Pastor's Blog

Gary Walton called me last night to let me know that his wife, Rachel, had been admitted to the hospital.  Truth is that they did not have a room for her so she was in holding somewhere and Gary was not allowed to see her.  Pray for Rachel and Gary, please.

As far as I know, everyone else in the Friendship family is doing well.  Sonny Bates will meet with his doctor this Friday to learn about a treatment schedule.  Pray.

Speaking of prayer, I join with Bro. Abel as he challenged us during the teacher’s meeting this past Sunday for us to make attending our Wednesday prayer service a priority.  Will you join us?  10:00AM or 6:30PM.

Speaking of Bro. Abel, this Sunday, 8/25, will see us celebrate his fifth anniversary as a staff member.  He will preach in the morning service and we will have a “sweet” time in the evening service.  You are asked to bring a “sweet” to the 5:00PM service.  We will begin the the auditorium and end the night in the CAB.  Remember, a love offering for Bro. Abel will be received in both services and there will be a table for cards in the CAB.

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

Happy eleventh birthday to our granddaughter, Nora!  I hope she will have an awesome day.  We love Nora and hope her birthday will be the best!  Happy birthday, Nora.

Miss Jo Nell’s test yesterday left her with some decisions to make.  She has another test today.  Pray for her to have wisdom as she makes these health decisions.

Clara Broadus has been put on a heart monitor for a month.  Pray that will show no problems and also pray for a situation with her eye.

Pray for Miss Vinnie’s brother and her great grandson with their respective health issues.

Miss Dottie Clark is doing well as she can now get around with the aid of a walker.

Andy & Betty Hamil will be driving to central Mississippi today.  Pray for traveling mercies.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Very late entry.  My apologies.

Miss Jo Nell Barnes is having a test today and is scheduled for another one tomorrow.  I sure hope she is studying hard!  Pray for all to go well.

It was good to see Robert Baria in our service yesterday morning.  Wow, he took a hard fall.  The good news is that he got a great report regarding his malignancy so we give God the praise.  Keep praying!

Sonny Bates is still scheduled to see the doctor next Friday, 8/23.  Pray!

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Strong morning attendance.  Good evening attendance.  Thank you, Jesus.

The morning service proved that our Pentecostal friends have nothing on us!  Just saying!

I had a good meeting last with Joey & Bibbi Bosarge last night regarding our home school co-op.  This is a growing ministry.  They meet each Wednesday.  Pray for this ministry.  I just refer to it as the BJA.

Also had a good meeting last night with Dede Tagert regarding our student choir.  She is in charge and I am simply following her lead.  Got questions?  Contact Dede.  Dede has an awesome attitude!  (The best part is that, as a part of our agreement, she and Jimmy will be hosting Jason every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  How nice is that!)

Colby Scofield graciously took Jason home last night after the service.  Very nice of him.

Forecast high for Grand Bay today is 94; Holland is 77.  Please!  LOL!

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

Happy birthday to my niece, Jamie Glenn.  How old?  Yes.  Jamie is the daughter of Eddie & Sue.  I hope she will have a great day.  (Translated – she gets to go to Taco Bell with her friend, Mandi!)

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning @ 10:00AM and evening @ 6:30PM.

One major change regarding our evening classes.  The CAB is now to be used exclusively by our student (6th graders through high school seniors) ministry for their activities and Bible study on Wednesdays.  They begin at 6:00PM and no other persons will be allowed in the CAB.  Please do not bring/send your younger children (5th graders and under) early.  All other classes begin at 6:30PM.  Again, thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

There will be a visitation and service for Mr. Otis Collier, Sr today at Mobile Memorial Funeral Home.  Visitation from 11:00AM until the noon service.

Still praising the Lord for Larry’s good report yesterday.

Still praying for Jo Nell and her doctor’s visit tomorrow.

Still praying for Sonny Bates and his upcoming visit with the doctor to set a treatment plan/schedule.

I do not complain about the weather.  However, it is no secret that I have always been partial to cooler (cold) temperatures.  Last Friday and Saturday the weather in Michigan was heavenly!  Highs in the low seventies, low humidity, lows in the upper fifties, nice breeze constantly blowing – wow!  Which made me ask the question, “why are the Yankees so blessed?”  The forecast for Grand Bay over the next fifteen days calls for our lowest high to be ninety-one and our lowest low to be seventy-four.  The humidity will be ninety percent and higher daily.  Not exactly cool!  Again, why are the Yankees so blessed?  (By the way, the Southwest corner of Michigan is absolutely beautiful!  I could live there if it were not for the Yankees!  Just saying!)

My cousin, Tony, and his family are moving tomorrow from Michigan to Tennessee.  I am not sure what they did wrong but they are obviously being punished!

In the meanwhile, I am thankful to live in Alabama.  Grand Bay in particular!

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

The doctor just told Judy & the boys that all is well.  Zero problems.  No blockages.  Praise the Lord!  Larry will soon be discharged and headed to the house.  Thank you for praying!

Good late Tuesday morning from a hospital cardiology waiting room.  I am presently sitting with Judy Whitehurst and her two sons as they have already taken Larry back for his heart cath.  Larry is in good spirits this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Continue to pray for Sonny Bates.  If my memory serves me correctly, he will meet with the doctor next Friday, 8/23, to get a plan for his treatments.

Miss JoNell has a doctor’s appointment this Thursday,  Keep praying for this sweet lady.

Our Ladies Helping Hands ministry is having their monthly diaper give away this morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  One major change to our evening activities – the CAB will be open at 6:00PM for our middle school and high school students only!  No students younger than the sixth grade will be allowed in the CAB.  Those students need to go to their respective classrooms and their classes will begin at 6:30PM.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

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

The Lord certainly blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise Him!

Lisa and I were privileged to attend the visitation with the Dean Kapenga family on Friday night.  The COLS on Saturday morning was special.  We continue to pray for Jan and family.  What a blessing to see so many friends even though it was not the ideal place to see them.

The visitation with the Lavon Hudson family begins at 9:30AM today and lasts until the 11:00AM service.  Everything will be at First Baptist Grand Bay.  Pray for Lavon’s family, including Marie Brooks, during this time.

The service for Evangelist David Miller takes place in Heber Springs, Arkansas this afternoon.  Pray for David’s family.

Sonny Bates did not get the report from his latest tests that he was in hopes of receiving.  However, Sonny’s words were “I am blessed!”  He will meet with the doctor soon to set up a treatment plan.

Larry Whitehurst is scheduled to have a heart cath in the morning.  Pray that all goes well.

JoNell Barnes has an important visit with the doctor this Thursday.  Pray for her!

Our Ladies Helping Hands will have a diaper give away tomorrow morning.  Also, they are collecting undergarments to give to our local elementary students.

We will celebrate Bro. Abel’s fifth anniversary as a staff member on Sunday, 8/25.  He will be preaching in the morning service.  We will have a reception for him following our evening service.  I am thankful for Bro. Abel.

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

Good morning from the Montgomery, AL airport.  Long story – Peggy Knighten knows the details!

Sharon Jardee was very blessed in the fact that she only needed two staples in her head as a result of her fall.  She is a very thankful lady.

Sonny Bates got his test results from the doctor.  I have not spoken to Sonny or Jeanette so I do not know the exact details.  Keep praying for Sonny & Jeanette.

I spoke to Debbie Adkinson yesterday regarding Miss Connie.  Miss Connie looks pretty beaten up (per Debbie) but, all in all, she is ok.  Wheelchair only for her from this point forward.

Miss Vinnie’s great grandson, Case Brewer, did well through his surgery yesterday.  Keep praying for Case and his parents.

Dr. Mike Clark sent me a message last night saying that Miss Dottie’s surgery went well and that she will walking today.  Amen!

I preached my first message forty-nine years ago today on a Saturday night at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church where Bro. Alvin Tucker as the pastor.  I bombed out but Bro. Alvin gave me a love offering which totaled thirty dollars.  I was delighted!  I will always be thankful to Bro. Alvin for giving me that opportunity!

Lisa and I have a plane to board.  I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

Sharon Jardee fell yesterday and had to be taken to the hospital.  Pray for Sharon and her recovery.

Connie Hardy took a fall yesterday while getting ready to come to our morning service.  She too was taken to the hospital.

Robert Baria recently fell in his garage and looks awful – can you say black and blue?

Evangelist David Miller passed from this life yesterday morning.  What a great man of God!  Pray for his family.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Joseph Levon Hudson– August 2, 1935 – August 3, 2024. Levon was a native of Grand Bay, AL. He left this life to meet his Savior, Jesus Christ, one day after his 89nd Birthday. He was a life-long member of Grand Bay First Baptist Church where he and his wife Fran kept the nursery for many years. He was a farmer by trade and shared his produce with many family and friends. Levon enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was a kind and humble man that was always ready to offer his help to family and neighbors. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Lee and Eula Mae Hudson, his brothers James Lee and, Jesse Hudson, his sisters Libby Boudwin and infant Mary Rose Hudson. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Francis (Fran) Hudson, his sons Walter (Lana) Hudson of Mobile, AL. and Jerry (Jessica) Hudson of Grand Bay, AL and his grandchildren, Joey, Tanner, Kylie, Audrey and Sophie Hudson, and his sister Marie Brooks. Also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Pallbearers will be: Joey Hudson, Terry Brooks, Scott Fontenot, Jimmy Hudson, Doug Crane and Phillip Whitner. Honorary Pall bearers: Terrel Brooks and Albert Sessions Jr.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church Monday, August 12, 2024 beginning at 9:30 am. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 am officiated by Rev John Womack. Interment will be at the Grand Bay Cemetery.