Pastor's Blog

Happy twenty-seventh birthday to our daughters, Dana & Gina.

Henry Wyse is having knee replacement surgery this morning.  Pray all goes well.

Robert Baria begins his first treatment today.  Keep praying for Robert.

The Taylor & Turrentine families desperately need your prayers.

This is the hardest blog entry I have ever written.  Very unexpectedly to us, our son-in-law, Michael “Soy” Taylor passed from this life and entered Heaven late last night.  I am absolutely heartbroken, crushed, devastated, you name it!  Our daughter and her three daughters are hurting more than me as they have lost their husband, father and friend.  Will you please just pray for us?

Pray for God to give us favor and wisdom as we try to do what has to be done in order to bring Soy’s body home to the States.  It has been an all night process and we will be traveling to Guatemala City in about an hour.

Please do not make statements such as “if” they had done this, gone there, et cetera!  Soy & Deidra did exactly what they felt was best and I supported them one hundred percent.  We not need, or want, the negativity!

We all have an appointment with death.  Nothing can change that.  I do not understand the why but I listened as Deidra told me, “dad I trusted God yesterday, I trust Him today and I will trust Him tomorrow!”

I thank God for allowing Soy to be a vital part of our family!  I love you Soy!

First, an apology for the extreme lateness of this entry.  I did not have internet service since arriving in Guatemala until a couple of hours ago.  I appreciated your understanding and patience.

It is almost 9:00AM in Guatemala.  Soy remains in the hospital (duh!) and Deidra has faithfully remained at his side.  Soy’s condition this morning is stable.  Still serious but on the lower side of that.  The doctors inserted a line directly into his upper body (collar bone area) late yesterday afternoon for his pain medicines and antibiotics.  His blood pressure has been low since the incident but it is now up some seemingly as a result of this move.  His blood count is on the low end of being in the normal range which means he does not need more blood at this point.  He was sick during the night and early morning but is resting now.  His facial color is not good – pale.

Plans are for Deidra to go home this afternoon and I will stay in the hospital with Soy.  I “may” give him a sponge bath!  Just saying!

Thank you for the many, many prayers.  Wow!  Here are the specific prayer requests for today:  pray for Soy to improve and for his pain to be managed.  Pray for Deidra as she navigates all of this.  Pray for the girls, especially Lizzi, as she is struggling emotionally.  She did not rest well last night.  Lisa and I made her go back to bed this morning instead of going to school.  She did not like that but we did not give her a choice.  She is sleeping now.  Sydney decided to stay home and “help” clean house.  Audrey was fully ready to go to school which she did.

Lisa and I kept the girls at their house last night.  I felt it was important for them to get back to “normal” and they, especially the younger two, seemed to embrace that in a big way.  Pray for Lizzi, Sydney and Audrey, please.

We are overwhelmed by the number of folks who have reached out to us since the incident.  Unbelievable.  It is virtually impossible for us to reply/respond to each one.  So, our daughter, Daphne, is our information person.  Her email address is daphnehutto@gmail.com.  Her cell number (for texts) is 251 533 4595.  She will have the very latest updates as she is in touch with Deidra regularly.  She is fine with her contact information being made public on this blog.

Soy has received numerous messages on his phone.  Thank you.  Please know that Soy is in no condition, physically or emotionally, to reply to those messages or to talk on the phone.  Thank you for understanding.

I will say more about the Friendship family, our deacons and our staff in a later entry.  Just know that this pastor is extremely blessed.

Sorry for being selfish with this entry.  Keep praying for the others on our prayer list.  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

The surgery is finished.  Our son-in-law is in stable but serious condition.  He will be kept in the hospital for the next three to four days and then they will check to see what is next.

Spoke to our daughter.  She is shaken but strong.  Refuses to live in fear.  Please keep praying!

Tonight around 10:00PM, we received word that our son-in-law who lives in Guatemala had been shot as the result of an attempted robbery at their home.   He was transported to the hospital and has now been in surgery for three and one half hours.  It is 2:00AM as I write this entry and surgery began at 10:30PM.

Lisa and I have purchased tickets and are leaving Mobile at 6:00AM heading to be with our son-in-law, our daughter and our grandchildren.  The oldest grandchild is very upset having been a witness (hearing) of this incident.  Our daughter is holding up well but her time is coming.

Friendship family and friends, please pray as we believe in the power of prayer.  Someone wrote to me this week and said, “the devil is real.  It is amazing!”  I so agree.

I will update as I have opportunity and as I get more information.

June Strickler
January 20, 1941 — September 21, 2023

June Marie Shofner Strickler, 82, a resident of Grand Bay, Al passed from this life in her home on September 21st, 2023. Mrs. Strickler was dedicated to her family, friends, and church. She was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 40 years along with numerous other ministries within the church. Mrs. Strickler was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Stanley Robert Strickler Jr, her parents, Clifton Shofner and Marie Dees Shofner, and her beloved daughter, Kaye Marie Strickler, and brother, Roy Glenn Shofner. She is survived by her son, Neil Strickler (Cynthia Phan), granddaughter, Madeline (Kasey) Byrd, grandson, Zachary Dunn; brother Cecil (Rebecca) Shofner; sister-in-law, Mary Rousseau Shofner, and nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Graveside service will be held at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery on September 25th, 2023 at 10am. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials may be made to Mission of Hope- P.O. Box 8504, Mobile, Al 36689. The family would like to express a sincere thank you to Clara Broadus for her time and dedication to Mrs. Strickler and family during this most difficult time.

Happy ninth birthday to our granddaughter, Audrey!  I hope that she will have an awesome day!  Soy’s & Deidra’s girls are now eleven, ten and nine!  Again, happy birthday Audrey.  We love you!

There will be a graveside service for Miss June Strickler on Monday, 9/25, beginning at 10:00AM.  A private, family only, visitation will take place beforehand.  The graveside service is open to anyone wishing to attend.  Keep praying for the Strickler family.

Marisa Felps’ cousin, Greta Odom, passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Marisa has been a great caregiver to Greta.  Pray for the family during this time.

Donnie Felps has some blockages in his legs.  He has an appointment with a doctor this afternoon.  It appears surgery will be coming sooner than later.  Pray for Donnie.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.  Experiencing God small groups from 3:30PM until 4:15PM in the CAB.  Church-wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing officially beginning at 4:30PM.  Baptismal service at 5:00PM.

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

In the early hours of this morning, Miss June Strickler departed from this life and entered Heaven.  Obviously, arrangements are pending.  Pray for Neil, Madeline and the family as they walk through this valley.

Gayla Dyess had a surgical procedure done yesterday and should be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray for a quick recovery.

Chuck Rockwell will have a stent placed today.  Pray that all goes well.

Keep praying for the others on our prayer list.

Pastor Mel Hacker’s family has established a Go Fund Me account to help with his medical expenses.  Any, and all, donations are appreciated.  Keep praying for Pastor Mel.

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

Good Wednesday morning.  We will be having a regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I pray many folks will be faithful to attend.  By the way, our GA’s and RA’s now meet in the Preschool Building.  Those classes begin at 6:30PM.

Keep praying for June Strickler, Jeanette Bates, Jerry Francisco, Carol Lucky, Robert Baria, Larry Crawley and the others for whom we have been praying.  God knows each situation.

Church wide fellowship this Sunday, 9/24, at Presley’s Outing.  Folks can go whenever to Presley’s whenever they desire but we will technically begin the fellowship around 4:30PM.  Going to observe the ordinance of baptism around 5:00PM and then eat.  We are asking the members of the Friendship family who attend to bring sides (beans, potato salad, chips and a dessert).  Please bring enough for those attending with you PLUS two others so we can accommodate our guests.

The cost for the fellowship is five dollars per person for those eleven years of age and over.  We will collect this either Sunday morning or at the fellowship.  Simply tell the person at Presley’s that you are with Friendship as you enter.

Our Experiencing God small groups will meet this Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 3:30PM and will end at 4:15PM.  Please note this change.

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

Good morning from the Mobile airport.  I am taking vacation days this week in order to be with our granddaughter, Audrey, for her ninth birthday.  Lisa normally makes this trip but the pleasure is all mine this time.  Saying that to simply say that my blog entries may be non-existent or sparse at best.  Just FYI.

Keep praying for Jeanette Bates, Carol Lucky, Jerry Franciso, Robert Baria, Larry Crawley and others for whom we have been praying.  I will try to update once I receive updates.

What a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise God for two more public professions of faith – one in each service.  Bro. Abel did well preaching last night.  Great spirit in our services.  God is good!

Our EG groups are doing well.  I encourage our participants to stay faithful even if you fall behind a bit.

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing this Sunday, 9/24.  We will officially begin at 4:30PM but you can go earlier if you so desire.  Baptismal service around 5:00PM.  Food around 5:15PM.  More details forthcoming.

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