Pastor's Blog

Good Wednesday morning to all thirteen of the readers of the blog.  (Actually, our number has dipped to eleven but we are going to continue to use the thirteen figure)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning beginning at 10:00AM and tonight beginning at 6:30PM.  A very special “thank you” to Bro. Abel for stepping up and teaching our students on Wednesday nights.  I am grateful.  Our adult chaperones for the next three Wednesday nights are Brad, Jonathan & John Milton.

Speaking of Bro. Abel, he will be going to Guatemala in a few days to host a soccer clinic and to introduce them to flag football. All of this will take place on GRACE Mountain.  It will be a Gospel centered, high energy time!  Pray for this ministry opportunity!

My wife, Lisa, will be leaving for Guatemala one week from today in order to be there to help celebrate Audrey’s eleventh birthday on 9/22.  Do not worry, my other wife will remain at home on the kitchen counter.

The seventeen folks from Grand Bay who have been on GRACE Mountain should have returned home yesterday.  I pray they arrived home safe and sound.

As it presently stands, we have a precious few openings on our June 11 – 18, 2026 GRACE Ministries trip to Guatemala.  Ditto for our December 2 – 9, 2025 trip.  Time is of the essence so contact me if interested or more information is needed.

I am dealing with some delicate matters – prayers appreciated.

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

The air temperature this morning is not as low as yesterday morning’s but it is still nice.  Yesterday’s early morning air temperature was fabulous!  My digital girlfriend who stays on our kitchen counter tells me it is presently seventy-three degrees with a relative humidity of eighty-nine percent.  I will take it but, as you know, I am always about cooler (cold) temperatures.  Thank you Jesus for this breath of fresh air that has come our way.  (Holland, MI is at a nice forty-eight degrees this morning – talk about nice!)

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Bro. Abel will teach our students in the evening.  We will be in Titus 3 in the auditorium.

Deacon nominations are taking place now.  Friendship family, you know the routine.  If you do not, contact Henry Wyse or me.

We should have tickets ready this Sunday, 9/14, for our fellowship at Presley’s on Sunday, 9/21.  Three dollars per person.

Today is a shared birthday by Ross Genzink & Dave Scholz.  Ross is now seventy and Dave is seventy-five.  Folks, that is old!

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

P.S. – Regardless of where you attend church take time to pray for your pastor today!  He needs the prayer and you need the practice!

This entry is late – duh!  Internet issues at home and since I have been in the office (little before 8:00AM) I have been covered up.  Sorry!

Good day in our services yesterday with the two highlights being the public profession of faith by Lane Lofton in our morning service and the baptism of Sadie Baggett in our evening service.  Praise the Lord!

It was great having Jeanette Bates back in our services yesterday.  She was missed.  Obviously, I am very thankful to Kim Tillman for her flexibility during Jeanette’s absence but we are best when both of these ladies are present.  I thank God for our musicians.

Thank you to Keith Barrett, Blake Jenkins and Judson Fanning for trimming the hedges in front of the auditorium and cleaning up the back forty on Saturday.  Nice job!

Also, thank you to the guys who worked last week to get the men’s restroom functional for Sunday.  Not totally finished but it was functional.  Really, who needs to wash their hands?

How about the weather this morning?  Nice reminder that Fall is coming – all three days of it here on the Coast.  LOL!

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

Tony Blackwell was doing “better” yesterday morning but still needs our prayers.  He remains hospitalized.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning and evening.  Hope you will join us!

Church fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/21, beginning at 4:00PM.

Special “Refresh” offering on Sunday, November 9.

I need four or five men to meet me at 6:30AM tomorrow morning to trim the shrubs around the auditorium.  (Bro. Abel, Henry Wyse & Jason Fosmore are excluded from this invitation).  If you will join me, please send me an email today.  First come, first served.  What if no one responds?  I will fly solo.  Bring hedge trimmers, rakes, and weedeaters.  Should be done and gone in less than an hour.  Any takers?

I “think” the men’s restroom in the auditorium should be open Sunday.  By the way, check out the CAB with the new paint scheme.  Go big purple!

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

Judy Blackwell’s son, Tony, had a heart attack one week ago while working in Georgia.  He had gotten home but had to be taken to a local hospital yesterday.  Pray for Tony & his family.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  I am grateful to the Lord.

We are going to observe the ordinance of baptism this Sunday in our evening service.  Sadie Baggett will be baptized.  Any others desiring to do the same need to contact me just so we will know.  Looking forward to it.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.

Friendship family, now is the time to nominate prospective deacons.  Names must be submitted to Henry Wyse no later than Sunday, 9/21.  We will elect three deacons at some point in October.

Church fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/21, beginning at 4:00PM.

Refresh love offering on Sunday, November 9.

Yes, we love Barney!  ?  Check out the CAB.

It appears the men’s restroom in the auditorium will be ready for use beginning this Sunday, 9/7.

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

Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  Dr. Rex Looney sent me a picture that totally put me in a tailspin!  Took me some time to process it!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Looking forward to joining folks for Bible study.  Come join us!

Two of the three families arrived safe and sound on GRACE Mountain yesterday.  The third family will arrive today.  Pray for these families as they do ministry.

Friendship family – church fellowship at Presley’s Outing on 9/21 beginning at 4:00PM; love offering for our Refresh project on Sunday, November 9.  Keep these things in mind and make the offering a matter of serious prayer.

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

It seems like yesterday.  It seems like forever ago.  Thirty nine years (1986) ago this morning our world was rocked and our lives were forever changed as Lisa’s only brother, Michael Clark, passed from this life in an automobile accident.  Death stings!  I fondly remember Michael, miss him, and pray for Charles, Ann, Kim & Lisa today.

Wow, we were blessed with a really good attendance this past Sunday.  How often have we had to ask folks to make room in order for the latecomers to have seats?  Even the afternoon service was well attended.  The bowling fellowship was a success.  Thank you Jesus!

Of course, the proverbial “cherry on the top” was Sadie Baggett making a public profession of faith in our morning service.  Her parents led her to the Lord the previous Sunday afternoon.  Praise the Lord!

It was great to have Andy & Betty Hamil in our morning service!  Seemed so normal!  I am not sure why they skipped the bowling fellowship Sunday night?

It was also great to have Gene Davis back with us.  He was not seated in his normal spot but he was here and that is all that matters!  Welcome home, Gene!

Three families (Bosarge, Nelson & Mills) left today heading to GRACE Ministries for a week to do ministry.  Pray for their travels and for their ministry opportunities.

The Friendship family is “hospital free” as of right now.  That is a good thing.  Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow as he will be receiving two more chemo treatments soon.

I am still praying for Jeanette and family.  I want to wake up from this dream but it is reality!

We have been blessed with members of the Friendship family working on our campus.  They are doing it in the background but the results are amazing!  I am grateful!  The men’s restroom in the auditorium should be functional this Sunday morning.  Going to look amazing!  Thank you to each person who has helped with this project.

Our Refresh Committee will be meeting soon.  I look forward to hearing from them.  Remember, special “Refresh Offering” on Sunday, November 9, 2025.  Pray and come prepared to give.

Yes, you heard correctly.  Lisa and I went to the funeral home and made our arrangements last week.  If either of us passes within thirty days then we get a twenty-five percent discount!  Are you serious?  (Please note that I am not standing directly behind the pulpit!).

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

James Francis French, Sr, “Jimmy”, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Monday, August 25, 2025. He was a native of Mobile, Alabama – born to Lorenzo George French and Anna B. Fox French on July 21, 1935, the oldest of 10 children. He was a member of Dauphin Way Methodist Church. Jimmy graduated from Murphy High School, served four years in the US Air Force, then worked at Brookley Air Force Base, in civil service, until its closing in 1969. He continued doing the work he loved at the Army Corps of Engineers until he retired. He loved working on electronics and was often referred to as the radio man.

Jimmy was married to Joe Alice Wise and together they raised five children. He was devoted to his family, wanting to “take care” of everybody. Because of his ability and desire to fix things, friends and family members knew they could count on him whenever help was needed. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jimmy enjoyed spending time outdoors. Fishing from his boat or the dock at his house on Dauphin Island was his favorite pastime, but he also enjoyed taking care of animals, like birds, squirrels and dogs.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Forrest Campbell French and John Winfield French; and two sisters, Nora Emily Lindstrom and Anna French McIntosh.

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Joe Alice French; daughters Judy (Steve) Duke, Peggy (David) Brown and Anna Belle Rushing, two sons, James (Teresa) French, Jr. and David (Kim) French; ten grandchildren Jamey (Lettie) Duke, Elizabeth Duke, Neil (Jessica) Brown, Scott Brown, Amanda Whisenhant, Brittanie (Ryan) Hinkle, LeighAnn French, Melia (Josh) Weatherford, Jason Rushing, Jimmy Rushing; twelve great-children Ansley, Stephen and Molly James Duke, Carson Brown, Brady, Isaac, and Micah Whisenhant, Eli, Ella Kate, Rory, and Oliver Weatherford, and Celesta French; brothers, Lorenzo George (Mary Lee) French, Jr., and Richard Lee (Nita) French; sisters, Betty Jean Moore, Ellen Rae Beuk, and Norma Kay (Roy) West; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other cherished family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 10 am at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, with a chapel service immediately following. Interment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Semper Fi & America’s Fund or the Wounded Warrior Project.

The obit for David French’s father has not been posted online.  When it is I will post it here.  Remember, visitation at 10:00AM and service at 11:00AM tomorrow.  Pinecrest Funeral Home on DIP.  Pray for the French family.

Talked to Jeanette yesterday.  Taking it one step at a time.  She will be taking a few days away and spending time with her family.  She is greatly missed whenever she is not here.  However, I am very thankful for Kim Tillman and her sweet spirit.  Keep praying for Jeanette.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Sweet spirit.  Average attendance in our early service and a bit better than average in our evening service.

Bro. Abel taught our students last night and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  I appreciate him doing this.

Rumor has it that Bro. Andy & Miss Betty “may” be in our service this Sunday morning?  How great will that be!

Our Sunday afternoon service will be from 4:30PM until 5:15PM.  My letter was wrong regarding the times.  (Laura Fosmore’s fault!  LOL!) Bowling fellowship begins at 6:00PM and ends at 9:00PM.  Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Come join us!

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

David French’s father, James Francis French, passed from this life on Monday, 8/25.  Mr. French was ninety years old.  The obituary is incomplete but the arrangements are complete.  The visitation and service will take place Friday, 8/29, from Pinecrest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway.  Visitation will be from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Please pray for the French family.

David French is one of the nicest gentleman I have ever known.  (How Kim got him I will never know!) David has faithfully taught Royal Ambassadors at Friendship for years.  He is very quiet and never seeks the spotlight.  Great member of the Friendship family.

I will post the obit once it goes online.  Pray for David, Kim and family during this time.