Pastor's Blog

Friendship family, please remember the visitation with the Steve Morris family today from 5:00 – 7:00PM in our church auditorium.  We are going to have a memorial type service beginning around 6:30PM.

If you are helping with the food for the Morris family then contact Rita Boutwell should you need any information.  Thanks to Rita for leading this ministry.

Robert & Roseanne Baria’s daughter, Darlene, is in the hospital.  Please pray for her.

This Sunday, January 1, 2023, will see us have one worship service which will begin at 10:00AM.  Nothing else on our campus this Sunday.  Pass the word!

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

Steven Morris, age 70, a resident of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on Christmas Day, 2022. Steven was born in St. Louis, Missouri on January 30, 1952 and was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay. Steven enjoyed working at the church and being with his family, especially his grandson, Tristen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Louise Morris. Steven is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Virginia Morris; daughter, Gloria (Michael) Skinner; grandson, Tristen Skinner; brothers, Phil (Sharon) Morris and Tim Morris; sisters, Susan (Daniel) DeGeer and Judy (Jason) Creal; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends from church.

Visitation will be held Thursday, December 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Alabama. Graveside services will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Alabama Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Pastor Teddie Turrentine will be officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Tristen Skinner, Greg Morris, Charlie DeGeer, David Hayes, Joshua Mott, and Scott Older.

Somewhere around 6:20 – 6:25PM on Thursday, 12/29, there will be a brief service in the church auditorium.  The actual service will take place on Friday, 12/30, at the cemetery.

Rita Boutwell is leading the ministry of feeding the family on Friday.  Contact her with any questions or for more information.

Pray for Virginia and family during this time.

Steve Morris went to sleep last night here on earth and woke up in Heaven!  “Absent from the body, present with the Lord!”  Pray for Virginia and family as they walk through this valley.  They will meet with funeral directors this Wednesday morning.  Obviously, arrangements pending.

It is almost unbelievable to me that Christmas Day 2023 is only two days away!  Wow!

Peggy Knighten’s surgery was a success.  She was taken to surgery in a timely manner and she was spot on as to her guesstimation as to how long the actual surgery would last.  She told me forty-five minutes and it took about forty minutes.  Now, for the rest of the story – well it is so “weird” that I will not even bother to try and explain it except to say it involved Cracker Barrel, Walmart and the Bel Air Mall.  What?  That is what I said!  The good news is that Peggy finally got home and in the bed around 11:00PM.  I am still just shaking my head!

Keep praying for Steve Morris, Myrtle Bowden, Sharon Jardee and the others for whom we have been praying.

One service this Sunday, Christmas Day, and it will begin at 10:00AM.  I am praying for a large number of the Friendship family members to be present for this service.  I saw a fellow pastor last night and he asked, “how can a follower of Jesus who is physically able not be in church for worship on Christmas Sunday?”  I had no answer but I do have the same question.  Yes, it will be cold (for us) but, thankfully, we do have heat inside our buildings.  Come join us and bring others with you!  O come let us adore Him!

As you know, my hope is that we will sell at least fifty more “JZ” shirts this Sunday morning.  The Bakers have plans to be in attendance which means JZ will be in the auditorium during the service (he is normally in children’s church).  Will you please come prepared to fill out an order form and bring a check (made payable to Friendship Baptist) or cash with you.  Or, you can Venmo Bibbi Bosarge or Daphne Hutto on the spot.  Pass the word, share the FB page, call someone, send an email, whatever.  Just help us help JZ and his family!

My wife finally came home last night.  The good news is that she brought her mother back with her.  The bad news is that she also brought her father back!  Win some, lose some!

Diane Trotti sent us a box full of navel oranges yesterday – how nice is that!  Thank you, Diane!

Speaking of fruit, I “think” one of our neighbors who happens to be a member of the Friendship family has been “taking” some satsumas in Charles’ absence.  Do I call the law?  Or just ignore it?  He claims he cannot lift his arm very high because of recent surgery but it seems to work well when reaching for the biggest fruit at the top of the tree.  LOL!  It is great to have great neighbors!

As I close this post, the weather folks say it is twenty-nine degrees in Grand Bay and will dip to twenty-four by 8:00AM.  Also says it is seven degrees in Hartselle.  Folks, stay warm and be safe.

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

We had two good services yesterday.  Our morning attendance was very good and our evening attendance was fair.  I am grateful to those who attended.

Peggy Knighten’s surgery is scheduled to take place today shortly after noon.  I hope it does not get delayed too much.  Pray that all goes well.  Peggy & Tim are great members of the Friendship family.

One service this Sunday, 12/25, beginning at 10:00AM.  Praying for a full house!

Well, the shout out for the Jags that Kim & Daphne wanted did not help.  Wow, WKU looked really good.  However, South had a really strong season and are to be congratulated!  By the way, former Jag Jeremy Reaves made the NFL Pro Bowl.  The video of him receiving the news from Coach Ron Rivera is worth a look.  I saw it on AL.com.

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

The church office will be closed from 11:00AM until around 1:15PM today.  Otherwise, it will be open regular hours.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  The evening will see our Royal Ambassadors and Girls In Action having a Christmas fellowship beginning at 6:30PM.  Also, our student ministry will be having a Christmas fellowship during that same hour.

Peggy Knighten is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

No new updates on the others for whom we have been praying.  Keep praying!

Andy & Betty Hamil were told about a week or so ago that Betty had a spot on one of her lungs.  They received word yesterday that all is clear.  Andy & Betty are rejoicing and giving God the glory!

Gina saw the oral surgeon yesterday afternoon and he gave her the good news that she does not have a tumor.  We are very grateful to God.  The oral surgeon he “thinks” her problem is an infection but he does not know the source.  So, tomorrow she will see an endodontist.  Thank you for your prayers and keep praying, please.

I am trying to get the word out to as many folks as possible regarding the t-shirts for JZ Baker’s trip.  My hope is to sell at least fifty more shirts in our service this Sunday morning.  Obviously, this is not limited to just members of the Friendship family so get the word out.  Contact Bibbi Bosarge or Daphne Hutto for more information or to place your order.

This Sunday, December 25, will see us have one worship service on our campus.  That service will begin at 10:00AM.  I am praying for a full house for this special service as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Kim French and Daphne Hutto wanted me to give a shout out to their beloved South Alabama Jaguars football team as they play Western Kentucky tonight in a bowl game in New Orleans.  The game will be on television beginning at 8:00PM.  It is the only bowl game being played today!  Go Jags!

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

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Friendship family, please be faithful to attend.

Steve Morris remains at home under hospice care.  He has been having a little trouble eating but the one thing that is not giving him problem is sweets!  My wife helped him yesterday by baking and sending him a pound cake.  Steve was a happy camper when he saw that sweet!  Keep praying for Steve & Virginia.

Spoke to Sammy Bowden and he said that Myrtle is doing well at this point in time.  Continue to pray for Sammy & Myrtle.

Sharon Jardee remains basically homebound and in need of our prayer support.  Keep praying!

Peggy Knighten will have surgery this Thursday, 12/22.  Pray for all to go well.

We will NOT have a Christmas Eve service this year as we will gather at 10:00AM on Christmas Day for our regular Sunday worship.  That service will be our only one for this Sunday meaning there will be no Sunday School or evening service.  My hope is that we will completely fill the auditorium for this special service.  Let’s celebrate the birthday of the King of Kings – Jesus!  O come let us adore Him!

My goal is for us to receive at least fifty (50) new orders this Sunday, 12/25, during our service for the t-shirts for JZ Baker.  All orders and payments must be received by Wednesday, January 4, 2023.  By the way, there will be a meal on 1/4 before the evening service with all proceeds going toward funding JZ’s trip to Guatemala.

Out of town reader but want a t-shirt?  Contact Bibbi Bosarge (bibbibosarge1@gmail.com) or Daphne Hutto (daphnehutto@gmail.com) via email to order and to set up payment.

The church office will be closed Monday, 12/26, and will reopen on Tuesday, 12/27.

Today is forecast to be a cool, wet day for Southwest Alabama.  The forecasted high for tomorrow is sixty degrees and then it climbs to sixty-four on Thursday.  Thursday night all is expected to change drastically.  The low on Thursday night for us is predicted to be twenty-three degrees.  Here are the projected highs/lows for the three days following:  Friday – 35/20; Saturday – 38/21; Sunday – 42/23.  If the weather folks are correct with these predictions then we will have some of the coldest weather we have had in several years.  Four consecutive nights in the twenties – wow!  So, get ready!

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Stay dry and warm!

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  We praise His holy name for his continued blessings.  God is good!

Tomorrow, I will update the situations on those for whom we have been praying.  I plan on getting updates today.  In the meanwhile, keep praying!

Our GA’s have already raised four hundred and fifty dollars through the GA Post Office.  Awesome!  Special thanks to Tina Sprinkle, the other leaders and our Girls In Action.  All proceeds are going to help send JZ Baker and family to Guatemala in April.

We are on a regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 12/21 – morning and evening.

Here is our schedule for the rest of the year and January 1 – 2, 2023:

Sunday, December 25 – 10:00AM worship service only.

Monday, December 26 – church office closed.

Wednesday, December 28 – no services, classes or activities on our campus.

Sunday, January 1, 2023 – 10:00AM worship service only.

Monday, January 2, 2023 – church office closed.

I have plans to be in town for the rest of this year and am available, if needed.

One more calendar note – the Inspirations will be with us on Thursday, January 12, beginning at 7:00PM.  No admission charge.  Love offering will be received.

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

Our schedule for this Sunday, 12/18, will be Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30 and 5:00PM.  Praying for many members of the Friendship family to join us for these classes and services.

Our prayer list remains unchanged.  Please keep praying.

Our RA/GA Christmas party will take place this Wednesday, 12/21, beginning at 6:30PM.

Our GA post office is open for business.  Great way to support the effort to help JZ Baker get to Guatemala along with his family.

Also, now is the time to order the “I want to build a house” t-shirts supporting JZ.

I have failed to mention this week that last weekend John Milton gave us a fresh mess of collard greens.  How nice is that?  Talk about pretty!  The man can flat out grow vegetables.  Thank you, John Milton.

Yesterday at the senior adult Christmas fellowship, Clinton Stringfellow offered me the chance to have basically any kind of green I would like including some vegetables that are not green.  Like John Milton, Clinton is a master gardener!  I am grateful for the generosity of these men.  (I just need for them to supply the cornbread too!  Just saying!)

By the way, the senior adult fellowship was a huge success!  I did not get to eat everything on the table but two things were outstanding – Bro. Jerry’s meatloaf and Rachel Walton’s potatoes.  Oh my!  Thank you to each person who attended and to those who helped in any way.  Great time of food and fellowship!

Lord willing, Lisa and I will leave this morning heading to Hartselle, Alabama.  We have a meeting early this afternoon and will then have the Turrentine Christmas tomorrow.  Plans are for us to return and, Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit Sunday morning and evening.

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

The threat of severe weather did not negatively affect our morning service yesterday but it did a number on our evening attendance.  I am very grateful to each person who attended either service.  We had a good day and our area was spared any deaths, injuries or damage from the storms.  Praying for those families who lost family members, suffered injury or lost material things.

The severe weather caused Sonny Bates from keeping his doctor’s appointment in New Orleans yesterday.  However, he shared a praise report in our morning service stating that his numbers are going in the right direction.  Yes, praise the Lord!  Keep praying!

Cecil Guidry shared with me yesterday morning that the doctor has decided to not do any treatment for Myrtle during this Christmas season so she can enjoy this time with her family without being sick.  In my opinion, nice move.  Keep praying for Myrtle.

Keep praying for Steve Morris.  No change in his situation.

Continue to lift Sharon Jardee up in your daily prayers.

Peggy Knighten is scheduled to have surgery one week from today, 12/22.  Pray for all to go well.

Nanette Fontenot has a post-op visit with her surgeon tomorrow and should receive a hard cast,  Keep praying for Nanette.

Our youngest daughter, Gina, has been diagnosed with what is most likely a tumor which is believed to be benign.  She will have a scan tomorrow and the see the doctor again next week.  Prayers appreciated.

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