Pastor's Blog

I will be glad to get to GRACE Mountain in June so I will have access to the internet.  Living on Potter Tract Road in Grand Bay is not optimum for having reliable service.  However, the full bill is due each month.  Imagine that!

Marisa Felps sent me a message earlier this morning saying her sister, Lynn, remains basically the same.  Vitals are good but Lynn is not reacting to Marisa’s conversations.  Keep praying!

Had a couple of “unspoken” prayer requests given to me yesterday.  God knows so please just join me in praying.

No soccer this Saturday.  The forecasts continue to call for rain for us Friday & Saturday.  Again, I think Bro. Abel is making the correct call regarding this matter.  Games will be played next Monday & Tuesday nights, Lord willing,

FISH FRY this Saturday, 5/2, from 10:00AM until 1:00PM in the parking lot of Lisa Turrentine’s State Farm Insurance Office.  Plates are ten dollars each and include, fish (white trout), baked beans, cole slaw, bread, cookie and a canned drink.  All proceeds go to help with the ministry of June GRACE Ministries trip.

ROLL THE PEACOCKS this Sunday, 5/3, in either service.  Toilet tissue and/or paper towels are the target.  Or, like Jeanette Bates, you can consider bringing aluminum foil since it also comes on a roll.  Just saying!  (Actually, that is not a bad idea but I cannot admit that to Jeanette!).  Bring the items to the CAB.  Thank you in advance for supporting John, Alaina & the boys.

By the way, one of our senior adult ladies brought a card yesterday for me to give to the Peacocks.  What a good idea!  So, if you want write some encouraging words to this family that will be great!  Totally optional.

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

Due to the basically unanimous call by the forecasters for a wet Friday night and Saturday morning, Bro. Abel has made the call to postpone the soccer games scheduled for this Saturday, 5/2.  Instead, the games will now be played on Monday, 5/4, and Tuesday, 5/5, beginning at 5:00PM & 6:00PM.

However, regardless of Saturday’s weather, the fish fry will take place at Lisa Turrentine’s State Farm Insurance Office.  The time will be from 10:00AM until 1:00PM.  Cost is $10 per plate with a $50 maximum per immediate family.  Pass the word, please.  All proceeds go to ministry opportunities on our June GRACE Ministries trip.

A blog entry?  Really?  Surprisingly, we have internet service for right now.  I may not finish this entry before the service just ends.  It is frustrating but folks have a lot bigger, and more important, issues than not being able connect to the internet.  I do apologize for being spotty in my entries.  No excuses but an explanation.

Marisa Felps’s sister, Lynn, is in the hospital and is on a ventilator.  I will not try to go into all of the details but I do know it is serious and need to pray for Lynn, her family and the medical personnel involved in Lynn’s care.

Jonathan Jordan’s mother is in the hospital Mississippi.  She has been in and out of the hospital for the past few years.  Join me in praying for this family.

Also, Jamie Jordan has a lifelong friend who is having some serious health challenges.  Join me in praying for this friend and those involved.

Aaron Baisden’s mother has been battling health issues for years.  Serious issues.  She has recently been in the hospital but is presently at home and is actually doing better than in previous weeks.  Pray for Aaron’s mother and the family during this time.

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

We are going to “roll the Peacocks” this Sunday (both services).  Please prayerfully consider bringing rolls of toilet tissue and/or paper towels to help John, Alaina and the boys.  There will be a table in the CAB to receive these items.  Thank you in advance for giving to the Lord through this ministry opportunity.

The Refresh project is going well and looks beautiful!  Folks, we are almost home!  Thank you to each person who has been involved.  Special thanks to Henry Wyse.  Henry is a good guy even if he is married to Sue – LOL!

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

The Lord certainly blessed us with a good day yesterday.  We had to bring extra chairs out for our morning service.  The spirit was excellent.  The meal for the senior adults was very well done.  The evening service with the Grand Bay Ministries family was good too.  Special thanks to Al Stokes for coordinating that service.  Glory to God for all He did in our midst yesterday.

We have a couple of men in the Friendship family who have family members who are hospitalized.  Not at liberty to share names as I do not have permission.  God knows so I ask you to join me in praying.

Have you ever rolled a peacock?  The Friendship family has the opportunity to “roll” the John Peacock family this Sunday, May 3.  How?  Bring rolls of toilet tissue and/or paper towels to either of our two services which will then be given to John, Alaina & the boys.  Hopefully this will be a help to them.  A table will be situated on the back wall in the CAB and all donations can be placed there.  Thank you in advance for your participation as we help this family during their time of need.

Also, thank you to those who are on the meal train for the last couple of days in April and then all of May.  This has definitely helped John & Alaina.

The Refresh project is coming along nicely.  Our first Sunday back in the auditorium will be either May 17 or 24.  A definite date will be announced soon.  I cannot adequately express my appreciation to the members of the Friendship family who have given countless hours to making this refresh a reality.  What a great group of people!

Our soccer leagues got postponed this past Saturday due to the rain – thank God for the rain!  So, games will take place tonight, 4/27 and tomorrow night, 4/28, beginning at 5:00PM each night.  By the way, Bro. Abel made the correct call regarding soccer this past Saturday.

It would be awesome if our soccer concession stand would be extremely busy for the next two nights due to missing this past Saturday.  Men, a cheap date and/or family supper.

This Saturday, May 2, we will have a fish fry with all proceeds going to the ministry portion of our June GRACE Ministries trip.  Plates will be ten dollars each.  Details will be in my letter this week.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday.

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

P.S. – we have not had internet service (continuously) at our house for several days.  I get way better and consistent service on GRACE Mountain in Guatemala.  So, sorry for the delays.

Bill & Debbie Kendrick’s daughter did well through her surgery.  Praise the Lord.  Thank you for praying.  Keep doing so.  It will be good to see Debbie when she gets home!

Senior adults, my hope is that you will join us Sunday morning for our 10:00AM service and the catered meal afterwards.  Service and meal in the CAB.

Friendship family, praying we will show up strong attendance wise for the praise and worship service at the Grand Bay Church of God this Sunday beginning at 5:00PM.  Remember, a love offering will be received to go toward ministry opportunities on the June mission trip to Guatemala.

Soccer tomorrow beginning at 9:00AM.  I “think” I am correct in saying that we have four consecutive Saturdays and this season will be a wrap.  Pray for this ministry.  Support the Peacock family and missions by getting food from the concession stand.

On Saturday, May 2, we will host a fish fry to support the June mission trip ministries.  We will begin signing folks up for plates this Sunday morning, 4/26.  More details coming.

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

Good day in our services yesterday.  After being “off” for two weeks our attendance was down a bit which is exactly what I figured.  Excellent spirit and the attendance will increase beginning next week.  I appreciate Leslee Herrington running the sound board in our evening service.

Tucker Vice was accidentally shot in the eye with a bb when it ricocheted off the ground.  He has to be closely monitored for the next couple of months.  Going to be tough for a twelve year old, active boy to remain still.  Pray for Tucker.

Bill & Debbie Kendrick’s daughter, Brandi, will have surgery today in Alaska.  Pray that all goes well.  Bill & Debbie are there with her.

Senior adult day this Sunday morning.

Special musical worship service at Grand Bay Ministries this Sunday evening beginning at 5:00PM.

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

We are on a regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  The adults will be in the CAB at 10:00AM and 6:30PM.

Yolanda Landa is having cataract surgery today.  Pray that all goes well and the plans are for her to have her second one next Wednesday.

As I wrote yesterday, Andy Hamil is having some iron related issues with more tests coming.  Pray for Andy & Betty.

John & Alaina Peacock also need our continued prayer support.

Our Refresh project continues and I cannot say enough good things about the folks from the Friendship family who have helped and will help complete the project.  What a great church family!

Senior saints, if you have not already signed up for the catered meal this Sunday, 4/26, it would be helpful if you would do so today.  You can send me an email (pastor@friendshipfamily.net) or send one to Katie Tillman (katelyntillman7@gmail.com).  Again, it is not imperative that you sign up but it does help.  We want all of our senior saints to join us this Sunday.

Remember, we will join the folks at Grand Bay Ministries aka Grand Bay Church of God at 5:00PM this Sunday, 4/26, for service of praise and worship.  An offering will be received to help with the ministry expenses (house building, food distributions, et cetera) of the June GRACE Ministries trip to Guatemala.  Giving to the offering is obviously optional but I do hope a large number of the Friendship family members will attend.

Our soccer leagues resume play this Saturday, 4/25, at 9:00AM.  Pray for this ministry.  Our concession stand would love to have a strong second half of the season.  Will you support this which in turn allows us support missions in Guatemala.  Best prices in town!  Plus, we have some of the best looking workers in town and some of the ugliest workers in town.  Just saying!  Combo meal for five dollars!

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

This entry will be very abbreviated.  John Peacock had a seizure Sunday morning.  Keep praying for John & Alaina.

Gary Walton “thinks” he is turning the proverbial corner.  Pray for Gary & Rachel.

Andy Hamil is having some iron issues and will have more tests in the days to come.  Pray for Andy & Betty.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

The Friendship family was blessed with another good day in our services yesterday.  Praise the Lord!

I appreciate the folks who are busily working to get our Refresh project done.  There are six or seven men from the Friendship family busily working this morning.  Good stuff.

John Peacock had a seizure yesterday morning.  He is at home.  Dr. Keith went to check on him yesterday and I appreciate him doing so.  Pray for John & Alaina.  A continued “thank you” to those are on the meal train for the Peacocks.  Tiffany, Jeanette, Nanette and Tonya will finish out the month of April and then we move to May.  If you have any questions, please direct those to Daphne Hutto as she is coordinating this ministry.  I appreciate her doing so.

Allyson Hall’s paternal grandmother fell early Sunday morning and is in a hospital in Florida.  She is ninety-one years old.  Nothing broken in the fall.  Pray for a quick and complete recovery.

Bill & Debbie Kendrick will be flying to Alaska this week in order to be with their daughter as she will have surgery.  Pray for all to go well.

We will honor God by recognizing our senior saints this Sunday morning, 4/26, in our 10:00AM service.  A catered meal will be provided in the CAB immediately following the service.  Katie Tillman will lead this ministry.  Senior saints, if you have not done so already, call us to sign up.  Not an absolute necessity but it will be helpful in making sure we have ample food.

Our campus will be silent this Sunday evening, 4/26, as we have been invited to join the folks at Grand Bay Ministries for an evening of musical praise.  That service will begin at 5:00PM.  An offering will be received to help with the ministry expenses related to the June mission trip to Guatemala.

We will be on a regular schedule this Wednesday morning and evening.

Soccer games resume this Saturday, 4/25, beginning at 9:00AM.  Pray for Bro. Abel and this ministry.

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

I take a sabbath on Sundays when it comes to electronics barring the proverbial ox in the ditch scenario.  So, I am writing this Saturday night.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow, 4/19.  Sunday School at 9:00AM; worship at 10:00AM & 5:00PM.

Prayer meeting in the auditorium beginning promptly at 8:30AM and concluding at 8:45AM.  Jeff Holifield will voice our prayer.

Our senior saints will be asked to sign up for next Sunday’s (4/26) meal as we celebrate senior adult day.   The meal will be catered and it will be nice.

I am very thankful to Henry Wyse for his excellent spirit, flexibility and cooperation.  He has done a great job of leading us in the refresh project thus far and will lead us to the finish line.  Thank you, Henry.

Bro. Abel is in Atlanta for a baby dedication service Sunday morning.  He and his two grandsons will be traveling to Grand Bay tomorrow afternoon.  Pray for safe travels.

I hope to see many members of the Friendship family and many guests on our campus tomorrow for Bible study and worship.