Pastor's Blog

Pastor Jack Bailey’s sister (eighty-seven years old) was tragically killed in a car accident last Friday.  The visitation took place yesterday and the celebration of life service will take place this afternoon beginning at 3:00PM.  Pray for Pastor Tim Keenum and Pastor Jack as they minister during this time.  Obviously, this is Pastor Joe David Bailey’s paternal aunt.  Pray for the family.

Clinton Stringfellow had three bypasses and the surgery went well.  If all goes as planned, Clinton will be in CCU for a couple of days then in a regular room for another four or five days.  Keep praying for Clinton.

Judy Hall remains hospitalized.  The medical folks are still working on the best plan of action for her physical condition.

Our great friend from Montgomery, Decker Terry, is in the hospital.  They are dealing with a recurring physical problem.  Please join me in praying for Decker, Sherry and the doctors treating Decker.

Marie Brooks is scheduled to have surgery later this week.  Pray that all goes well.

Tim & Peggy Knighten head back to Houston next week for a scan and an appointment with the doctor.  Pray that all goes well.  I am pretty disappointed that they did not invite me to join them for bbq!  Just saying!

Good news alert – Myrtle Bowden got positive news from the doctor yesterday.  Her cancer markers went down and she has gained a couple of pounds.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying for Myrtle.

I continue to pray for our great friend, Kristie Potts, in Michigan as she battles a malignancy.  Please continue to pray with me for John & Kristie!

Our great friend from Millbrook, Josh Fortner, has torn something in his arm (cannot remember the specifics right now) and they have opted to not do surgery for the time being but will go another route.  Pray for Josh & Mandi.

I continue to be blessed and amazed by the number of folks checking on my physical condition.  Thank you!  I am humbled.  Pastor Joe David Bailey has been extremely faithful to check on me.  Gary Walton has contacted me multiple times to see if I am ok.  (He is concerned about the money I owe him – LOL!).  It is great to have a family in Christ at all times but especially in times like these.  I could never mention all of the folks who have contacted me.  Even though Deidra laughed at my blog entry yesterday, she has kept me “smothered” during this time.  That is why I can hardly breathe!  It would be nice to go to the bathroom just once without someone standing outside the door listening!  Just saying!

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

Clinton Stringfellow will undergo open heart surgery today.  I am not sure of all of the details but do ask that you join me in praying for Clinton.  Clinton is obviously an important member of the Friendship family plus a great friend to this pastor.  Actually, Clinton came to me during the invitation on the morning of 1/22 and prayed for me before even mentioning his own physical condition and upcoming heart cath.  Pray for Clinton!

Judy Hall has been in the hospital for several days.  I ask you to join me in praying for Judy, Yancey and the family.  Pray for the doctors to be able to find answers to her physical problems.

Multiple positive reports have come to me regarding the services at Friendship yesterday, the 4:00PM meeting and the Discipleship Training classes.  Praise the Lord!  Friendship family, thank you for being faithful!  Glory to God!

Pastor Doug Chappelle is doing a great job of spiritually leading the mission team.  Not sure who picks out his Sunday morning preaching wardrobe but his messages are scripturally solid.  Pastor Doug is a good one!  I appreciate him!

Thank you to the folks who have checked on my physical condition either by contacting me, Lisa or one of our daughters.  Have I been at my best?  No.  Have I been blessed?  Yes.  I am taking life one breath at a time and trusting God step by step as nothing takes Him by surprise.  God is good!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.   The attendance was good and the spirit was very good.  Praise the Lord!

Brenda Timberlake, Pat Baggett and Ross Genzink all did well through their respective surgeries.  Thank you for praying.

Clinton Stringfellow will have a heart cath done today.  Pray for the doctors to get a clear picture of what is talking place in his heart.

Myrtle Bowden will have a scan done today.  Pray for a good report.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Our good friend, Ross Genzink, is having a complete knee replacement surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Brenda Timberlake will be having back surgery this morning.  It will be done as an outpatient.  Pray it will be successful and eliminate the pain.

Bubba Baggett’s mother will be having surgery on her knee today.  Pray for that surgery to go well also.

Clinton Stringfellow will be having a test done tomorrow.  Pray for the doctors to get a clear view of what they need to see.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and evening (6:30PM).  Lord willing, I am going to teach in both services.  I do not plan on bailing out on the evening service this week!

I had an appointment with my general doctor yesterday afternoon and it went well all things considered.  I would ask you to pray that my blood pressure will come down as that is my main issue right now.  How high is it?  Yes.

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

Happy fifth birthday to our grandson, Jayden!  Lisa and I love Jayden and hope his day is special!

Keep praying for Danny Lewis as they make decisions related to his physical condition.  Danny is a fine gentleman and a tremendous member of the Friendship family.

I hear that Myrtle is doing pretty good.  What a warrior for Christ!  Keep praying!

If I understood Clinton Stringfellow correctly, he will be having some tests on Thursday.  Pray that all goes well.

I am going to assume that “no news is good news” regarding Sharon Jardee.  Keep praying for this sweet lady.

Pray for Eric Harrington’s brother-in-law, Kevin.  He is battling a tumor and needs much prayer support.

I was told of someone having knee surgery tomorrow but I cannot remember who it is.  I am sorry.  Please pray as God knows.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

I had a MRI yesterday morning and got the results yesterday afternoon.  No stroke but I do have some damage from unattended high blood pressure.  The neurologist is keeping me on anti-seizure medication and basically mandated that I see a primary care physician today.  There were no openings but Lisa was able to get me an appointment for this afternoon.

I have been blown away by the number of folks reaching out to me during this time.  I simply cannot reply to all of them but please know that I am very, very appreciative of each one.  I still do not feel well, at all, but that will change in time.  You prayers are needed and appreciated.

Let me once again say what a huge blessing Cindy Stokes has been to me during this ordeal.  Al is useless but Cindy is a jewel.  Brad and Daphne have also been spot on with their medical help.  Lisa has been amazing too!  I am blessed!

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

Regular schedule on our campus this morning – 9:00AM Sunday School; 10:00AM worship.

This afternoon will see us have children’s choir and worship beginning at 5;00PM and the benefit supper for JZ Baker and family beginning at 6:00PM in the CAB.

As it stands right now (8:00AM) I have plans to preach in both services today.  Those plans are not as firm as they were yesterday but I am going to give it my all.  Pray for me.

The number of phone calls, emails, and iMessages to me have been nothing short of astounding.  Cakes, food baskets, chicken & dumplings, the list goes on have been brought to the house too – oh my!  All of those things have been great but the greatest thing has been the abundance of prayer support which is very much needed.  I am a very blessed man!  My family, near and far, have been amazing.  God has been faithful!

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

A visit to the neurologist definitely confirmed the seizure of Wednesday night.  He also reinforced the fact that I cannot drive for the next six months.  I agreed to not drive a vehicle but not to the idea of not riding a mower.

The neurologist’s greatest concern became my blood pressure which was high.  How high?  Well, let’s just say high enough for him to immediately send me to the nearby emergency room where I stayed for the next three or four hours.  They were able to get it down “some” with an iv and oral meds but not nearly enough.  The ER doctor sent me home with some serious medicines.

I will be honest in saying that I am not feeling well.  I have gotten so many emails, iMessages and phone calls that I simply cannot reply to them all so this entry will hopefully catch most of those who have contacted me.  I pray folks understand.  Pass the word especially concerning me needing prayers.

I am very grateful to Daphne and Lisa for expending their entire day with me doing medical stuff.  Boring!

Prayers appreciated!

Short and sweet today – I do not have an update on Danny Lewis’ test results.  Pray for him.

As you probably already know, I allegedly experienced a long seizure right before leaving for church this past Wednesday night.  I do not know what happened but I have been told things that I said and did that I simply do not remember at all.  (Personally, I think they are lying)  Daphne called 911 but I do not remember them being here.  I do remember hearing Brad talk to me and seeing TJ Vice for a brief few seconds.  Otherwise, I do not remember hearing or seeing anyone.  Weird!

By the way, Brad did excellent in dealing with me.  I appreciate him.  TJ?  Wanted to know if I had filed my quarterly returns – really!  The dude is a great CPA!

Lisa and Daphne took me to Singing River Hospital.  SRH gets an “A+” from me.  Excellent care given to me.  I do mean excellent!  They confirmed it was a seizure and told me to see a neurologist.  Cindy Stokes stepped up and got me an appointment with a neurologist this morning.  So, maybe we will get some answers.

Our deacons have been great to me.  They have told me to take this Sunday off but that is not my plan.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit at 10:00AM and 5:00PM (note the time change).  That could change depending on the doctor’s visit this morning.

This episode has helped me see again just how blessed I am with family, church family and friends.  God is good!  Thank you for your prayers.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and tonight (6:30PM).

Rick Bradley’s father spent several days in the hospital but is now at home.  He is weak physically.  Pray for Mr. Bradley to fully recover.

Jason Husband is scheduled to have a procedure this Friday.  Not sure what all is involved but do ask you to pray for Jason.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden and Sharon Jardee.

The pastor from Wade Baptist Church got some good news yesterday.  He now needs some things to happen quickly in his treatment.  Pray for Pastor Brandon.

Today is the day for members of the Friendship family to pre-order either a seafood supper or a chicken supper for the benefit for JZ Baker and family.  You can call the church office, sign up in one of our services today, contact Bibbi Bosarge or use the link on our website.  Meals are fifteen dollars for either seafood or chicken.  Dine in or carry out.  Children’s meals (chicken) are only five dollars but the portions are much smaller.  I would like to see us have fifty or so more folks sign up today.  All proceeds to JZ’s trip to Guatemala.

Also, the t-shirts are in.  They will be available in the service tonight.  Contact Daphne Hutto if you have questions.

Special love offering for JZ and family on Sunday, 2/5 – morning and evening.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning.  Our evening schedule will be different for this one Sunday.  Service and children’s choir will be from 5:00 – 6:00PM.  Supper will be served beginning at 6:00PM.

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

Mattie Reese, age 96, long time resident of Grand Bay, AL, passed from this life and entered Heaven on January 10, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Laura Hulsey of Haleyville, AL; sister, Annie Porter; brother, Q.B. Hulsey; daughter, Linda TwoRivers; son, Ricky Reese; grandson, Jeremy Womack; granddaughter, Leah Ladnier; great-great grandson, Damon Bosarge and great-great granddaughter, Kayleigh Mullins.

She is survived by her children, Wanda (Larry) Womack, Yvonne (Michael) Pinson, Katie (Lionel) Seaman, and Tim Reese; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Pauline Abbout; other relatives, and friends.
She was a longtime member of Faith Baptist Church (now Grace Baptist) in Grand Bay, AL. She loved attending church and working church activities, gardening, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. She also worked for many years at Lee Co in Bayou La Batre, AL.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, from 12-2 PM at Serenity Funeral Home, followed by a chapel service at 2 PM.