Pastor's Blog

Larry Brown, Elaine’s husband, passed from this life last night.  Pray for Elaine and the family as they walk through this valley.

Pastor Alfredo Garcia’s father passed away yesterday.  He lived in Cuba and Pastor Alfredo will he traveling there for the service.  Pray for the Garcia family.

Keep praying for Bobby & Laurie Chandler and their family.

The visitation and service for Georgia Crawley will take place this Wednesday, 11/15.  Visitation with the family from 10:00AM until the noon service time.  Pray for Delaney and family.

Good day in our services yesterday with two professions of faith in our morning service.  Praise the Lord!

The retirement reception for Bro. Jerry Hovel went well.  Thank you to each person who helped and to all who attended.  Bro. Jerry will be with us for the evening service on December 10.  Otherwise his time on staff here has ended.  Thank you Bro. Jerry for twenty-one plus years of service.  Pray for Bro. Jerry & Miss Tena in this new chapter of their life.

The evening service saw the Friendship family extend a call to Pastor Alfredo Garcia to come alongside our Spanish ministry beginning in January serving as the pastor of that ministry.

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

Miss Georgia Crawley passed from this life yesterday morning. Serenity Funeral Home is handling the arrangements which have not been completed at this time.  Pray for Delaney and the family.

Please continue to pray for Bobby Chandler as he remains in a hospice facility.  Pray for Laurie and the family too.

Our friend in Michigan, Kristie Potts, remains hospitalized.  She continues to lose weight which is not a good thing.  Pray for Kristie, John and their family.

Retirement reception in our Christian Activities Building for Bro. Jerry Hovel this afternoon from 2:00 – 3:30PM.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Experiencing God small groups beginning at 4:00PM today.

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

Happy twelfth birthday to our granddaughter, Lizzi.  We love Lizzi and are praying that she will have a great day.  Happy birthday, Lizzi!

Happy Veterans Day!  A huge “thank you” to those who have served our country!  To quote President Truman – “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.” 

Adrian Bates is getting married today!  Congratulations!  Pray for the ceremony to be a special spiritual time!

We will host a retirement ceremony for Bro. Jerry Hovel tomorrow afternoon from 2:00 – 3:30PM in our Christian Activities Building.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend.  A basket will be available for cards, gift cards, money.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Join us!

Larry Brown, Bobby Chandler and Kristie Potts remain at the top of my prayer list.  Kayla tells me that Hannah is doing very well in her recovery.  Pray for these folks!

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

Bobby Chandler remains in the hospice facility.  Pray for Bobby, Laurie and the family.

Larry Brown remains in an intensive care unit.  Keep praying for Larry, Elaine and family.

Hannah Hatcher continues to recover at home from her surgery.  Keep praying.

I heard from Roseanne Baria this week and Robert is still hanging in there.  He gets knocked down but, in typical Robert fashion, he gets back up!  Pray for Robert & Roseanne.

Our friend, Kristie Potts, is in the hospital and is obviously having some difficulties.  Pray for Kristie, John and the family.

Remember, there will be a retirement reception for Bro. Jerry Hovel this Sunday afternoon, 11/12, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the Christian Activities Building.  Gifts are accepted and appreciated.  Contact Clara Broadus if you want to help with this reception.

The Thanksgiving meal for the senior adults within the Friendship family will take place this Thursday, November 16, in the CAB from 10:00AM until noon.  Contact Sherry Howell if you want to help with this ministry opportunity.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 11/12.  Going to be a great day so join us!

Our blog readership has seemingly hit an all time high as it now stands at eighteen!  Can you believe it?

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

Elaine Brown’s husband, Larry, was taken to the hospital via an ambulance early, early Monday morning.  He was placed in an intensive care unit and remains there this afternoon.  He has been battling a malignancy, has heart issues, and has suffered a stroke.  They are doing more tests to determine the extent of the damage and to make a treatment plan.  Pray for Larry, Elaine and their family.

MAJOR CHANGE – the Thanksgiving meal set for Thursday, 11/16, (one week from today) WILL take place.  Sherry Howell is coordinating this meal and she needs some help.  Younger folks are needed to do either a sweet potato casserole, a dessert or bake and carve a turkey.  If you will help, please contact Sherry or you can call her mother, Clara Broadus.  Again, this is for next Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Why the change?  Yes!  LOL!  (Remember, I had a seizure!)

Bobby Chandler has been moved to an in house hospice facility.  I shared in yesterday morning’s service that Laurie was requesting no visitors for the time being.  She needed time to process things.  Now, Laurie is up to having visitors.  However, her greatest request is for prayer warriors.  So, please join me in praying for Bobby, Laurie and family.

Hannah Hatcher did well through her surgery yesterday.  The doctor said Hannah is going to be uncomfortable for the next three weeks.  Pray for Hannah as she recovers.

Our children will be taking part in a retreat on the island this Friday and Saturday.  Pray for this ministry opportunity.

There will be a retirement reception in the CAB for Bro. Jerry Hovel this Sunday, 11/12, from 2:00 – 3:30PM.  A basket will be available for cards, gift cards, money, et cetera.  If you would like to help with this reception, contact Clara Broadus.

We will consider adding to our Hispanic ministry as Jeff Holifield will present an proposal during this Sunday evening’s service.  Make this a matter of prayer.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Hannah Hatcher will be having a surgical procedure this morning.  She is a little nervous waiting which is to be expected.  Pray for Hannah and for Ryan & Kayla as they wait with their daughter.

I basically “fired” my source regarding Willie Sprinkle and moved to another one.  Willie has been discharged from the hospital but will be limited in what he can do for the foreseeable future.  The doctors do not want him to be exposed to any infections.  Keep praying for Willie.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and tonight (6:30PM).

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

This entry is late and, for that, I apologize.  I could offer excuses but I choose not to do so.  Better late than later!

Hannah Hatcher will have an outpatient surgical procedure in the morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Thank you to those who helped minister to the Linda Green family yesterday.  I appreciate Clara & Rita leading that ministry.

I am not sure if Willie Sprinkle was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  (My source is slacking!)  Regardless, pray for Willie.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

I am not trying to rub the proverbial salt into a wound but I cannot believe that the University of Mobile beat South last night in basketball.  Wow!

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

The most important thing on today’s agenda for me is the visitation with the Linda Green family and the celebration of life service for Linda.  Let me say this, “Linda has already preached her funeral and she did an excellent job!”  Both the visitation and service will take place at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore with the visitation taking place from 1:00PM until the beginning of the service at 3:00PM.  Keep praying for the Linda Green family.

If you are helping with the food for the Linda Green family, please have it in our Preschool Building no later that 3:00PM today.  Contact Clara or Rita if you have questions or need more information.

Willie Sprinkle remains in the hospital but is chomping at the bit to get discharged.  Pray for Willie!

Hannah Hatcher will have surgery this Wednesday.  Pray for all to go well.

As you probably already know, Bro. Jerry Hovel submitted his resignation yesterday as he is retiring.  Congratulations to him and Miss Tena.  Details as to what will be taking place to recognize them are forthcoming.  I am always thrilled when any person gets to the point where they can retire.  Good for Bro. Jerry!

Yesterday was a marathon day for me.  Preach in the morning, drive to Birmingham with Deidra to share in an evening service, go to a meeting in Decatur, Alabama and then arrive home at 4:00AM today.  That is after getting home at 3:00AM Sunday morning.  Folks, it is good to be young!  LOL!

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

Linda Kay Green, 80, returned to her heavenly home on November 3rd, 2023, only a week from her 81st birthday. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her recent struggle and ultimately gave her peace. She was an amazing mother even into her last breath.

Linda was born to the late Myrtis Holmes and Burnest Scott in Pedal, MS. She was immersed in the Christian community that would be her lifelong support from an early age. She worked faithfully with the children in church for decades, teaching generations about Jesus. As well as teaching the adult Sunday class.

Linda was blessed with a large and loving family. She is preceded in death by the love her life, David Green. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, Jake Lewis Albritton, Kenneth James Scott, Clay Scott, her sister, Rosie Nell Scott and granddaughter Victoria Collier.

She is survived by her sisters, Shirley Watts and Sandra Langley, and her brothers, Burrell, Terry, and Glenn Scott. Linda is also survived by her children, Tessie Rivers, Tina Wilkerson (Raymond), Tony Rivers, Tia Heath (Robby), Ty Rivers (Inga), and Tori Rivers. She is loved and missed by her bonus daughters, Dana Wilson (Dan) and Leah Green (Montie). She will be greatly missed by a multitude of grandchildren, Matrisza, Dawn, Savannah, Autumn, Blake, Summer, Bryan, Hannah, Robb, Cortney, Rhea, Harley, Amber, Randon, Jace, Olivia, Diego, Seth, Gabrielle, Mark Alex, Elijah, Kennedy, Claire, Jessie, Ivy, and Jacob. Plus, many great grandchildren.

Linda Green will be escorted from this life by her grandsons serving as pallbearers; Blake Stallworth, Bryan Brinkman, Jace Wilkinson, Diego Rivers. Elijah Butler, Kennedy Butler, and Colt Arceneaux

Mrs. Linda will be buried at Serenity Gardens on Monday, November 6th, 2023. Visitation is from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Service begins in the Chapel at 3:00 pm, with graveside service to follow.