Pastor's Blog

With a very, very sad heart I write to share that Susan Blackmon Quinn departed this life about 4:30PM (our time) today.  I spoke to Diane via the phone and she said her passing was very peaceful.  Obviously, her husband, parents, siblings, and the entire family need our prayers.

The tentative arrangements call for a visitation with the family on Sunday night at a funeral home in South Carolina with the service taking place on Monday from Susan’s church, Rock Springs Baptist, in Easley, South Carolina.  I will post the arrangements once they are finalized.

Eula Mae and I talked about a memorial service in Grand Bay and, if that is scheduled, we will announce it through this blog.

I just checked my voice mail and Eula Mae had left me a message with the following information.  This afternoon, 7/9, they are going to remove the ventilator from Susan.  The doctor says that she has been in the dying process for a couple of days and moving her to a hospice facility is not a viable option.  It is the doctor’s opinion that Susan will not live long once the ventilator is removed.  Susan’s sister, Diane, and her family are traveling to Greenville and they are waiting on them to arrive before taking any action.  Please pray fervently for Susan’s husband, her parents, her siblings, and the entire family during this most difficult time.

I received an e-mail from Mary Cook during the night with three prayer requests.  First, Lonnie Cook, James’ father, was taken to the hospital with shortness of breath and hot flashes.  Second, Mary’s grandmother, Miss Mary Lou Mallette, has a blockage in her neck and will have an ultrasound on Monday.  Her husband, Mr. Nicholas Mallette, was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Please pray for these folks.

Our good friend, Lloyd Stokes, suffered what is being described as a “major” stroke on Wednesday night.  He is in ICU.  I visited with him yesterday but did not see any of the family members.  However, I did speak to his brother, Pastor Alton Stokes, via the phone and learned it was deemed serious with his left side being paralyzed for the time being.

Carla Kyser got an excellent report yesterday from the her test – praise the Lord!

Susan Quinn’s sister, Diane, called yesterday to say that the family has some decisions to make today regarding how they will proceed i.e. stay the course or move Susan to a hospice facility.  I don’t understand all I know about this but do ask that you keep praying.  I will most likely hear from the family at some point today.

I am assuming that all of Bro. Johnny’s team arrived in Guatemala as 21 of them missed their connection in Houston yesterday.  I know 17 of them made it because they called me a couple of times from Guatemala yesterday for some information.  The others were to arrive around 10:30PM our time last night.  Pray that they will have a good week of ministry.

I am also assuming that Chris & Nicole left safely last night from New Orleans.  Alisha Vice is doing well according to her blog entries.  Soy & Deidra have gone mia and I can only assume that Jordan Lowell’s theory has come true i.e. the islanders have gotten them.  They are with IMB missionaries so we “assumed” they would have access to the internet but apparently not.

Our deacons are asked to meet with me this Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM.  Remember, we have moved our Spanish service to 12:00PM for this Sunday only.  Our Missions Committee is asked to meet with me this Sunday at 5:00PM.  Our Finance Committee is asked to meet next Thursday, 7/15, at 6:30PM.

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