Pastor's Blog

Two things that were on my mind yesterday, 12/7, were the attack on Pearl Harbor (12/7/41) and Craig Kirschenman’s birthday (12/7/53).

Bro. Abel tells me that our attendance was down in our services due largely in part to the colder and wet weather.  However, Bro. Abel said the spirit in the services was excellent.  Thank you to those who attended.

Pastor Ben Nobles did a great job of preaching the Word at Iglesia JET.  Tim Knighten did an equally great job of sharing during a men’s breakfast before the morning service with forty-six Guatemalan men in attendance.  The building was packed for the service.  Thank you Jesus.

Today, the team here will have the unique opportunity of worshipping by observing a young lady from the team follow Jesus in believer’s baptism.  Right here on GRACE Mountain in the parking lot of the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house.  How about that!

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow, Bonnie Smiley, Rachel Walton and the others on our prayer list.

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

Happy ninetieth birthday to Lisa’s father, Charles Clark.  I know it forecast to be a rainy morning but I do hope it will be a bright day for Charles.  I am very grateful that he allowed me to marry his youngest daughter a few years back.  Happy birthday, Charles.

Bro. Jacob left GRACE Mountain at 3:00AM today.  Pray for him to have safe travels.  He looks forward to joining the Friendship family worship tomorrow.  I think he enjoyed his few days in Guatemala.

Our 2025-26 basketball leagues began play Thursday night and that continues today beginning at 8:00AM.  Pray for Bro. Abel and all those involved in this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Bro. Abel will be preaching in both services.  Friendship family, I pray you will be faithful to attend.

Keep praying for those on our prayer list especially Clinton Stringfellow.

Things on GRACE Mountain are going well.  Deidra and the workers here have done a nice job of having things ready, coordinating things, et cetera.  The team the Lord has assembled has been superb.  I am grateful!

Praying for a local church here whose pastor passed away this week and for First Baptist Opelika, AL as their pastor also passed from this life Thursday night.  Pray for these families as well as for their respective church families.

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

Happy birthday to our daughter, Daphne.  I hope that she will have a great day and I am sure that Brad will make sure that happens.  We love Daphne and are thankful for her service to the Lord through the Friendship family.  Happy birthday, Daphne!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

I received some heartbreaking news late yesterday afternoon.  Katie Tillman sent me a message sharing that a young family whose three sons ride the bus to Friendship on Sundays had their only daughter, three months old, pass from this life on Thanksgiving morning.  Obviously, the family is devastated.  I am confident that Grant & Katie, Carl Ray, Bro. Abel, Jason & Laura and our other deacons will minister to this family as they walk through this very dark valley.  I am intentionally not sharing their name but do ask that you join me in praying.  Honestly, I did not sleep well last night as I could not get them off of my mind.  May the God of all peace come alongside them in a special way.

Clinton Stringfellow remains in ICU.  Pray for him to recover.

Miss Bonnie Smiley remains in rehab and has around two more weeks there.  Keep praying for Miss Bonnie.

Rachel Walton continues to recover at home and is doing well from the reports I have received.  Keep praying for Rachel & Gary.

All of the GRACE Ministries team, minus one, arrived on the mountain safe and sound yesterday afternoon.  The last person will arrive today, Lord willing.  Pray for this team as they minister today and beyond.  The good news is that Betty Creech will not be cooking breakfast this morning!  LOL!

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

Clinton Stringfellow had emergency surgery yesterday.  The surgery went better than expected.  Clinton will be in ICU for three days or so.  Pray for Clinton, the medical personnel and Clinton’s family.  I appreciate Rita B keeping Bro. Able updated and for Bro. Abel passing those updates along to me.

Bro. Abel tells me that the Lord blessed us with a good day this past Sunday morning.  I am thankful.  I appreciate Bro. Abel, Bro. Jacob and the deacons always ministering but especially so in my absence.

I was blessed with the opportunity to preach at Iglesia JET this past Sunday morning.  The preaching was not much but the Lord blessed in spite of me.  Thank you Pastor Adan for the opportunity.

Today sees twenty-eight folks from four states (Alabama, Florida, Michigan and South Carolina) traveling to GRACE Mountain.  Five others are already in Guatemala.  Pray for traveling mercies, on time flights, et cetera.

Are you too old to be a participant on a mission trip?  Well, we have one first timer coming today who is eighty-two years old.  Just saying.  And then there is Sandra Wilson who is almost one hundred years old!  LOL!

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