Pastor's Blog

Oct. 10, 1991 – May 1, 2015 My soul is full of whispered song; My blindness is my sight; The shadows that I feared so long are all alive with light. Evan Steel Eyler, a lifelong resident of Grand Bay AL, was born October 10, 1991 exchanged this life for eternal happiness on May 1, 2015. Evan was a kind and gentle soul with a brilliant mind, a love for his family, and his fellow man. Since an early age he was involved in soccer, baseball, and Scholars Bowl.He was a 2009 graduate of Alma Bryant High School and the father of a beautiful and loving son, Daemon Zane Eyler. Evan was preceded in death by his grandfathers Bobby D. Holifield and Harold L. Eyler. Survived by his loving parents Kelly and Sondra Eyler, his brother Kelly R. Eyler II, (Kel), and his sister Alivia L. Eyler. Additional surviving family members include: Grandmother Edna Holifield and Papa Allen Glover, Grandmother Bonnie Jean Eyler , Uncles Jeff (Nadine) Holifield, Gary (Jan) Eyler and Randy Eyler, Aunts Marsha (David) Treherne, Stacey (Chris) Bryant , many cousins and special friend Patrick Johnston. Evan’s loss has left any empty spot in the heart of all who were close to him. He will be deeply missed, but loved forever by those who cherished his friendship. Visitation will be held Monday, May 4, 2015 from 5 – 8pm at Friendship Baptist Church, Grand Bay, AL. Funeral service will be Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 11am at the church and interment will directly follow at Grand Bay Cemetery.

Today’s Bible reading – Judges 17:1-18:31 John 3:1-21 Psalm 104:1-24 Proverbs 14:20-21

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  Praying for many members of the Friendship family to attend!

We will recognize our senior adults in the 10:30AM service today and they will then be treated to a meal in a local restaurant.

The young lady, Amy, from FL for whom we have been praying passed from this life very early yesterday morning.  Pray for her family.

“Roses for mothers” will be sold today at $2 each and will then be available in the morning services next week.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

The visitation with the family of Evan Eyler will take place on Monday, 5/4, from 5:00PM until 8:00PM in the auditorium of Friendship Baptist Church.  The service will also take place from the auditorium of the church on Tuesday, 5/5, beginning at 11:00AM.  Continue to pray for the Eyler family.

Today’s Bible reading – Judges 15:1-16:31 John 2:1-25 Psalm 103:1-22 Proverbs 14:17-19

Men’s breakfast in the fellowship hall this morning at 8:00AM.  All men are invited to attend.

Roseanne Baria did have another surgery late yesterday afternoon.  They are trying to determine the cause of her infection.  Terry & Carol Lucky were there with Robert during the surgery which I appreciate very much.  Visited with Roseanne and Robert yesterday morning.  She is such a positive person and has a strong faith in God.  Encourager!

Kelly & Sonnie Eyler, along with Miss Edna, will meet with the funeral director this morning to finalize the arrangements for Evan.  It is still almost unreal that this has happened.  I should be able to post the arrangements before noon today if all things go as planned.  Pray for the Eyler family.

Jimmy Moates was diagnosed with cancer about one year ago.  He has chosen to not make this a public matter until now.  The cancer is in his lungs and tongue.  He, Miriam and the girls (Lisa, Teresa & Melinda) are asking for our prayer support.

I do not do social media so I do not have an update on Ross & Betty Clair’s travels.  I do know we need to pray for them.  I suspect they are in India or very close to it by now.

The young lady, Amy, in Florida is seemingly near passing from this life.  Her sister, Emily, from Michigan arrived yesterday to be with her.  Pray for Amy and this family.

“Roses for mother” on sale in tomorrow’s services.  They cost $2 each and will be available as a part of next Sunday’s services.  Daphne Hutto & Kayla Hatcher will be the point people on this one.

So, I mention Will’s “wannabe” garden and Pattie Suthoff sends me a picture of her little “sandbox” garden – really?  Folks, I do not want to see pictures of your little “play” gardens or pictures of your last family vacation!  (The garden did look good but that is only because Charles Suthoff is taking care of it!)

Was able to hoe almost the entire garden yesterday, put ammonia nitrate around the corn and Charles used his tractor to pull dirt up to it, and I then used the tiller in the rest of the garden.  Travis Hyatt was kind enough to send me some okra plants that I hope to plant today.  Thank you Travis!  Got a ton of grass to mow i.e. push, weed eat and ride today after I finish at the men’s breakfast.

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

Evan Eyler, 23 year old grandson of Edna H. Glover, passed away earlier today.  Evan is the son of Kelly & Sonni Eyler.  An autopsy will be performed so no arrangements can be made until the autopsy is complete.  Just pray for the Eyler family during this most difficult time.

Roseanne Baria is being taken back into surgery today.  Not sure all of the reasons but do know that her pain is great.  Pray for her.

Got a message from Betty Clair this morning as she and Ross are traveling today.  They have already had issues but the Lord has resolved them all thus far.  Keep them in your prayers for the next twenty four hours or so as they travel.

Garden time is over for now.  Heading to the hospital and the celebration of life service.

Many members of the Friendship family know Mario & Amuy from their time studying in Guatemala.  They are now missionaries in Spain.  The following is part of an e-mail sent out yesterday, 4/30, by Amuy:

“As you know, we have been missionaries here in Spain for almost 5 years, and in this time we have not been able to return to our country. Our passports expired and we had to ask for new passports and ask a new one for our little Lucas. When we started this process, we realized that Lucas is not yet a Spanish citizen because the law here says that he must have first the nationality of his parents, so he must be Panamanian first. Since this, we started a process of traveling with our children to our embassy in Madrid. In the last month we have travelled 2 times (600 miles by car) and finally got our passports. But not Lucas documents for nationality. He is not citizen from any country yet and it worries us.
We were told that Mario must travel to Panama to ask at the offices there for Lucas nationality. So, on last week we found very cheap tickets, the Lord provided us financially and Mario travelled with Josias (for one week) to Panama to make this process. Katherina, Lucas and I stayed in Spain. After one week, Lucas documents were not ready, but it was decided that my father could pick it up from the embassy and mail them to us in Spain.
The real problem has been that on Tuesday when Mario and Josias were coming home, the immigration officers at the airport decided that Josias can’t leave the country because Panama requires a certain stamp in a document that declares that he can travel to Spain. Our embassy here in Spain, is not willing to give this stamp because they said it is not needed.
So right now the situation is that, Mario and Josias are detained in Panama, they can’t leave the country because Josias is not allowed to travel. They are speaking with a lawyer to solve the problem. I am in Spain asking help to our embassy, with no answer yet. They lose the tickets and the airline (and insurance) will not help because they are not responsible about what the immigration office made to us.
Please help us in prayers to our Heavenly Father to help us this get solved. I am just asking to the Lord in my prayers to help my husband and son return home safely.
Thanks for your prayers, love and friendship”

Today’s Bible reading – Judges 13:1-14:20 John 1:29-51 Psalm 102:1-28 Proverbs 14:15-16

Roseanne Baria was admitted into the hospital yesterday afternoon.  She is battling an infection.  I plan on visiting with her today, Lord willing.

Carla Kyser got a good report yesterday from her latest scans – praise the Lord!  Keep praying!

Vera’s sister was placed under hospice care yesterday.  She is very alert and is less than a happy camper about the entire situation as she does not fully understand the severity of her condition.  Pray for her and all involved.

I am going to post a second entry that is part of an e-mail from Amuy (Mario & Amuy in Spain).  Major prayer concern.

There will be a celebration of life service for JC Brown today from noon until 1:00PM at the Christ United Methodist Church on Grelot in Mobile.  The service will be preceded by two hours of visitation with his wife, Jane, and the family.  (Jane is the sister of Shirley Johnson who lives on the mountain in Guatemala)  JC is now the only one involved in the tragedy in the Mobile Bay this past Saturday who has not been accounted for at this time.  Pray for those searching for him.  Pray for all of the families involved in this tragedy.

Men’s breakfast in the morning beginning at 8:00AM and ending by 9:00AM.  We will meet in the fellowship hall and all men are invited to attend.  I know who will be speaking and you will not be impressed but the food and fellowship will be great!

“Roses for mother” will be on sale this Sunday, 5/3, following all three worship services.  Daphne Hutto and Kayla Hatcher have graciously agreed to handle taking the orders – what sweethearts!  Correct change will be greatly appreciated!  The roses will be available on Mother’s Day as a part of the two morning worship services.  (This concept was taken from Dr. Jack Bailey and the folks at Danville Baptist Church.  Dr. Jack is brilliant!)

Left the church yesterday afternoon at 4:00PM in order to buy some fertilizer and some chicken feed.  Came home and hit the garden until dark thirty.  Working hard to make it a Santa Claus garden and fussing at Adam basically the entire time!  Almost got all five rows of the snap beans worked.  Should be picking snap beans next week if things go normal.  Hope to spend the biggest part of today and tomorrow in the garden and yard.  God has certainly given us some beautiful weather.  He is good!

Let me just say this about a garden.  John Milton has a garden with long rows – a real garden!  Will Reynolds has a “garden” that would fit inside our utility room!  It is a “wannabe” garden at best!  Please do not insult folks like John Milton and me by saying you have a “garden” when the whole thing would not fill up one row in our respective gardens!  Just saying!  I feel better now!

Dr. D Rex Looney, please send me an e-mail message.  I have lost your e-mail address and need to contact you.  Thanks!

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