Pastor's Blog

Caroline Ford’s family will receive friends from 3:00 – 6:00PM on Sunday, February 25, in the auditorium of Friendship Baptist Church.  The family will have a private viewing prior to the 3:00PM hour and I ask that we respect their privacy by not coming before 3:00PM.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

There will be another hour of visitation on Monday, February 26, from 10:00 – 11:00AM.  The celebration of life service will begin at 11:00AM and will also take place in the church auditorium.

We will need to minister to Caroline’s family by feeding them following the service.  Make plans to help and the details will come later.  We will need a good amount of food.

Also, please note that there will be no Discipleship Training, no adult choir practice, no meetings and no evening service on our campus Sunday afternoon/evening.  Our sole focus will be on ministering to Caroline’s family and remembering the life she lived.

I will post the obituary once it has been posted by the funeral home.

It seems to me that everything has been done up to this point regarding the service would be to Caroline’s liking.  I am thankful.

Keep praying for Caroline’s family.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The phone call that I did not want to receive came at 1:54AM.  It was Betty Creech calling to tell me that the end was very near for Caroline Ford.  As it turned out, Caroline actually took her last breath on this earth at 1:54AM as she exchanged this mortal life for eternal life.  Folks, I am struggling.  Words are not sufficient to describe what Caroline meant to me.

I followed the ambulance out of her driveway and then I cried all the way home.  I can hardly type this entry as the tears are flowing.  However, God is faithful.  I asked God to be merciful and to not allow Caroline to suffer.  She was in pain when Lisa and I visited yesterday afternoon and that bothered me.  So, God in His abundant mercy took Caroline home this morning to a place where there is no more suffering.  She will experience no more sorrow.  I can rest in those facts.

Obviously, the arrangements are incomplete.  I literally have no idea what those arrangements will look like.  I will post them once they are finalized.  Pray for Caroline’s family.

Blessings!