Pastor's Blog

We presently have six to eight (best of my knowledge) folks within the Friendship family who are battling the covid virus.  So, after much prayer and thought, I have decided to go with this schedule on our campus tomorrow, 6/19 – worship services at 8:00AM & 10:30AM.  Sunday School at 9:15AM.

Here is the change – no VBS or evening worship service tomorrow afternoon/evening.  No activities on our campus after the second morning worship service.

Also, trying to be proactive, there will be no Bible studies, classes, et cetera on our campus this Wednesday, June 22, morning or evening.  Our next time together in corporate worship will be next Sunday, June 26.  Plans call for that to be a normal schedule.

Please know that anyone who is not comfortable attending tomorrow’s services are certainly encouraged to follow their own intuition.  (I would not miss church only to go to a restaurant, shopping, et cetera)  Ultimately, it is your personal decision.

Praying for those who are battling the virus.  Praying for the Martez Richerson family.

Blessings!

Martez McKinley Richerson passed from this life on June 16, 2022, surrounded by family. Born in Uriah, AL on February 3, 1934, she was a homemaker and a member of Friendship Baptist Church of Grand Bay, AL
She was preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Maggie McKinley; granddaughter, Caryn Hyatt Suthoff; and her lifelong friend, Velta Smith.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Norman Richerson of Grand Bay, AL; daughters, Deborah Hyatt of Grand Bay, Sandra Rey of Grand Bay, Emily (Jerry) Lundy of Mobile, AL, and Jackie (Jason) Poiroux of Grand Bay; son, David (David) Richerson of Covington, LA; grandchildren, Jamie (Amanda) Hyatt of Grand Bay, Travis (Rosalie) Hyatt of Grand Bay, Marshall (Denise) Hyatt of Grand Bay, Cody (Alia) Hyatt of Grand Bay, Kayla (Ryan) Hatcher of Grand Bay, Matthew Rey of Grand Bay, Lucas Fickling of Cripple Creek, CO, Lance (Stella) Fickling of Mobile, Lacey (Colton) Byrd of Suffold, VA, Rachel (Marcus) Hatcher of Grand Bay, Katherine (Joshua) Landry of Mobile, Aaron (Haley) Poiroux of Mobile, Rachel Lundy of Mobile, and Aaron Lundy of Mobile; 30 great-grandchildren; brother, Ralph (Mary) McKinley of Bay Minette, AL; sister, Inez Metts of Uriah, AL; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Pallbearers will be Jamie Hyatt, Travis Hyatt, Marshall Hyatt, Cody Hyatt, Lance Fickling, and Aaron Poiroux. Honorary pallbearers will be David Eddlestone, Jerry Lundy, Jason Poiroux, Jeff Smith, and Brent Bateman.

Special thanks to family friend Ms. Vinnie Brewer and the staff of Kindred Hospice with an extra special thanks to Hannah and Cassandra.

One visitation will be held on Monday, June 20, 2022 from 5-8 PM at Friendship Baptist Church and another on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 9-11 AM at Serenity Funeral Home, followed by service at 11 AM. Interment will be held in Serenity Memorial Gardens.

The visitation and memorial service for Michelle Fore’s father takes place this afternoon in D’Iberville, MS.  Visitation begins at 3:00PM and the service begins at 4:00PM.  Keep praying for the Seymour family.

The arrangements for Miss Martez are as follows:  visitation Monday at the church from 5:00 – 8:00PM.  Visitation at Serenity Funeral Home on Tuesday from 9:00 – 11:00AM.  Celebration of life service at 11:00AM on Tuesday from Serenity.  Pray for Norman and the family.

There “may” be some changes to our schedule tomorrow.  I will post an entry this afternoon with a definitive word.

The team in Guatemala built six houses (minus the concrete), had a soccer clinic and worked on the girl’s fifteenth birthday party which takes place this afternoon.  All is well.

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