Pastor's Blog

Good morning from blog central!  Two things – my week has been messed up because of us having our service on Tuesday night instead of Wednesday morning/night.  Anybody with me?  Second, where did July 2025 go?  Wow!

I am still rejoicing and thankful for the Friendship family’s support of the Tuesday night prayer service.  I even shouted out loud this morning just thanking God for His goodness.  Hallelujah!

This Sunday, 8/3, will see us begin a new Sunday School year.  Our classes will begin at 9:00AM.  We will see new teachers joining our existing teachers, new classes, et cetera.  I am excited!  As I have said previously, I am thankful to Bro. Abel for his leadership in this area.  Great job.  It has been a great thing seeing teachers on our campus working on their rooms where their respective classes will meet to study the Word of God.  Making disciples!

Keep praying!  Keep loving God and others.  Keep serving God by serving others.  Be faithful!

Today is a good day for me as my sweet wife is scheduled to return home from Guatemala.  Lisa is the best wife I have ever had!  Just saying.  Looking forward to seeing Lisa.

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

Happy 68th wedding anniversary to Lisa’s parents, Charles & Ann Clark.  I pray that they will have an awesome day.  They have been nothing but wonderful to me for the past forty-five plus years and I am thankful for them.  Great couple!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to each person who attended the prayer meeting last night but a very special thank you to the members of the Friendship family who attended – you did awesome!  I was (I am) so thankful and proud of you!  Thank you to Brad, Jeanette, Kim and the praise team – great job of leading worship.  Thank you Jesus!  To God be the glory!

Jeanette’s brother, Jeff Camp, woke up and is alert and aware of everything – to God be the glory.  Thank you for praying and please continue to do so.

Remember, no services on our campus tonight.  Pass the word!

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

Prayer meeting, prayer meeting, prayer meeting!  Yes, the Friendship family will host a prayer meeting tonight, 7/29, beginning at 6:00PM in our auditorium.  This is designed for folks from all of the SBC churches in the South end of Mobile County.  Songs, Bible readings and prayers.  I am strongly encouraging members of the Friendship family to make attendance at this prayer meeting a priority!  Pass the word!

Please note that our campus will be silent tomorrow, 7/30, with absolutely zero services, classes, et cetera taking place.

Folks, see you tonight at 6:00PM.

Good morning from the land of the lost blog entries.  Sorry for no entries lately.  Red truck!

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

Jeanette Bates’ brother, Jeff Camp, is in a Montgomery hospital.  The situation looked bleak early on but things have taken a turn for the better over the past couple of days.  Pray for Jeff!

Yolanda Landa’s surgery went well last Tuesday, 7/22, and she is now at home recovering.  Pray for Yolanda.  I appreciate Bro. Abel and Bro. Chris for being with the family during the surgery and for the follow up visits.

I ask you to join me in continuing to pray for Clinton Stringfellow.  Fine man and a very supportive member of the Friendship family.

Please continue to pray for Betty Hamil as she recovers at home.

Tomorrow night, 7/29, beginning at 6:00PM we will host a South End of Mobile County prayer meeting.  I am asking the members of the Friendship family to attend this service in a large number.  Please note that we will have nothing on our campus this Wednesday, 7/30, since we will have the Tuesday prayer time.

We will receive a “Bags of GRACE” special offering this Sunday, 8/3, in both of our services.  Folks, we need a really strong offering so I ask you to give, above your regular offering, graciously to this ministry effort.

Sheila Booker will be leading a women’s Bible study beginning on Thursdays beginning on August 7 at 10:00AM.  More details forthcoming.  All ladies are invited to attend.

Our annual church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing will take place on Sunday afternoon, September 21, beginning at 4:00PM.  The cost will be three dollars per person.  Food, fellowship and baptism.  Make plans to join us for this special time.

A special auditorium “refresh” offering will be received on Sunday, November 9.  Please begin now praying about how much the Lord would have you give to this special offering as we “refresh” the auditorium.

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

Bro. Abel tells me that things are good on the home front and that yesterday’s services went well, attendance was good, et cetera.  I am thankful!

I did not hear anything yesterday but I have heard nothing but good from youth camp.  Salvation decisions, good spirit, safety in travel, et cetera.  Praise the Lord!

Forty-three folks are flying from Mobile, Huntsville and Atlanta this morning heading to GRACE Mountain.  Pray for traveling mercies.

“Bags of GRACE” love offering this Sunday in both services.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

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

Today marks the forty-sixth anniversary of my only paternal aunt’s passing from this life. I was privileged to spend the last eight days of her earthly life in the hospital with her.  She battled breast cancer valiantly.  She was a huge part of my life but she never got to meet Lisa and, obviously, never saw any of our children.  Death stings!

There was buzz all day yesterday about our services Sunday.  “The Anchor Holds” played over and over in my mind all day.  Yes, it does!  Hallelujah!

Bro. Chris, the chaperones and out students arrived at camp safe and sound yesterday afternoon.  There were two salvations from our group in the evening worship service.  I do not know who but I would offer Grant (deacon) and Lindsey (wife of deacon) but I could be wrong.  Seriously, what a blessing to hear this news.  Praise the Lord!  God gives the increase!  We give Him the glory!

I appreciate Bro. Abel covering for me yesterday as I spent the entire day and night getting ready to leave for Guatemala.  Deidra, Audrey & I are in the Mobile airport waiting to board our first flight.  Lord willing, I will return home on Saturday night, 7/26, and will be in the pulpit Sunday morning, 7/27.  I appreciate Eddie Albritton bringing us the airport this morning.  Lisa would have but I would not let her as she has too much taking place.  Scott Fontenot raised his rate once he learned that Eddie A had done so.  Eddie lowered his fare which is why we used his services today.

Thank you to those who have brought “Bags of GRACE” to the church already.  Please remember the offerings to be received over the next two Sundays.  Our goal is to have at least three hundred bags.  Do the math and you will see that we need great offerings.

I am physically tired but my spirit is refreshed because of Sunday’s services and the initial report from youth camp – God is good!

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

Wow, the Lord richly blessed our services yesterday – morning and evening.  Praise Him!

The attendance in both of our services was strong.  It did not seem like a July Sunday.  Deidra did an excellent job of sharing in our evening service and we were honored by having around nine or ten special guests attend.  I am very grateful.

What a joy to see Jamie Hatcher make a public profession of faith in our morning service.  She has a desire to follow Jesus in believer’s baptism.  Amen!  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

Bro. Chris, the chaperones and our students left our campus right at 4:00AM today heading to camp in Pigeon Forge.  Pray for traveling mercies and a great week spiritually.

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

Larry Crawley remains hospitalized but hopes to be discharged today.  Larry is fully aware of his weakness and plans on following the doctor’s orders as he regains his strength in order to prepare for the next step in his healing.  Pray for Larry.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow as he battles against this malignancy in his body.

Also, keep praying for Betty Hamil.  Slowly, but surely, she is getting better.

Rick Bradley called yesterday afternoon to let us know that his father-in-law has passed from this life and entered Heaven.  Pray for Mrs. Sinquefield and the family during this difficult time.

Pray for Deidra as she prepares to share with us in our 5:00PM service Sunday.  I am praying for a full house (she is not!).

Pray for our students and chaperones as they ready to leave for camp early Monday morning.  Will you bring cookies to the services this Sunday that will serve as snacks as they travel and then even once they arrive at camp?  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

If you are planning on being part of our GRACE Ministries June 2026 mission trip, do not purchase your airfare until after we meet and begin the official sign up.  Things could change and you do not want to get stuck with a ticket!

“Bags of GRACE” are being collected.  Love offerings coming.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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

Friendship family, as you know, our students and chaperones will leave our campus at 4:00AM on Monday heading to Summer camp.  You have been so supportive as they have raised the finances for this potentially life changing experience.  I am going to ask you to do one more thing in addition to praying – bring cookies to either of the services this Sunday, 7/13.  These can be homemade cookies, cookies from a bakery, Crumbl cookies, Great American cookies, store bought cookies, whatever.  These cookies will be their “snack” on the ride to TN and any leftovers will be eaten during the week of camp.

There will be a receptacle in the foyer of the auditorium where you can place the cookies.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation.  Cookies, cookies, cookies!

The Timberlake’s grandson, Tyler, had successful surgery.  Not sure what is next other than the recovery but I do ask that you keep praying for Tyler.

Larry Crawley remains hospitalized.  He has a very positive attitude and did something yesterday when I visited that no patient has ever done – he got out of bed when I walked in the room and stood for the entirety of my visit.  He had hopes of being discharged yesterday but that did not happen.  Continue to pray for Larry.

Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney, Audrey & Ingrid arrived in Grand Bay safe and sound around 12:30AM today.  Ingrid?  Yes, Ingrid.  Go to shininglightabroad.com and read Deidra’s latest blog entry for the information.  Thank you to Scott Fontenot for making the airport run to bring them to Grand Bay.  (Eddie Albritton’s rates have just gone through the roof!)

Remember, Deidra will be speaking in our 5:00PM service this Sunday, July 13.  I am praying for a full house.  Pass the word, please.

Our students leave for camp on Monday morning, 7/14.  The will depart from our campus at 4:00AM.  Pray for traveling mercies and a spiritually meaningful camp experience for all of them.

Thank you to those who are bringing the “Bags of GRACE” to the services.  Special offerings will be received on Sunday, 7/20, and Sunday, 7/27.  Please pray and give.  Our goal is three hundred bags from the Friendship family.

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