Pastor's Blog

At the top of my prayer list today is Maggie Landry.  She is in a NYC hospital donating stem cells for a lady battling with a central nervous system sarcoma.  I do not know all of the details but do ask that you join me in praying for Maggie and the stem cell recipient.

The following came to me from Pam Baker yesterday morning:

JZ had an appointment in Birmingham last week with a new doctor that thinks he may be a good candidate for gene therapy. It was just FDA approved over the summer and very few older boys have had it because most of them have lost their ability to walk and/or have heart problems. It would require a 1 week stay in Birmingham and then traveling to Birmingham once a week for 12 weeks. It’s not a cure, but best case scenario, it could stop the progression of the disease for 4-5 years.

He will have a blood draw Friday or Saturday to determine if he has antibodies against the virus that is used. If it is positive for antibodies, he will not be able to get the treatment. As long as it is negative, we will go to Birmingham April 1 to discuss everything with the doctor.

The only other thing that could keep him from getting the treatment is that he has a separate genetic disorder that affects his liver. So we will have to go back to the liver specialist April 16 and see if she will clear him to have the treatment.

It is a risky procedure, so please pray that we have wisdom to make the right decision for him!

Join me in praying for Brandon, Pam and JZ.

I continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark.  He had a good day yesterday per what Tim shared with me following our service last night.  Folks, I am impressed with Tim.  He was teaching RA’s last night when he basically had every reason in the world to not be present.  Wow!  Thank you Tim for being an example of commitment.

Bro. Abel is at an urgent care this morning with a bum shoulder.  Lots of pain.  Pray that all goes well.

The 2025 yard sale is up and running having started at 7:00AM today.  The hours are 7:00AM until 5:00PM today and tomorrow.  Saturday will be 7:00AM until noon and a live auction begins at 3:00PM.

It seems that the yard sale provided a good excuse for a good number of our folks to miss church last night.  Makes no sense but it is true.  Our attendance yesterday morning was very good.  Apparently, we have more “red truck” owners who attend in the evening than in the morning.  Just saying!

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

This entry is to focus on saying happy ninety-fifth birthday to Miss Vinnie Brewer!  If any person deserves a huge “happy birthday” it is Miss Vinnie.  She is without a doubt one of the finest Christian ladies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing personally.  I could go on for paragraph after paragraph writing of her many virtues.  Just let me say this – Miss Vinnie loves Jesus, her family, her church family and the list goes on!  I am blessed to serve as her pastor and to have her as a friend.  I love you Miss Vinnie and thank God for you!  What a blessing Miss Vinnie is to me personally and professionally!  Thank God for Miss Vinnie!  Happy birthday, Miss Vinnie.

Keep praying for Tim Knighten’s brother.  Two new prayer items – JZ Baker and Maggie Landry.  I will share details in our services today and then in tomorrow’s blog entry.  Pray especially for Maggie tomorrow!

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

Tim’s brother showed signs of improvement yesterday.  Praise the Lord and keep on praying.

Mike & Dottie Clark’s thirty-one year old daughter is having surgery in Guatemala today.  Pray that all goes well.

We had a good service yesterday morning with a sweet spirit.  Bro. Abel tells me the evening service went well too.

Lisa & I went to a cake auction for missions (GRACE Ministries) last night.  Gary & Rachel Walton were our gracious drivers/hosts.  My brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, met us there.  I was asked to speak briefly.  The Lord blessed us with a really good night.  Pastor Ben and his folks were gracious hosts to all six of us.

The beehive is busy here today as our folks prepare for the auction which begins this Thursday, 2/27.

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Monday.

Continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, the family, the medical folks, et cetera.  Thank you to Pastor Alton Stokes for going by and praying with Mark the other day.  The family is grateful for all prayers – even from Pentecostals!  LOL!

I continue to pray for John Whalen and his family in the passing of his brother.  Join me in those prayers.

Roseanne Baria continues in a sling until the MRI on Wednesday.  Pray for Roseanne.

There will be a meeting in the CAB tomorrow, 2/23, beginning at 4:00PM.  This meeting is for the students (and their parents) who want more information regarding the camp this July.  Bro. Chris will lead this meeting.  Please note that this meeting/camp is for those students who have completed the fifth grade to those who will graduate high school this Spring.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  The forecasters are calling for rain for most of tomorrow.  I pray that the Friendship family members will be faithful.

My time as pastor of the Friendship family has been extended thanks to John Milton Ladnier, Larry Whitehurst and Grant Tillman.  Thank you brothers for helping me keep a promise made to the Friendship family.

I pray that you will have great Saturday with Jesus.

Good morning on this cool Friday.  Really nothing new to report this morning.  I can sense the blessing and excitement in Peggy’s messages to me regarding Tim’s brother.  So, pray, pray and then pray!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

Workday on 3/15.  Breakfast at 7:30AM followed by work at 8:00AM.  Over no later than noon.

Revival services with Evangelist Michael Mason from 3/23 – 3/26.  Pray without ceasing!

Soccer leagues begin play on Thursday, 3/20.

Interested in joining us for the June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries trip?  Very limited space as of this morning.  Contact me personally.

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

I received the following this afternoon:

Hey Bro. Teddy,

I am typing this with SO MUCH EXCITEMENT!!! Mark just opened his eyes for his Mama! He did it again under dr. command as well as wiggle his toes and give a high five all on command. It was such a moving thing to witness!!!

So, he is NOT done! He will get through this with God’ mighty healing power!

Please keep praying! Today is a Great Day to have a Great Day!

I was wrong!  Not once but twice.  Let that sink in for a minute!

First, I was told yesterday that students having cell phones in class is forbidden by the MCPSS and that has been so this entire school year.  I stand corrected.  (Does this apply to staff members too?  Asking for a friend!)

Second, I said Roseanne Baria was having a MRI yesterday.  Not true.  It is scheduled for next Wednesday, 2/26.  Again, I stand corrected.  Folks, you cannot fix stupid – I am living proof!  My apologies.

Please continue to pray for Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark.  The family has been on an emotional roller coaster.

Our Ladies Helping Hands will meet tonight in the Preschool Building beginning at 6:00PM.  All ladies invited.

Important upcoming dates:  March 23 – 26 revival services with Evangelist Michael Mason; February 27 – March 1 yard sale; March 15 church wide workday; March 20 opening day for soccer.

Scott Fontenot is headed home today.  I appreciate Scott and his service in Guatemala the past two weeks.

Speaking of Guatemala, after yesterday we only have a spot or two left open for our June 12 – 19, 2025 trip.  That could change but I do not anticipate it doing so.  Again, check with me before purchasing your ticket.

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

Roseanne Baria is scheduled to have a MRI of her shoulder today.  Pray that the doctors can get a good look at what is taking place with her shoulder.  Roseanne’s hope is no surgery required.  Pray!

No update on Tim Knighten’s brother but prayers are obviously needed.  Pray fervently.

Claude Landry got a good report from the doctor this week.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Come join us!

Pray for revival!  Save the dates of Sunday, 3/23, through Wednesday, 3/26.  Pray for Evangelist Michael Mason.

Also, save the date of Saturday, 3/15, as we will have a work day.  Breakfast at 7:30AM.  Work day begins at 8:00AM.

Soccer practices began this week and, per Bro. Abel, all is well.  Pray for this ministry.

As it presently stands, we have some spots open on our June 12 – 19 GRACE Ministries trip.  Team members must purchase their own tickets and the fares are increasing daily.  So, think long, think wrong.  Please contact me before purchasing your ticket in order to make sure the arrival and departure times align with the rest of the team.  No openings on our July trip.  Openings on our 12/2 – 12/9 trip.  Contact me for more information.

I applaud the LA school district as they have implemented a ban on cell phones and other electronic devices while the students are at school.  Can anything good come out of California?  It appears so!  MCPSS – take note and perhaps follow suit.

Scott Fontenot has been in Guatemala for the past two weeks.  He is scheduled to fly home tomorrow.

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

Tim Knighten’s brother remains in ICU in a local hospital.  He has not awaken yet.  Pray for the doctors.  Pray for the Knighten family.

Roseanne Baria messaged me this morning to tell me that she will have a MRI tomorrow.  Pray that she will not have to have surgery.  One praise is that she is not in pain – praise the Lord!

Bro. Chris will have a meeting this Sunday, 2/23, regarding Summer camp for all students (those who have completed the sixth grade through this year’s high school seniors) and the parents of those students.  The meeting will take place in the CAB and will begin at 4:00PM.  Please note that each person who attends this meeting must also attend the 5:00PM worship service in the auditorium.

Items being donated to the yard sale can be brought to the church immediately following this Sunday’s (23rd) evening service, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (24th – 26th).  The actual yard sale will be Thursday, 2/27, through Saturday, 3/1.  A live auction will take place in the CAB beginning at 3:00PM on 3/1.

We will have a series on revival services beginning on Sunday morning, 3/23, and concluding Wednesday evening, 3/26.  Sunday’s service times will be 10:00AM & 5:00PM.  Monday through Wednesday will see the services begin at 6:30PM each night.

Church wide work day on Saturday, 3/15.  Breakfast at 7:30AM with the work beginning at 8:00AM.  We will conclude no later than noon.  The focus will be on the grounds but it will also be a time of cleaning out closets, classrooms, et cetera.  As Miss Kittie always said, “many hands make light work!”  Make plans to join us in this effort.

I pray the you will have a great Tuesday afternoon with Jesus!

Tim Knighten’s brother had an emergency episode and was taken to a hospital in Mississippi before being transferred to a Mobile hospital for emergency surgery.  Surgery finished around 3:00AM and he is now in ICU.  Pray for his wife and family.

John Whalen’s brother passed away yesterday morning.  So, John & Liz are driving to the UP in Michigan today and tomorrow.  Pray for the family and for traveling mercies.

John Whalen’s aunt also passed away yesterday morning.  She lived in south Florida.  Pray that that family too.

Roseanne Baria’s shoulder came out of place again and she had to go back to the hospital.  Keep praying for Roseanne & Robert.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  Yes, the preaching was too long – I am aware!  However, the spirit was excellent in both services.  The comments made to me in person and electronically have been very kind.  Thank you to each person who has reached out to me.  God is good.

Clara Broadus asked me to emphasize the yard sale in last night’s service.  I failed.  The actual sale will take place Thursday, 2/27, through Saturday, 3/1.  Donations of goods may be brought to the church following the evening service this Sunday, 2/23, through Wednesday, 2/26.  Contact Clara or Rita Boutwell for more information.

Today, marks the forty-sixth anniversary of my conducting my first bus workers weekly meeting at Friendship.  I am told that I am the longest tenured staff member in the Mobile Baptist Association.  I sure wish that Pastor Terry Glasscock was still living as he and I basically were traveling the same road ministry wise.  I miss Pastor Terry.

I have had several folks mention our June GRACE Ministries trip and their intentions to possibly join us.  As it stands today, we have a precious few spots open and they will be given away on a first come, first served basis.  Just FYI.

By the way, congratulations to Coach Pearl and the Auburn basketball team.  I have said all season that they are the best team in the land.  My opinion has not changed.  Is Alabama good?  Yes.  Could they win it all?  If everything would fall just right.

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