Pastor's Blog

Ok, we obviously know that God can do miracles.  What?  Read my last entry regarding the offering.  So, this morning I am asking you to join me in praying for Larry Whitehurst as he meets with the doctor to get the results of the MRI taken yesterday.  Let’s believe for a good report.

Keep praying for Gloria Whitmore and Catherine Leach as they recover from their recent respective surgeries.  I continue to be amazed at how well Gloria does following surgery.  Miss Catherine is obviously older and more frail so pray for these ladies.

Anna Carol will have her procedure done in about ten or twelve days.  Keep praying for Anna Carol.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!”  “Pray without ceasing!”

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

“HALLELUJAH!  HALLELUJAH!  HALLELUJAH!”  We have now seen the thirty one days of January come and go and we were able to witness a special move of God regarding the building of a school in Guatemala.  I do not know if we ever had a “goal” per se in the beginning of this effort but our Hallelujah goal was five hundred thousand dollars.  The Lord honored that and it pleases me to announce that we have received $516,160.74 in gifts and pledges toward the construction of the school.  I am telling you that will make a Baptist shout!  It did me!  I have been shouting for days because I have been looking at the numbers and just kept saying, “thank you Jesus!”  Absolutely amazing!

Individuals, churches, ministries, et cetera have graciously given to help get us to this point.  No gift has been too small and obviously none has been too large.  I can only say “thank you” to each person, each church, each ministry that has given.  We have crossed denominational lines, state lines, racial lines, social lines, gender lines, age lines, all lines and have come together working for a common goal.  Together, with God, we can!  Together, with God, He did!  Give Him glory!

I am pumped!  Have you figured that out yet?  The mission house just got invaded by thirty three Northerners and not even that has rained on my parade – LOL!  I am obviously just kidding as these are some of the finest folks you will ever meet.  All of the team arrived together and we will all be taking part in a ground breaking ceremony at 9:00AM tomorrow.

We still have a way to go in order to be set financially for the first year as there are administration costs, curriculum costs, uniform costs, food costs, et cetera.  We also want to add the third story quickly.  So, will you pray and spread the word?  We hope to have another video up and running real soon.  (Looking at you Tony!)

Wow!  How does one wind down after this news?  Hallelujah!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Good morning from the Mobile airport.  Lord willing, I will soon board a plane heading to Atlanta and then eventually to Guatemala City.  We have a large contingent scheduled to come out of Grand Rapids today if the weather cooperates.  Pray for traveling grace and mercy.

Gloria Whitmore did remarkable in her surgery yesterday morning.  They had her up walking early yesterday afternoon.  Amazing!  Pray for Miss Gloria in her recovery.

Keep praying for Miss Catherine Leach too as she recovers from her surgery.

We had a nice crowd in our service last night.  Our GA’s and our students were busy beforehand offering various goodies in exchange for a donation toward the building of the school in Guatemala.  I know the GA’s raised at least $1,100 and the students raised $570.  Awesome job by both groups and their leaders.

So, did we reach our Hallelujah goal?  We did – HALLELUJAH!  What is the total?  I will share that information once today ends as others are still giving.  Folks, it is all a God thing.  We give Him all of the glory.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

We will NOT have a 10:00AM service today!  Evening classes/service will take place.  Please pass the word.

Miss Catherine Leach had surgery on her ankle late yesterday afternoon.  I went by and prayed with her earlier in the afternoon and then Bro. Jerry Hovel went to be with the family during the procedure.  I do not have an update but do ask you to pray.

Miss Gloria Whitmore will be having surgery this morning.  Fortunately she is the first one on the list which means her surgery should begin at 7:00AM.  It is no fun having to be at the hospital at 5:00AM but it makes it somewhat worthwhile when you do not have to seemingly wait all day to have your surgery.  Pray that all goes well for Miss Gloria and pray for Bro. Jerry as he waits beside her.

I have posted the arrangements for Amy Huhn & Lee Falana’s Uncle Bobby.  Everything takes place today from Higher Ground Baptist Church.  Pray for the family.

Anna Carol Bosarge’s surgical procedure takes place in a couple of weeks.  Keep praying.

Miss Lillian told me Sunday that Elaine is doing good.  Cannot drive yet so she has not gotten back to church.  Keep praying.

How is that January Challenge going for the building of a school in Guatemala?  Glad you asked!  Despite the fact that some folks are putting their money in transmissions while others are buying travel trailers, it is going great!  At the time of this writing we now only need three thousand dollars to reach our Hallelujah goal.  Remember, at 8:00AM this past Sunday morning we needed forty eight thousand dollars.  So, I would say that it is going great!  (Without transmissions and travel trailers we would already be there – just saying!). We have two days to reach and surpass this goal!  Thank you to each person who has helped in any way either by praying, giving, sharing, et cetera.

As a matter of fact, our students and our Girls In Action will be providing different “goodies” tonight before/after our classes/service for folks to purchase.  All proceeds will go toward the building of the school.  This really has nothing to do with the money but everything to do with helping our students and GA’s think about missions and ministry.  I appreciate the leaders who have helped them with their efforts.  ($250 plus $100 = $300 all day!).

Our deacons will have their regular monthly meeting (February) tonight at 5:45PM.  Brothers, please be on time.  (They always are)

It is just before 2:00AM as I write this entry.  The present temperature is thirty four degrees with the lowest expected to be thirty degrees at 6:00AM.  So, the weather forecasters missed it by six or seven degrees.  No complaints.  Do I regret calling off the morning service now?  Nope.  You go with the information you have and make a decision.  Then you stick with it.  Remember, leaders lead, they do not take opinion polls.  By the way, Lisa and do not even have the heat on in our house.

Lord willing, I will board a plane in Mobile early in the morning and head to Guatemala to lead back to back teams doing medical and construction.  The highlight of these trips will be the official groundbreaking ceremony for the school.  This will take place this Friday, February 1, beginning at 9:00AM.  We will be joined by local and state officials for this monumental event.  Exciting stuff!  Pray for a fruitful two weeks.  Our staff and deacons stand ready and able to minister in my absence.

I have more to do today then I will be able to get done.  Pray for wisdom on my behalf.

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

Robert Lee Nelson Sr., age 77, passed away January 23, 2019 in Irvington, AL. He is survived by his children; Roxane (Charles “Red Bone”) Wilson, Paula (Leo) Seward, and Robert Lee (Daphne) Nelson Jr.,; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; siblings Carolyn (John) Falana, Floyd (Brenda) Nelson, Lillian Harmon, and Carol (Benny) Causey; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Services with be held Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at Higher Ground Baptist Church with visitation at 12 noon until the 2pm service time. Interment will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Miss Catherine Leach will have surgery at some point today.  She has had a few falls recently and has broken a bone that has to be repaired.  Pray for Miss Catherine.

The visitation and service for Amy Huhn and Kendall Falana’s uncle will take place tomorrow, 1/30, from Higher Ground Baptist Church.  Visitation begins at noon and goes until the 2:00PM service time.  Pray for the family.

Miss Gloria Whitmore will have surgery in the morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Larry & Judy will be traveling to Florida this week.  Pray for traveling mercies and good reports.

Remember, no 10:00AM service tomorrow but we will have a regular schedule tomorrow night.

We now need seventeen thousand dollars to reach our Hallelujah goal for the school in Guatemala.  We have three days to secure this either in actual gifts or pledges.  Pray.  Share.  Give as the Lord leads.

Stay dry this morning and warm throughout the day and night.

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

The response to reaching our Hallelujah goal for the building of a school in Guatemala has been amazing!  Quick recap – on Sunday morning, 1/27, we needed $48,000 to reach this Hallelujah goal established by me after prayer and thought.  The challenge was to get this much in five days which would conclude on January 31, 2019.  Word came that every dollar given January 1 – 31 would be matched.

So, folks have responded and at the time of this writing we only need $19,000 to reach our Hallelujah goal.  If you had told me on January 1 that we would be this close to such a goal on January 28 then I would have said “probably not!”  But here we are!

We have three days to raise the $19,000 either in gifts or pledges.  Some folks are giving some now and pledging more for later.  We are asking that all pledges be paid, if possible, by September 30, 2019.  (If that is not possible then we certainly understand).  Oh, I wish I could tell some of the stories of the folks who have given and made pledges.  Folks are giving cheerfully and sacrificially!  This is honoring God!

If you have not done so already, will you give?  Pledge?  Pray about it.  Share the video.  Ask others to give.  Together, with God, we can do this!

You can see a tracker at shininglightabroad.com.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

We will not be having our 10:00AM Wednesday service this week.  Nothing changes for Wednesday night as it will be a normal schedule.

The visitation with the John Paul Rogers family takes place from 10:00AM until the noon service time today at the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Pray for Amber, Morgan and family.

Anna Carol Bosarge will have a procedure done in two weeks.  Pray for her as she awaits that date.

Gloria Whitmore will have surgery this Wednesday.  She is the first on the list which is a good thing.  Pray that all goes well.

Larry Whitehurst will travel to Jacksonville this week for tests, meetings, et cetera.  Pray for good results and reports.

Lord willing, I will leave early Thursday heading to Guatemala for two weeks as I will be leading our first two mission teams of the year.  These are the trips where we are heavy medical.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will be preaching in my absence this Sunday.

We had a really good day in our services yesterday.  The first service and the evening service were very well attended.  Thank you to folks who are faithful.

As I announced yesterday morning and then put on the blog yesterday afternoon, we have more than reached our goal of having the one hundred thousand dollars matched in January.  After some prayer and thought, I felt led to establish a “Hallelujah” goal!  As yesterday began, we needed forty eight thousand dollars to reach this goal.  God blessed and we now only need thirty three thousand dollars by midnight this Thursday, 1/31.  That can be in actual gifts or pledges.  Folks, we can do this as we allow God to work in and through us.  You can communicate with either Deidra (dtaylor0811@gmail.com) or me (pastor@friendshipfamily.net) to make your pledge or tell us of your gift.  Gifts can be taken by the church office, put in the mail, or given online.  Pray.  Obey.  Share the video.

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

As you know, we had an anonymous donor offer to match dollar for dollar every gift given or pledge made up to one hundred thousand dollars during January 2019 for the construction of the school in Guatemala.  We have surpassed that goal to which we can only say “to God be all of the glory!”

So, I have prayed and thought through this matter and felt impressed to make a new challenge – reaching a Hallelujah goal.  The kind that would make a Baptist shout!  I shared this with the Friendship family in our two services this morning.  When today began we needed forty eight thousand dollars in gifts or pledges by this Thursday, January 31, to reach this Hallelujah goal.  It pleases me to say that we now only need thirty nine thousand dollars to reach it as our folks responded in a wonderful way.

Every dollar given between January 1 – 31 will be matched.  Yes, even above the one hundred thousand dollars.  God is good!

So, pray.  Share the video.  Tell others.  Believe!  God is able!  To quote the well known, Dr. Jack Bailey, “God has shown up and He is showing out!”  Praise Him!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Pray for Anna Carol Bosarge as she meets with another specialist today.  Pray for wisdom.

If you are helping minister to the Perkins family through the meal tomorrow, please have your food in the fellowship hall no later than noon tomorrow.  Questions?  Contact Tina Wilkinson.

Mission of Hope service tonight at 7:00PM in their chapel.  Everyone invited to attend.

Bus workers meet in the morning at 8:30AM.  Pray for this ministry.

Basketball tomorrow beginning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry too.

Thanks for Kendall Falana and Bob Evans for covering up a leak in the old auditorium this past Wednesday.

Thanks for Danny Lewis for helping get things “level” on the church campus.

The Grand Bay weather forecast has changed a bit.  Imagine that.  They are now calling for it to not be quite as cold as yesterday’s predictions for tonight and tomorrow.  However, they are now saying twenty three degrees on Tuesday night.  I will believe that when I see it!

Guess where Jayden wanted to go for his birthday last night?  Cracker Barrel. That is what his Mama said so off we went.  He ate a wee little bit but at least his Mama ate good!  Just saying!

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