Pastor's Blog

Elbert Clinton Mahathy, 91, of Forts Lake, MS passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2019. He was born July 6, 1927 in Kreole, MS to the late Marvin Clinton and Minnie Elena Seaman Mahathy. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked for International Paper Company for 45 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and farming. He always included his family in his adventures and loved for everyone to go fishing in his pond. Elbert was a long-time member of Eastside Assembly of God Church. He loved to serve his Lord and Savior and did so by helping others and sharing God’s word, love, and kindness. Along with his parents, Elbert was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Evon Benefield Mahathy; brothers, Arnold Lee (Velma) Mahathy, and Arthur Ray (Mary Ann) Mahathy; sister, Ida Mae (Fred) Carter; and grandson, Bobby Duane Parker. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Ida Eyrle Pierce-Tanner Mahathy; brothers, Forrest Calvin Mahathy and James Leroy (Big Sandra) Mahathy; sisters, Ima Jane (Stanley) Bragg and Gloria Faye (Jack) Hamilton; children, Melba Faye (William) Schafer, Sandra Raye (James) Parker, Winfred (Reby) Tanner, Cynthia (David) Cochran, Mae Jean Henderson, Robert (Carmen) Tanner, and Marty Tanner; grandchildren, Ginger Hamilton, Carla Weaver, James Parker, Clint Schafer, Scott Older, and Taylor Older, and 27 more grandchildren; great-grandchildren, Perrin, Brett, Ryan, Lora, Leah, Lilly, Avery, Morgan, James, Autumn, Kala, and 54 more great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019 from 5 p.m until 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, 10170 Grand Bay Wilmer Road South, Grand Bay, AL. Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 11 a.m. in the church. Interment will immediately follow at W. R. Clark Cemetery in Forts Lake.

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

Charles Suthoff was admitted to the hospital last night.  Pray for him, the medical personnel, and Bernard & Pattie as they have had a lot on their plate lately.  (Pattie literally just called to say that Charles was kept in PACU last night and they are not certain what will happen today.  He “could” be sent back to the convalescent facility today.  Pattie has been very faithful to keep me posted and will do so today)

Bobby Joe Felps met with an oncologist yesterday afternoon.  His malignancy is stage three.  The doctor is content to just watch it for the time being.  He stressed that Bobby Joe had major surgery and will be out of commission for another couple of months.  Keep praying for Bobby Joe and family.

Andy Hamil was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and was able to go home – not to rehab.  Keep praying for Andy & Betty.

I talked to Tim Knighten yesterday.  Obviously, he and Peggy are still in the grieving process.  Just keep them in your prayers, please.

Pray for those being affected by the government shutdown.

Soy, Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey left this morning heading back to Guatemala.  (That noise you heard around 6:30AM was Sydney screaming!).   Actually, I think she did fairly well this go around.  Lisa and I are working on getting the girls back to Alabama during the Summer when they have a school break so they can eat watermelon and swim.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  That includes Sunday School, Discipleship Training and adult choir.  I pray the members of the Friendship family will be faithful in all areas.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.

Love offering for Danny & Anita Lafferty this Sunday in all three services.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.  God used Danny to open the door for our ministry in Guatemala.  I have never forgotten that kindness.

We have twenty one days to either give or pledge toward the school construction in Guatemala for those gifts/pledges to be matched.  Thank you to those who have done so already and to those who are going to do so this month or later.  Remember, we are asking that, if possible, all pledges be paid by September 30, 2019.   Will you pass the word, share the video, direct others to shininglightabroad.com, et cetera?

Basketball in the morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Bus workers meet at 8:30AM tomorrow.  Finance Committee meets Sunday at 5:00PM.

A special thanks to Danny Lewis for filling in the potholes in the church parking lots.  He has done a nice job.  Macgyver is a Danny Lewis wannabe!

Lisa and I have plans to travel to Peru next week.  I know some Poiroux’s but I have never been to Peru.  This trip has been years in the making and can only be taken by us in January.  Not my choice of dates but we had to fit it in when my Uncle is there.  Eddie & Sue will be our traveling companions.  Our plan is to be home on Saturday, 1/19, with plans to be in the pulpit on Sunday, 1/20.  I said all of that to simply say that I do not know if I will blog during our time away.  Not sure about internet access, our schedule, et cetera.  Just FYI.

Since I am no longer watching the NFL (two years now), I have decided to not apply for the draft.  Just saying!

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

The Ladies Helping Hands Ministry will meet tomorrow night, 1/10, beginning at 6:00PM in the fellowship hall.  All ladies of the Friendship family are invited to attend this meeting.

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

Andy Hamil is set to be discharged from the hospital today.  He will go to a rehab facility for an unspecified period of time.  Pray for Andy & Betty.

A member of the Friendship family had a heart cath yesterday.  The results were very good.

Another member of the Friendship family will be having surgery today.  Not sure if I have permission to list that person’s name here so I will not.

Regular schedule today – morning and evening.

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

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

Tim Knighten’s father will be buried in Quitman, MS today.  I appreciate Jeff Holifield and Grant Tillman going to Milton, FL yesterday for the visitation with the family.  The pastor did a nice job with the service and Peggy wrote a nice poem about Tim’s father which she read during the service.  Keep praying for the Knighten family.

Visited with Andy Hamil yesterday morning.  He may be discharged at some point today but will be going to a rehab facility instead of home.  Obviously, he needs some physical therapy.  Pray for Andy & Betty.

Thank you to those who asked about Jayden.  He has been diagnosed with a fever virus which is not contagious.  I had never heard of this type virus until yesterday when my niece, Jamie, told me about it.

Are you serious?  44 – 16!  Hey, I am am Alabama fan and I wish they had won last night’s game.  However, as a follower of Jesus, how can you not like Coach Dabo Swinney?  His initial interview after the game was amazing as he definitely gave God all of the glory.  The Lawrence kid was amazing and the Ross kid was even more amazing.  In my opinion, Alabama was outplayed and outcoached in last night’s game.  Congratulations to Coach Swinney and his Clemson Tigers in becoming the first 15 – 0 team in the modern era of college football.

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

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

Pray for Tim & Peggy Knighten along with the rest of the family as they will have a visitation and a celebration of life service for Mr. Leslie Knighten at the Wallace Baptist Church in Milton, Florida today from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time.  The burial will take place tomorrow in Quitman, MS.  Tim and Peggy are very faithful members of the Friendship family and we certainly want to support them during this time.

Andy Hamil is doing well.  It is possible he could be discharged from the hospital today.  Not sure how probable that is but it is possible.  Keep praying for Andy.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  The highlight of the day for me was to have Brandon & Pam Baker join the Friendship family by transfer of letter – welcome home!  I hold this young couple in very high regard and believe they are a great addition to the Friendship family.

We are going to remodel our auditorium and prayerfully that will take place this year.  Financial gifts, above one’s regular offering, can be given at any time.  Simply write “renovation” on the memo line of your check or in the designated area on the offering envelope.  You can also give online.  Soon, I will be appointing an ad hoc committee to oversee this renovation.  We are basically talking about painting, carpet, seating and maybe a couple of other things.  Again, the committee will be bringing recommendations as to the particulars.

This Sunday, 1/13, we will receive a love offering in all three services for Danny & Anita Lafferty.  Pray and then give as the Lord leads.

Our deacons are going to host a “Widow’s Day” on Saturday, February 23.  This will involve a meal, a time of encouragement and a great meal.  Plans call for this to take place in the mid afternoon so these ladies can get home before dark thirty.  Widows, please call the church office to sign up for this special day.

I have heard rumor that there is going to be a game tonight.  Personally, I think it could go either way and will be close.  However, I am not the world’s greatest prognosticator – just saying!

Our landline phone rang at midnight.  Dana told me that the baby was burning up with fever.  When we got to the ER his temperature was 104.1.  Motrin followed by an antibiotic and we were back home a little after 4:00AM.  So, all is good but this preacher is somewhat tired.  I am saying that to say there is no telling the number of mistakes you will find in this entry.  My apologies!

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

Andy Hamil’s surgery was deemed a success.  Praise the Lord.  I appreciate deacon Sonny Bates covering for me as I was on the road.  I am also grateful to the other members of the Friendship family who in attendance.  Andy will be in the hospital for  another day, two or three.

Uncle Will’s service was nice.  Graveside only with absolutely beautiful weather.  Thanks to those who prayed.

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

Bro. Andy Hamil is scheduled to have hip surgery this morning.  He fractured his left hip in his fall yesterday morning.  Pray that all goes well.  Pray for Miss Betty as she waits beside him.

I posted the arrangements in an earlier post for Tim Knighten’s dad.  Pray for Tim and family as they walk through this valley.

Lisa and I will travel to Columbus, Georgia today for my Uncle Will’s visitation and service.  We will meet my dad, older brother and his wife in the Montgomery area and then travel together from there.

As far as I know, Danny Lafferty was sent home yesterday.  Keep praying for Danny and remember that we will receive a love offering for Danny & Anita next Sunday, 1/13.

Basketball today beginning at 8:00AM and our bus workers meet at 8:30AM.  Pray for these two ministries.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family tomorrow morning and evening.  Deacons meet at 4:00PM.  Buildings and Grounds committee meets at 5:00PM.

We have now received fifteen thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars in January toward the building of the school in Guatemala.  We have also received an additional two thousand nine hundred fifty dollars in pledges.  That totals eighteen thousand seven hundred dollars which when matched will be thirty seven thousand four hundred dollars.  Praise the Lord!

I am an Alabama fan and I am tired of seeing Monday’s night game advertised over and over and over and over!  Just play the game!

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

Leslie Elam Knighten, age 75 Native of Pascagoula, Mississippi current resident of Pace, Florida.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Knighten; parents, Peggy Knighten and J.B. Knighten.

He is survived by two sons, Mark Knighten (Sherry) of Gautier, MS and Tim Knighten (Peggy) also of Gautier, MS; several grandchildren, Mark Knighten (Rebecca), Kyle Knighten (Jennifer), Katie Kalb (Brett), Gabby Knighten, Shelby Knighten, T.C. Phillips, Bradley Phillips and Kara Phillips; great grandchildren, Thomas Knighten, Johnathan Knighten, Skylar, Paisley and Easton Knighten, Joseph and Josie Sprinkle, Landon Wiles, Hunter Kalb and Ava and Braxton Phillips.

Leslie was a member of Wallace Baptist Church. When he was in good health, he loved to fish, camp and attend bluegrass festivals. He also enjoyed the company of his two poodles which he referred to as his babies Rosie and Prince.

Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is on Monday, January 7, 2019, 11:00 a.m., at Wallace Baptist Church the Service is also Monday, January 7, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at Wallace Baptist Church, Burial will be at Harmony Cemetery in Quitman, Mississippi on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Bro. Andy fell at home this morning.  As I am typing this he is being transported by ambulance to the hospital.  It “appears” that he may have broken a hip.  Pray for Andy & Betty, please.