Pastor's Blog

Word came to me just a bit ago sharing that Miss Bonnie’s surgery scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed for around three weeks.  Keep praying for Miss Bonnie.  Thank you!

I am thankful for another good day in our services yesterday.  God is good!

The visitation with the Sylvia Hesse (Jamie Hatcher’s mother) family takes place today from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place from the O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula, MS.  Pray for the Hesse family.

Miss Bonnie Smyly will have hip replacement surgery tomorrow morning.  Pray all goes well.

I am asking the nine ladies who are baking for he USA BCM cake auction to have their items in the Preschool Building no later than noon tomorrow, 3/27.  It will be unlocked beginning at 5:00AM.  Thank you to each lady who is helping with this mission project.

Mission of Hope tomorrow night, 3/27, beginning at 7:00PM.  Jeff Holifield will be preaching and Lexie Whitehurst will be singing.  Everyone invited to attend.  Pray for this ministry.

McKemie Place ministry on Monday night, 3/30.  Joey Bosarge will be preaching and Bibbi Bosarge will be singing.  Pray for this ministry.

Soccer this Saturday, 3/28, beginning at 9:00AM.  Come support this ministry and help us have a complete “sell out” in the concession stand.  Remember, combo meals for five dollars.  Best price in the state!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 3/29.  Adult choir musical and baptism in the evening service beginning at 5:00PM.  Special offering for John & Alaina Peacock in both services Sunday.

It seems we have hit the proverbial brick wall in our sign up for the meal train for the Peacock family.  We need to fill eleven more spots to complete the month of May.  Our focus is the Friendship family but we invite others to join us.  Honestly, Deidra has even taken a meal and she does not live next door.  Friendship family, lets complete the train by this Sunday, 3/29.  Contact Daphne Hutto at daphnehutto@gmail.com or (251) 533 4595.  Al & Cindy Stokes, Derek & Meighan Brown – who is my neighbor?

Lisa and the others on the team have now begun the mission part of their trip.  She has been having a great time.  If folks did not remind me, I would not even realize she is gone!  (Something like that!)

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

The celebration of life service for Clinton Stringfellow takes place today beginning at 2:00PM from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home.  The visitation will begin at noon.  Pray for the Stringfellow family today.

I will share the details for Miss Sylvia Hesse again in tomorrow’s entry.

Jeanette Bates should get her test results today.  Pray.

Miss Bonnie Smyly will have hip replacement surgery this Friday morning.

John Peacock will have a day filled with therapy sessions, et cetera today.

Keep praying for Cindy Stanford’s father.  No real change.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Our Wednesday schedule is going to look a bit differently for three weeks beginning next Wednesday, 4/1.  On 4/1 we will have one service which will begin at 6:30PM.  We will observe the Lord’s Supper during that service.

On Wednesday, 4/8, and 4/15 there will be no services.  On 4/8 we will be focused that week on getting the CAB ready for our transition Sunday on 4/12.  On Wednesday, 4/15, our campus will be quiet due to the public schools being on Spring break.  Thank you for being understanding as we work through this time of transition and then back.

Senior adults – our annual Senior Adult Day will take place on Sunday, April 26.  This is  one week earlier than past years.  More details to come.

Our student ministry will have “to go” pulled pork dinners available immediately following the morning service this Sunday, 3/29.  A tent will be set up between the Preschool Building and the CAB.  Eight dollars per plate with a maximum of thirty dollars per immediate family.  Proceeds go toward youth camp.  Thank you in advance for supporting our students.

We need sixteen folks to volunteer to provide a supper for the Peacock family during May.  Our goal is to do three meals per week.  The Friendship family has been very gracious up to this point.  Thank you.  Again, who is my neighbor?  Yes, Lisa and I will take one of those nights.  Will you join us?  Daphnehutto@gmail.com or (251) 533 4595 to sign up.

Soccer this Saturday, 3/28, beginning at 9:00AM.  Great games, great crowd, great concession stand!  Playing with a purpose and eating with a mission!  Pray for this ministry!

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

I posted the obits for Clinton Stringfellow (tomorrow) and Sylvia Hesse (Thursday).  Pray for these two families as they walk through their respective valleys.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Jeanette Bates had a test yesterday.  The results should be available tomorrow.  Pray for Jeanette.  Remember, adult choir musical this Sunday, 3/29, beginning at 5:00PM.

Bonnie Smyly will have hip replacement surgery this Friday.  Pray that all goes well.

Arnold Strahan continues to recover at home.  I hear he is doing well in his recovery.

Keep praying for Miss Betty Hamil.  And Andy too!

Miss Dottie Clark continues to have much pain in her arms and legs.  The nights seem to be the worse time for her.  Join me in praying for Miss Dottie and Dr. Mike.

Continue to pray for John Peacock as he does therapy.  Pray for Alaina as well.  By the way, the meal train has now been extended into May.  Our goal is three suppers per week.  Contact Daphne at daphnehutto@gmail.com or (251) 533 4595 to get on the train.  You may say, “I do not know the Peacocks.”  The Samaritan did not know the Jew who was badly beaten and left on the side of the road but it did not stop him from ministering.  Who is my neighbor?  My focus is on the Friendship family but the train is open to all others too (Amberly?).  I (we) can help with the delivery if that is problematic for you.  Pam Baker “cooked” a Door Dash gift card while Angie “Fruit Loops” Bentley cooked a Walmart gift card.  As Miss Kittie Camp often said, “many hands make light work!”  Plus, we are better together.

Lisa is having a great time in South Africa.  She sent me pictures of them by the pool yesterday.  They have a couple of days on a safari before beginning the ministry portion of this trip.  (My mind has thought of Larry Crawley like a million times simply because of the location of this trip)

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

Sylvia Virginia Jordan Hesse passed away , Friday, March 20, 2026 at the age of 86.

Sylvia was born on January 16, 1940 in Kosciusko, MS. to Bart and Virginia Jordan. She was a longtime resident of Gautier, MS and member of the First United Methodist Church of Gautier. She worked for many years as a legal secretary. She loved Fox News, gardening, reading and cross-stitching and needle point. She was passionate about her yard and flowers, spending hours to nurture and enjoy their beauty. She and her husband Ralph, enjoyed traveling and seeing the world until his passing in 1997. But she did not allow that to stop her from traveling, she along with her many friends continued the tradition, cruising and experiencing the world.

In addition to her parents and husband Ralph Hesse she was preceeded in death by two great grandchildren.

She is survived by four children; Jamie White Hatcher (Chuck), Virginia Diane Stone (Timothy), James William White V, and Michael Jordan White Jr. (Katina); siblings, Barbara Jordan Walker and Joan Jordan Lacey (Dr. Robert Ray); grandchildren, Michelle Smith (John), Nicole Arwood, Aaron James Castellanos, Russell Shawn Bosarge Jr., Jennifer Henry (Donovan), Justin Bosarge (Chynna), Logan L. Stone, Hayden William White, Avery Madison White, Michael Jordan White Jr. Chandler Anderson White, and Coltyn Anderson White; 14 great grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 26, at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula from 11 am til 12 pm. The Funeral Service will follow in the Chapel at noon. Interment will conclude at Crestlawn Memorial Park.

Clinton Lamar Stringfellow, age 70, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He was born on May 17, 1955, to Albert Leo and Mildred Stringfellow.

Clinton was a strong‑willed man with a deep love for the outdoors. He found peace and purpose in the simple rhythms of nature—whether he was out fishing at first light, tending to his farm, or spending quiet mornings in the woods. His days were shaped by hard work, fresh air, and the satisfaction of living close to the land. Those who knew him admired his determination, his independence, and the quiet strength he carried throughout his life.

He is survived by his children, Summer Stringfellow, Autumn (Joe) Hunnings, Maegen (Mike) Conaway, and Caleb Stringfellow and his fiancée, Kristin Nedley; his devoted companion, Debra Inabinett; his grandchildren, Bethany (Chase) Harvison, Gabriella Conaway, Gracleyn Conaway, Gauge Conaway, and Jace Taylor; his great‑grandchildren, Colton and Weston Harvison; his siblings, Dianne Trotti, Rita Boutwell, Charles (Jo Ann) Stringfellow, and Randy (Susan) Stringfellow; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who will forever cherish his memory.

Those who preceded him in death include his parents, Albert Leo and Mildred Stringfellow, and his sisters, Merle Merritt, Betty Oliver, and Margie Stringfellow Sheffield.

Visitation will be held at Serenity Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 25th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with funeral services beginning at 2:00 p.m. Graveside service at Serenity Memorial Gardens will follow immediately afterward.

Clinton will be remembered for his unwavering spirit, his love of the outdoors, and the steady, dependable presence he brought to everyone around him. His memory will live on in the stories shared, the land he cared for, and the hearts of all who loved him.

Well, another great Sunday of being blessed by the Lord in our services.  One profession of faith in the morning service and then I had the privilege of leading a young lady to Jesus immediately following the service.  He gives the increase and we give Him the glory.

The Roberson Trio/family was a blessing in our evening service.  The only downer was that Tim & Peggy did not join them for a song or two.  Good night of ministry and you gave a really good offering ($1,700) to this family.  Praise the Lord!

Bro. Abel led tw0 great meetings – one before and one after the evening service.  VBS first meeting and looking toward 4/12 and the changes in the second one.  I appreciate Bro. Abel’s leadership in these areas.  (Asking for a friend – if someone if going to help “direct” VBS should they be in the Wednesday night services?  Myrtle always was!)

Jamie Hatcher’s mother, Miss Sylvia Hesse, passed from this life last Friday, 3/20.  The visitation will take place this Thursday, 3/26, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  Both will take place at the O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula, MS.  Pray for the Hesse family during this time.

Clinton Stringfellow passed from this life early Saturday morning, 3/21.  The visitation will take place this Wednesday, 3/25, from noon until the 2:00PM service time.  Both at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.  Pray for the Stringfellow family.

Mike Clark (Casa Aleluya) sent me a message yesterday asking us to pray for Miss Dottie.  She has been having some tough days.

The landscaping on our campus looks really good.  Thank you to Gary & Rachel Walton for a job well done in coordinating this effort.  Special thanks to each person who answered the “all hands on deck” call not once, but twice, last week.  Great group of guys!  Also, the new hand rails in front of the adult Christian education building look nice and will serve a great purpose.  The new rails leading up the ramp into the CAB may be put in place this week.  Thanks to those leading these efforts.

I am told that our first day of soccer was a huge success.  Praise the Lord!  Bro. Abel can flat out run a sports ministry.  I am also told that our concession stand was wide open all day!  Thank you for supporting missions and the Peacock family.  Same schedule this Saturday, 3/28.

The meal train for the Peacock family is now moving into May.  Want to help?  Contact Daphne (daphnehutto@gmail.com) (215) 533 4595.  Thank you to those who have helped already and to those who will help in the days ahead.

Our adult choir will present their Easter musical this Sunday in our 5:00PM service.  Pray and attend.

Lisa arrived safe and sound in South Africa yesterday afternoon around 1:00PM our time (8:00PM in South Africa).  She called and was a tired, but happy, camper.  Thank you for praying.

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

We need to lay eight pallets of sod on our church campus tomorrow morning, 3/21, beginning at 7:00AM.  With enough help, I think we can finish within a hour or so.  Will you help?  Please pass the word!  Thank you.

Do you ever find yourself just asking, “why?”  I do – often!  This morning my “why?” comes from Lisa and me purchasing Mama’s car from her over five years ago as she could longer drive.  (Do not get me started on women drivers – LOL!). The government folks want to know what the tag number on that car was the day we made the purchase.  Are you serious!  I am.  (Teddy, get off your soap box and do the blog entry!)

Tomorrow will be a huge day on our campus as it will be opening day for our Spring soccer season.  I can easily see over one thousand people on campus.  It is crazy!  Just crazy!  Yes, there will be a few bumps but I ask folks to be patient.  Pray for Bro. Abel as he leads this ministry.  By the way, opening ceremonies tonight!

Have I mentioned the soccer concession stand?  The five dollar combo meals?  Where the proceeds are going?  That one does not have to watch soccer in order to purchase items from the concession stand?  (Asking for a friend!)

Praying for us to have an awesome Sunday in the Word and worship.  Come join us this Sunday, 3/22, at 9:00AM, 10:00AM and 5:00PM.

The Roberson Trio will be our special guests in our 5:00PM service.  A love offering will be received.  Pray for this service.

Here is one of my hopes for today – we have one opening on the meal train for John & Alaina Peacock.  I would be that opening is filled today!  Even more thrilled if we spill over into May or add additional days in March/April.  Contact Daphne at daphnehutto@gmail.com; (251) 533 4595.  (We will receive a love offering for the Peacocks this Sunday morning)

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

First, I have to begin by saying a huge “thank you” to each person who showed up on short notice to help with the landscaping on our campus yesterday.  Wow, what a blessing!  Gary Walton supervised the group and everything that could be done got done even earlier than expected.  Yes, there were some professionals on hand to lead the effort but the others who came helped get the job done.  Thank you, Friendship family for coming through once again.

Clara Broadus’ surgical procedure went well yesterday.  They kept her in the hospital overnight but she should be discharged today.  Thank you for praying for Clara.  She is a sweetheart!

I do not know if Clinton Stringfellow was moved from the hospital yesterday.  I do know that, regardless, he needs our prayers.

Miss Bonnie Smyly is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery next week.  Pray for her.  Sheila Booker is to be thanked for helping Bonnie out in a great way.

Speaking of Sheila, our Ladies Helping Hands meets today beginning at 10:00AM in the Preschool Building.  All ladies invited to attend.

Our soccer leagues begin play this Satuday, 3/21, at 9:00AM.  I am asking even folks who do not like soccer (my hand is the first being raised) to come support the concession stand.  All proceeds will go toward our June GRACE Ministries mission trip (80%) and toward financially helping the John Peacock family (20%).  The concession stand will be open from 9:00AM until 1:00PM.  Five dollar combos include either a hamburger, Conecuh sausage or hotdog paired with french fries and a soft drink.  Best deal in town!  Best deal in the state!  Pray for Bro. Abel and our soccer ministry.

Still looking for folks to get on the meal train for John & Alaina Peacock.  We are going to provide at least three suppers per week for them through April.  Presently, we have folks lined up through April 2nd.  Contact Daphne Hutto at daphnehutto@gmail.com or (251) 533 4595.  Or, you can do as a couple did yesterday morning and simply give money to cover a meal (think pizza, et cetera).  I have no doubt that the Friendship family will come through again.  Thank you, Friendship family.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday with our evening service being very special as we will host the Roberson Trio.  These are relatives of JoNell Barnes.  Friendship family, come join us for this service.  A love offering will be received!

I pray you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

P.S. – My wife is a happy camper as she has got to spend time with her friend, Mandi Fortner, this morning.  Plus, she is excited about her mission trip to South Africa.  (I am also excited!)