Pastor's Blog

The celebration of life service for Sonny Bates was very well done.  Brad & Cindy did a great job of sharing the message in song.  Wes Bates did his dad proud as he did an excellent job of sharing the Word.  I know Sonny would have been very proud of his son for a job well done.

Thank you to each person who helped with the meal following the COLS.  Nicely done.

Regular schedule on our campus today and tonight.

Ladies Bible study tomorrow morning beginning at 10:00AM.

Church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday evening.  Details in my letter this week.

Church picnic at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/21, beginning at 4:00PM.  Make plans to join us.

One observation from the visitation with the Bates family Tuesday night.  The wife of one of our leaders came to me complaining about having to stand in line so long and basically demanded that she be taken to the front of the line or. . .   So, not wanting to cause a scene I did as she requested.  People!

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

The celebration of life service for Sonny Bates takes place today beginning at 10:00AM.  Jeanette and family will arrive around 9:30AM.  While the burial is not technically private they are not expecting folks to attend since it will be later in the afternoon.  What a nice crowd last night for the visitation.  Sonny was a well respected and well liked individual.  Pray for Jeanette and family today.  Especially pray for Wes as he will preach his dad’s service per Sonny’s request.  Good stuff!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  We give Him praise!

The visitation with the Sonny Bates family takes place in our auditorium today from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  All of our senior adults who are eighty years or older are asked to enter through the West side door and we will merge you into the line without much (if any) wait time.  All others need to be prepared to stand in line for a spell.  Pray for Jeanette and family.

The celebration of life service for Sonny will take place tomorrow beginning at 10:00AM in our auditorium.  The burial will take place in the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort beginning at 2:00PM.

Those helping feed the Bates family need to have the food in our Preschool Building no later than 10:00AM Tuesday morning, 8/26.  Thank for for ministering to this family.

We will have a church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday evening, 8/31, from 6:00PM until 9:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Details in my letter today.

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

Leonard Bates

October 15, 1941 — August 22, 2025

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Sonny Bates was born on October 15, 1941, in Hartselle, Alabama, and came face-to-face with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 22, 2025 in Mobile, Alabama. He was a faithful member, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher at Friendship Baptist Church since 1973, and a retired employee of Chevron Pascagoula Refinery. A faithful follower of Jesus, the best daddy, husband, and Poppy there ever was, he entered heaven the same day as his precious mother-in-law Kittie Camp had 3 years prior.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard Etheridge Bates, Sr., and Etta Mae Wallace Bates, and his sisters Sherri Bates Condry and Gaye Royuallyn Crocker. Sonny is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jeanette, his daughters Adrian (Billy) Thompson and Rebecca (Jay) Taylor, son Wes (Rebekah) Bates, grandchildren Ellie Taylor, Nathan Bates, Mallie Taylor, Nora Bates, Noah Thompson, and another to be born in October, his brother Larry Bates, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 from 5:00-7:00, with the funeral on Tuesday August 26, 2025 at 10:00, all from Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Alabama. Burial will take place at the Alabama State Veterans’ Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama at 2:00.

My heart has been heavy and hurting ever since early yesterday morning.  I intentionally did not visit Sonny this past Monday as I had been exposed to covid and did not want to potentially expose him.  I spoke to Jeanette and she agreed with me that not visiting was the best decision.  If only I had known. . .   Keep praying for Jeanette and family.

Tomorrow will be a normal Sunday on our campus with Sunday School, morning worship and an abbreviated evening worship.  Then we will gather in the CAB to celebrate ten years of ministry at Friendship for Bro. Abel Garcia.  Four years his first time here and six years this time.  What a blessing Bro. Abel has been to me personally and professionally.  He thinks soccer is a sport but everyone has their faults!

Remember, we will receive a love offering for Bro. Abel in both services tomorrow to show a token of our appreciation for him.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

You are not asked to bring anything to the fellowship.  There will be a taco bar and Bro. Abel is pumped!

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Hope to see you in the morning and then again tomorrow evening.

While I do not have the complete obituary for Sonny Bates, I want to share what is known at this time.  The visitation with the family will take place on Monday, August 25, from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  The celebration of life service will take place beginning at 10:00AM on Tuesday, August 26.  Everything will take place in our church auditorium.

The burial will take place in the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort, Alabama beginning at 2:00PM also on Tuesday, August 26.

A complete obituary will be posted once it is listed by the funeral home.

Pray for Jeanette and family during this time.

This morning Sonny Bates was escorted to Heaven.  Jeanette, as she has been throughout this ordeal, was faithfully there beside him.  Bro. Abel is at the hospital with Jeanette as are her children, Sonny’s brother and others.  Pray for Jeanette and her family.  The Friendship family just lost one of the absolute finest church members in our history.  Heaven’s gain.

It was exactly three years ago today, 8/22, that Jeanette’s mother, Miss Kittie Camp, entered Heaven.  As Jeanette said to me this morning, “in time that will be a blessing.”  More reason to pray specifically for Jeanette.

The most pressing prayer need today within the Friendship family is for Sonny Bates.  He has been moved to ICU.  Honestly, that is all I know at this point.  Keep praying for Jeanette and the family too.

Ladies Bible study this morning at 10:00AM.  All ladies are invited to attend.

Things are hopping on GRACE Mountain.  Today marks the final in class day for our seniors – wow!  Going to treat them to lunch as a way of celebrating.

Tonight will be the civil wedding ceremony for Jorge & Ingrid.  Talk about boring!  I would rather have my toe nails ripped off!  Just saying!

Ross Genzink has accomplished much in our brief time here.  The guy is a machine!  I am thankful for Ross & Queen.

It began raining around 4:00PM yesterday and has not stopped.  Major storm in the late afternoon.  Good for the crops but not so good for a planned outdoor wedding ceremony.

It appears our June 2026 GRACE Ministries trip is at capacity.  Wow!  Praise the Lord!

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

First, the number of folks who attended the visitation service for Larry’s service and then the number who attended the COLS was very good.  Speaks very well of Larry and his family.  Keep praying for the Crawley family.

Sonny Bates remains in the hospital.  I was going to visit with him yesterday but an issue arose that kept me from doing so.  I spoke to Jeanette on the phone.  It took the proverbial “forever” for Sonny to get a room.  Keep praying for Sonny & Jeanette.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Lisa and I are leaving early this morning for Guatemala in order to attend the wedding ceremony of Ingrid Aju.  Actually, I am “preaching” the wedding.  Not sure all that involves but will soon find out.  Lord willing, we will return home Saturday night and I will be in the pulpit for both services Sunday.

I am going to try to have a daily entry on this blog while gone.  I promise to do my best.

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

Those who were in attendance in our morning service yesterday are obviously aware that Bro. Chris Scofield resigned his position on our church staff.  He met with the deacons, Bro. Abel, and me early yesterday morning to share his decision and then Henry Wyse shared Bro. Chris’ decision with the church family at the close of our service.  Here is a part of what Bro. Chris shared with me electronically yesterday morning – “I will always defend you and your ministry to anyone with anything negative to say. I Love and appreciate you and Lisa and the Friendship family.”  I simply say ditto in regard to Bro. Chris and his family.   I am thankful for the time he had here.  Bro. Chris also shared with the deacons that his sons, Clay & Colby, along with Clay’s girlfriend, Lilly, plan to continue being a part of the Friendship family.  Pray for Bro. Chris and family and for the Friendship family.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our service yesterday morning.  Worshiping as Logan Hatcher followed Jesus in believer’s baptism was the proverbial cherry on the top!  Glory to God!

The visitation with the Larry Crawley family was very well attended.  Larry was a much loved individual.  Pray for the service that will begin at 10:00AM today.

Sonny Bates was admitted to the hospital yesterday after having been taken there by ambulance around 4:00AM.  Pray as the doctors sort through his situation.

Meeting tonight beginning at 6:30PM for those interested in being part of our June 2026 GRACE Ministries mission trip.  We will meet in the youth building.

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