Pastor's Blog

I spoke to Eddie Albritton earlier this morning and the arrangements are still pending for his brother-in-law, Charles Keyes.  Everything will take place in the Laurel, MS area at a date TBD.  Keep praying for Wendy and the family.

I did not visit with Jason’s dad yesterday.  Either Bro. Abel or I will do so today.  Laura tells me that he is doing well and “may” be moved to a room at some point today.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus today – 10:00AM & 6:30PM.

Special offering for our Refresh project this Sunday, 1/25.  Tired of hearing about this offering?  Me too.  Let’s give and reach our goal and I will say nothing else except “to God be the glory!”  This is in my letter for this week regarding this special offering, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'”  (II Corinthians 9:7 NLT)

I spoke with someone yesterday about our special day on Sunday, 2/15, and it got me excited just thinking about it!  I can tell you that it does involve food and that makes even a Baptist shout!  Just saying.  Details this Sunday, 1/25.

Proposed budget presentation this Sunday, 1/25, beginning at 4:00PM.  Affirmation of budget’s adoption during our 5:00PM service.

Evangelist Dan Lanier will be with us Sunday, 2/22, through Wednesday, 2/25.  Pray, pray and then pray some more!

The dates of January 18, 19 & 20 are significant to me as nine years ago Miss Mary Lee Owen’s passed on the 18th, Miss Kathleen Henderson passed on the 19th and then Carla Felps Kyser passed on the 20th.  Death stings even nine years later!  Pray for these families!

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

Happy fiftieth birthday to my nephew, Josh Turrentine.  The dude is getting old!  (And he got there so quick!).  I pray that he will have a great day!

Sad news.  Charles “Charlie” Keyes, brother-in-law to Eddie Albritton unexpectedly passed from this life around 6:30PM last night.  Lisa and I had just gotten to the hospital when he passed.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for his wife, Wendy, and the entire family.

Good news.  Jason Fosmore’s dad did well through his surgery yesterday morning.  They did three bypasses.  He was very calm and at peace prior to the procedure.  I appreciate deacon Scott Fontenot being present to sit with the family during the procedure.  Pray for Mr. Fosmore as he recovers.

Our Finance Committee will present a proposed budget for 2026 this Sunday, 1/25.  A meeting for discussion will take place in our auditorium beginning at 4:00PM.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place during our 5:00PM service.  I appreciate the brothers who have worked, prayed and met to put this proposal together.

A special offering will be received this Sunday, 1/25, for our Refresh project.  We need around thirty-three thousand dollars to get where we hope to be in regard to this project.  Thank you to those who have given already and to those who will give going forward.  May it all be to the glory of God.

I plan to share this Sunday about our special day that will take place on Sunday, 2/15.  Come and hear!

Pray for revival.  Evangelist Dan Lanier will be our guest messenger from Sunday morning, 2/22, through Wednesday evening, 2/25.  Friendship family, do not miss being present for these services.

Yes, there is a situation in Guatemala but all is well on GRACE Mountain and in the area around it.  Just pray for God’s protection over all and I am thankful for the decisions being made to help maintain law and order.  I spoke to Deidra yesterday and this morning.  She and the girls are good.

Elizabeth Sessions just came to the church office and brought me a blessing!  What did she bring?  Fresh tomatoes!  I mean picked this morning fresh tomatoes!  Are you kidding me!  Nope!  I have already eaten a handful of the smaller ones.  Yum!

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

Jason Fosmore’s dad will have heart bypass surgery this morning.  The surgeon thinks at least three, possibly four.  Pray for this surgical procedure to go well.

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  Our morning attendance was down a bit due to the holiday weekend and the cooler than normal temperatures.  Our evening service was strong!

It was a joy to be involved in the ordination of Tim Knighten as a deacon.  Looking forward to continuing to serve with him.  Good guy, good family.

This Sunday, 1/25, will be an important day in the life of the Friendship family.  First, we will receive a special offering for our “Refresh” project.  We need a minimum of thirty-three thousand dollars.  Please pray and give as the Lord leads!

Second, our Finance Committee will present the 2026 proposed budget for consideration and adoption.  You will receive a copy either electronically or through the USPS this week.  There will be a discussion meeting in the auditorium beginning at 4:00PM.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place during the 5:00PM service.  I appreciate our Finance Committee and the work they do.  I am thankful to God for His blessings on the Friendship family.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday – morning and evening.  Praying for many folks to join us.

Special Sunday on 2/15.  Revival services with Evangelist Dan Lanier begin on Sunday, 2/22.  Pray, attend, invite others to join you.

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

I am told that the DNow went well last night.  Praying for a good day today/tonight.  Pray for our students.

Last night’s basketball went well too.  Games begin again at 8:00AM this morning.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.

Ordination council for Tim Knighten meets at 4:00PM and the actual ordination takes place during our 5:00PM service.  Pray for Tim & Peggy.

Churchwide bowling fellowship tomorrow night from 7:00PM until 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Bowling Center in Gautier, MS. Cost is eight dollars per bowler with a maximum of thirty-two dollars per family.  Attendance in our 5:00PM service is a must.

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

Way late today!  Duh!

Our students will be involved in a DNow tonight and tomorrow.  Small groups and meals will take place on our campus while the main services will take place at Redemption Church in Saraland.  Pray for Bro. Jacob, our students and the leaders.

Basketball tonight and tomorrow.  Pray for Bro. Abel and this ministry.

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

This entry is late.  My apologies.  No excuses, just apologies.

We had a really good day in our classes/services yesterday.  Praise the Lord!  The change in our RA’s & GA’s went well.  Thank you to Bro. Abel for leading this changes and to the workers for joyfully embracing the change.

Our Ladies Helping Hands are meeting this morning beginning at 10:00AM.  All ladies invited to attend.

Basketball tomorrow night (7:00PM) and Saturday (8:00AM).  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday.  Ordaining Tim Knighten in our 5:00PM service.

Churchwide fellowship this Sunday, 1/18, from 7:00PM until 10:00PM.  Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Attendance in our 5:00PM service is a must.  Come join us!

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

As a general rule, I am not one to complain about the weather as God knows what He is doing.  However, I am grateful to the Lord when He gives us cooler weather during the Winter.  I am enjoying this stretch of cooler temperatures.  Thank you, Jesus.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Abel is leading the way to making a change in how our RA’s and GA’s do Wednesday nights.  Begins tonight, 1/14, at 6:30PM in the CAB.  I think it is going to be great!

Speaking of Bro. Abel, he is looking for a good used self propelled push mower.  If you know of one, please contact him.

Bowling fellowship this Sunday evening, 1/18, from 7:00PM until 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Attendance in our 5:00PM service is mandatory.  Cost is eight dollars per person with a thirty-two dollars maximum per immediate family.  This is a church wide event.

Basketball this Friday and Saturday.  Three weeks remain in the season.  I am thankful to Bro. Abel and all those who help in any way.

Ordination service for Tim Knighten this Sunday during our 5:00PM service.  Pray for this service.

Special offering for our Refresh project takes place on Sunday, 1/25.  However, you can give at any time.  Online giving is an option.  Our total presently stands around sixty-seven thousand dollars.  One hundred thousand is our goal.  Pray and give as the Lord leads, please.  (I have a pen!)

Lisa has been spending a good bit of time with her parents as Ann recovers from her surgery.  Lisa has spent several nights there. I am not a doctor but I think it is “best” if Lisa continues doing this for a couple of months!  Just saying!

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

I failed to mention in yesterday’s entry how excited (emotional) Stacey Dyess was to win the “random” drawing during our Sunday morning service.  He was speechless!  You probably will have a difficult time seeing him from this point forward without his Big Bob Gibson’s tumbler in hand.  I will predecease Stacey but I do ask that those in charge of his service have Big Bob’s to cater his post service meal and have plenty of the white sauce on hand.  What are the chances Stacey would be the name pulled from that bag? (Katie Tillman knows the answer!)

Mark Mast needs our prayers this week as he is in the northern part of Canada teaching school while sharing the Good News at every opportunity.  Join me in praying for Missionary Mark Mast.

Friendship family, remember the church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday night, 1/18, from 7:00PM until 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Donation is eight dollars per person with a maximum of thirty-two dollars per immediate family.  Evening service attendance is a must!  Join us and bring others with you!

We will ordain Tim Knighten as a deacon this Sunday, 1/18.  Ordination council meets beginning at 4:00PM.  Service begins at 5:00PM.  Pray for this service.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.  Join us!

Bro. Abel & Candy made it home safely.  Praise the Lord.

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

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  The morning attendance was very strong!  Praise the Lord and thank you to those who attended.

The evening service as pretty good attendance wise and the invitation was productive.  Thank you to each person who responded.

Carol Lucky was taken to the hospital Friday night but finally came home after several hours of not being seen by a doctor.  Pray for Carol & Terry.

It was good to see Miss Vinnie in our service last night.  Pray for Miss Vinnie.

We will ordain Tim Knighten this Sunday, 1/18.  Council will meet at 4:00PM and the service at 5:00PM.

We will have a church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday, 1/18, from 7:00PM until 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Everyone is invited with evening church attendance being a must.

Bro. Abel finished all four races – congratulations.  I get tired just thinking about it!

I am the chief cook, secretary, et cetera today as Bro. Abel is traveling home and Bro. Jacob is home with a sick daughter.

Loving this cooler weather!

Hope you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Lisa’s mother, Ann Clark, was discharged from the hospital late yesterday morning.  Good for her and good for Charles.  Again, thank you to those who prayed.

Basketball tonight and tomorrow.  Yes, Bro. Abel is out of town but the “show must go on!”  Shawn Siker is saying, “who need Bro. Abel?”  (Or something like that!)

I communicated with Bro. Abel yesterday.  He did well in the 5K.  He had to be in place at 3:15AM today for the 10K.  Same for tomorrow’s half marathon.  Wow!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

Well, Bill’s beloved Rebels gave it an excellent run for their money.  That is now a very true statement in college sports.  I cannot pull for Miami and will not pull for a Big Ten team to win it all.  Can they both lose in the same game?  (Asking for a friend!)

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