Pastor's Blog

Scott Fontenot wrote to share that Tina Sprinkle had a bad night.  A nurse made the decision to withhold her pain medicine due to low blood pressure.  It was 6:00AM today before Tina went to sleep.  Tina has been walking “some” which is a good thing.  Keep praying!

Scott Fontenot sent word yesterday that Tina Sprinkle continues to have pain in her leg but that she was able to get up for a short period of time.  So, Scott describes Tina as being “some” better.  Keep praying for Tina & Kevin.

As far as I know, everything else on the home front is quiet.  They say “no news is good news” and I going with that thought process.

Today will be an active day as far as GRACE Ministries is concerned.  A team of thirty-six folks will be traveling from Atlanta, Pensacola, and Huntsville on two different airlines heading to Guatemala.  Everyone should land by 1:00PM.  Pray for traveling mercies for all involved.

It was originally thought that this would be an all Alabama team.  Not so fast my friend!  Yesterday, we learned that one of our team members is from Mississippi!  Oh no!  I immediately thought about cancelling the trip but then was reminded by Dr. Rex Looney that we do not have any Yankees so it is not all bad!

Deidra and I were able to spend some quality father/daughter time yesterday morning.  That was good for me.  Probably drove her crazy!

Scott Fontenot came to GRACE Mountain in June and came up with this “marvelous” idea of planting a garden for Deidra.  Great plan, Scott.  Only one problem – the garden needs to be made into a Santa Claus (hoe, hoe, hoe) garden and needs fertilizer.  Guess who Deidra has charged with that task?  Yep!  I will be a happy camper whenever Deacon Albritton arrives this afternoon!  Thank you, Scott – for nothing!  Killing me!  (Where are John Milton Ladnier and Stacey Dyess when you need them?  Asking for a friend!)

Speaking of deacons, the Friendship family is blessed with the best!  I am grateful.

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

I ask that you continue to pray for Tina Sprinkle.  While I do not have an update this morning I do know that continues to need our prayer support.  Pray for Tina and Kevin.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Abel (aka Charles Stanley) will be teaching in both services.  Pray for those services.  Attend one of them.

I arrived safe and sound on GRACE Mountain yesterday afternoon.  Had a mechanical problem with my truck which meant I got to ride in an Uber vehicle for the first time.  Traffic was horrible.  Nothing like listening to opera music in Spanish for two hours or so.  LOL!

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

Tina Sprinkle’s surgery went well per the surgeon.  The actual surgery was short but the doctor examined all that has been done and seemed satisfied with what he saw.  I appreciate Scott & Nanette Fontenot being there with Kevin during this procedure.  Bro. Abel visited Tina yesterday morning, I did so in the afternoon and then Scott pulled the third shift.  Prayerfully, Tina will be discharged in a few days.  Praise the Lord!

Happy 90th birthday to Andy Hamil!  I hope his day will be extremely blessed.  I love and appreciate Bro. Andy and Miss Betty.

I am sitting in the Mobile airport waiting to board a flight to Atlanta and then switching planes in order to fly to Guatemala.  I am very comfortable and confident having Bro. Abel, Bro. Chris and our deacons filling during my absence.  The Friendship family is blessed to have these men serving God through the church family.  I am thankful!

One of the highlights for me in going to Guatemala is to enjoy some cooler temperatures.  That is even more so this time as one of the air conditioners in our house has apparently decided to call it quits.  Talk about a hot night!  All I know is that Lisa had best have everything up and running before I return home!  Just saying!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Death stings!  It was forty-five years ago today that my paternal aunt, Roberta Martin, passed from this life.  I think of her often.  She, along with her husband, Herschel, are the reasons I am an Alabama fan.  Seems like four hundred and fifty years on one hand and like yesterday on the other hand.

As it stands right now, Tina Sprinkle is scheduled to have surgery late this afternoon.  Pray for Tina as she has been in tremendous pain.  Kevin has been a very faithful husband to her.

We had a really good day in our services yesterday.  Thank you Jesus!

Our cake auction final total is $81,419.  How about that!  To God be the glory!  By the way, due to some unforeseen matters, our 2025 auction will take place on July 13 beginning at 4:00PM.  Please save the date!

Jarrod Sessions and Jimmy Tagert answered the call regarding Jason for the next two weekends.  Thank you guys!

Lord willing, I leave in the morning heading to Guatemala.  Pray for traveling mercies.  Bro. Abel will be on call 24/7 during my absence and will be preaching in all of the services.  Bro. Abel and Bro. Chris are great staff members and I am thankful for them.

Speaking of Bro. Chris, he and Pepper are grandparents again as Bailey gave birth last night.  I do not know the details but I do know the baby weighed less than twenty pounds and is less than five feet tall.  Just saying!

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

First, was able to speak to Tina Sprinkle via the phone earlier today.  She is “better” but is still having some issues with pain.  So, the surgeon plans on going back in on Monday to remove a screw.  He thinks this will solve the problem.  As always, Tina has high spirits and is trusting the Lord Jesus.  Keep praying for Tina & Kevin as they have had a tough few days.

Two requests.  First, it appears that we are extremely close to reaching a very unique point in our cake auction.  We are around twelve hundred dollars short of reaching a net total of eighty thousand dollars.  Only God!  I would “love” for us to reach the eighty thousand mark by the end of tomorrow night’s service.  Thank you to those who have given donations thus far – much appreciated.  Some folks who were not present at the actual auction have indicated a willingness to make a financial donation.  (Some who were present at the auction have given a donation)  So, if anyone who will be on our campus tomorrow wants to make a donation then I am asking that they do so before the end of our evening service.  Cash or checks made payable to GRACE Ministries.  Donations can be given to Eddie Albritton, Scott Fontenot, John Milton Ladnier or Larry Whitehurst.  If you are from out of town (Rex Looney, BJ Parson, whomever) then you can simply email me and we will trust you to follow through with your pledge.  Thank you in advance to each person who will accept this challenge.  This “thank you” comes from two hundred plus families in Guatemala.

Second, I will not be able to provide transportation or house Jason Husband for the next two Sundays, 7/21 & 7/28.  Jason is disappointed that it appears he will have to miss being at Friendship those two days.  So, if you can help, contact me via email.

What a sad situation in Pennsylvania this afternoon.  America, needs lots prayers.  Join me in praying for all involved.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Hope to see many folks in attendance.

Blessings!

Tina Sprinkle’s surgery was a success according to the surgeon.  The actual surgery lasted just under four hours.  She will now be hospitalized for a few days and then down for about six weeks.  Keep praying for Tina and Kevin.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Rain or shine!

No, I do not have an update on the auction’s grand total.  That may take a week or so.

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

I know, I know, I know.  There was no blog entry yesterday.  It was simply a “red truck” issue.  Enough said!

First, let me ask you to join me in praying for Tina Sprinkle as she will be having major back surgery today.  Surgery is scheduled to begin at 10:30AM and the doctor thinks it will last four to six hours.  Tina will then be hospitalized for four or five days.  Pray that this surgery will be a success and it will relieve Tina of the pain she has endured for years.

I learned Sunday night that Debbie Inabinett will have a medical test done today.  Pray for the doctors to get a good view of what has been causing Debbie problems.

Pam Baker’s father, Claude Landry, has been diagnosed with cancer.  They are deciding whether surgery or radiation is the best option at this point.  Pray for Claude & Kay.  (Obviously, this is Pastor Clint’s father too but I simply mentioned Pam as she is the favorite child!)

Marie Brooks’ brother has been hospitalized since early last week.  Pray for him.

The Lord blessed us this past Sunday.  The auction was awesome!  I am somewhat hesitant to give a total as I know it will change once everything is said and done.  (We need the help of a good CPA) However, I am told that our total received was over seventy thousand dollars – how about that!  All I can say is glory to God and praise the Lord!  Our God is an awesome God!

Thank you to each person who baked a cake or pie, gave a cow, donated a condo, cooked corn beef hash, did permanent jewelry, helped set up/take down, worked during the auction, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Thank you to each person who purchased the various items.  Obviously, that begins with the members of the Friendship family but we had folks attend/participate from Bay Minette, AL, Grenada, MS, Danville, AL, Pascagoula, MS, Milton, FL, Biloxi, MS and who knows where else – wow!  We had folks from Michigan who did not attend but did participate in the auction.  We had folks from Ellisville, MS who donated a cake.  Thank you to each one.

Thank you to our auctioneers – Jim and Justin.

Thank you to Stacey & Gayla for once again cooking a tremendous meal.  Someone told me that the chicken was the best they have ever eaten.  I just know they spent hours preparing and cooking and I am very grateful.  What a great couple!

Thank you to Miss Vinnie Brewer for once again being the “cake auction queen” as her cake sold for nine thousand dollars!  Way to go Miss Vinnie!

Two hundred and something students from Colegio JET along with their families say “thank you” as they will now be able to receive extra food over the course of the next year due to your generosity.  Folks, it is all about God and the cause which is feeding those in need.  “I was hungry and you fed me!” Again, to God be the glory!

FYI, next year’s auction is scheduled for Sunday, June 29, beginning at 4:00PM in our CAB.  Ladies and gentlemen, start your ovens!  By the way, one of the highlights will be Miss June Bailey’s world famous carrot cake!

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

This entry is obviously way late.  Katie Tillman asked me to post a little later today as she and Grant wanted to share some exciting news?  Well, it is now 2:30PM and I have heard nothing from them so I have to proceed.

Today marks my late brother-in-law’s fiftieth-sixth birthday.  Unbelievable that Michael would be fifty-six years old.  I only knew Michael for seven years but what a great seven years!  As always, praying for Charles, Ann, Kim & Lisa.

The auction just gets better and better.  We now have cakes, cow, corn beef hash and a weekend condo rental (Karen Walker) to be auctioned.  Plus, Kayla Hatcher is selling permanent jewelry (not sure what that means) with the total amount paid going directly to GRACE Ministries.  I am told one can buy anklets, bracelets and necklaces.  She will begin this at 3:30PM.  Again, Kayla is not getting even one cent from doing this.  She just wants to be a blessing to this cause!

We will have select cakes that will be in the silent auction only meaning those bids will begin at 3:30PM and end at 5:00PM.  Other cakes will be available in the silent and live auction.  The cow, corn beef hash and condo will only be available in the live auction.

I am still holding out hope that one or two more of our seasoned bakers will submit an entry.  Just think how many hungry children and adults will benefit simply because you baked a cake!

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.  Meal begins at 4:00PM followed by the live auction at 5:00PM.

A very special “thank you” to Jeff Holifield and Ethan Nelson for their time and effort on the sports playing fields this week.  Bro. Abel knows the extent of their help.  It was huge!  Again, thank you Ethan & Jeff.

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

Happy Fourth of July!

Tina Sprinkle told me on Monday that her back surgery has been scheduled for December 18 (yes, December).  She waited like seven months to see this surgeon.  However, they told her that surgery could happen earlier.  Learned last night that her surgery is now scheduled for next Tuesday, July 9.  How about that!  Pray for Tina and this surgery!

Bibbi Bosarge sent me an update on Kathy King’s surgery.  All went well.  Kathy is grateful for the prayers.

Jason Husband got an excellent report from the doctor.  His count has dropped significantly – praise the Lord!  He celebrated with Deacon TJ Vice!

Clinton Stringfellow has given us three watermelons recently.  Absolutely delicious!  Thank you, Clinton!

John Milton Ladnier has been giving us vegetables from his garden for the past couple of months.  Lisa has canned twenty-one quarts of snap beans given to us by John Milton, we have enjoyed tomatoes, cucumbers, et cetera.  Yesterday, John came with four watermelons.  They are equally delicious!  Dub Ladnier was a good gardener but I think John Milton is even better.  John Milton loves it and works hard at it.  Thank you, John Milton.

I am grateful for men like Clinton & John Milton for their generosity and their willingness to give.  Lisa and I are blessed!

Speaking of giving, Stacey & Gayla Dyess will be cooking the pork, chickens, baked beans and potato salad for the cake auction this Sunday, 7/7.  How awesome is that!  I am going to give Stacey a bottle of Big Bob Gibson’s white bar-b-cue sauce to show my appreciation!  What a great couple and what kind hearts!  They may get an assist from the boys!

We are asking the members of the Friendship family who attend the cake auction to bring a dessert – no cakes, please!  Also, Stacey says maybe some coleslaw or some type of salad?

Great news – we have had some more of our seasoned bakers sign up for the auction.  Praise the Lord!  Plus, Deidra has now one hundred percent agreed to bake a cake so now Scott F & Eddie A have raised their bid limit to one hundred and five dollars.  (Rumor has it that the beginning bid for Deidra’s cake will be fifteen hundred dollars.  Is that true?  Time will tell!)  I am still in hopes that a couple more of our seasoned bakers will join this effort!

Hartselle area folks, remember that if you win a bid on a cake then we can have it delivered to you on Monday, 7/8.  Ross Genzink & Tom Compagner, if you guys win a bid on a cake then we will tell you how great it tasted!

Tim or Peggy, please send Deidra the FB info on the place you have talked about.

I pray that you will have a great Fourth of July with Jesus.