Pastor's Blog

Bro. Abel and our students remain at camp.  Keep praying for them.

Well it is almost 3:00AM in Guatemala and seventy five percent of the team left GRACE Mountain at 2:30AM heading for the airport in Guatemala City.  Pray for them to have safe travels today as they will go through Houston and then on either to Pensacola or Mobile.

Yesterday was spent dedicating the eight houses that were built, hosting two food distributions and feeding the El Tejar police.  It was another full day.  A good day.

The team had a meaningful share time last night.  It is always good to hear what God has done in the lives of the team members during their time in Guatemala.

Lord willing, the girls and I will leave GRACE Mountain in order to catch a 12:50PM flight home through Atlanta.  The girls are super excited to be going to Alabama to spend time with family.

Pastor Doug Chappelle and his team will be traveling to GRACE Mountain today.

The SEC still has two teams in the CWS.  State is in the proverbial driver’s seat.  Go Dawgs and, if not, go Dores!

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

Bro. Abel and our students left yesterday heading to camp.   They are scheduled to return on Saturday.  Pray for a meaningful week for these students.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Praying for a strong attendance.

Pastor Lucky Teague from North Alabama passed from this life on Monday.  He was seventy one years old.  He suffered a major stroke several months ago.  Pray for Miss Connie and the family during this time.

I have not watched a single pitch but I am pulling for Mississippi State in the men’s college World Series.  Go Dawgs!

The team in Guatemala spent their Tuesday cooking breakfast and lunch for the children in our feeding center.  They then visited the homes of some of the sponsored children.  The evening was spent hosting two separate groups from the El Tejar fire department for supper.  Those folks were most appreciative.

The team ended the day by bagging one hundred and fifty bags of vegetables.  I left the mission house just before 10:00PM and they were basically just getting started on this job.  The work ethic of this team has been amazing!

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

The team in Guatemala had a good Monday.  The men left at 6:00AM in order to build three more houses placing concrete in them and one left over from Saturday.  Good plan.  About two miles from the turn off from the main highway,CA-1, traffic came to a screeching halt.  Another protest!  We had just faced this on Friday.  It took some doing  including a “gift” to a chicken bus driver but we will finally able to get through on a narrow side road.  When the day was finished, all eight houses have been completed.

Meanwhile, back on GRACE Mountain the women cooked and served breakfast to the children in our feeding program.  I am told they had a blessed time doing so.

The men enjoyed perfect weather while out building but back on GRACE Mountain it came a major storm with heavy rain and hail.

The team spent the afternoon in Antigua shopping and then the evening at Las Antorchas for a meal and fellowship.  Two Guatemalan ladies joined the team for the meal.  It was their first time to ever go to Antigua!  Thank you to the team for being so inviting!

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

JoNell Barnes received word late Saturday night that her oldest son passed from this life.  He lived in Arizona.  Pray for JoNell, Peggy and other family members as they travel to Arizona in a few days.  Pray for comfort for the family.

The celebration of life service for my friend, Pastor Billy Burge, will take place this afternoon in Belzoni, MS.  Pray for his son, Pastor Bryan Burge, and Billy’s best friend, Pastor Jimmy McCellan, as the preach the service.  Pray for his wife, Cindy, and the rest of the Burge family.

I am told that the services at Friendship went well yesterday.  Praise the Lord!  Thank you to those who were faithful to attend.

I am also told that our VBS attendance was down a bit but it was a good night for the children.

The team in Guatemala has had a busy past two days.  Three more houses were built on Saturday.  Four houses are completely finished and one more is ready for concrete.

The team did house visits on Saturday afternoon delivering a bag of food to each family.  That was different but it was a good afternoon of ministry.

The team hosted the teachers for a meal on Saturday night.  Lots of laughter!

Around two hundred and fifty folks attend the service at Iglesia JET yesterday morning.  Elizabeth Westbrook assisted in leading the musical worship.  The church family enjoyed food and fellowship following the service.

The women on this team hosted a baby shower for Delmy yesterday afternoon.  Her baby will be born this Wednesday and she went with the team to build houses Saturday!  Climbed the ladder and everything – wow!

The men on the team will be leaving early this morning to build houses while the women will be cooking breakfast and lunch for the children involved in our feeding ministry.

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

Love & The Outcome will be in our services tomorrow.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will be bringing the message from the Word.  Friendship family, please pray and please attend the services.

Our youngest daughter, Gina, had all four of her wisdom teeth surgically removed yesterday.  She did well but is experiencing pain and discomfort.  Prayers appreciated.

My brother, Eddie, sent me the obituary for Pastor Billy Burge from Belzoni, MS.  I have not been in contact with Bro. Billy in years but used to go do Kid’s Krusades for him.  As a preschooler, Deidra used to join me.  I grew up with Cindy Hall Burge.  I do not know the details but I do know that Pastor Billy passed from this life due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.  His celebration of life service will take place this Monday.  Pray for Cindy and the rest of the family, please.

The team on GRACE Mountain had a really full day yesterday.  Breakfast, devotion, serving the children breakfast, and then heading out to build two houses.  All planned out!  However, we were unexpectedly delayed for more than two hours as protesters were blocking the road.  I have no clear idea as to the “why” of the protest.  I do know that we were passed by police trucks in the other lanes with policemen in the back actively loading their weapons.  The protests ended soon thereafter.  We were able to get two houses built (minus he concrete) before having to come back to the mountain.  Soy & Johnathan Jordan were delayed until the afternoon due to mechanical failure in Soy’s Montero.

Twenty pastors and their spouses came to the mission house for a very nice service and meal.  Music, a message and a gift of special food was given to each pastor in attendance.  They were most grateful.

The team then had another devotional with the highlight being Chino sharing his testimony.  Good stuff.

The team will leave the mountain at 6:00AM today as the day is going to be full.  Pray for them as they will do at least three different ministries today.

I pray that your Saturday will be blessed with Jesus.

Winston Etheredge, age 76, a resident of Irvington, AL, passed away June 14, 2021. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Julie Ann Hall and Cheryl Sue Etheredge. He is survived by his daughters, Donna Lynn Kilpatrick and Jessica Lanee Boudreaux; son, Aaron Winston Etheredge (Samantha); sister, Elaine Bearden; 6 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. A memorial service will be held at Serenity Funeral Home on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 3 PM.

Bro. Jerry will be preaching at the memorial service for Winston.  Pray for family as they walk through this valley.

Pray for the folks who are traveling to GRACE Mountain today.  They are coming from Mobile, Pensacola & Huntsville.

The South Carolina team leaves GRACE Mountain today.  Sandra Wilson has led this team.  It is pretty amazing that a woman of her advanced age can lead a team.  Her biggest problem seems to be keeping up with her dentures – she has lost them five times this trip!  Just saying!

Yesterday was a quiet day on the mountain.  The volcano is glistening this morning – great photo op.

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

Good Wednesday morning from GRACE Mountain.  If “no news is good news” then I bring good news today!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching in my absence.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

Regular schedule this Sunday, June 20.  L&TO will be our special musical guests.  VBS from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Men’s Bible study from 5:00 – 6:00PM.

Reach My City is hosting a big event for men (fathers and sons) this Saturday on the GBCOG property just North of Brietling Elementary School.  Volunteers needed.  Contact Jonny Gaston for the details.

Smooth day of traveling for me yesterday.  I am thankful to God.  I plan on laying low today and spending time with Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey.

Pray for the folks who will be joining me tomorrow.

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

Good morning from the Gulfport, MS airport.  I am about to board a Delta flight headed to Atlanta and then connect to a fight going to Guatemala.  The Mobile airport is much closer but when the fares are much lower then you drive the extra miles.  Eddie Albritton always takes me to the Mobile airport but when I told him that I was flying out of GPT he told me his boss was out of town.  Hey, one excuse is as good as the next one!  Just saying!

Lisa returned from Guatemala with another stash of coffee.  Same scenario as before – ten dollars per pound with the proceeds helping finance the building of houses by our students from Colegio JET.  Lisa has the coffee in her office and will have it at church too.

Bro. Jerry, Bro. Abel and our nine active deacons stand ready and willing to help with any ministry needs during my absence.  Feel free to call upon them.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

LT&O will be our guests in our services this Sunday, June 20.

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

Happy Flag Day!

We had a really good day on our campus yesterday with the highlight being a public profession of faith by Laura Older.  This was actually a carry over from the last night of our services with Evangelist Danny Long.  We rejoice with Laura.  She is the daughter of Scott & Bo Older.

Our first night of VBS 2021 went better than I anticipated.  I am told there were one hundred and three children in attendance.  I do not know how many adults were working in our VBS but I do know it was a good number.  Somewhat surprising, we had a fairly strong attendance in our 6:00PM worship service too.  Praise the Lord!

Danville Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Joe David Bailey had their VBS this past week.  They decided to give their VBS offering to the work of GRACE and/or SLAM in Guatemala.  Mind you that they are already the largest monthly contributors to these two ministries.  Their VBS offering total?  Five thousand dollars!  Yes, FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!  Are you serious!  Wow!  Praise the Lord and thank you Pastor Joe David Bailey and the Danville Baptist Church family.

The musical group, Love & The Outcome will be our guest in our services this Sunday, June 20.  Charlotte Brown’s brother, Chris, is part of this group.  Pray for it to be a God honoring Sunday.

I had two really long days last Friday and Saturday trying to get things such as mowing, gardening, et cetera done before leaving for Guatemala in the morning.  Today is going to be a marathon day as well.  I thank God for His faithfulness to me.

I am scheduled to leave from Gulfport, MS at 6:00AM tomorrow.  Gene Davis is leaving from ATL today.  The other team members will join us this Thursday, June 17.  Pray for traveling mercies.

If all goes as planned, I will travel home on Thursday, June 24, with Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey joining me.  That should be fun!

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

Work day at the church this morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Kendall Falana and the Buildings & Ground Committee are leading this effort.  I appreciate them doing so.

Our 2021 VBS begins tomorrow night.  The time will be from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.

Men’s Bible study will take place tomorrow night from 5:00PM until 6:00PM.

Our evening worship service will take place in the auditorium from 6:00PM until 7:00PM.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning – 8:00AM worship, 9:15AM Sunday School, 10:30AM worship.

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