Pastor's Blog

This entry is obviously way late.  Katie Tillman asked me to post a little later today as she and Grant wanted to share some exciting news?  Well, it is now 2:30PM and I have heard nothing from them so I have to proceed.

Today marks my late brother-in-law’s fiftieth-sixth birthday.  Unbelievable that Michael would be fifty-six years old.  I only knew Michael for seven years but what a great seven years!  As always, praying for Charles, Ann, Kim & Lisa.

The auction just gets better and better.  We now have cakes, cow, corn beef hash and a weekend condo rental (Karen Walker) to be auctioned.  Plus, Kayla Hatcher is selling permanent jewelry (not sure what that means) with the total amount paid going directly to GRACE Ministries.  I am told one can buy anklets, bracelets and necklaces.  She will begin this at 3:30PM.  Again, Kayla is not getting even one cent from doing this.  She just wants to be a blessing to this cause!

We will have select cakes that will be in the silent auction only meaning those bids will begin at 3:30PM and end at 5:00PM.  Other cakes will be available in the silent and live auction.  The cow, corn beef hash and condo will only be available in the live auction.

I am still holding out hope that one or two more of our seasoned bakers will submit an entry.  Just think how many hungry children and adults will benefit simply because you baked a cake!

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.  Meal begins at 4:00PM followed by the live auction at 5:00PM.

A very special “thank you” to Jeff Holifield and Ethan Nelson for their time and effort on the sports playing fields this week.  Bro. Abel knows the extent of their help.  It was huge!  Again, thank you Ethan & Jeff.

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

Happy Fourth of July!

Tina Sprinkle told me on Monday that her back surgery has been scheduled for December 18 (yes, December).  She waited like seven months to see this surgeon.  However, they told her that surgery could happen earlier.  Learned last night that her surgery is now scheduled for next Tuesday, July 9.  How about that!  Pray for Tina and this surgery!

Bibbi Bosarge sent me an update on Kathy King’s surgery.  All went well.  Kathy is grateful for the prayers.

Jason Husband got an excellent report from the doctor.  His count has dropped significantly – praise the Lord!  He celebrated with Deacon TJ Vice!

Clinton Stringfellow has given us three watermelons recently.  Absolutely delicious!  Thank you, Clinton!

John Milton Ladnier has been giving us vegetables from his garden for the past couple of months.  Lisa has canned twenty-one quarts of snap beans given to us by John Milton, we have enjoyed tomatoes, cucumbers, et cetera.  Yesterday, John came with four watermelons.  They are equally delicious!  Dub Ladnier was a good gardener but I think John Milton is even better.  John Milton loves it and works hard at it.  Thank you, John Milton.

I am grateful for men like Clinton & John Milton for their generosity and their willingness to give.  Lisa and I are blessed!

Speaking of giving, Stacey & Gayla Dyess will be cooking the pork, chickens, baked beans and potato salad for the cake auction this Sunday, 7/7.  How awesome is that!  I am going to give Stacey a bottle of Big Bob Gibson’s white bar-b-cue sauce to show my appreciation!  What a great couple and what kind hearts!  They may get an assist from the boys!

We are asking the members of the Friendship family who attend the cake auction to bring a dessert – no cakes, please!  Also, Stacey says maybe some coleslaw or some type of salad?

Great news – we have had some more of our seasoned bakers sign up for the auction.  Praise the Lord!  Plus, Deidra has now one hundred percent agreed to bake a cake so now Scott F & Eddie A have raised their bid limit to one hundred and five dollars.  (Rumor has it that the beginning bid for Deidra’s cake will be fifteen hundred dollars.  Is that true?  Time will tell!)  I am still in hopes that a couple more of our seasoned bakers will join this effort!

Hartselle area folks, remember that if you win a bid on a cake then we can have it delivered to you on Monday, 7/8.  Ross Genzink & Tom Compagner, if you guys win a bid on a cake then we will tell you how great it tasted!

Tim or Peggy, please send Deidra the FB info on the place you have talked about.

I pray that you will have a great Fourth of July with Jesus.

Nothing on our church campus today – morning or evening.

I am praying for Pastor Gene Clark and his family today.

Also, praying for Kathy King along with Matt and their daughter.

Praying for Jason Husband to have a receive a good report from his oncologist today.  I will be taking him for this visit.  My in box did not get blown up nor did my phone ring incessantly with folks willing to help house Jason for the next few nights.  Just the facts.  The Lord will work it all out.

Also, the response to my request for more cakes from our “seasoned” ladies received no response.  We are missing some really, really great cakes from the past couple of years.  Obviously, there is still time to respond.  Will you at least pray about it?  (By the way, if you simply cannot afford to purchase the necessary ingredients then Lisa and I will gladly personally purchase them for you – no problem.  Just let us know)

I am ninety-nine percent certain that Deidra has agreed to bake a cake for the auction.  I have asked her to do so.  Eddie Albritton and Scott Fontenot have already agreed to spend up to fifty dollars for any cake she bakes!  Just saying!

On that same note, the wife of one of our deacons will be baking her “first ever” cake for the auction.  That is exciting (and scary!). I hope the wives of our other deacons will follow suit (not the first time to bake a cake) by baking a cake.

One more thing regarding the cake auction – if you live in the Hartselle, AL area and want to bid on a cake online, I have made arrangements to have your cake delivered to you on Monday, 7/8.  How about that!

The church office will be closed today and will not reopen until Monday morning, 7/8, at 9:00AM.  I have told Bro. Abel to take today to be with family.  I will be with Jason but otherwise am available in the event of an emergency.

In closing this entry, folks are asking about our December 2024 GRACE Ministries trip.  We are beyond capacity and have a waiting list for any openings.  I will be glad to add anyone to the waiting list but the prospects are basically slim and none.  Just FYI.

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

I begin this morning by stating that Pastor John Womack did an excellent job of preaching the funeral service for Audrea Whitehurst yesterday.  Anyone who was there left knowing exactly what it takes to enter Heaven.  Thank you, Pastor John.

Speaking of pastors, Pastor Gene Clark’s wife, Sue, passed from this life this past Sunday, 6/30.  The visitation and service will take place tomorrow, 7/3, from the Irvington Fellowship Bible Church.  Visitation with the family will take place from 10:00AM until 11:45AM.  The service will begin at noon.  Pray for Pastor Gene and his family as they walk through this valley.

I “think” Kathy King will be having a surgical procedure tomorrow.  Pray for Kathy!

Jason Husband will see his cancer doctor tomorrow.  Pray that the report will be good.

Speaking of Jason, I will be taking him to his doctor’s visit.  He so wants to remain in Grand Bay until Sunday night.  Presently, we have a house full.  Is there anyone who will take Jason for one night, two nights, three nights or all four nights?  This will begin tomorrow night.  Jason can stay at our house during the day.  Any takers?  If so, please contact either Lisa or me.  The guy loves Friendship Baptist and Grand Bay.

We have a good number of folks baking cakes for the auction this Sunday, 7/7.  I have seen the list and I am very thankful to each person who is baking a cake.  However, I noticed that not nearly as many of our older adults (50+) have signed up to bake a cake.  Folks, those cakes have always sold the best.  So, I am calling on this group to prayerfully consider baking a cake for this worthwhile cause.  Contact Kayla Hatcher, Daphne Hutto or me if you will bake a cake.

Remember, we need folks to buy these cakes, a cow, and some corn beef hash.

Meal begins at 4:00PM and the auction begins promptly at 5:00PM.  We should be totally finished by 6:30PM.  Join us.  Pass the word!

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

Well, I figure a late blog entry is probably better than no blog entry.  Trying to get back in the groove!

This morning there will be a visitation with the Audrea Gale Whitehurst family from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service time at the Cottage Hill Funeral Home.  Audrea is the sister of Kevin, Curtis & Ashley.  She is the niece of Larry & Judy Whitehurst.  Pray for the family today.

Cake auction week!  Big doings!  More to come.

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

First, thank you to each person who has reached out to me regarding my “down time!”  The prayers were much appreciated.  I appreciate Bro. Abel and Bro. Chris stepping up to the plate in my time of need.

Mission of Hope service tonight at 7:00PM.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday.  Let’s all make an effort to be present!

As it stands right now, we have had three folks sign up to bake a cake for the auction on July 7.  That should not take long!  We will have a sign up sheet this Sunday, 6/30.  You can email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

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

Good Wednesday morning.  I pray that you are doing well.  I have been dealing with my red truck.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Regular schedule this Sunday, 6/30, too.  We will focus on our freedom as a nation in the morning service.

Annual cake auction on Sunday, 7/7.  We need folks to bake cakes!  You can email me if you will help.

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

Miss Connie Hardy has been admitted to the hospital.  She is having some issues with blood clots.  As always, she is in good spirits and her daughter, Debbie, is a great caregiver.  Pray for Miss Connie.

Larsyn Kyser, granddaughter of Donnie & Marisa Felps, had surgery yesterday.  Marisa and Bro. Abel sent me an update.  The surgery went well and she will be in the hospital for several days.  Pray for Larsyn.

Larry Whitehurst has been moved to a regular hospital room.  The doctors are somewhat confused as to why his sodium level does not stay where it needs to be.  God has done a good work in Larry’s life and we praise Him.  Keep praying for Larry & Judy.

For the time being, Miss Annie Hayes is living with Lisa.  Lisa is a great friend!  Brad & Daphne have provided great help too.  Pray for Miss Annie.

Cindy Stokes took a fall while working on a house in Guatemala yesterday.  She broke her left wrist.  Her husband, Al, sent her to the doctor while he remained on the build site.  Are you kidding me!  Fortunately, Kayla Hatcher went with her and provided great help and support.  Kayla did the right thing and I appreciate her doing so.  Kayla is not medical but she stayed in touch with Daphne to make sure everything was being done correctly.  Of course, Cindy has multiple medical contacts and knew what to do as well.  Daisy stepped up and helped in a big way.  What about Deidra?  She does not do medical!  Pray for Cindy!

The rains have come in abundance here in Guatemala.  Yes, it has presented some challenges but all is well.  We should completely finish the twenty houses today, Lord willing.

I appreciate all Bro. Abel is doing in my absence.  He is doing well.

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

Judy Whitehurst sent me an update on Larry’s condition.  He has been moved to CCU.  She said he was more himself yesterday. Larry and Judy are very thankful for the prayer support and the love being shown to them.  Keep praying and I will update whenever possible.  Bro. Abel has visited Larry and will continue to do so in my absence.  Jeff Holifield and I got together last night and prayed specifically for Larry.  I am praying for God to raise Larry up!

Keep praying for Kathy King.  I have no update but do know she needs our prayers.

Betty Creech, Johnny & Sharlene Sessions and Shawn Siker are scheduled to travel to Guatemala today arriving just before midnight.  Pray that all goes as planned.

Danville Baptist Church gave over ten thousand dollars through their VBS this week to help support the ministry portion of their July trip to Guatemala.  Folks, that is amazing!  Absolutely amazing!

The Lord blessed the mission team with a sweet time of worship in song and the Word last night.  Pastor Eddie Burdette is our team pastor and the Lord used him to speak to us.  Thank you, Jesus.

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

Larry’s sodium level has increased but the kidney doctor has made the decision to not do a heart cath at this point in time.  Larry will continue to receive sodium but the only way a heart cath will take place is if the heart condition becomes critical.  Keep praying for Larry, Judy and the doctors.