Pastor's Blog

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

One of Miss Vinnie Brewer’s great grandchildren, Case, will have surgery in New Orleans today.  Pray that all goes well.

Congratulations to Adam & Jamie Glenn as they became adoptive parents again yesterday afternoon.  Now they have their two sons and two daughters.

The team in Guatemala spent Monday painting, separating school PE uniforms and working with the children in the feeding center program.  They were joined by the school staff in doing these things.

The work came to a halt around 1:30PM and they then loaded on a bus and headed to Antigua for a couple of hours of shopping, sightseeing, et cetera before enjoying supper at Las Antorchas.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Today the team will finish up painting all of the interior on the first and second levels with the exception of the office and bathrooms as those areas are not ready to be painted yet.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Word came to me that Pastor Mack and Ryan both did very good jobs in sharing with those in attendance in our services yesterday.  I am told that our 8:00AM attendance was “weak” but the other two services, 10:30AM & 6:00PM, were well attended.  Honestly, I am surprised by our first service being down as that service is generally well attended regardless.  At any rate, thank you to each person who attended and thank you to Dr. Mack & Ryan for sharing the Word.

Keep praying for all of those we have mentioned in recent times as needing our prayer support.

Memorial service for Gena Davis this Saturday, 12/14, beginning at 2:00PM.  Members of the Friendship family are encouraged to attend to support Gene & family.

Soy’s maternal grandfather passed away over the weekend.  Soy’s mother will be traveling to the Philippines so pray for her safety in traveling and for the family.

Mark Mast leaves today heading to Northern Canada for a week of ministry in a very challenging place.  Pray for Mark!

The Friendship basketball leagues begin play this Saturday, 12/14.  Pray for this ministry.

The team in Guatemala spent Saturday painting the school, organizing school supplies and hosting twenty plus families for a meal in the evening.  Yesterday was spent attending the church service in the feeding center building and then going to the mall for lunch.  Around two hundred and fifty folks were then hosted for a meal in two groups – 3:00PM & 6:00PM.  A good day of ministry.

Yesterday marked Pastor Lazaro’s last service as the pastor of the church in Guatemala.  I appreciate his eight years of service and pray for his future endeavors.

Brad & Daphne flew home yesterday and made their connection in Atlanta even though their flight left Guatemala City three and one half hours late.  Pretty amazing!

Today will be more painting for the team and more meetings for me.  I have seemingly had meetings to meet about meetings!  This morning I get to go to the electric company.  I have been there and done that.  I do not enjoy waiting and they let you wait for hours sometimes.  God is still working on me!

The team will do Antigua late this afternoon for some shopping and then supper at Las Antorchas.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Happy 84th birthday to Lisa’s dad, Charles Clark.  (Note that I did not say my father-in-law!)  At any rate, I hope Charles has a really good day.

I am going with the “no news is good news” theory as far as things back home are concerned.  That is a good thing!

The team in Guatemala had a good first day.  They teamed up with the school staff to begin the painting process on the school’s interior.  Much progress was made under the able leadership of Bernard Suthoff.

Last night, about twenty families from the feeding center came to the mountain for a program put on by their children and a meal hosted by this team.  It was a very good evening.

Today, more painting.  There will also be a program by the children and a trip to the picture show.  Another evening of hosting families will begin at 6:00PM.

Thank you for checking on this team and for your prayer support.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

The visitation with Pastor Michael Liles and family begins at noon today and continues until the 2:00PM service time.  Pastor Michael’s mother passed from this life this past Sunday evening.  Bro. Abel will attend this service in my absence today.  Pray for the Liles family.

The team arrived at the mission house safe and sound around 4:00PM yesterday.  Flights were smooth and the customs experience in the Guatemala City airport was seamless.  After unloading their luggage, the team made their way to the local mall for supper and then returned to the mission house to relax and get some rest.

Today, under the direction of master painter, Bernard Suthoff, the team will begin the process of painting the interior of the school.  This evening they will host some of the families who have a child in our feeding center program.  These meals will continue through Tuesday evening.  Thank you for praying for this team.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Good Wednesday morning from GRACE Mountain in Guatemala.

The celebration of life service for Pastor Michael Liles’ mother will take place tomorrow, 12/5, beginning at 2:00PM from the chapel at Mobile Memorial Funeral Home.  It will be preceded by a time of visitation with the family.  Pray for the Liles family.

Roy Blodgett passed from this life on Monday.  There will be a memorial service at a later date.  Pray for Sue and family.

There will be a memorial service for Gena Davis on Saturday, December 14, beginning at 2:00PM.  Keep praying for Gene and family.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be found faithful!

Deidra and I left the Atlanta hotel at 7:30AM yesterday morning and arrived on GRACE Mountain at 5:30PM.  Our flight was good and we got through customs without any issues.  We went to Pricesmart and bought the supplies needed for the team this week.  Once on the mountain we quickly unloaded, got ready and headed to the local mall to meet with two of the leaders from GRACE Community Church.  It was a good and productive meeting.  When we got back to the mountain around 8:30PM then we were both ready to call it a day.

There are twenty three folks traveling today heading this way.  They are leaving from Grand Rapids, Gulfport and Mobile.  Pray for them to have a good day of traveling.  Soy and the girls are traveling to Memphis today so please pray for them too.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Happy birthday to our daughter, Daphne Hutto!  How old?  Not saying but I do remember Auburn beating Alabama 23 – 20 on Saturday, 12/3/83.  Just saying!  Hope Daphne’s day is great!

This entry is late – duh!  Can you say Lacey Ladnier?  She is always so eager to help and volunteered to write an entry today as she knew I would be traveling.  Well, here it is noon and no entry.  Katie, Courtney, Bibbi, Lacey, et cetera – women!  I apologize for their slothfulness!

My dad had his port placed yesterday and is receiving his first chemo treatment today.  So many of you have been very faithful to ask about dad and to pray for him.  Thank you.

Pastor Michael Liles’ mother passed from this life this past Sunday.  Praise for Pastor Mike and his family during this time.

Deidra and I arrived in Atlanta a little after 10:30PM last night.  We got a few hours sleep and then caught the hotel shuttle to the airport.  We are now around thirty seven thousand feet above the earth heading to Guatemala City.  We have food to buy for the team, a meeting tonight and another meeting in the morning.  The team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon.  This is going to be a great trip!  Why am I so confident?  Soy is in the States!  Hallelujah!

I pray that you will have a great afternoon/evening with Jesus.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  We had a strong attendance in our first service and then good attendance in our next two services.  I loved the Christmas music during that portion of our worship services.

The Friendship family did a really nice job of bringing canned goods to be given to Pastor Mark Williams and the Faith by Works ministry in Grand Bay.  Last night, Bro. Abel introduced us to our “white Christmas” ministry opportunity which will take place on Sunday, December 22, during our two morning services.  Another opportunity for us to help the Faith by Works ministry.

Pastor Mack Morris will be our special messenger in the two morning services this Sunday, 12/8.  I sure hope the Friendship family will be faithful to attend these services.

Lord willing, Deidra and I will leave today heading to Guatemala via Atlanta.  A team of twenty three folks will join us in Guatemala on Wednesday, 12/4.  Twelve of those folks will come from the Friendship family, ten from Michigan and one from Baldwin County.  This will be a very unusual trip in that the team will basically never leave the mountain except to venture into Antigua one afternoon.  Otherwise, they will paint, paint, and then paint some more as the school building has to be ready to open on Wednesday, 1/8.   Pray for this team.

I do want to let the Friendship family know that there will be a memorial service for Gena Davis on Saturday, December 14, beginning at 2:00PM in our Preschool Building.  Gena’s wish was to have a service at Friendship and Gene is honoring that wish.  I hope the members of the Friendship family who knew Gena will attend this service.

Did I tell you Auburn would win or what?  If I tell you that a chicken dips then check under her wing for a can of snuff!  It was an entertaining game.  Congratulations to all of my family and friends who are Auburn fans.

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