Pastor's Blog

Regular schedule on our campus today – 10:00AM & 6:30PM.  Friendship family, be there, please!

Side note – I miss Keith & Aninha!  Guys, get home!  Now!  That is an order!  LOL!

Widows/widowers luncheon this Friday!  Contact Jeanette Bates for details/information.

Pulled pork plates to support mission trip ministry this Friday (6:00PM) and Saturday (9:00AM – 1:00PM) at the soccer concession stand.  (There will be a separate area for those who placed pre-orders)

Senior adult day this Sunday, 5/4.  Special morning service followed by lunch in the CAB for all of our senior saints.  Sign up is encouraged but not absolutely required.  We should be completely finished by 11:45AMish.

Mother’s Day celebration during our morning service on 5/11.  Our children’s choir will be singing during that service.  No evening service/activities that day.

High school graduate recognition service on Sunday morning, 5/18.

Members and missions is our emphasis during the month of May.  Special missions offering will be received in each service.

Keep praying for those who are battling sicknesses and/or having other issues.

Lisa & Jayden arrived home safe and sound yesterday afternoon and then Brad, Daphne & their tribe did so a few hours later.  Thank God for traveling mercies.

Several folks have asked about coffee.  Yes, I will have some with me today.  Twelve dollars per pound with four dollars going to ministry efforts by the older students at Colegio JET.  (Checks payable to GRACE Ministries)

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

A late “good morning” to you thirteen.  Sorry for the delay.  The past two mornings have seen me playing Santa Claus at daybreak in my garden.  I “thought” Larry Whitehurst was going to handle this in my absence last week but not so fast my friend!  LOL!

As far as I know, all is good within the Friendship family.  Clinton Stringfellow has begun his treatments and Eddie A’s sister either has, or is about, to begin her treatments.

Senior adults at Friendship, if you have not done so already, we need for you to sign up for the meal this Sunday, May 4, as we will celebrate our senior saints.  The meal will be catered and everything should be over by 11:45AM.  Pass the word!

We will recognize the high school class of 2025 on Sunday, May 18, in our morning service.  Graduates, please contact Bro. Chris if you plan to participate in this service.

Pulled pork dinners available this Friday afternoon (6:00PMish), 5/2, and Saturday morning (9:00AM – 1:00PM), 5/3.  All proceeds go to ministry needs in Guatemala during the GRACE Ministries June mission trip.

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

John Denver wrote and sang, “Hey, it’s good to be back home again Sometimes this old farm feels like a long-lost friend Yes, and hey, it’s good to be back home again”  in 1974.  I agree with John even though my wife is not here.  It was good to see Gina and Cooper yesterday.  Ditto for my Friendship family.

Yes, the Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  I enjoyed the preaching ministry of Bro. Abel in both services.  Yes, we still felt the effects of Spring Break 2025 but that is just a fact of life in our society today.  I was happy to see those who were in attendance.  Thank you to Jeanette for leading our musical worship – good job!

May is going to be a special month at Friendship.  I plan to outline the details in my letter to the church family this week.  I am looking forward to it.

Today is the deadline to pre-order “pulled pork dinners” for this Friday afternoon (late) or Saturday morning.  You can contact Daphne Hutto (daphnehutto@gmail.com) to place an order or for more details.  All proceeds will go toward the ministry aspect of our June GRACE Ministries trip.

Senior adults, if you have not done so already, please sign up for our senior adult day which will take place this Sunday, May 4.  A delicious meal will be served in the CAB immediately following our morning service.  You can email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net or sign up this Wednesday morning in our service.  We are going to have a great Sunday with the Lord’s blessings.

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

Lord willing, I will be traveling home this Saturday, 4/26.  I plan on bringing some coffee back with me and am curious if anyone wants to purchase some?  If so, I need to hear from those who want beans.  (I should have plenty of ground).  The price has increased as it is now twelve dollars ($12) per pound.  (Four dollars per pound will go to GRACE Ministries in order to allow our older students from Colegio JET to do ministry – specifically buying materials to build houses.  GRACE Ministries does not make one cent from these sales.  Just FYI.)

It would be nice if those wanting beans would send me an email no later than noon this Friday, 4/25.  Pass the word, please!

If all goes as planned, this will be my “one and only” entry until Monday, 4/28.  Lisa, Jayden & I arrived in Guatemala yesterday afternoon and I will depart here on Saturday.  Not planning on being online much at all.

Word came to me this morning that Tim Knighten received another “all clear” from the doctors today.  He and Peggy drove to M.D. Anderson Sunday afternoon late, Tim had tests yesterday and they met with the doctor this morning.  Amen & amen!

Scott Fontenot was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  He will wear a monitor to keep tabs on his heart rate.  Pray for Scott & Nanette.

Robert Baria remains hospitalized and is having trouble staying alert.  Pray for Robert & Roseanne.

Kristi Siker had an outpatient surgery yesterday.  All went well.  Pray for Kristi and Shawn.

Holly Smith will have hand surgery today.  Pray it will go well.

Clinton Stringfellow will begin treatments this Thursday, 4/24.  Keep praying for Clinton.

I do not remember the date but Eddie Albritton’s sister, Wendy, will begin chemo treatments soon.  Pray for Wendy and Charlie.

Lord willing, Lisa and I will visit with Mike & Dottie Clark today.

Our Easter weekend was blessed.  I am very thankful to Jeanette Bates and the choir for their presentation of the Gospel during our second service Sunday.  Good stuff.

Remember, no services/classes/activities on our campus tomorrow, 4/23.  Silence will be the word.  We will resume Sunday School this Sunday, 4/27, at 9:00AM and two worship services (10:00AM & 5:00PM).

Friendship family, order your pulled pork sandwich meal for Friday, 5/2, and/or Saturday, 5/3 soon.  Order deadline will be Monday, 4/28.  Meals will be available at soccer concessions that Friday and Saturday.

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

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and evening (6:30PM).  I hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family.

I need to share some well deserved “thank you” notes to a few people.  First, Bro. Abel has done a really good job of helping get the foyer renovation to the finish line.  I appreciate his efforts.

Yesterday, Deacon Scott Fontenot worked on putting something together that will go in the foyer.  He had already spent much of the day burning the brush pile on the back forty and spraying weed killer around the church campus.  (He was a bit worried about using the spray but I told him to take deep breaths and keep spraying!). Thank you deacon Fontenot!

John Milton Ladnier has tilled my garden spot twice and yesterday he planted the entire garden.  What a huge blessing.  John Milton absolutely loves it!  I “think” I heard Larry Whitehurst say he would come hoe it as needed – what a blessing!

I will get to the folks who have helped with the foyer renovation after all is said and done.  I am grateful to each one who has helped.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow, Betty Hamily, Vinnie Brewer and Coley & Katelyn Johnson.

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

Why no entry yesterday?  Yes.  Why is today’s entry late?  Yes.  (Everyone repeat after me – red truck!)

Clinton Stringfellow was in our morning service this past Sunday but he was not feeling well – at all.  Clinton still has doctor’s visits, tests, et cetera ahead of him so please pray.

Andy & Betty Hamil were not able to attend our services this past Sunday as Betty, while at home, is still not up to par.  Keep praying for them.

The good news is that Miss Vinnie Brewer was in attendance this past Sunday morning and that totally blessed my heart.  This pastor is always thrilled when Miss Vinnie is present.  What a sweetheart she is!  I am very grateful for the privilege of serving as her pastor.  If I was as good of a pastor as she is a church member then wow!  Pray for Miss Vinnie to be well physically.

Robert Baria continues to have issues with his shoulders.  Pray for Robert & Roseanne.

Coley & Katelyn Johnson have a court case this Thursday.  I will not go into the details but pray all goes well.

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

We will have a several sign up lists in tomorrow’s services.  The first will be for our senior adults who plan to join us for our annual Senior Adult Day on Sunday, May 4, at 10:00AM.  Free lunch in the CAB immediately following the service.  Senior adults, please join us!

The next two lists will have to do with upcoming fundraising meals.  The first is a pulled pork meal which will be available Friday late afternoon, May 2 and Saturday morning, May 3.  The second is a fried fish meal which will be available Friday late Friday afternoon, May 16, and Saturday morning, May 17.  Pulled pork plates will be $8 each while the fish plates will be $10 each.  There will be a maximum per family but the powers that be have not given me those numbers yet.  All proceeds will go to the ministry portion of our mission trip to Guatemala the dates of June 12 – 19.  Pre-orders should be submitted no later than Monday, April 28, for the pulled pork and no later than Monday, May 12, for the fish.  Need to place an order or more information?  Contact Daphne Hutto (251) 533 – 4595 or Scott “deacon” Fontenot (251) 281 5068.

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

Betty Hamil was not discharged from the hospital yesterday but was much improved.  The belief is that she will be discharged at some point today.  Keep praying for Betty and Andy.

Continue to pray for Miss Vinnie Brewer.

Soccer games tonight and then again tomorrow morning.  Pray for this ministry.  The concession stand offers a five dollar meal deal so, even if you do not do soccer, come by and get a meal which will support our students.

By the way, a pulled pork meal and a fried fish meal will be coming soon.  Those funds will go to help the ministry side of our June missions trip.  Details forthcoming.

Regular day this Sunday.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper in our evening service.

Senior adult day coming Sunday, May 4.  Pastor Alton Stokes will be our guest messenger.  A meal for our seniors will follow the service.

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

Betty Hamil was doing much better late yesterday afternoon.  It “appears” that she will be discharged from the hospital at some point today.  Thank you for praying.

Miss Vinnie Brewer has not been feeling well and the doctor has instructed her to rest.  So,  I asked the Friendship family yesterday to not call or visit Miss Vinnie in order that she may not be disturbed.  Please note that this was my call and not the family’s request.  Miss Vinnie is the church sweetheart!  Pray for her!

Willard & Amy Garnett from Danville, Alabama are dear friends and great partners with GRACE Ministries.  Willard’s older brother, Mike Garnett, passed from this life on Monday, 4/7.  Mike was a faithful follower of Jesus and is now in Heaven.  Pray for the Garnett family during this time.

The Lord blessed us with good services yesterday.  The teaching was hard.  False teachers or false tongues?  Both are not good for the church.

Soccer tomorrow night and Saturday morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper during our 5:00PM service.

We need folks to bring candy to fill plastic eggs for Saturday, 4/19.  Please bring it this Sunday, 4/13, if possible.

Easter Sunday worship at 8:00AM (preaching) and 10:00AM (choir musical presentation).  No evening service.

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

Better late than never?

Quick update – Betty Hamil was admitted to the hospital late last night/early this morning.  They “think” they know her problem but will be doing tests to be sure.  Pray for Betty and Andy.

Keith & Aninha leave for Brazil today.  They will be missed by us – big time!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.  I pray for a great attendance.  Come join us!

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