Pastor's Blog

I am cheating this morning as the clock just rolled past the midnight hour and I decided to go ahead and enter a post for today.  The funeral service for Vaughn Womack went well and was well attended.  I appreciate Bro. Robbie Howard sharing from the Word and Bro. Kerry Kelley, Janice Moreland, and Jeanette Bates for ministering through music.  Thanks to each person who helped minister in any way to the Womack family during this time. 

I think we picked up another blog reader as Tonya Lee Henderson from Tennessee was at the funeral and said she is going to join the ranks.  That means that of the ten folks in TN who can read almost half of them now read the blog – amazing!  It was good to see Tonya as I haven’t seen her in years! 

Jack Leasure is having a surgical procedure done this morning.  Honestly, I am not certain what the procedure relates to but do know we need to pray for him.  Jack Leasure is one of the finest men I have ever known! 

Spring forward!  That is the cry for the next couple of days as we try to combat the tendency to “forget” thus causing folks to miss Sunday morning church services the next day.  So, move your clocks forward one hour this Saturday night, 3/8, before going to bed. 

Our students will sponsor a GRACE meal this Sunday, 3/9.  I hope you will support our student ministry through this meal. 

Jon Cowart and his family had planned on having another vehicle by this point in time.  However, they have not found what they are looking for.  If someone reading this blog knows of a used car dealer with access to a Dodge Caravan mini van then please let me know.  It could very well be someone with access to a car auction.  Thanks!

There is a group of students and leaders from USA, UAB, and Troy University that will be traveling to Guatemala tomorrow and using the Camp house as their base for ministry.  Our own Troy Brock will join them to serve as a driver.  Pray for this team as they build houses, conduct VBS at two churches, and do other ministry related activities. 

Wow, it is birthday weekend!  Happy birthday today, 3/7, to Kira Ellens and Cheryl Schuiteman (Spiderman works fine).  Tomorrow’s (3/8) birthday wishes go to Jenna Genzink Kreuze, Jean Miersma, and Dale Bosarge.  Sunday’s (3/9) birthday folks are Eddie Hall, Leah Compagner, & Britney Compagner.  Happy birthday to all of these folks! 

I had better call it a day as I have to renew my driver’s license today and I want to look my best for my picture! 

I hope you have a great Friday with Jesus!     

The Lord blessed and we had a good day yesterday.  Thanks to each person who attended our Bible studies/classes/worship services. 

Thanks to each person who attended the visitation for the Womack family last night.  Lisa and I went early so we didn’t see the crowd but I am sure there was a significant number pass through that place. 

A “thank you” also goes to those who are helping today with the food preparation for the Womack family.  I appreciate the way the Friendship family ministers during times like these.  Of course, today they will be joined in ministry by the members of the Philadelphia Baptist Church where Vaughn & Pat’s son, John, serves as the Pastor. 

“Spring forward” is the phrase for this week as time changes this Sunday, 3/9.  Please don’t forget to move your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. 

Our students will host a GRACE meal this Sunday, 3/9.  Some of you have purchased tickets in advance but there should be plenty of food for those wishing to buy at the door.  Thank you for supporting our student ministry!

There are no real changes in the folks who have been hospitalized or those battling cancer.  Vera did share last night that her brother had plans to attend his church service last night.  Jeff Long shared that his sister-in-law, Barbara, is now in a battle with breast cancer and needs our prayer support as she isn’t doing too well. 

Pray for me as I bring the message at Vaughn’s service this morning.  Pray that Jesus will be exalted, the Father will be glorified, and the family will be comforted. 

I hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus!   

I want to remind the members of the Friendship family that we are going to have our regular Bible studies/services today beginning at 10:00AM this morning.  All other Bible studies/classes and the 7:00PM service will meet as normal too.  

I am encouraging those folks who plan on attending the 7:00PM service to visit with the Womack family at Serenity Funeral Home before our service.  I would expect the crowd to be significant at Serenity tonight with the Womack family being so well known in Grand Bay.  So, I don’t figure the visitation will end at 8:00PM simply because of the number of folks present to pay their respects. 

Carla Kyser went for another treatment yesterday and will have one more next week.  She will then have a scan six weeks after that.  Please keep praying for Carla. 

I gave a false report about Vera Bosarge being in Huntsville to help her brother and his wife.  She was not able to make that trip due to some things happening here.  So, please continue to pray for Danny Vesper and his wife, Sheila. 

I received an e-mail from Rhonda Coleman with an update from Pastor Rodney’s situation.  He remains hospitalized and has had some anxious moments.  They think they have a handle on his condition now but he surely needs our continued prayers.

My life long friend and fellow pastor, Tim Keenum, and his family are walking through a tough spot right now as his father, Jimmy, continues to battle against cancer.  He is in a Birmingham hospital and has been pretty low in recent days.  Please pray for Mr. Jimmy Keenum and his family during this time. 

Our high school students going to Guatemala this summer will be sponsoring another GRACE meal this Sunday, 3/9.  I hope you will make plans to join us for this meal as it helps these students be a part of the summer mission efforts.

Please keep reminding yourself to “spring forward” this Saturday night as time changes!  Move your clock ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.

I need to meet tonight with all persons planning on being a part of our November ’08 GRACE trip.    This meeting will take place immediately following the 7:00PM service.

I heard through the grapevine yesterday that someone is providing a vehicle for Bro. Jerry since his truck was totaled in the accident a few weeks ago.  I thank God for His provision for Bro. Jerry and thank the person providing this vehicle for being so gracious.

I hope you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus. 

The funeral arrangements for Vaughn Womack are as follows:

Visitation – Wednesday, 3/5, 5:00 – 8:00PM  Serenity Funeral Home

Service – Thursday, 3/6, 10:00AM  Serenity Funeral Home Chapel

Members of the Friendship family interested in helping with providing food for the Womack family can call the church office at 445-5412. 

We will have our regular schedule of Bible studies and services tomorrow.  Our folks are encouraged to attend the morning service thus allowing them to attend the visitation.  Those unable to attend the morning service are encouraged to attend the visitation prior to the 7:00PM service. 

In the event folks don’t know, Vaughn is a brother to Judy (Larry) Whitehurst.  Please continue to pray for this family.

I just received word from the Womack family that they are going to the funeral home at 3:00PM this afternoon to make the arrangements for Vaughn’s service.  I will update as soon as those arrangements are complete. 

My thoughts all during the night have focused on Vaughn Womack’s family as they walk through this dark valley.  Yes, they have an assurance that Vaughn is “absent from the body thus present with the Lord”but death still stings.  I made an entry on 1/17 stating that Vaughn’s leukemia was the worse kind a person can have and a little over six weeks later he has been taken from this world.  Life is so uncertain.  Pray for the Womack family.

Yesterday was a Monday all day long but it was a productive day.  I did attend the funeral service for Rusty Suthoff’s grandfather.  They will have another service today in the Philadelphia, MS area so please continue to pray for them. 

Vera Bosarge has gone to Huntsville, AL to help her brother, Danny Vesper, and his wife as he recovers from his surgery which took place last week.  Pray for Vera as she ministers to her family.

Our student ministry will host another GRACE meal this Sunday, 3/9, immediately following Sunday School for those attending the early service and then immediately following the second service for all others.  Proceeds help our high school students who will be participating in a GRACE mission trip this summer. 

Speaking of this Sunday, I encourage you to remember to “spring forward” one hour this Saturday night as we begin saving daylight!  Several folks have asked me if I am sure that the time change happens this Sunday and, yes, I am sure!   

The folks going on our November GRACE trip are asked to meet with me immediately following our 7:00PM service tomorrow night.  This is important!

Rachel Jackson is now one half of a century old as today is her birthday!  Wow, that’s pretty old – half of a century!   Lindsey Hatcher is celebrating a birthday today also but she is not nearly that old!  Happy birthday Rachel & Lindsey!

I hope you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus! 

Tonight, shortly after 10:30PM, Vaughn Womack departed this life and entered heaven.  Vaughn was feeling great this morning and went to the doctor’s office for a “new” shot.  He passed out there and was admitted to the hospital.  The doctor said the leukemia simply took over. 

Please pray for Vaughn’s wife, Pat, their three sons and their families, his three siblings and their families and all of the other members of the Womack family.  I will post the arrangements here once they have been completed. 

We had an awesome day in the Lord’s house yesterday and we give God the glory for all He did in our midst!  We welcome Andrew Rutherford into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  Last night’s service was great as Pastor Terry Rainey from South Carolina brought the message from God’s Word and we saw twelve folks follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.  Amazing! 

Bro. Benny took our children on a skating outing yesterday afternoon and one young girl broke one of her arms.  She is five years old and they are supposed to place her are in a hard cast today.  Bro. Benny did well in taking care of this girl as he went to the hospital to be with the mother during the surgical procedure of setting the arm and so forth.  Pray that everything will go well as this young girl’s arm mends. 

Rusty Suthoff’s grandfather passed away early Saturday morning and they will have a visitation and funeral service today in Escatawpa, MS with the burial taking place in Philadelphia, MS.  Pray for the Smith family. 

Pastor Rodney Coleman is having some problems relating to his recent heart surgery and is back in the hospital.  Pastor Charles Fields is having heart surgery today.  Carla Kyser received another chemo treatment last Tuesday.  Vaughn Womack is supposed to receive a new type of treatment beginning today.  Pray for these folks!

The lady with the heart condition in Guatemala still has not had the surgery.  Supposedly, she is going to be taken to the hospital in Guatemala City today and operated on in a timely fashion.  It appears that she needs this surgery immediately so please pray that it can happen today.  Louise Mason & Eugene Dighero are doing a great job of helping us in this situation and I appreciate their help. 

We have another night of FAITH ministry tonight.  I appreciate all the folks who have been participating in FAITH for the past couple of weeks as follow up visits have been taking place.  I have an appointment tonight to visit a couple of folks awaiting baptism. 

We have a GRACE trip planned for the dates of November 18 -25, 2008.  I need to meet with the folks who have signed up for that trip.  This meeting will take place immediately following the 7:00PM service this Wednesday.  Any, and all, persons interested in being a part of that trip need to attend this meeting. 

Shari, let me know if you have any more confirmed names.  Bret, got the box of screws – thank you! 

I hope that you will have a great Monday with Jesus!