Pastor's Blog

Happy birthday to our fifth oldest grandchild, Nora Hutto.  We were in Colorado on a skiing trip when Brad & Daphne told us of their expecting child number three.  I am not worried about Nora having a great day as she is pretty adept at making sure that will happen!  She is her Mama’s daughter!  Just saying!  Lisa and I love Nora and hope that her twelfth birthday will be one to remember.  Happy birthday, Nora!  (Very nice of Eddie Albritton to give Nora twelve dollars for each year of her life!)  Happy birthday, Nora!

I posted the obit for Larry Crawley.  I am still struggling with the fact that Larry has passed from this life.  In some ways he was larger than life.  He will be missed by many!  Pray for Larry’s family.

I am thankful that Sonny Bates is home.  Just because he is home does not mean that we should stop praying for him.  Jeanette has done a great job of keeping me posted on his condition.  Please respect their request for no visitors at this time.  Sonny is recovering, healing, et cetera and mainly needs our prayer support.

Please continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow.

Keep praying for Betty Hamil.  She is doing better one step at a time.  By the way, Andy could use someone to mow his yard today.

My Mama took a fall yesterday.  She is ok.  Thankfully, I was able to visit her on Thursday.  Yes, up and back in one day.  (It is nice to be young!)  Just saying!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning.  Baptism at the beginning of our service.  Amanda Steele begins flying solo in SS tomorrow while Tonya Gordon is moving on up!  Good stuff!

No evening service due to the visitation with the Crawley family.  Food for the Crawley family needs to be in our Preschool Building by 10:00AM Monday.

Thank you to those who have contacted me with words of encouragement as we battle the forces of hell.  Jesus has won!  Hallelujah!  To the forces of hell I simply say, “not today!”

Lisa and I finally made the switch!  We are now only drinking decaf coffee!  Actually, we changed cell phone providers.  Why?  Well, it is really nice when you have a signal when using your phone.  We were blessed with a wonderful sales rep thanks to a recommendation from Daphne which came from Kayla.  We are now basically helping pay Rhett Butler’s salary!

My Friday got totally rearranged so that means the totality of my today will be spent in our yard from sun up to sun down minus a birthday breakfast with Nora Ann!

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

Larry Marlin Crawley passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, and countless cherished memories with family and friends. Larry was the beloved father of two daughters: Nicole Crawley Taylor (Chris) and their children Truett and Tag; and Rachael Danielle Sigsbee (Shane) and their children Riley and Shepard. He was a devoted son to his father, Delaney Franklin Crawley, and his late mother, Georgia Phillips Crawley. Larry is also survived by his three siblings: Marilyn, Iris (Joby), and David (Diane).

He was a proud graduate of Mo Co High School (1978) and Perkinston (1980), Larry furthered his education by earning his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Seminary. By trade, he was a Master Plumber, but his true calling was as a Fisher of Men, a Fisher of the Deep Sea, and a Scuba Diver.

Larry dedicated much of his life to serving others through various non-profit and mission organizations. His missionary work included the Campus Crusade for Christ Jesus Film Project, Habitat for Humanity, Here’s Life Africa, and Here’s Life Tanzania, among many other various ministries in the Philippines, Central America, South America, Europe, and many countries throughout Africa. His commitment to spreading hope and making a difference touched countless lives around the world. Larry will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Those who were blessed to know him will forever treasure the many fishing stories and memories that capture his joyful spirit and love for life’s simple pleasures.

Larry Marlin Crawley’s visitation will be held on Sunday, August 17, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Crawley’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, August 18, 10:00 AM. Proceeding his Celebration of Life Service will follow a graveside service to W.R. Clark Memorial Cemetery in Fort’s Lake. All services will take place at Friendship Baptist Church 12581 Saeger Road Grand Bay, AL 36541,

While Sonny Bates is now at home and is very thankful for the prayer support, he and Jeanette are asking for the time being that there be no visits made.  I understand this.  Please respect their wishes.  Thank you for praying, understanding and cooperating.

Sonny Bates was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  That is the good news.  The not as good news is that he will now be on oxygen.  Sonny & Jeanette are disappointed in this news but are very thankful and happy to be home.  Keep praying!

The visitation with the Randy Eyler family take place this morning beginning at 11:00AM at Serenity Funeral Home with a graveside service at noon.  Pray for the Eyler family.

The visitation with the Larry Crawley family will take place this Sunday from 5:00 – 7:00PM in our auditorium.  The celebration of life service will also take place in our auditorium beginning at 10:00AM Monday, 8/18.  Keep praying for the Crawley family.

Thank you to those who ministered to the Margie Stringfellow family by providing a meal following the service.  Likewise, thank you to those who will do the same for the Crawley family Monday.  Good ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning.  No evening service due to the visitation with the Crawley family.

God is at work all around us!  Praise Him!  Satan and his demons are fully aware of this so we must be sober and vigilant.  Thankfully, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

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

Happy birthday to my niece, Jamie Glenn.  I hope she will have a great day of celebration.  We love Jamie!  Happy birthday, Jamie!

The visitation with the Margie Sheffield family takes place today from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM graveside service.  The visitation will take place inside Serenity Funeral Home.  Those helping with the food for the family need to have it in the preschool building no later than 11:00AM today.  Pray for the Sheffield family.

Larry Crawley passed from this life yesterday morning.  The visitation and celebration of life service will both take place in our church auditorium.  The visitation will take place this Sunday, 8/17, from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  The service will take place Monday morning, 8/18, beginning at 10:00AM.  The burial will take place in the W.C. Clark cemetery in Fort’s Lake, MS.  Pray for Larry’s family.

Sonny Bates will hopefully be discharged from the hospital either today or tomorrow.  Keep praying for Sonny & Jeanette.

Shawn Siker got a great report from the doctor regarding his back – no surgery needed!  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning, 8/17.  No evening service due to the visitation with the Crawley family.

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

There will be no ladies Bible study this Thursday morning, 8/14.  Plans call for it to resume the following Thursday, 8/21.  Please pass the word.

The visitation with the Margie Stringfellow family will take place this Thursday, 8/14, beginning at 10:00AM at Serenity Funeral Home.  There will be a graveside service beginning at 11:00AM from Serenity Memorial Gardens.  Margie is the sister of Rita Boutwell, Clinton Stringfellow and Diane Trotti.  Pray for the family.

Sonny Bates remains in the hospital.  They drew fluid from one of his lungs yesterday morning and he is feeling some better.  Not sure what the plans are for getting him discharged.  Keep praying for Sonny & Jeanette.

Larry Crawley and his family certainly need our continued prayer support.  Larry appears to be very low physically.  The seem to be managing his pain well but it is not a good situation.  Pray for Larry!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

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

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.