Pastor's Blog

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Congratulations to Brad & Brandi Morgan on the birth of their first child, Luke.  I do not know the details i.e. time of birth, weight, et cetera but do know all is well.  Congratulations to Brad, Brandi and their families.

Todd McManus, nephew of Jim & Morris Bryant, passed from this life Wednesday.  There will be a visitation and a celebration of life today in Meridian, MS.  Pray for the family as they walk through this valley.

I need the members of the Friendship family to “lasagna up” for our fellowship this Sunday evening beginning at 6:00PM in the CAB.  As you know, we are hosting the men from the Mission of Hope for a special Christmas fellowship.  We are asking each family from the Friendship family to bring at least one lasagna and a dessert.  We will present each man from the Mission a gift.  Pray, attend, and be a blessing to these men and each other.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for both services.  Our Finance Committee will hold an informational meeting at 5:30PM to share the adjustments to the budget as we move from a 8/1 to 7/31 fiscal year to a 1/1 – 12/31 one. This meeting will be held in the auditorium.

Five of the team members in Guatemala went home yesterday as originally planned.  Lisa was in that number and I already miss her being here.  I know that our grandchildren will be happy to have her home.

The team has done well and has done a lot of ministry.  Everyone is well.  Attitudes have been amazing!  Really great group.  Pray for them as they finish strong today.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

I need to begin by apologizing to Zach & Charlotte Brown as their infant son, Benji, remains hospitalized and I have not kept our thirteen readers up to date on his situation.  Benji is still having problems with the rate of his heartbeat.  Please pray for Benji, his parents and the medical folks giving care to him.

Bill Goff did spend some time in the hospital but is now at home.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family this morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

The team in Guatemala had a wonderful Tuesday.  The children from the center presented a very good program, all in English, early yesterday morning.  Then the team and all of the children headed to Chuck E Cheese for some fun, food and fellowship.  The children loved it.  Perhaps the thing that brought the most smiles to the adults was watching the children ride an escalator for the first time – fun stuff!  The staff at Chuck E Cheese was wonderful!  Really good experience for all involved.

The team left the city and headed to Antigua for shopping followed by a meal at Las Antorchas.  As always, the food was good and the fellowship was sweet.

One of the team members had to leave last night because of work commitments.  Five more will leave tomorrow.  The rest will leave on Saturday.  Soy, Deidra and the girls come home one week from today – hooray four times!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from Guatemala.  I pray that you have a great day yesterday and the today will be great as well.

I learned yesterday that Bill Goff has pneumonia.  (I do not know if he is hospitalized)  Pray for Bill.

The Friendship family will host the men from the Mission of Hope this Sunday evening for a time of food and fellowship.  We will meet in the CAB beginning at 6:00PM.  The menu will consist of lasagna, salad, bread, desert and drink.  This is going to be a joint fellowship so here is what we are asking the members of the Friendship family to do regarding this ministry – pray.  Attend.  Bring a cooked lasagna (these can be bought for around eleven dollars and the store brands are fine) and a dessert.  The church will provide extra lasagnas, French bread and the drinks.  The church will also provide a gift for each man attending from the Mission.

We will have a service that evening as we sit around the tables.  There will be music and a message (brief).  We need folks to help set up tables and chairs immediately following the second morning worship service.

The team in Guatemala had a good Monday.  The feeding center building no longer looks the same as a fresh coat of paint was applied yesterday.  Bernard Suthoff led this work effort and his team did a great job.  Tim Knighten led a team doing electrical work and they have certainly brought light to the place.  Tyrone Crawley & Nic Gray worked hours on a possible design for the school building.  The ladies hosted a baby shower for Teresita and they say it was really special.  The team served a meal and gave gifts to another twenty families.  Basically no one left the mountain and yet it was a very full day of ministry.  To God be the glory!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Happy birthday to our daughter, Daphne.  (I will not tell you how old she is but I will say that she is one year younger than Deidra who is thirty six!)  I hope Daphne has a great day!

This entry will be short and sweet as I only know what took place in Guatemala yesterday.  The team had a long day but it was a productive day.  They fed around one hundred folks breakfast at a local water park before taking part in worshipping as five folks followed Jesus in believer’s baptism.  They were then involved in a worship service under the pavilion at the water park.

From the water park it was down to the local food court for lunch.  Then back up the mountain to cook and prepare for the first wave of families at 3:00PM.  There were twenty families present and everything went very well.

There was a two hour break and the team ate supper which was the same meal being served to the families.  Then at 6:30PM the second wave of families came for their meal.  There were twenty seven families and again everything went well.

The team fed around four hundred folks yesterday.  Deidra did an excellent job of having all of this organized and then leading the team.  She is just like her Mama!

The children from the center presented a drama before each meal.  It was nicely done!

Each family received a huge tub of food.  Special thanks to John & Laurie King for taking care of purchasing these tubs before they went back to Canada.

The team had a meeting to end the day and most folks headed for bed.  One of the expected team members did not arrive – maybe today!

Pastor Joe & the Danville Baptist family – thank you!  Wow!  May God richly bless you and your ministries!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good Sunday morning from GRACE Mountain.  I trust that those of you in South Mobile County will get up, get ready and go to church this morning and evening.  Pastor Randy Johnson will be preaching in all three of our services at Friendship.  Randy is a very good proclaimer of the Word and you will do well to sit under his preaching.  Pray for him and the services today!

Remember, no Discipleship Training at Friendship during the month of December.  However, there will be adult choir rehearsal today at 5:00PM.

The team in Guatemala had a really long day traveling yesterday.  The folks from Alabama landed in Guatemala around 1:30PM but did not get to GRACE Mountain until around 5:00PM.  The traffic in Guatemala is just getting more congested by the day it seems.  The Michigan folks landed shortly after 8:00PM and to to GRACE Mountain around 10:15PM or so.  We have one more person arriving tomorrow afternoon and then the final one tomorrow night.  We will then be all set!

The team will attend the GRACE Community Church’s service off campus this morning in order to take part in a baptismal service.  They will then grab lunch before getting ready to host two sets of families for the Christmas meal in the feeding center.  The first group will come at 3:00PM and the second group will come at 6:30PM.  I think the total is forty seven families tomorrow.

Our “flexibility” has already been tested in a big way.  At 10:30AM yesterday we learned that the vans we had reserved would not be available at all during this trip.  So, we went to Plan B for the afternoon & evening.  We have plan C in place for tomorrow and are working on plan D for Monday.  We just know this – God is in control and He knows.  We are to just follow Him!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from GRACE mountain.  Sorry for no entry yesterday.  No excuses.

Terry Lucky had an outpatient surgical procedure done yesterday morning and did well.  I appreciate Bro. Jerry going to be with him during that time.  Pray for Terry to have a quick recovery.

Regular schedule on the Friendship campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Pastor Randy Johnson will be preaching in all three services.  My prayer is that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend the services.

We were able to meet with the assistant minister of education for the state of Chimaltenango on Thursday night.  Her first words were that we could not even apply for a school until a building is completely finished.  Translated – not possible for a school until January 2021.  Well, when Soy & Morris were finally able to pull Deidra off of that sweet lady she had a change of heart.  So, we are now back on track for January 2020.  Pray that will become a reality.

The team is flying today.  Pray for safety in travel.

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

In my haste to finish my earlier entry today I forgot to give an update on Charlotte and baby Benji.  Charlotte is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today.  Last I heard Benji had improved and was doing better.  Keep praying for them.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from the Mobile airport.  Lisa and I have joined Morris & Diane Bryant in traveling to Guatemala a couple of days before the team arrives.  I have a meeting with the Minister of Education tonight and another gathering tomorrow night.  Of course it gives Lisa and me the opportunity to spend some extra time with Deidra and the girls.  I do want to say a huge “thank you” to Eddie Albritton for bringing Lisa and me to the airport this morning.

Pastor Randy Johnson will be preaching in all three of our services this Sunday.  He does a great job and I prayerfully hope that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend the services.

I am asking the members of the Friendship family (others too if interested) to consider writing a note, card, et cetera about any memory relating to Sara Nell Moulds by Sunday, December 16.  You can give those to Julie McGath and she will compile a book that will be given to Carl Ray Moulds before Christmas.  These notes can be handwritten if you write legibly.  However, if you write like me (which no one does) then please type your note so it can be read by Carl Ray and family.  You can bring these to any church service, drop them by the church office, and drop them by Lisa’s office any Monday – Friday.

It is about time to board so this is somewhat abbreviated.  I do plan on blogging daily while we are away.  (May not do so Saturday and Sunday – we shall see).

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Infant Benji Brown was placed in NICU upon his birth and remains there as he is having some breathing difficulties.  His mother, Charlotte, is set to come home tomorrow but Benji will remain hospitalized for the time being.  Pray for Benji, his parents, Zach & Charlotte, the doctors, nurses and all involved in Benji’s care.  I plan to visit later today.

The doctors will continue to monitor Sonny Bates’ condition for a couple of months.

We still have two seats available on the mission trip that departs from Mobile this Saturday, December 1.  Those spots must be filled by 5:00PM today or they will be lost.  Interested?  You must contact me today by 4:00PM.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  It is a bit “cool” (32 degrees) in Grand Bay but it will warm by tonight (projected low of 47 degrees) so all is good.  We will have the heat on this morning and “might” leave it on for tonight too!

Eddie & Marcus seem to have this basketball thing down pat.  Still could use some players in the first & second grade league.  Contact either of them for information or details.

Several things to keep in mind regarding our church schedule as we move into December – Pastor Randy Johnson will be preaching in all three of our services this Sunday, 12/2; children’s choir musical on Sunday, 12/16; adult choir musical on Sunday, 12/23 at 3:00PM; Christmas Eve service from 5:00PM until 6:00PM.  No Discipleship Training during December.  Only one service (10:30AM) on Sunday, December 30.

I bought gasoline for $1.95 a gallon yesterday in Gulfport, MS.  I “think” that is the first time I have bought it under two dollars a gallon since pre-Katrina but I could be wrong.

Lord willing I will be departing for Guatemala early tomorrow morning which means my Wednesday will be packed trying to get ready to leave.  I have plans to be in both services today, will visit the hospitals, et cetera but will also be purchasing, packing, and the whole deal.

Two seats remain on the trip to Guatemala that leaves this Saturday, 12/1.  Must be filled today, 11/28.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Charlotte Brown was admitted to the hospital at 6:00AM yesterday and her labor was induced around 9:00AM.  Somwhere around 9:30PM Benjamin Everett Brown made his appearance into this world.  He checked in weighing six pounds and fifteen point five ounces.  I am sure that Charlotte as physically exhausted but she & Zach are now the proud parents of their first son (third child).  I would imagine that the Browns need a day of no visitors as yesterday was such a long day.

Sonny Bates will travel to New Orleans today for his doctor’s appointment.  Pray that all goes well.

Logan Wainwright has pneumonia in one lung.  They thought he had a blood clot too but the tests said “no!”  Pray for Logan.

My niece was taken off the vent yesterday and is obviously deemed to be some better.  Per the doctor she is “not out of the woods” just yet.  Thanks for praying.

My dad is “some” better.  He is now talking about going deer hunting later which is a positive sign.  Keep praying.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening. I know it is cold for South Mobile County but I pray that we will be found faithful.

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