Pastor's Blog

As I was returning home from the Mila Lingle funeral service, Carl Bradley called to say that his niece, Crystal Davis, had just passed away (1:45PM or so).  She has battled cancer for some time now even though she was only about 27 years old.  The arrangements are incomplete at this time.  Please pray for this family. 

I am thankful that there are actually folks out there reading these entries.  I was contacted several times yesterday with folks wanting to know why there was no blog entry?  Sorry for not blogging but suffice it to say that my life has been a bit of a blur for the past couple of days.  Thanks for understanding. 

Nanette Fontenot did well through her surgery yesterday.  I spoke to her very briefly via the phone last night.  The service on Wednesday afternoon for Mickey Howard went well too.  Pastor Bryce Evans was obviously emotionally shaken by the loss of a dear friend and church member.  As far as I know, there has been no significant change in the situation for Tim Lee, Crystal Davis, or Melanie Byrne.  There has seemingly been some improvement in Sandy Atcheson’s condition although she remains in an intensive care unit in a local hospital.

I have received a couple of e-mail requests for prayers.  First, my sister’s husband, Tony Smallwood, had sinus surgery in February.  It has now been determined that he has MRSA staph infection because of that surgery.  He has really been having a difficult time related to this so please pray for him.   

Vera Bosarge has asked us to pray for Mary Claire Bice.  This young girl is from the Irvington area and is around 9 years old.  She had an accident involving a fall from a horse, is in a local hospital, and I understand the situation is critical.  Please pray. 

I will preach the graveside service today for Mila (pronounced Mela) Lingle today around noon.  Obviously, this will be a difficult service as Mila was only five days old when she passed from this life.  Please continue to pray for Jason, Jenn, Ava, Kenny, & Nancy.  Pray that God will use me to help comfort this family during this difficult time. 

Lord willing, Lisa, the girls, and I will drive to Tuscaloosa this afternoon in order to attend Bama’s homecoming game tomorrow.  This really is more about family than it is a game as Brad & Daphne and Michael & Deidra will join us for the weekend.  For us, this is an annual tradition and we look forward to some family time.  I’m sure my sons-in-law can’t wait for this “bonding” time with me! 

I am looking forward to our prayer time in the auditorium tomorrow night.  You are invited to join us at 9:00PM as we ask God to bless our Sunday services and bring other petitions to Him. 

I probably should ask you to pray for Wes Bates as his beloved Cubs are down 0 – 2 in their series.  However, I am sure Wes is keeping the faith! 

The next post from me should come on Monday.  I hope you have a great weekend.  I hope the members of the Friendship family will join us in our services this Sunday.  I encourage all of our other readers to be in their respective churches this Sunday too. 

I hope you will have a great weekend with Jesus.

It is a special Wednesday around the Turrentine household as Gina & Dana celebrate their 11th birthday!  What an absolute delight they have been in our lives!  God is good and we thank Him for blessing us with Gina & Dana!  (Thanks Mark & Tina Mast and family for the e-greeting sent to them this morning!) 

Today will be a busy day with the morning service and then all of the activities this evening.  The funeral service for Mickey Howard will take place at 2:00PM this afternoon.  Please continue to pray for Jennifer and her family. 

The Lingle family plans to have a visitation this Friday morning, 10/5, from 11:00AM until noon at the Ascension Funeral Home on Hillcrest Road with a graveside service to follow.  I am not sure which cemetery they will be using.  Pray for Jason, Jenn, Ava, Kenny & Nancy. 

I haven’t heard from Tim Lee but Bro. Jerry did visit with him yesterday.  I will update tomorrow.  Please continue to pray for Crystal Davis and Melanie Byrne too.  Nanette Fontenot is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow morning. 

Hope to see you in our services today if you live in the area. 

My heart is hurting for the Lingle family this morning as they mourn the passing of Mila Lingle.  Lisa and I had the opportunity to visit with Jason, Jenn, & Mila last night and to meet Jenn’s father who had flown in from Michigan.  Kenny & Nancy had spent the day at the hospital and had gone home to take care of Mila’s older sister, Ava.  Pray for this family.

Lisa and I also had the opportunity to visit with Tim & Sherry Lee last night.  Tim is 42 years old and is battling cancer that is in his bones and liver.  According to the doctors, he is in the final days of his life.  We didn’t know this family but were well received and Tim was very thankful for our prayer support.  He and Sherry have four children ages, 11, 7, 2, & 2 (twins obviously).  I ask you to pray for this family and this is a wonderful opportunity for the Friendship family to minister.  They live in the same subdivision as Joey & Stephanie Guidry.  I appreciate Marie Brooks arranging this visit for us.

Miss Carmen Reyer’s brother-in-law, Melvin Hinton, will be buried today with the funeral service taking place just north of Hattiesburg, MS.  Lord willing, Lisa and I will drive to Hattiesburg where we will meet my first cousin, Rachel Crouch, and her husband, Pastor Roy Crouch.  I haven’t seen Rachel in many years and have never met her husband.  Roy pastors a church in Ellisville, MS.  I didn’t even know this fact until he ministered to Edna Holifield when her father passed away last year.   

Lisa and I will then attend the funeral service and drive back through Richton, MS where we will visit the cemetery where her brother, Michael Clark, is buried.  Where have those 21 years gone? 

We will return home in time to attend the visitation for Frank “Mickey” Howard which will take place tonight, 10/2, from 5:00PM until 9:00PM at the Higher Ground Baptist Church.  That funeral service will take place tomorrow afternoon, 10/3, at 2:00PM from HGBC.  Pray for Jennifer and her family. 

I ask the members of the Friendship family to remember the GRACE meal being sponsored by our high school students this Sunday, 10/7. 

Also, the Upward evaluations are set for next week on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday nights.  If you have questions or need more information, please contact Bro. Benny McGath. 

Happy wedding anniversary wishes go to Rhett & Heidi Butler today!  What a great couple!

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

Kenny Lingle called around 10:15PM Monday night, 10/1, to tell me that Mila Lingle had passed from this life to enter heaven.  Mila was born last Wednesday afternoon, 9/26.  Obviously, the arrangements are incomplete but please pray for Jason, Jenn, & Ava Lingle, Kenny & Nancy Lingle, the other set of grandparents, and the entire family. 

Let me recap the just completed weekend – over 300 women gathered for the conference on Friday night and/or Saturday morning.  Thanks to the men who cooked, served, and cleaned.  Bryant won their homecoming game 17 – 14 over Citronelle.  Congratulations!  Faith won their game against Cottage Hill.  It appears Faith will now make the playoffs and Cottage Hill can still win their division.  We had a good number of men come to unload/reload the container on Saturday morning and they made quick work of it – thanks guys!

We had a good day yesterday in our services.  The workers meeting at 4:30PM was well attended.  Bro. Kerry and the praise team ministered at 1st Chickasaw last night so Jon Cowart led our musical worship.  A large number of folks came forward to take part in “Operation Homecoming” as we look to our 60th anniversary as a church family on 11/11. 

We were saddened with news of two folks passing away this weekend.  Carmen Reyer’s brother-in-law, Melvin Hinton, passed away during the night on Friday.  His service will be tomorrow, 10/2, in the Hattiesburg, MS area. 

Frank “Mickey” Howard (father of Jennifer Davis, uncle of Carla Cooper, & brother of Pastor Johnny Howard) passed away Saturday afternoon.  His arrangements are incomplete at this time but they are looking at a Tuesday night visitation and a Wednesday morning service at Higher Ground Baptist. 

Mila Lingle entered this world on Wednesday afternoon.  She is the granddaughter of Kenny & Nancy Lingle.  Her parents are Jason & Jenn Lingle.  She has several physical problems.  Jenn went home from the hospital yesterday but Mila remains hospitalized. 

Daphne Patterson’s aunt, Sandy Atcheson, remains in an intensive care unit in a local hospital.  As far as I know, Crystal Davis and Melanie Byrne remain about the same. 

Marie Brooks has asked us to pray for Tim Lee.  Tim is 42 years old and was recently diagnosed with cancer and given only a very short time to live according to the doctors.  I don’t know Tim but have been asked to visit with him so please pray for that visit. 

We are in the final six days of our forty days of prayer emphasis.  I pray that we will finish well.  “Team Barnabas” led by Dewayne Lavelle, Chris Taylor, and me will meet in the auditorium this Saturday night, 10/6, at 9:00PM for a time of corporate prayer. 

Lisa and I will begin our second Foundations of Friendship class this Sunday night, 10/7, beginning at 5:00PM.  We still have room for a few folks to join us so contact either of us if you would like to be a part of this class. 

Our high school students going to Guatemala next summer will host a GRACE meal this Sunday, 10/7.  Please make plans to join them for that meal as it helps them financially with their trip. 

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