Pastor's Blog

Rumor has it that today, April 29, is Norman Richerson’s ninetieth birthday!  Happy birthday, Norman.  I hope his day will be totally great!

As far as I know, Norman is now our second male member who is ninety or above.  We also have two females who fit into that age bracket.

I am told that we had a good day in our services yesterday with Bro. Dylan and Bro. Abel both doing a good job of sharing the Word in the respective services.  I am thankful!

We now focus our prayers on Bro. Dylan and his family as he begins his first pastorate this Sunday, May 5.  Bro. Dylan is now the pastor of the Providence Baptist Church in Hatton, Alabama.  Pray for Bro. Dylan, Elizabeth, Ellie & Cash.

One more Saturday of soccer before the 2024 Spring season is over.  The Lord has blessed and we have seen hundreds of players participate and over one thousand fans show up to support them.  Good stuff.  Thank you to Bro. Abel and each volunteer who has assisted him.

Keep praying for those whose names have been on our prayer list.  I plan on posting Winston’s obit once the funeral home does so.  Pray for the Gulley family.

I am very grateful to Pastor Clint Landry for allowing me to speak from his pulpit at First Baptist Wetumpka yesterday morning.  What a privilege!  It was a joy to sit under the preaching ministry of Pastor Jack Bailey last night.

This Sunday, May 5, is going to be huge for the Friendship family.  Senior adults, we need for those who have not signed up for the lunch that will be catered this Sunday to do so today.  You can contact Cecil Guidry at any time or call the church office (251) 445 5412 today or tomorrow between the hours of 1:00PM – 4:00PM.  Pass the word, please!

Friendship family, do not miss this Sunday’s evening service!

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

The arrangements for Winston Gulley are as follows:  visitation with the family on Thursday, May 2, from 12:30PM until the 2:00PM service time.  Everything will take place from Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Keep praying for the Gulley family.

I visited with Mrs. Brannon on Friday morning.  She has been moved to a regular room and is looking at options post-hospital.  Continue to pray.

Thank you to each person who ministered to the Danny Lewis family.  I miss Danny!

Soccer went well yesterday.  I am told that Bro. Abel wrote a nice piece yesterday on FB regarding the purpose of our soccer leagues.  One more Saturday for this season.  Pray for this ministry.

Bro. Dylan Westbrook will be preaching in our morning service today.  He officially begins his pastorate next Sunday, May 5.  Pray for this morning’s service and for this new ministry opportunity for Bro. Dylan.

Bro. Abel will be preaching in tonight’s service which begins at 5:00PM.  Chapter five of “I Am A Church Member” will be the basis for the message.  Pray for this service.

Senior adults, if you have not done so already, we need you to sign up today for next Sunday’s (5/5) meal.  Cecil Guidry is the point person for this sign up.  Please contact her today!

Pray for me today as I will be preaching for Pastor Clint Landry and the folks at First Baptist Wetumpka.  Lisa and I will drive to Decatur this afternoon to visit with Mama before attending the evening service at Danville Baptist.  Eddie and I leave for Guatemala early tomorrow morning.

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

It is with a heavy heart that I share that Winston Gulley passed from this life last night.  The doctor said his heart simply was not strong enough to endure what it went through.  Pray for Winston’s children and their families, please.  Also, pray for his sister-in-law, Sharon Jardee, as she was very close to Winston.  Arrangements pending.

The visitation with the Danny Lewis family takes place today from 1:00 – 2:00PM from the Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette, Alabama.  The celebration of life service will begin at 2:00PM.  Burial will be in the Silverhill Cemetery.  Pray for Pam and the family.

Miss Vel Brannon remains in the hospital.  Please continue to pray for her.

Also, continue to pray for Mr. Houston Busby along with his wife, Miss Paulette.

Jerry Francisco has been placed on hospice care.  Pray for Jerry and Sandra.

Soccer leagues tomorrow morning.  Pray!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  Bro. Dylan Westbrook will be preaching the the morning service and Bro. Abel will do likewise in the evening service.  Pray for these services.

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

Winston Gulley did well through his surgery but some complications have now arisen.  Winston is in CCU.  The surgeon is optimistic but they have left Winston’s chest open just in case additional surgery is required.  Obviously, Winston is being kept asleep.  Pray for Winston and his family.

Winston Gulley went into surgery early this morning and did well.  He is in recovery after having a heart valve replaced.  Continue to pray Winston.

Miss Vel Brannon remains in the hospital recovering from her heart surgery.  Keep praying for her and her family.

Mr. Houston Busby is someone Gary Walton calls “Pop” although they are not blood related.  Years ago, Gary lived with Mr. Houston and Miss Paulette.  Mr. Houston is at home under hospice care.  Please add this couple to your prayer list.

Our soccer leagues continue play this Saturday morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Let’s begin with great news – Tim Knighten received another “all clear” report from the doctor(s) yesterday!  Hallelujah!  Tim & Peggy are very thankful, give God the glory and are grateful for your prayers.

Miss Vel Brannon remains in the unit but was able to sit in a chair yesterday.  Day by day.  Keep praying!

Went by to see Winston Gulley yesterday but the medical folks were in the room so I did not get to visit with him.  Hope to do so later today.  Continue to pray as his surgery will take place in the morning.

Talked to Pam Lewis on the phone yesterday.  Keep praying.  Visitation and service on Friday.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

A “Wyse offering” will be received on Sunday, May 19.  Pray about this!

Please keep Sunday, May 5, clear on your calendar and near the top of your prayer list.

Friendship family, we are blessed to have TJ Vice as a part of our family.  He brings much to the table in the area of finances.  I appreciate TJ.

Laura Fosmore seemed to have a good first day on the job yesterday.  I am trying to help her with her computer skills.  It is a challenge but I think she will soon get it!

Still need fifty folks for Sunday, 5/19.

Senior adults, we need you to sign up for the lunch on 5/5.

Still looking for folks to help mow the back forty today, tomorrow or Friday.  This would be a “Danny Lewis” type of service which is a very commendable thing!

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

Danny Richard Lewis, age 68, born in Mobile, AL and a resident of Moss Point, MS died Sunday, April 21, 2024 at his brother’s residence. He was a retired Electrician at Ingalls Shipyard. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL, a member of the international brotherhood of electrical workers Local 733.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Weber Lewis of Moss Point, MS; three brothers, Michael (Lou) Lewis of Styx River, Bill (Tamara) Cohron of Houston, TX and David (Ann) Lewis of Bay Minette, AL; two stepsisters, Margaret Dawson of Loxley, AL and Donna Skipper of Summerdale, AL; nephews, nieces and nephews, Shan, April and Steve and great nieces and great nephews, Christy, Alexis, Seth, Justin, Hayden, Logan and Tim.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Howard Lewis; his mother, Emily Jorgensen Cohron; sister, Linda Farrell; brother, Nicholas Lewis and two stepsisters.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home with Reverend Teddie Turrentine officiating. Burial will follow at Silverhill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday, April 26, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until the 2:00 p.m. service at Norris Funeral Home.

In lieu of flower the family requests memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.

I was wrong! (Again)  Tim Knighten will meet with the doctor(s) this morning for his test results.  It was not scheduled for yesterday afternoon.  My apologies for the misinformation.  Pray for Tim & Peggy this morning.

The arrangements for Danny Lewis are as follows:  visitation with the family this Friday, April 26, from noon until 1:00PM at the Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette, Alabama.  I do not have the name of the cemetery but I do know it is the one where Danny’s mother is buried.  I will update this once the obit is posted online.  Pray for Pam and the Lewis family.

Our ladies will be providing a meal for the Lewis family following the service.  Clara Broadus & Rita Boutwell will be coordinating this ministry opportunity.  Details coming.  Contact Clara if you are willing to help, please.

Mrs. Vel Brannon’s heart surgery went as expected.  As far as I know, they did three by-passes.  Miss Vel will be in the unit for two or three days.  Keep praying!

Winston Gulley is still scheduled to have heart valve replacement on Thursday.  Keep praying for Winston.

Soccer again this afternoon beginning at 4:30PM and ending at 7:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.  (Betty, you are needed in the concession stand again, please)

Speaking of soccer, we could use some volunteers to bring their mowers and help clean up the back forty (not the actual playing fields) today, tomorrow, Thursday or Friday.  Any, and all, help would be greatly appreciated.  Contact Bro. Abel if you need more information.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Can I be perfectly honest this morning?  The passing of Danny Lewis has shocked me and I still trying to process it as best as I can.  I had a full Sunday and, once I was able to be alone and call it a day, I just sat in our living room and just spent time remembering Danny while praying for Pam.  Pam has asked me to preach Danny’s celebration of life service and I have already been thinking “what do you say” and then, just like God, He gave me a word this morning through another pastor.  God is good!

Pam, along with Danny’s brother, David, will meet with the funeral home at 3:00PM today.  I will post an entry detailing the arrangements as soon as possible.  Keep praying for Pam and the family.

As I am writing this entry, Morris contacted me to let me know that Diane’s mother, Mrs. Brannon, is having open heart surgery now.  Pray for all to go well.

Also, just heard from Peggy Knighten.  All went well with the tests yesterday.  More tests today.  Tim will meet with the doctor later today to receive test results.  Keep praying for Tim.

Daphne and crew fly from Guatemala later today.  If all goes as scheduled, they will arrive home around midnight.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Our attendance was not as “down” as I had thought it would be.  Thank you Friendship family for being faithful.

Soccer games tonight and tomorrow night from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.

Online sign up for our Fall flag football begins later this week.  The belief is that it will reach capacity by this weekend.  So, our thirteen blog readers have the advantage.

Please mark Sunday, May 5 on your calendar and make plans to join us for both services that day.  Evangelist Oliver Cagle will be preaching in the 10:00AM service and Pastor “Anonymous” will be doing likewise in the 5:00PM service.  Friendship family, do not miss this Sunday!  Pray!

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

I am saddened to share that Danny Lewis passed from this life and entered Heaven around 2:45AM today.  I have spoken to his wife, Pam, and will be visiting with her later today.  Pray for Pam and the entire Lewis family.  Folks, death stings!