Pastor's Blog

Tena Hovel’s dad, Mr. Alford, was improving yesterday afternoon when I stopped by to see him in the hospital.  Also, Melissa Brown’s sister, Gwen, is in an ICU in a local hospital with breathing difficulties. 

Mrs. Bryant went into surgery late yesterday afternoon but I haven’t heard the results.  The doctor was going to try to clean out the infection around her artifical knee instead of having to replace it. 

As of last night, there was no significant change in Scott Fonenot’s uncle’s condition.  He is in Baton Rouge.

Martha Patrick’s brother-in-law, Mr. Tolbert Bennett, passed away Sunday.  The visitation with the family will take place tonight from 6:00 – 9:00PM at Heritage Funeral Home in Escaptawpa.  The service will take place tomorrow morning at 10:00AM from 1st Baptist of Moss Point. 

The doctor told Brooke to just wait as her due date is the 15th.  Gloria Morrison gets a treatment tomorrow.  Carla Kyser, Shea Childress, Joyce Bosarge & Max Peacock all continue to battle their respective cancer.  Pray for all of these needs.

Incredible!  Kayla Brown correctly picked UNC to win it all and they did!  Six or seven other young adults made the same pick but Kayla had three of the four final teams correct (missing only Villanova) which made her the winner.  The irony is that she doesn’t even know how many teams are in the Final Four! 

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus! 

Scott Fontentot’s uncle, Ordie Ortego, had an aneurism ruptured behind his heart last night.  As of about noon today, he had been in surgery for twelve hours.  He lives in Louisiana and the situation is critical.  Pray for him, his wife, Jean, and the entire family. 

We had a wonderful day in the Lord’s house yesterday!  God gave the increase as we saw one public rededication, one join by letter, two join by statement, and several decisions at the altar.  However, for me the greatest joy came after the evening service when I led a young boy to accept Jesus as his personal Savior and then walked outside the auditorium and led a man to make the same decision!  Glory to God!  I look for those decisions to be made public this Sunday! 

I arrived home safe & sound on Saturday night with no delays in my flights home.  I was greeted with the news that the hospitals had been emptied of members of the Friendship family – praise the Lord!  I also learned that Susan Quinn had been discharged from the hospital in SC and that is great news too!

Tena Hovel’s father, Mr. Alford, suffered a stroke yesterday morning and is in a unit in a local hospital.  The next fifty-two hours or so are critical in relation to the possibility of another stroke.  Brooke Ladnier Lofton went to the hospital to give birth yesterday but it was a false alarm.  Gloria Morrison, Amy Huhn’s mother, will have another treatment this week.  Miss Joyce Bosarge, Max Peacock, Carla Kyser, & Shea Childress all continue their respective battles against cancer so pray for them. 

Morris Bryant’s mother will have surgery at some point today.  It is related to an infection in her knee.  Pray that the doctor can get this infection out of her body.

Bob Moore, a retired pastor/DOM, and a friend of Jerry & Gloria Whitmore was in our services yesterday.  He now works with the NAMB and spoke briefly to us last night about the AAEO and our home missionaries.  That was a blessing!

Yes, that highlight on Sports Center was correct – our team lost this past Saturday night.  I am not going to get into the fact that certain players were missing.  I really don’t think the absence of Ralph and me was as big of a factor as was Rusty being there – he is terrible!  No, I’m serious! 

If (probably more like when) UNC wins tonight, Kayla Brown will win the contest amongst our young adults in picking the brackets.  Sad!  Kayla is a true blonde, can’t spell basketball, and doesn’t even remember who she picked in her bracket yet she has UNC winning it all and has three of the Final Four participants correct.  Amazing!  For the record, I will be pulling for MSU.  I like UNC but I have too many friends/GRACE Ministry supporters in MI to pull against the Spartans! 

Jack Ciak, the UConn men lost but the women will steamroll UL tomorrow night.  Of course, who cares?  Does anyone have any lacrosse scores?

It was nice to see the Bama baseball team sweep UT this weekend!  Anytime UT gets beat! 

Will & Amy – don’t worry about it as I will get over it! 

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

Yesterday was a long day of traveling for me.  My schedule called for me to leave MOB at 9:15AM and arrive in Grand Rapids at 2:00PM – four hours of flying including the layover in Atlanta.  Not so fast my friend!  The flight in Mobile was delayed due to the stormy weather but I did make it to my gate in ATL with fifteen minutes to spare.  Turns out that I had four hours & fifteen minutes to spare as they kept delaying our flight.  I was okay with that but they pretty much made us stay at the gate with the “we could leave at any moment” announcement.  So, I got to GRR at 6:20PM or so. 

However, my situation improved greatly from that point forward as I drove to the home of Ross & Kathy “Queen” Genzink where they had supper waiting.  Ryan & Rochelle, Kaily, & Jenna were all there too but the star of the show was “Ellie Mae” (Ellyot) who is the first born daughter of Jeremy & Jenna and the first grandchild for Ross & Kathy.  Jeremy came by after work and we had a good time in fellowship.  Kaily & I discussed her upcoming wedding to Nick Whistlebritches.  I was then shown the basement and they locked the door behind me.  It’s cold and dark down here! 

I will drive an hour or so south today to Kalamazoo in order to perform the wedding ceremony for Bill & Jean.  I hope to see a few friends & family members along the way.

I don’t have an update on any of the folks who are hospitalized so I am assuming that no news is good news.  I will not post tomorrow unless something happens to necessitate it.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services this Sunday.  By the way, we need plastic eggs & candy for the activities next Saturday, 4/11.  Contact Bro. Benny for more details. 

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

Our Wednesday began good as we had a really strong attendance in our morning service.  It ended even better as our young adults gathered in small groups and began praying for God to move in our midst – especially on Easter weekend.  Praise the Lord! 

It was a real joy to see Max Peacock in our service last night.  Obviously, he did not receive his treatment yesterday.  The actual place where the surgery took place needs to heal properly before they can begin his radiation.  Max has such a positive attitude!

Warren & Cecil Guidry have invested a good bit of time in relocating our crisis closet.  It is now located in a room with ample space and will allow us to be better stocked to meet the food needs in the lives of those who call on us for help.  I know Miss Vivian Ladnier has helped with this project too and there may be others.  Thank you to all who are involved in this ministry.

As we continue to move toward Easter, we will remember the sacrifice Jesus paid for our sins.  Therefore, we will observe the ordinance of the Lord’s supper this Sunday evening during our worship service.  I hope you will join us for that special service. 

I am making final preparations to go to the Mobile airport and board a plane bound for Atlanta and the one bound for Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I am honored that Jean Miersma & Bill Decker have asked me to perform their wedding ceremony in Kalamazoo tomorrow night.  Lord willing, I will arrive back in Mobile on Saturday evening.  Pray for me as I travel.

I know what you are thinking – what about the basketball game on Saturday night?  How will the team survive without you?  “Coach” and the other players are upset too.  Can you believe they offered to send a private jet to Michigan at their expense in order to get me back in time for the game?  (They didn’t but it makes for a good story!) 

I hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus. 

Word came early yesterday morning that Miss Jay Love was going to be moved back to ICU in order to be placed on a ventilator.  This was intended to allow her lungs to rest.  I got word later in the day that the doctor had decided against this action and said she was actually improving. 

As of yesterday morning, Pattie Suthoff continues to be in a lot of pain.  She was to have a test (MRI?) done yesterday.  Mrs. Rivers seemed to be about the same and remains hospitalized. 

I haven’t heard how Carla Kyser’s treatment went yesterday.  Max Peacock begins receiving radiation treatments today.  Shea Childress, Joyce Bosarge, & Gloria Morrison need our prayers too.

Susan Quinn suffered a stroke while in the hospital.  It has seemingly affected her eyes.  If all goes well, she will be discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon.  Edwin & Eula Mae will travel back to SC to be with her. 

Miss Kittie asked us to pray for Sylvia Crawley who has suffered two strokes and is in a local hospital.  She is the mother of Miss Kittie’s grandson-in-law.

I am hearing that all is well in Guatemala with the Dauphin Way team.  Keep praying for them. 

Today is a normal Wednesday for us at Friendship.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our Bible studies/services today & tonight.   

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