Pastor's Blog

We are on a regular schedule for tomorrow morning – 8:00 & 10:30AM worship services and 9:15AM Sunday School.  Spanish service at 10:30AM too.

We will have no evening classes/services tomorrow.  Instead, we will be participating in the Grand Bay community Thanksgiving service at First Baptist Church.  The service begins at 6:00PM.  I have been given the opportunity to preach that service.  I am honored.  That honor will be increased immensely if I am joined by a large number of the members from the Friendship family.  My hope is 200.  I have received one e-mail stating that 2 are coming so that means we only need an additional 198 to reach that goal.

Pastor Carlos Portillo and the folks from our sister church in El Salvador have asked that members of the Friendship family consider coming to celebrate their seventh anniversary the first weekend in May 2014.  They want us to teach/disciple/help every age group in their church.  Each person would be responsible for his/her own airfare plus lodging.  As of right now, both are very reasonable.  We will be meeting soon to gauge interest and to share more information.

Keep praying for Miss Jackie Goff.

My brother-in-law’s sister, Penny, is in a very low state physically in her battle against cancer.  The hospice nurse did not think she would live through the night but she did.  Pray for her, her husband and family during this most difficult time.

Lord willing, I hope to see you in our services tomorrow morning and then at the community service tomorrow evening.

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

Mr. J.B. Kelley had an “episode” at the very beginning of the senior adult Thanksgiving meal yesterday which warranted him being taken by ambulance to the hospital.  As of mid-afternoon yesterday, he remained in the ER but was going to be admitted to the hospital for an overnight observation.  He was doing good per Bro. Kerry.

Pattie Suthoff was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Marisa Felps’ great granddaughter was also discharged from the hospital.

Visited with Miss Jackie Goff as she remains in the ICU.  She was in good spirits and appreciates our prayer support.

Andy & Betty Hamil attended the graveside service for Dee Patterson in Gadsden, AL yesterday afternoon.  Pray for Pat as he walks through this valley.

Sara Nell Moulds and a host of “thousands” deserve a huge “job well done” for the senior adult Thanksgiving meal yesterday.  Over two hundred senior adults enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal in our CAB.  Bro. Jerry did a really nice job of sharing the message. There were door prizes galore.  Some students from Bryant High School helped in many different ways.  Marie Brooks told me that meal marked the 38th consecutive year of this ministry.  Wow!  Honestly, I missed Bro. Robbie greatly.

I have been asked many times about the electrical situation regarding the feeding center.  Still working on what is best and Tim Knighten is there trying to decipher exactly what that is.  Pray for Tim, Juan Marcos Ruiz, and John King.

I have been given the privilege/responsibility of preaching the community Thanksgiving service this Sunday evening at 6:00PM.  This service will take place from First Baptist Church.  I am asking that at least 200 members of the Friendship family join me for this service.  I also ask for your prayer support.

Regular schedule on Sunday morning with no activities at Friendship on Sunday evening due to the community service at First Baptist.

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

Pat & Dee Patterson have been good friends to Andy & Betty Hamil and Phil Sims for many years.  Dee has battled Alheizmers for years and has been on our prayer list.  Yesterday afternoon, she was called home.  A graveside service will take place in Gadsden, Alabama on Thursday afternoon.  Pray for Pat and the family during this time.

As far as I know, Miss Maxine Dupont and Coley Johnson’s dad both remained hospitalized.  However, both of them were subject to have been discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

Pattie Suthoff was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  She is battling an infection again.

I do not have anything definitive but I am hearing the the attendance in our morning services this past Sunday was good.  I think the evening service was down some.  I so appreciate those who were faithful!

I want to give “props” to the 20 – 29 Sunday School class as they had a really strong attendance this past Sunday.  I do appreciate those young adults being faithful.

Our students have a big night tomorrow night with Jeremy Burrage coming to speak and Brad Hill coming to leave the musical worship.  Pray for them!

The community Thanksgiving meal for senior adults takes place this Thursday, 11/21, in the CAB.  Helpers always needed.

The community Thanksgiving service takes place this Sunday evening, 11/24, at 6:00PM from 1st Baptist.  I have been given the opportunity to preach that service and hope to be joined by many, many members of the Friendship family.

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

Miss Maxine Dupont is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray for her.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will preach in the morning services and Alisha Vice will share in the evening service.

My prayer is that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful in their attendance tomorrow morning and evening.  Why do you go to church?

I pray that your Saturday will be blessed!

Maxine Dupont remains hospitalized and will do so until the infection is gone.

Coley Johnson’s dad also remains in the hospital.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will be preaching in the Sunday morning services.  Alisha Vice will be sharing in the evening service about her almost two years of ministry in Uganda during the evening service.

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

Maxine Dupont remains hospitalized.  She was set to go home yesterday but an infection remains.  Pray for her.

Sierra Edwards had cataract surgery yesterday and did well.  If all goes as planned, she will have another cataract surgery in three weeks.

Debbie Hyatt’s cousin-in-law’s funeral service will take place today.  Pray for the family.

Bro. Jerry says the attendance in the services yesterday was good especially considering the cold temperatures.  I appreciate those who are consistently faithful.

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

The following obit is for Debbie Hyatt’s cousin-in-law:

Sollie Bundy, 70, a native of Escambia Co, AL and a resident of Robertsdale passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Mr. Bundy served in the United States Army. He is survived by his wife, Carol H. Bundy of Robertsdale, AL, two sons, Scott Bundy of Elsanor, AL and Patrick Bundy of Robertsdale, AL, brother, Jerry W. Bundy of Bay Minette, AL, three sisters, Marie Hines of Pell City, AL, Elaine Mosley of Stapleton, AL, Connie Price of Bay Minette, AL and a granddaughter, Destiny Bundy of Elsanor, AL. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Loxley First Baptist Church with Rev. Bo Rice officiating. Burial will be in the Baldwin Memorial Cemetery, Robertsdale, AL. A visitation will be held from 9 am until 11 am at the church prior to the service. Funeral arrangements are by Mack Funeral Home & Crematory, Robertsdale, AL.

We are on a regular schedule this morning and tonight.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching in the auditorium sessions.  Pizza is the food for the 7:30PM Bible study at the house.

William Sessions did well through his surgery yesterday.  Maxine Dupont remains hospitalized.  Ruby Gulley was supposed to be discharged from the hospital.  Derrick Wilkerson’s father and Coley Johnson’s father are both in the hospital.  Rachel Jackson’s sister was in the hospital but was supposed to go home yesterday.  My brother-in-law, Tony, has a sister who is battling cancer.

How about a praise report?  Carla Kyser got a really good report from her latest scans.  To God be the glory!

Things are going well in Guatemala.  Tyrone Crawley and I had an important meeting last night regarding the electricity, or lack thereof, in the feeding center.  Thanks to Tico Vargas, John King, and Juan Marcos Ruiz for their help.  We met with a gentleman who helps oversee the electrical companies in Guatemala.  Folks, this is a major prayer request as we have not been able to get electricity up to this point.  The latest “requirements” given to us by the power company are basically impossible to attain.  Pray about this matter as prayer changes things!

My parents are celebrating their 57th (I think) wedding anniversary.  Happy anniversary!

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

The ladies “Helping Hands” ministry will meet this Thursday night, 11/14, beginning at 6:30PM in the NOAH’s house.  All women from the Friendship family are invited to attend.  Contact Anna Carol Bosarge with any questions or for more information.

William Sessions will have surgery this morning.  Sierra Edwards tomorrow.

The funeral service for Scott Eckert’s nephew takes place today at 3:00PM.  Pray for the Eckert family.

Our granddaughter, Lizzi Taylor (literally Elizabeth Taylor) celebrated her 2nd birthday yesterday.  What a sweetheart!  Happy birthday Lizzi!

There is a brief update on the GRACE Ministries blog.

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