to Traci & Wes!