Pastor's Blog

We received good news on two fronts last night – Lois Kirschenman does have cancer but the doctors believe it is contained to a small area and will surgically remove it – PTL! 

Mike Blaylock was moved from the ICU last night so he is obviously making progress.  His liver function continues to be slow but it is functioning.  Please continue to pray for Mike and his family. 

The mission team in Peru was delayed by one day because of the accident but otherwise all is well.  We thank God for His watching over them. 

We will recognize the Class of 2007 during our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 5/20.  Today is the deadline for those graduates to call the church office to make certain we know you are going to attend the service.  Also, we need to know how many folks are going to join us for the meal at Lakeview. 

There will be a wedding shower for Daphne Turrentine, bride-elect of Brad Hutto, this Sunday, 5/20, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Personally, I feel that this couple has already gotten enough gifts so I recommend “cash” gifts to the father of the bride!

All students participating in Wild Week this summer must attend a meeting this Sunday night, 5/20, immediately following the worship service. 

We have had a few men inquire about the openings on our July 3 – 10 GRACE trip but no one has committed to filling either of the two yet.  If interested, please contact me personally. 

Deacon Dewayne did in fact upload the newsletter to our website yesterday.  You can view it there.  We continue to look for folks who wish to be removed from our regular mailing list and added to our electronic mailing list.  We are now e-mailing folks to let them know when the newsletter has been uploaded so they can read it from the website.  However, we can send it to your inbox if that works better for you.  You may contact us about either of these scenarios at kittie@friendshipfamily.net. 

I learned yesterday that Pastor Donald Sewer is undergoing radiation treatment to combat some tumors.  I would simply ask that you join me in praying for him and his family. 

A team from 1st Baptist Lacombe, Louisiana, under the leadership of Pastor Byron Brown, leaves tomorrow for eight days in Guatemala.  They will be staying in the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house.  I have been trying since Monday to get over to Lacombe to take a suitcase containing some supplies to Pastor Byron.  So, today will see me making that trip. 

I trust that you will have a great day.   

Shorty after I posted this morning, Rita Vice called to say that they had been awaken during the night by a call from Alisha.  One of the vehicles being used by the team in Peru was involved in an accident.  At least one of the team members from William Carey was injured but apparently no one was seriously injured and/or kept in the hospital. 

I would simply ask that you join me in praying for these folks as events like this can be unsettling to those on the trip and family members at home. 

Nate e-mailed to say they had gotten Mike up again last night.  His liver function is still slow.  However, they are thinking Mike may get moved from the ICU later today.  Keep praying, please.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Pastor Jerry Falwell yesterday.  It just serves to remind me that, no matter who we are, life is but a vapor.  The Falwell family, the Thomas Road family, and the Liberty family all need our prayers during this time. 

Rita said that Alisha and the team arrived safely in Lima, Peru and were leaving early yesterday morning for an eight hour drive to their ministry location.  I don’t know if we will hear any more updates from them until they return to Lima.  Just pray.

Lois Kirschenman called yesterday afternoon to share that she has been diagnosed with cancer.  I do not know the details but she is seeing a doctor today and will give us an update during our 7:00PM service tonight.  Pray for Lois.

I did not attempt to see Mike Blaylock yesterday.  Nate sent an e-mail stating they had gotten his dad up and his liver function was slow but that is still a good sign.  Keep praying. 

Folks often ask about my dad’s situation.  He began his second round of chemo this week.  On Monday, the oncologist said the first round had been successful and was very encouraging.  Thanks for your concern and prayers and please keep praying.

We are going to have a couple of openings for men on the July 3 – 10 trip to Guatemala.  If interested, please respond immediately or sooner!

Our missionary friend in Canada, Mark Mast, had a tough day yesterday.  It must be tough getting older and not able to remember – enough said!  I spent a good deal of time on the phone last night counseling with Mark and I think he is going to make it!

My cousin, Tony Gettig, and his wife Kathy, have opened an online coffee store called Kalamazoo Coffee.  You can visit them at www.kalamazoocoffee.com.  The reason I mention this is because ten percent of their sale of Guatemala coffee will be given to GRACE Ministries.  They have decaf Guatemalan coffee.  If interested, check it out. 

Our newsletter should be uploaded to the website at some point today.  Please take the time to check it out.

It is Wednesday so that means a full day.  Remember, there is no more children’s choir at Friendship until August.  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family in a service/Bible study at some point today. 

I pray you will have a blessed day.

They say “no news is good news” and I am taking that approach regarding Mike Blaylock.  I will hear from Nate at some point during the day and no further update today on this post means that there has been no significant change. 

Alisha Vice and team left Atlanta around 5:30PM yesterday and were scheduled to arrive in Lima, Peru some six hours later.  They were going to spend the night in town and then head to a more remote location.  I will update as we receive word through Rita.

I have heard no new word from Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy as they minister in the Philippines. 

Pastor Byron Brown and a team from 1st Baptist Lacombe, Louisiana will be leaving this Friday, 5/18, to spend a week doing ministry in Guatemala using the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house as their base.  They will be working alongside Derrick & Jodie.  Please keep this team in your prayers as they make final preparations for their first international mission trip. 

Curtis Whitehurst and Marisa Skipper will be united in marriage this Saturday, 5/19, at 2:00PM.  This wedding will take place at the home of Larry & Judy Whitehurst and all members of the Friendship family are cordially invited to attend.

We will recognize the “Class of 2007” during our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 5/20.  Afterwards, we will treat these graduates to lunch at the Lakeview Catfish Cabin.  Family members of the graduates are invited to join us (dutch treat) for lunch.  However, we need to know exactly how many will be participating in this service and joining us for lunch so please call the church office no later than Thursday. 

It appears we may have an opening or two for men on our July 3 – 10 trip to Guatemala.  If interested, please contact me by this Sunday for all of the details. 

We will observe the ordinance of baptism as a part of our evening worship service this Sunday.  All baptismal candidates should meet in the pastor’s office at 5:30PM for a brief time of instruction. 

Also, this Sunday evening we will meet with all students participating in Wild Week this summer.  This meeting will take place immediately following the evening service. 

I pray you will have a great day in Jesus!

Nate sent a message at 4:50PM saying that his dad was out of surgery – they began shortly before 8:00AM.  The doctor deemed the surgery a success but said it was hard on Mike.  They had to oblate tumors on the left side of the liver and remove the right side of the liver.  The next few hours and/or days will be critical to see if Mike’s liver resumes function.  Please make certain to pray fervently for Mike and his family during this time.  I will post any new updates as they become available. 

The Lord blessed and we had wonderful Mother’s Day services yesterday.  It was special to recognize Exie Woods (86), Edith Kelley (83), Vivian Ladnier (82), and Carmen Reyer (79) as the oldest mothers present in our two morning worship services.  I thank God for Christian mothers. 

It was also special to see those babies/children and their parents stand in front of the auditorium as they were dedicated to the Lord.  Pray that those parents will take seriously the charge given them yesterday morning. 

Our children’s choir did a great job in presenting “Simon Says” last night during our evening service.  Thanks to each child and the workers for a job well done. 

Mike Blaylock is already at the hospital as this entry is being written.  Nate told me last night that his dad could be in surgery any where from two to eight hours.  As you go through the day, please remember to say a prayer for Mike, his family, and the medical personnel performing this operation.  If possible, I will update his condition later today but definitely will do so tomorrow morning. 

Alisha Vice leaves for Peru today.  She and the team from William Carey are scheduled to return home on Friday, May 25.  Please pray for this mission team/trip. 

Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy continue to do ministry in the Philippines.  They are scheduled to come home on Monday, May 28.  Keep praying for them too.

It was good to see Andy Hamil, Steve Morris, and Brenda Poiroux in the services yesterday after their respective surgeries/hospital stays last week.  Please continue to pray for Christine Leasure in rehab and Neal Barnes in the hospital.  Phil Sims’ son-in-law, Darren Haynes, is having some swelling in his lymph nodes again so please pray for him.

I pray that you will have a blessed day serving Jesus!

I normally do not post on Sundays but did want to ask you to join me in praying for Alisha Vice as she leaves tomorrow for Peru.  She will be joining a team from William Carey on this mission trip.  I will get the details on how long they will be gone, et cetera today at church. 

It was thirty-seven years ago today that my mother received a call from Michigan with the very unexpected news that her father, Troy Brown, had passed away.  One of my most vivid memories of that day was our pastor, Jack Freeman, coming to the house to comfort and pray with mama during her time of grief.  I was only ten years old at the time but that one visit made a lasting impression upon my life.  I thank God for the men who have served as my pastor over the years and for their respective ministries. 

If possible, I trust that you will contact your mother today and wish her a “Happy Mother’s Day!”  It is credited to President Abraham Lincoln as saying “no man is poor who has a godly mother” and I simply say amen! 

I had hopes that the Faith Academy baseball team would be able to battle back and win the last two games in their state championship series against Glenwood Academy.  However, it wasn’t meant to be as Glenwood won the second game of the series and the state championship.  Faith had a very good year and I congratulate them on a fine season. 

I also congratulate the Cottage Hill Christian Academy baseball team on having a fine year making it all the way to the semi-finals in the state playoffs.  We have players from the Friendship family on both of these teams and we are proud of each of them. 

Andy Hamil’s surgery went well yesterday but the doctor was surprised as they found his problem was a herniated disc and not a spur.  The doctor said they corrected the problem and Andy should come home today.

Brenda Poiroux has been battling a virus and had gotten dehydrated.  She was supposed to come home yesterday.  The doctors determined Roberta Maggard’s problem and hopefully she is now on the road to recovery.  Christine Leasure was to be moved to a rehabilitation facility in Ocean Springs yesterday.  I do not have an update on James Ory. 

I ask you to continue to pray as Mike Blaylock prepares for his surgery on Monday. 

I received an e-mail from IMB missionary Neal Seaborn yesterday.  He has seen Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy.  He stated that the heat has been tough on Bro. Johnny’s heart and that he is having to rest a good bit.  Neal also shared that Miss Judy’s older sister passed away the day after the team left the United States.  She started to come home but her brother-in-law and mother asked her to stay with the team.  I know this has to be emotionally difficult for Miss Judy so your prayers are appreciated. 

Mother’s Day and the Parent/Child Dedication highlight our Sunday morning this weekend while the children’s choir musical is the Sunday evening feature.  I pray that each member of the Friendship family will join me in worship this Sunday morning and evening. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good day yesterday.  I am really grateful for all the folks who serve at Friendship through the various ministries i.e. RA’s, GA’s, Mission Friends, Children’s Choir, Convalescent Home, student Bible studies, et cetera on Wednesdays.  These folks are impacting lives for eternity and I am grateful for their service to the Lord.

The Faith Academy baseball team will be playing at noon today in the AISA Class AAA state finals.  Unfortunately, they lost the first game of this series yesterday afternoon. However, that was against Glenwood’s ace pitcher and Faith’s ace will be pitching the first game today.  Best wishes to the Faith Academy Rams today! 

Willie Johnson and his crew will be back today to possibly finish the grout work on the floor in the fellowship hall.  That building is looking brand new and I appreciate all who have helped up to this point. 

Our VBS workers will have a meeting tonight beginning at 6:30PM.  This will take place in the student ministry building.  This is an important meeting as literature and craft supplies will be distributed.  Questions?  Contact Myrtle Bowden.

Andy Hamil will have surgery today.  Brenda Poiroux, Christina Leasure, James Ory (Melinda Eckert’s dad), and Roberta Maggard (Phyllis Bush’s mom) all remain hospitalized.  Please keep these folks in your prayers. 

I also ask you to pray for Mike Blaylock as he prepares for surgery on Monday.  The doctors plan on removing a significant portion of Mike’s liver in hopes of removing the cancerous tumors too.  Pray that God will use this as a means of bringing healing to Mike’s body. 

Mother’s Day is always a special day at Friendship.  We will recognize all mothers in each of our morning services with a special recognition going to the oldest mother present.  Thank God for our mothers!

We will also have the privilege of dedicating about ten children to the Lord as a part our annual “Parent/Child Dedication” service.  This will take place during our 10:30AM service.  Those participating in this service are asked to be on time as we do this dedication fairly early in the service. 

Our children’s choir, under the direction of Kathy Wadkins, will present their Spring musical this Sunday night beginning at 6:00PM.  Remember, we will not have Discipleship Training this Sunday. 

There will be a very important meeting this Sunday evening of all students who will be participating in Wild Week ’07 this summer.  This is a last minute announcement but we just found out late yesterday of some information the camp needs from us.  So, we will meet in the student ministry building immediately following the evening worship service.  Help us pass this word to others who may not read these blog entries.

The Class of 2007 will be recognized on Sunday, May 20, during the 10:30AM worship service.  If you are a member of this class, high school or college, and haven’t let us know of your plans to attend this service please call the church office by next Wednesday, 5/16.  We will treat our graduates to a meal at a local restaurant immediately following the service.  

I mentioned yesterday that Evangelist Michael Mason will be preaching for us on June 3.  We will also have the privilege of hosting Pastor Travis Northcutt in one of our morning worship services on June 17.  Evangelist Johnny Tucker will be our guest on July 1. 

I pray that you will have a blessed day. 

John Denver used to sing that it “was good to be back home again” and that is always true.  Lisa and I had a great time in Michigan and we are blessed to know some many wonderful folks who have become dear friends but, as Dorothy says, “there is no place like home!” 

Sunday night, Lisa and I met with Tom & Shari, Ross & Kathy, Don & Ruth Nederhood, Kirk & Sue Tyler, and Dave & Donna Westhouse to discuss GRACE Ministries.  It was a good meeting and I am grateful for the part these folks have in making GRACE an effective ministry. 

Monday, Lisa and I visited a tulip farm/gift shop, visited some friends, and attended Tulip Time in downtown Holland.  As I was growing up, my maternal grandmother always talked about Tulip Time as she loved to attend.  I can now say that I have attended one too!  By the way, the tulips were beautiful! 

I am not sure where we are as far as the sick folks are concerned within the Friendship family.  I do know that Andy Hamil will have surgery tomorrow.  He has been in a lot of pain so prayerfully this will bring some relief.   I understand that Christine Leasure and Melinda Eckert’s dad remain hospitalized but Burney Barnes is at home now.  Ken & Jean Assink are good friends from Michigan.  Ken’s mother, Ella Assink, is 88 years old and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Please join me in praying for each of these situations. 

Our Parent/Child Dedication takes place this Sunday, 5/13, during the 10:30AM service.  All folks planning on participating need to contact the church office (445-5412) by tomorrow so we can plan accordingly. 

This Sunday evening, 5/13, our children’s choir will present their Spring musical beginning at 6:00PM.  As usual, we will not have Discipleship Training since it is Mother’s Day but I do hope you will make plans to join us for this time of musical worship. 

The folks within the Friendship family who are a part of the Class of 2007 need to be reminded that we will recognize you during our 10:30AM service on 5/20.  Please call the church office to let us know that you will attend the service and the meal to follow. 

It is Wednesday which means two prayer meetings, two Bible studies, and the normal pastoral duties to which I need to attend.  I hope you will join me for one of those prayer meetings or Bible studies.