Pastor's Blog

The arrangements for Esther Beritech are as follows:  visitation at 10:00AM followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00AM on Thursday, August 10, 2017.  Visitation and service will take place from the Friendship Baptist auditorium.  Interment will take place in the Oddfellow’s Cemetery in Bayou La Batre.

Mary Jackson was discharged from the hospital today.

Cash Westbrook was discharged from the hospital today.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 72-73; Romans 9:1-15

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  There were two salvations in our 10:30AM service.  The ordination service for Brad Hutto was special.  We thank God for a good day.

Robert Baria has been moved to a regular room so the roller coaster ride continues.  I am praying that he is finally on the road to recovery.

Dylan said last night that Cash should be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

Dana told me last night there is a chance her mother will be discharged today.

The Beritech family should be meeting with the funeral directors today to set the arrangements for Esther’s service.

Bro. Jerry Hovel has been given today off as there have been surgeries the past two Fridays while I was away.  I always try to cover Friday surgeries but obviously cannot whenever I am away.  So, please do not contact Bro. Jerry today.  He will be in the office tomorrow.

We are going to resume our Monday evening prayer time today from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Please enter/exit through the West side door.

Children’s choir begins this Wednesday, 8/9, at 5:30PM.

Acton Bowen will be with us the dates of Friday, 9/15, through Sunday morning, 9/17.  Pray for these services.

Bobby and the boys won in dramatic fashion yesterday and won the series against the Cubbies.  Bobby has the boys on a roll!

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 70-71; Romans 8:22-39

Happy 80th birthday to my mother-in-law, Ann Clark.  I could not ask for a better mother-in-law!  (Father-in-law?  Did you really just ask that question?). We enjoyed a day of celebration as a family yesterday.  I think Ann was pleased!  I am thankful to Miss Kittie and her Sunday School class for coming to make the celebration even greater!  Very kind of them!  Thank you ladies!

Visited with Robert Baria last night and had a good talk with him.  He is obviously off the ventilator.  I assured him of our prayer support.  I think he has a ways to go yet but progress is being made.

Visited with Mary Jackson but she was sleeping very soundly.

Visited with Dylan, Elizabeth & Cash.  Cash has improved.  I am grateful to God.  Dylan & Elizabeth are such a fine young couple.

Tommy Watson is at home.  He will be receiving in home rehab from this point forward for a period of time.

I have a friend from Baldwin County and New Life Baptist Church.  His name is Bryan Creps and he was diagnosed with stage four mouth cancer last week.  His daughter, Kortni, was in Guatemala with us.  He is scheduled for a MRI and full body scan on 8/16 and then surgery on 8/22 in Birmingham.  Bryan is believing God for a complete healing and I am asking you to join us in that prayer.

Regular schedule today – morning and evening.

We will ordain Brad Hutto as a deacon in tonight’s service.  All ordained men are asked to meet for a council at 4:00PM in the auditorium.  Obviously, I am proud of Brad.  He is a wonderful son-in-law.  (Is he as wonderful as Soy?  Are you serious!).

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 66 – 67; Romans 7

Mary Jackson is having surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well and that she will recover quickly.

Dylan & Elizabeth Westbrook’s son, Cash, was admitted to the hospital last night.  The expect him to be there for a few days.

Tina Wilkinson’s surgery was almost successful.  They could not get one of the stones so they will try again later.  Tina is complicated – LOL!

Robert Baria has been put back on the ventilator.  The roller coaster ride continues.  Pray for Robert.

Tommy Watson will be discharged from the hospital today.  He has been hospitalized since May 6.  Plans call for him to now have home health rehab.

The Beritech family is still working on the arrangements for Esther’s service.  Keep praying for the family.

I am typing this from the airport in Guatemala City while waiting on Delta to allow us to begin boarding.  Lord willing, I will be home late this afternoon.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 63 – 65; Romans 6

I received some of the best news I have heard in a very long time last night – Greg Boutwell attended the morning service yesterday.  Hallelujah!  Thank God that Greg was physically able to do this.

Esther Beritech’s family is still in the process of making the arrangements.

Tina Wilkinson will be having surgery today.  They are going after some kidney stones.

Mary Jackson will be having surgery tomorrow.  (Why did Tina & Mary not go for the “two for one” special by having surgery the same day?”).

Tommy Watson will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

Robert Baria is making progress – slow but sure!

I am told that we had good attendance in both of our services yesterday.  Thank you to those who are faithful!

Bobby and the boys took their second consecutive loss last night but still hold a commanding lead in their division.  Leslie Hacker’s Braves seem to have the Dodgers’ number as they beat them again last night.

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

Shorty before 6:00AM today, Esther Beritech passed from this life.  Pray for her family as they walk through this valley.  Arrangements are pending.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 60-62; Romans 5

Regular schedule today/tonight with one exception – there will be no 7:30PM Bible study.  Please take note of that and pass the word.

Esther Beritech is not doing well.  She was moved to another hospital and had another surgical procedure done.  As of this writing, she is in critical condition.  Pray for Esther.

Robert Baria’s condition remains basically the same.

Not sure if Tommy Watson was discharged yesterday or not.  He would like to remain in therapy but not sure if that was allowed.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 57 – 59; Romans 4

No significant updates on the folks in the hospital.  Jeff & Nadine Holified visited with Robert Baria and Esther Beritech yesterday.  Esther was asleep but, in Jeff’s opinion, Robert was better than he was when he visited with him on Saturday.

Tommy Watson may be discharged today.

Stella Brinkman remains in rehab.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 54-56; Romans 3

I do not have an update on Robert Baria but do ask that you keep praying.

Esther is said to seemingly be having some problems with her heart following her surgery.

Tina Wilkinson & Mary Jackson will both be having surgery later this week.

Art Elliott will have some tests done this week.

Tommy Watson remains in rehab at least through tomorrow.

Bro. Jerry tells me that our attendance was down some yesterday but that the services were good.

Bobby & the boys continue to roll.  Will they make a trade today?  Will the Dodgers?  One month and two days before Bama tees it up to open the 2017 season.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Psalms 51-53; Romans 2

I wrote yesterday that Robert Baria had been moved to a regular room.  What I did not know at that time was that he had already been placed back in ICU.  Robert is very sick.  He has a long road to recovery.  Pray for him and his family.

As far as I know, Esther Beritech is doing good in her recovery.

Regular schedule this morning and evening.

The blood mobile will be at Friendship today.

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