SUNDAY, 5/17/20
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
I do not have any updates on the folks for whom we have been praying for in past days. I simply ask that you continue to pray without ceasing. God knows.
We will have in person worship services tomorrow at 8:00AM, 9:15AM, 10:30AM & 6:00PM. Check our earlier entries for the specific details. Bro. Jerry Hovel, Bro. Abel Garcia and Evangelist Dale Bosarge will be the messengers during those services. Pray for these men and pray for the services.
I was blown away yesterday when Rick Bradley and Tim & Peggy Knighten showed up for dad’s celebration of life service. What a very nice surprise! They drove up and back in the same day which is a lot of driving. Only crazy folks do stuff like that!
The surprises kept coming as Pastor Roy Crouch and his wife, Rachel, showed up having driven from Ellisville, Mississippi. Rachel is a maternal first cousin. It was very nice to see them.
Then Josh & Mandi Fortner from Millbrook, Alabama walked in. Mandi & Lisa are best friends through State Farm Insurance so that was a huge blessing to Lisa and me just to see them.
I was not as surprised but was very pleased when Ross & Kathy Genzink from Holland, Michigan showed up. They were heading back to Michigan after the service. How amazing is that!
Morris & Diane Bryant and Tony Gettig were present for the visitation Friday night and then attended the service yesterday too. Heartwarming to me.
It made me realize afresh and anew how blessed I am. The Friendship family has been super to me during this time and I am very grateful. The Danville Baptist family did an excellent job of ministering to the Turrentine family before and after the service. Thank you Pastor Joe David and Danville Baptist Church!
Pastors Joe David Bailey, Roy Crouch and Jack Bailey all did wonderful in sharing during the service and/or at the graveside. Brad Hutto was his usual great self singing the two specials. Catfish was great with the FB live stuff. I am told that there were eighteen hundred engagements on FB. Not sure what all that means but they say it is good. I do know that it was viewed from the US, El Salvador, Guatemala and Spain. There may have been viewings from other countries but those are the ones I am aware of as I write this entry.
My brother, Eddie, did a very nice job of sharing from his heart during the service. I will be forever indebted to Eddie and his wife, Sue, for their sacrificial care given to dad and mama during these past couple of years. I commend Melissa and Freddie too but Eddie & Sue went above and beyond. Thank you to Eddie, Sue, Melissa & Freddie for a job well done.
What can I say about my mama and the faithful helpmate she has been to dad for the past sixty three and one half years? She has been nothing short of amazing. She has had her moments since dad passed but she will be ok. “Granny” is dearly loved by so many folks in this community. Everyone seems to know Granny. Please keep praying for my mama as she adjusts to life without dad. She is going to face some lonely days.
Thank you Friendship family for allowing me to miss the services at home today in order to be with my mama and family. We four siblings have gotten much done over the past two days in the way of legal stuff. I am pleased to say that there has not been one cross word spoken, we have acted like mature adults and have kept what is best for mama at the forefront. None of us have been the least bit worried about stuff. Refreshing!
I am going to worship with Pastor Joe David Bailey and the folks at Danville Baptist today. They are major supporters of GRACE Ministries and I am honored to be able to worship with them.
I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.