Pastor's Blog

Good late Tuesday morning from a hospital cardiology waiting room.  I am presently sitting with Judy Whitehurst and her two sons as they have already taken Larry back for his heart cath.  Larry is in good spirits this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Continue to pray for Sonny Bates.  If my memory serves me correctly, he will meet with the doctor next Friday, 8/23, to get a plan for his treatments.

Miss JoNell has a doctor’s appointment this Thursday,  Keep praying for this sweet lady.

Our Ladies Helping Hands ministry is having their monthly diaper give away this morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  One major change to our evening activities – the CAB will be open at 6:00PM for our middle school and high school students only!  No students younger than the sixth grade will be allowed in the CAB.  Those students need to go to their respective classrooms and their classes will begin at 6:30PM.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

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

The Lord certainly blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise Him!

Lisa and I were privileged to attend the visitation with the Dean Kapenga family on Friday night.  The COLS on Saturday morning was special.  We continue to pray for Jan and family.  What a blessing to see so many friends even though it was not the ideal place to see them.

The visitation with the Lavon Hudson family begins at 9:30AM today and lasts until the 11:00AM service.  Everything will be at First Baptist Grand Bay.  Pray for Lavon’s family, including Marie Brooks, during this time.

The service for Evangelist David Miller takes place in Heber Springs, Arkansas this afternoon.  Pray for David’s family.

Sonny Bates did not get the report from his latest tests that he was in hopes of receiving.  However, Sonny’s words were “I am blessed!”  He will meet with the doctor soon to set up a treatment plan.

Larry Whitehurst is scheduled to have a heart cath in the morning.  Pray that all goes well.

JoNell Barnes has an important visit with the doctor this Thursday.  Pray for her!

Our Ladies Helping Hands will have a diaper give away tomorrow morning.  Also, they are collecting undergarments to give to our local elementary students.

We will celebrate Bro. Abel’s fifth anniversary as a staff member on Sunday, 8/25.  He will be preaching in the morning service.  We will have a reception for him following our evening service.  I am thankful for Bro. Abel.

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

Good morning from the Montgomery, AL airport.  Long story – Peggy Knighten knows the details!

Sharon Jardee was very blessed in the fact that she only needed two staples in her head as a result of her fall.  She is a very thankful lady.

Sonny Bates got his test results from the doctor.  I have not spoken to Sonny or Jeanette so I do not know the exact details.  Keep praying for Sonny & Jeanette.

I spoke to Debbie Adkinson yesterday regarding Miss Connie.  Miss Connie looks pretty beaten up (per Debbie) but, all in all, she is ok.  Wheelchair only for her from this point forward.

Miss Vinnie’s great grandson, Case Brewer, did well through his surgery yesterday.  Keep praying for Case and his parents.

Dr. Mike Clark sent me a message last night saying that Miss Dottie’s surgery went well and that she will walking today.  Amen!

I preached my first message forty-nine years ago today on a Saturday night at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church where Bro. Alvin Tucker as the pastor.  I bombed out but Bro. Alvin gave me a love offering which totaled thirty dollars.  I was delighted!  I will always be thankful to Bro. Alvin for giving me that opportunity!

Lisa and I have a plane to board.  I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

Sharon Jardee fell yesterday and had to be taken to the hospital.  Pray for Sharon and her recovery.

Connie Hardy took a fall yesterday while getting ready to come to our morning service.  She too was taken to the hospital.

Robert Baria recently fell in his garage and looks awful – can you say black and blue?

Evangelist David Miller passed from this life yesterday morning.  What a great man of God!  Pray for his family.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Joseph Levon Hudson– August 2, 1935 – August 3, 2024. Levon was a native of Grand Bay, AL. He left this life to meet his Savior, Jesus Christ, one day after his 89nd Birthday. He was a life-long member of Grand Bay First Baptist Church where he and his wife Fran kept the nursery for many years. He was a farmer by trade and shared his produce with many family and friends. Levon enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was a kind and humble man that was always ready to offer his help to family and neighbors. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Lee and Eula Mae Hudson, his brothers James Lee and, Jesse Hudson, his sisters Libby Boudwin and infant Mary Rose Hudson. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Francis (Fran) Hudson, his sons Walter (Lana) Hudson of Mobile, AL. and Jerry (Jessica) Hudson of Grand Bay, AL and his grandchildren, Joey, Tanner, Kylie, Audrey and Sophie Hudson, and his sister Marie Brooks. Also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Pallbearers will be: Joey Hudson, Terry Brooks, Scott Fontenot, Jimmy Hudson, Doug Crane and Phillip Whitner. Honorary Pall bearers: Terrel Brooks and Albert Sessions Jr.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church Monday, August 12, 2024 beginning at 9:30 am. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 am officiated by Rev John Womack. Interment will be at the Grand Bay Cemetery.

Evangelist David Miller of Arkansas is not doing well physically.  He is in ICU.  David is Edna H. Glover’s first cousin.  David is perhaps the most intellectual person I have ever know when it comes to the Bible.  Brilliant mind!  If I understand correctly, David’s son, Josh, is also in the hospital.  Pray for David and Josh!

Nanette Fontenot sent word this morning that the visitation and service for her Uncle Lavon will take place this coming Monday, 8/12, beginning at 10:00AM.  More details to come as Monday draws closer.

Jo Nell Barnes is scheduled to see a doctor again next week.  Keep praying for Jo Nell.

Dottie Clark’s surgery is scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon beginning at 5:00PM Guatemala time.  Pray for Miss Dottie.

The visitation and service for Dean Kapenga in Michigan will take place Friday night and Saturday morning.  Pray for Dean’s family.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Folks, fifteen years old and older, interested in joining our June 12 – 19, 2025 GRACE Ministries trip need to attend an important meeting this Monday, 8/12, at our house beginning at 6:30PM.  I fully expect this trip to reach capacity quickly and our hope is to involve a good number of our high school students.  This meeting is important!

There will be a meeting regarding our flag football leagues on Monday night.  Bro. Abel has the details.  (I think evaluations continue this Saturday too)

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

Happy birthday to my mother-in-law, Ann Clark.  We celebrated on Sunday but I hope she will have a great day today.  She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet.  She has been a great mother-in-law to me for the past forty-four years.  I love and appreciate her!  Happy birthday, Ann!

Word came last night that our friend in Michigan, Dean Kapenga, passed from this life.  Pray for Jan and the family as they walk through this valley.  Dean was truly a good man!

Mike Clark wrote that Miss Dottie’s surgery is scheduled to take place this Thursday, 8/8.  Pray for the surgery to be a success.

Many thanks to all of the folks involved in feeding the Francisco family yesterday following the celebration of life service for Jerry Francisco.

Pray for Johnny & Sharlene Sessions as they leave today going to help build another church building.  I think I remember correctly that they are going to Tennessee.  (Rather them than me!  LOL!)

Bro. Abel, his wife, Candy, and Paul Davila ran the flag football evaluations last night.  In our sports ministry, there is much that takes place behind the scenes in order for the leagues to be successful.  Thank you to each person who works behind the scenes!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

We need at least five volunteers to serve in the extended session during our 10:00AM service  for our two & three years old.  We had eight folks sign up for nursery duty following our service this past Sunday evening.  That is great!  Contact Katelyn Johnson if you will help with this ministry.

Speaking of mission trips, there will be an important meeting this Monday night, 8/12, at our house beginning at 6:30PM.  This will be for anyone (finished 9th grade) and up who would like to be a participant on our June 12 – 19, 2025 GRACE Ministries trip.  This trip will hopefully be heavy on the high school students side.  I fully expect this trip to reach capacity quickly.

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

The visitation with the Jerry Francisco family takes place this morning from 10:30AM until the 11:30AM service.  Both will take place in our auditorium.  Pray for Sandra and family.

Lavon Hudson’s family will be meeting with the funeral directors tomorrow.  Keep praying for them.

Our friend, Dean Kapenga, in Michigan is not doing well.  Honestly, the medical folks have now moved to just managing his pain and keeping him comfortable.  Dean is a great guy!  Pray for Jan and family.

Miss Dottie Clark continues to weaken physically.  Prayerfully her surgery will take place very soon.  Pray for Miss Dottie and Dr. Mike.

Larry Whitehurst has been cleared to have a heart cath.  Pray that can happen soon.

Good day in our services yesterday.  The highlight was seeing four young people follow Jesus in believer’s baptism in our evening service.  Praise the Lord!

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

Happy second birthday to our youngest grandchild, Cooper Hayes Burch.  We were blessed to host a party for Cooper yesterday and look forward to celebrating as a family today.  We love Cooper and hope his day will be great!

Marie Brooks sent me a message yesterday letting me know that her brother, Lavon Hudson, passed from this life around 3:00AM yesterday.  Marie is now the last of the Hudson siblings living.  Pray for Lavon’s family.  Arrangements pending.

I posted the obit for Jerry Francisco.  Pray for Sandra and family.

Dean Kapenga is a friend from Michigan.  His wife, Jan, found him unresponsive Friday morning.  He had surgery later Friday and needs a miracle.  Pray for Dean, the medical folks treating him and his family during this time.

Dottie Clark in Guatemala will have surgery on her spine within the next two or three days.  She is unable to walk and needs a miracle.  Dr. Mike and Miss Dottie have asked us to pray.  Please join me in doing so.

Regular schedule on our campus today.

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

Jerry Thomas Francisco, born May 21, 1937, in Sale Creek, TN, passed away on August 1, 2024, at the age of 87. Jerry married Sandra Mulkey Francisco on December 21, 1956, and they were married for 67 years. He worked at Northrup Grommen (Ingalls Shipyard) for 37 years and retired as paint supervisor in 2005. He was a loving husband and friend.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Alice Francisco; his mother and father in-law, Stancil and Nell Mulkey; his sister and her husband, Doris Ann and Chuck Randolph; as well as his wife, Sandra’s, sister in-law, Geraldine Mulkey.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Francisco of Grand Bay, AL; his siblings, George (Cheryl) Franciso of Sale Creek, TN, and Annette Williams of Grand Bay, AL; brother in-law, Larry Mulkey; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and two beloved dogs, Heidi and Abby.

The family extends a special thanks to Alabama Hospice staff, Leila, Angela, Tyler, Crystal, Johnny, Carli, Greta, Austin the Chaplin, and Becky the night sitter for all your support and care. A very special thank you to our pastors from Friendship Baptist Church; the ladies for the food and everyone that has prayed for Jerry.

Pallbearers will include Glenn Mulkey, Randall Mulkey, Stephen Williams, Jon Williams, Tyler Williams and Jon Luke Williams.

Officiating services will be Bro. Teddy Turrentine, Bro. Abel Garcia and Bro. Chris Scofield. Musical arrangements will be handled by Jeanette Bates, Cindy Stanton, and Brad Hutto.

Services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 11:30 am from Friendship Baptist Church, 12581 Saeger Rd. Grand Bay, AL 36541. A visitation will be held from 10:30 am until service time. Interment will follow at Grand Bay Cemetery.