Pastor's Blog

This entry is being written as I travel up I-65 heading to Huntsville, Alabama.  Chuck Hatcher is driving so I can blog and get my weekly letter written and sent to Laura Fosmore.  Chuck & I are going to visit with David McElwee and family.  Not sure of Sandra’s present condition but  do ask you to pray for this family during this time.

Zack Brown’s sister is heading back to M.D. Anderson today.  Pray for a good and positive visit.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  Shawn Grant came forward for believer’s baptism.  Praise the Lord.

Bro. Abel did a nice job of promoting our Sunday School during the 5:00PM service.  We were missing a good number of our regulars but I am thankful to those who attended.  A special thanks to each person who helped in any way.

Ever tried to type a blog entry while riding on I-65?  Tough sledding!  (You would think we are in Mississippi!).

I hope you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing,” (Martin Luther)

Day nine of forty!  Prayer band, keep praying!

Gayla Dyess has two brothers in the hospital.  I will not even begin to tell you their stories but do ask that you pray for them.

Keep praying for Tim’s brother, Mark.  Also, continue to pray for Carol Lucky.  Miss Bonnie Smiley is scheduled to have surgery later this week.  Pray this happens.

Deidra is a happy camper as the doctor removed her cast this past Friday.  She is now wearing a splint for two or three weeks.  Chino is doing really well.

Happy seventh anniversary, Bro. Abel Garcia.  Today we, as a church family, have the privilege of showing our appreciation to Bro. Abel by giving to a love offering for him.  We will receive this special offering in both of our services.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.

Normal schedule and location for Sunday School and our morning worship service.  However, our 5:00PM service will take place in the CAB and will be a rally for our Sunday School.  Bro. Abel is leading this effort and each member of the Friendship family is encouraged to join us for this special service which will include an ice cream social.  Pass the word!

We have a team of nine bubbas and two Yankees heading to GRACE Mountain next Sunday, 9/6.  Pray for them as they prepare for a week of ministry in Guatemala.

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

“None but praying leaders can have praying followers.” (E. M. Bounds)

Today is the eighth day of our forty days of prayer.  Thank you to our prayer band for joining me in this effort!

First, a very heartfelt “thank you” to each person who contacted me yesterday expressing strong words of encouragement and prayer support.  Each one was very much appreciated – very much so!

Tomorrow is a very important day in the life of the Friendship family.  We, as a church family, will have the opportunity to express our love and appreciation to Bro. Abel for his seventh anniversary as a staff member at Friendship.  We will do so by receiving a love offering in both services.  This is a love offering so give as the Lord leads.  No obligation but a great opportunity!

Our 5:00PM service will take place in the CAB and will be a Sunday School rally.  This is for the entire Friendship family and will include an ice cream fellowship.  I am asking each member of the Friendship family to attend this special service and help us build our Sunday School.  Sunday School is important to our church!  Join us tomorrow afternoon at 5:00PM in the CAB.

Congratulations to Bryant, Faith and UMS for their respective victories on the football field last night.

While others were being so kind to me yesterday my wife was cracking the proverbial whip!  She had me working in the yard for about five or six hours.  She was Aunt Bee and I was Otis!  I walked in the house at dark thirty and her exact words were “did you finish?”  What ever happened to grace?  Just saying!

Today we get to attend football games in Citronelle and Fairhope.  Nora plays flag and Jayden plays tackle.  (Lisa and I are trying to be like Eddie & Sue!)

I hope to be joined by many of you in our services tomorrow morning and afternoon.  Remember the love offering for Bro. Abel.

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

Going to be totally transparent and honest this morning.  Emotionally, I am spent.  Do not have it in me to post an entry today.  I am sorry.  Hopefully, tomorrow.  Blessings!

Honestly, this is one of those blog entries that I do not want to write.  This morning we will gather in the Friendship auditorium to celebrate the life of Andy Hamil.  I have known Andy since 1979 and have had the privilege of being his pastor for just under thirty-six years.  He was a tremendous supporter of his pastor and that was true long before that privilege became mine.  Days like today work on me emotionally but I am thankful Andy is no longer suffering and is now in Heaven.  I copied and pasted Andy’s obituary last night.  Pray for Betty and the family today.

Sixty-seven!  Are you kidding me?  Bro. Abel planned a big night for our students last night and sixty-seven students were in attendance.  Hallelujah!  It has been a great while since we had a number that high in our student ministry on a Wednesday night.  I do know that our regular students did well in getting the word out to their friends and fellow students.  May this be the start of something great for God!  By the way, thank you to Bro. Abel and the other adults who helped him last night.

We also enjoyed two good services in the auditorium yesterday.  God is good!

Mark Timberlake had a surgical procedure done yesterday and all went well as far as I know.  Pray for Mark’s at home recovery.

I am very grateful to Gary & Rachel Walton and their crew who worked the flower beds on our church campus yesterday.  I am equally thankful to Kevin & Tina Sprinkle and Jerry Poiroux for the mowing, edging and weed eating they did after the morning service.  Very nicely done!

It has been a minute since we experienced the sweet sound of a steady rain south of the tracks in Grand Bay.  Thank you Lord for the rain!  I love rain!

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

Andrew Glover Hamil, 92, passed away peacefully at his home. He was born July 16, 1934 in Scott County, Mississippi to Merle Glover Hamil and Jennivive Gardner Hamil.

Andrew proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. He went on to build a distinguished career at Ingalls Shipbuilding, starting out as a mechanic and working his way up to General Superintendent over Inside and Outside Machinist. He was always proud of the men and women who worked alongside him throughout his career.

Andrew was a dedicated servant of God and was deeply involved in his church family at Friendship Baptist Church. Outside of work and church, he found joy in cheering on Alabama football and listening to the Inspirations singing quartet. He made so many wonderful friends during his travels of whom love him and loved listening to his stories.

In 1952, Andrew married Dean Sistrunk and together they welcomed a daughter, Anita (“Beebe”). In 1967, he married Betty Taylor, and gained a daughter, Margie. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Betty Hamil; his daughter Anita (“Beebe”) and grandsons Stephen and Joey (Sharon) Pierre; and his daughter Margie (Jim) Tevlin and grandsons Michael (Julee), Robby (Britney), Kyle (Sina), and Paulie (Briana).

5 great grandchildren: Oden, Cooper, Murphy and Patrick Tevlin, and Ashten Pierre.

The family extends a special thank you to their good friend Clara Broadus, and to caregivers Crystal Switzer and Diana Pitt, as well as Southern Care Hospice, for their love and support.

“Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” (E. M. Bounds)

Prayer band – day five of forty.  Be consistent in your prayers.

Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark, continues to need our prayer support.  He remains in the hospital and his situation is very serious.

Carol Lucky was taken to the hospital yesterday, was treated, and then sent back home.  Terry was not a “happy camper” with the decision to take Carol to the hospital.  The ultimate move of sending her back home seems to prove that Terry was correct in his opinion.  Regardless, Carol is home and that is where she wants to be if at all possible.  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

It was so good to see Edna Pearl and Phil Morgan in our morning service this past Sunday.  Edna has had such a great attitude throughout her whole ordeal.  Thank you Edna for being such a good example of how to handle physical adversity.  Keep praying for Pearl and Phil.

I am missing my friend and brother in Christ, Andy Hamil.  The visitation with Andy’s family will take place tomorrow, 8/27, from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM celebration of service begins.

Brothers in the Friendship family, this is an eleventh hour request.  I need some help.  I know Andy and I know what would please him.  Gary Walton and his crew will work this morning to spruce up the flowers and shrubs around the auditorium.  The shrubs in front of the office building were trimmed this past Saturday thanks to Bro. Abel and his soccer workday.  I need three or four guys to help me today beginning around 11:30AM to weed eat, edge and mow the front lawn.  We have the mower and a weed eater.  Just need another weed eater or two and we should be finished in an hour or so.  Any volunteers?  Contact me or just show up at 11:30AM today.  I want the place to look good in honor of Bro. Andy and Miss Betty.

Regular schedule today for everyone except our students (6th – seniors) as they will begin at 5:30PM.  Everyone will dismiss at 7:00PM.  Join us!

Our Sunday School Rally and Ice Cream Fellowship is this Sunday evening, August 30, from 5:00–6:00PM in the CAB.

This special evening is open to everyone—young and old—whether you already attend Sunday School or are considering becoming part of a class. We will enjoy homemade ice cream with all the toppings, have some fun together, and discover the importance of being connected to Sunday School.

Come on your own or bring your entire family! We will begin promptly at 5:00 PM and finish by 6:00 PM. This event will take the place of our regular Sunday evening service.

Strong Christians don’t drift—they stay anchored in God’s Word! Come learn how Sunday School can help you and your family become Anchored in Truth through God’s Word, community, service, and mission.

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

I will post the obituary for Andy once it has been posted by the funeral home.  Here are the arrangements:  everything will take place in our church auditorium this Thursday, August 27.  The visitation will begin at 10:00AM and will conclude when the service begins at 11:00AM.

The family will have a private, family only time prior to the public visitation.  I simply ask that folks who are not family please be respectful of this time reserved just for family.   This is not a “well, I am just like family” situation.  Thank you for understanding and being cooperative.

“Pray without ceasing.”  I Thessalonians 5:17

Early this morning Bro. Andy Hamil departed this life and entered Heaven.  Obviously, I am calling on you to join me in praying for Miss Betty, Anita, Marjorie and the family.  Arrangements pending.

“Continuing instant in prayer”  (Romans 12:12)

Today is day three of our forty days of prayer.  I am very thankful to those who are joining me in this opportunity.  Pray for God’s will in our lives individually and our church family’s life collectively.  We are one body with one Head, Jesus.

Andy Hamil continues to decline physically but he is alert mentally and spiritually.  Both of their daughters are now with them and this is a comfort to Andy & Betty.  Keep praying!

Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark, remains in ICU and on life support.  Pray for Mark, the doctors and Mark’s family.

Carol Lucky is home and happy!  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

Zack Brown’s sister, age forty, is battling a malignancy.  Pray for her, the family and the medical folks involved.

Jonathan Jordan’s best friend, age forty-four, has been diagnosed with a malignancy.  Pray for him!

This is Bro. Abel’s anniversary week as a staff member with the Friendship family.  He received the call on Sunday, 8/4/19, and his first Sunday back was August 18, 2019.  We will receive a love offering for Bro. Abel this Sunday, 8/30, in both services.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.  I appreciate Bro. Abel as a person and a staff member.

Speaking of love offerings, thank you for giving yesterday to support Johnny & Sharlene and their mission trip to Tennessee.  They leave tomorrow and will be gone for ten days.  Pray for them!

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