Pastor's Blog

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  It was special to be able to pray for our students, teachers, workers, administrators, et cetera in our evening service.  Today is the first day of the 2025-26 school year for the MCPSS.  Join me in continually praying for these students and staff.

Sonny Bates was admitted to the hospital Friday night.  He is battling pneumonia and has some other physical issues.  Pray for Sonny & Jeanette.  I appreciate Jeanette being present yesterday in both services.

Margie Sheffield, sister of Rita Boutwell, Clinton Stringfellow & Diane Trotti, passed from this life over the weekend.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for the Sheffield family.

Larry Crawley is at home and needs our continued prayer support.

Our Refresh Committee is now set – Jeanette Bates, Rhett Butler, Tyrone Crawley, Chris & Sherry Howell, Tim Knighten, Johnny Sessions, Dana Taylor and Henry Wyse.  Henry will serve as the chairperson of this committee.  Remember, special offering on Sunday, November 9, for this refresh project.  Pray fervently and then give cheerfully and liberally.

I had scheduled a meeting for tonight for folks interested being a participant in our June 2026 GRACE Ministries.  I am postponing that trip by one week.  We will meet next Monday, 8/18, beginning at 6:30PM in our youth building.  Pass the word, please.

Revival services are set for Sunday, February 22, through Wednesday, February 25, 2026.  Pray, expect and believe.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday morning and evening.

Ladies Bible study this Thursday, 8/14, beginning at 10:00AM.  All ladies invited to attend.

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

Happy birthday to my friend, Pastor Jack Bailey.  Pastor Jack is celebrating his seventy-sixth birthday today and he is still pastoring.  I applaud him but it is not my plan to be in his position eleven years from now.  Just saying!  Anyway, happy birthday to a great pastor, Bro. Jack Bailey.

Good news Friday!  Clinton Stringfellow got a good report from the doctor regarding his latest scan as it only showed one spot remaining.  So, after some more recovery from his recent surgery, Clinton will take a couple more treatments.  Amen and praise the Lord!

Carol Lucky was supposed to have a test yesterday and then I am not sure which direction the doctors will go.  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

Four or five of our men are gathering at the Lucky’s place this morning to help Terry with his yard work – eating weeds, trimming hedges, et cetera.  Full report tomorrow.

Shawn Siker will have a MRI tomorrow.  Pray for all to go well.

Sonny & Jeanette Bates have several prayer requests on their plate.  Join me in praying for them.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 8/10.

June 2026 GRACE Ministries mission trip meeting this Monday night, 8/11, in the youth building beginning at 6:30PM.

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

Our Wednesday morning took an attendance hit which I place a large part of the blame on us not having that service last Wednesday, 7/30.  That is on me.  Our evening attendance started off slowly but once all of the Baptists arrived (late) we were pretty good.  Thank you to each person who attended morning or evening.

Clinton Stringfellow should get the results of his scan today.

I plan on seeing Carol Lucky today to find out exactly what her situation is regarding her test schedule.

Shawn Siker will have a MRI Saturday to help determine the cause of his back issues.  Pray they will be able to get  clear picture of what is taking place with his back.

Larry Crawley remains at home battling his malignancy.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 8/10.  We will have special prayer for our students, teachers, administrators, et cetera as a part of our evening service this Sunday.

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

Happy birthday to my mother-in-law, Ann Clark.  How old?  Absolutely.  Ann is a sweetheart and I hope she will have a great day.  I am thankful for my mother-in-law!  Happy birthday, Ann!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  It is good to be back to “normal” whatever that is!

Sonny & Jeanette have their proverbial plates full right now and could use our prayers.

Carol Lucky will have dialysis this morning and then will begin prepping for two tests that will take place tomorrow.  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

Rita or Diane will update on Clinton’s situation in our service this morning.  Keep praying for Clinton.

Larry Crawley is home receiving around the clock care.  Pray for Larry and his family.

God is at work and the forces of hell are not happy!  Church, pray without ceasing.  Pray fervently.

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

I am probably in a minority but I do love rainy days especially one like today.  Just saying!

Clinton Stringfellow will have a scan done today.  Church, pray!

Jeanette’s brother, Jeff, is home from the hospital.  Praise the Lord!

Carol Lucky remains in the hospital.  She has such a love for the Lord, love for His church, love for others, et cetera.  Pray for Carol & Terry.

Someone asked me about the “Bags of GRACE” opportunity yesterday.  No, we will not be receiving any more offerings in our services.  However, you can give online through GRACE Ministries.  Contact me personally if you need that information.  Thank you again to those who have given bags or finances.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

Women’s Bible study on our campus this Thursday, 8/7, beginning at 10:00AM.  Sheila Booker is the facilitator.

Church fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, September 21, beginning at 4:00PM.

Special “refresh” offering on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Revival services the dates of February 22 through February 25, 2026.

Thank you for Henry Wyse (mowing), Rhett Butler (bush hogging) and Jerry Poiroux (carpentry work) for their help in recent days on the back forty and in the CAB.  If I missed anyone, just let me know and I will give them a shout out.

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

Happy third birthday to our youngest grandchild, Cooper.  We have celebrated all weekend and I think he is basically birthday partied out!  LOL!  We love Cooper and hope he has a good day today.  Happy birthday, Cooper.

What an awesome day we had yesterday in our services.  A guest who attended morning service and regularly attends another church said, “the Spirit of the Lord was evident in the service today!”  Amen!  I agree.  It was a blessing to see four folks making public decisions during the invitation.

In our evening service, Bro. Chris gave a good report on our recent youth camp.  Praise God for the three souls added to the Kingdom of God at camp.  It was a bit unusual but folks actually began coming to the altar before the invitation officially began – praise the Lord.  The altar was literally filled with folks praying and allowing God to speak to them.  Special move of the Lord and we praise Him.

We received just over twenty-six hundred dollars in our “Bags of GRACE” offering yesterday.  Is that enough?  God will provide and I trust Him.  Plus, little is much when God is in it!  Thank you to each person who brought bags of GRACE, to those who gave to the offering and to those who are praying.  We are better together!

Our first day of our new Sunday School year went well.  Were there any hiccups?  Sure.  However, those will be overcome and we give God the glory for the victories.  It would be awesome if our adults would go to their proper age group class and if our parents would make sure their own children do likewise.  Just saying!

Carol Lucky is in the hospital.  I will visit her today.  Pray for Carol and Terry.

Larry Crawley is not doing so well physically.  Pray for Larry!

Clinton Stringfellow will have a scan tomorrow.  Pray for good results.

Jeff Camp continues to improve.  Keep praying.

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  Praise God for the rain we received last night and for the rain this morning.  Our God is an awesome God!

Tim Knighten’s brother, Mark, underwent surgery yesterday morning and it all went well.  It did not take as long as projected, et cetera.  Praise the Lord!

Jeanette’s brother, Jeff, is still improving but still has some issues.  Keep praying for Jeff and his family.

We will receive a special offering this Sunday for our “Bags of GRACE” ministry.  I have not done a good job of promoting this ministry opportunity but I am very grateful for those who have participated thus far.  Honestly, we could use an offering of ten thousand dollars to get to where we need to be.  Will you pray?  Will you give?  Thank you!

Lisa finally got home a little after 1:00AM today.  Long day for her.  The Danville folks finally had to rent vans and drive home arriving home around 7:30AM.  Talk about a long day!  However, they are safely home and that is the important thing.

New Sunday School year begins this Sunday, 8/3.  I am looking forward to it.  Pray!

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

Good morning from blog central!  Two things – my week has been messed up because of us having our service on Tuesday night instead of Wednesday morning/night.  Anybody with me?  Second, where did July 2025 go?  Wow!

I am still rejoicing and thankful for the Friendship family’s support of the Tuesday night prayer service.  I even shouted out loud this morning just thanking God for His goodness.  Hallelujah!

This Sunday, 8/3, will see us begin a new Sunday School year.  Our classes will begin at 9:00AM.  We will see new teachers joining our existing teachers, new classes, et cetera.  I am excited!  As I have said previously, I am thankful to Bro. Abel for his leadership in this area.  Great job.  It has been a great thing seeing teachers on our campus working on their rooms where their respective classes will meet to study the Word of God.  Making disciples!

Keep praying!  Keep loving God and others.  Keep serving God by serving others.  Be faithful!

Today is a good day for me as my sweet wife is scheduled to return home from Guatemala.  Lisa is the best wife I have ever had!  Just saying.  Looking forward to seeing Lisa.

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

Happy 68th wedding anniversary to Lisa’s parents, Charles & Ann Clark.  I pray that they will have an awesome day.  They have been nothing but wonderful to me for the past forty-five plus years and I am thankful for them.  Great couple!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to each person who attended the prayer meeting last night but a very special thank you to the members of the Friendship family who attended – you did awesome!  I was (I am) so thankful and proud of you!  Thank you to Brad, Jeanette, Kim and the praise team – great job of leading worship.  Thank you Jesus!  To God be the glory!

Jeanette’s brother, Jeff Camp, woke up and is alert and aware of everything – to God be the glory.  Thank you for praying and please continue to do so.

Remember, no services on our campus tonight.  Pass the word!

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Wednesday with Jesus!

Prayer meeting, prayer meeting, prayer meeting!  Yes, the Friendship family will host a prayer meeting tonight, 7/29, beginning at 6:00PM in our auditorium.  This is designed for folks from all of the SBC churches in the South end of Mobile County.  Songs, Bible readings and prayers.  I am strongly encouraging members of the Friendship family to make attendance at this prayer meeting a priority!  Pass the word!

Please note that our campus will be silent tomorrow, 7/30, with absolutely zero services, classes, et cetera taking place.

Folks, see you tonight at 6:00PM.