Pastor's Blog

Jerry Francisco will basically have two surgical procedures today.  Pray that all goes well and, if so, he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  Pray for Jerry & Sandra.

Jeanette Bates now has a new knee.  She will be recovering at home and says she will be in our services next Sunday, 9/24.  Time will tell.  Pray for Jeanette & Sonny.

Carol Lucky’s surgery was deemed successful and she should be discharged from the hospital today.  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

Miss June Strickler is at home and is not doing well.  Pray for June, Neil & Madelyn.  June is a precious saint of God.

I failed to give an update on Bubba, Coley’s & Katelyn’s son.  Basically, they are experimenting with his medications to try and eliminate the number of seizures he is having.  Pray for Bubba, Coley & Katelyn.

We will receive a love offering for Bro. Dylan Westbrook this Sunday, 9/17, in both of our services.  August marked the one year anniversary of Bro. Dylan serving full time with the Friendship family.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

Our Fall soccer season begins in the morning.  Pray for Bro. Abel and all those involved.  Pray for ministry opportunities.

The EG video will begin playing at 3:30PM this Sunday, 9/17, in the CAB.  Large group meeting begins at 3:55.  Small groups begin at 4:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.  Our evening service begins at 5:00PM.

We will have Sunday School beginning at 9:00AM followed by our morning worship service at 10:00AM.

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 4:30PM.  A baptismal service will be included.

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

Surgery is the word for the day.  Jeanette Bates starts things off early this morning with her knee replacement.  Pray that all goes well and that she will recover quickly.

William Sessions will have a surgical procedure sometime around noon.  Likewise, pray it goes well.

Carol Lucky will have shoulder surgery beginning around 1:00PM.  Pray that this will bring her some relief from the pain she has been experiencing.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  We thank God!

Our senior adults will gather for a breakfast fellowship this morning beginning at 8:00AM.  All senior adults invited to attend.

Our Fall soccer leagues begin play this Saturday, 9/16.  Pray for great ministry opportunities.

Thank God for the rains we have gotten recently.  How refreshing.  I love the rain.  There is a seventy percent chance we will get some rain this afternoon.  God is good!

By the way, regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 9/17.  Come join us!

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

More good news.  This came to me from Larry Whitehurst yesterday afternoon – We are praising God for a good report. The tumor has not grown and there is a spot in the core that could possibly be dying.  How great is that!  Pray for Larry & Judy as they travel home today.

Robert Baria will see his oncologist next week to set a plan for treatments.  Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne.

Carol Lucky is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

Jeanette Bates batting leadoff in the four folks from the Friendship family who are having their knees replaced.  She will have her procedure done tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well and that she will recover quickly.

Keep praying for Emilee Burdette.  Pray that her body will continue to not reject this donated kidney.  Pray for the donor, Brooke, too.

Still rejoicing over Tim Knighten’s great report from his doctors.  God is good!

I have a dear pastor friend who is in a tough spot right now.  I only learned of this last night and it caused me some sleep loss during the night.  Will you join me in praying for him?  God knows.

Pray for our Fall soccer season that begins this Saturday, 9/16.  I am excited about the ministry opportunities.

Pray for our Experiencing God Bible study.  I am hearing such good things from this and how God is working in lives.  Praise Him!

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 4:30PM.  Baptism at 5:00PM.  The meal will be served beginning at 5:15PMish.  Everyone is invited to attend this fellowship.

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

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

It is about time!  I know, I know.  In my defense, we do not have internet service in our house due to the road workers apparently cutting the line – again!  I will be glad when the work is done on the Potter Tract 500!

Just got this from Peggy Knighten regarding Tim’s visit:  Just walked out of appt. Waiting on shuttle. Everything looked great!! Scans clear, no sign of weakened immune system or anything. PRAISE THE LORD!!!  How about that!  Tim & Peggy will be driving home this afternoon so pray for traveling mercies.

Larry Whitehurst is seeing the doctors at the Mayo Clinic today.  Pray for another great report.  He and Judy will travel home tomorrow.

Coley & Katelyn’s son, Bubba, has been having frequent seizures.  Here is what she sent to Lisa on Sunday:  Will you please let Bro. Teddie know that Bubba has an appointment with his neurologist on Wednesday to figure out the cause of why he’s having so many seizures. He had 7 during the night, whenever we got home from church he ate lunch then immediately fell asleep. He’s exhausted. I want the whole church to know & to pray for him.  Join Lisa and me in praying!

Pastor Eddie Burdette from Anderson, SC has a daughter-in-law, Emilee who desperately needed a kidney.  Pastor Eddie’s daughter, Brooke, turned out to be a perfect match.  So, this morning the transplant has taken place and both ladies are doing great!  Praise the Lord!

Our first night of Experiencing God went great!  There was a buzz in the air!  Exciting!  We are making one change to the Sunday schedule beginning this Sunday, 9/17.  The video will be played in the CAB beginning at 3:30PM for those who have not gotten to watch it previously or those who just want to watch it again.   Entire group meeting for prayer at 3:55PM.  Small groups will then meet from 4:00PM until 4:50PM.  Please note this change.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday afternoon with Jesus!

This entry is obviously very late.  My apologies.

Let me begin by saying how blessed the Friendship family was this past Sunday in our two services.  Really good attendance in the morning service.  An excellent spirit was present.  God moved.  O praise Him!

What can I say about our evening service on a major holiday weekend?  Hallelujah!  Glory!  The attendance was amazing!  We have one hundred twenty-one adults participating in Experiencing God and all be nine of them were present.  Of those nine missing, six were accounted for.  Not a bad percentage!  Bro. Abel did a nice job of sharing the introductory session.  All of us should now be on day two of the study and we will gather this Sunday, 9/10, at 4:00PM in the CAB for our small group time.

A special thank you to Eddie A, Blake, Blaine & Natalie, Gina and Kayla for handling the refreshments.  They did an excellent job! I appreciate Bro. Abel, Eric & Paul setting the tables and chairs up following the morning service.  I was in charge of the decorations – table center pieces, table cloths, et cetera and I feel that I did well!  Just saying!

The next two Sundays will see us receive staff anniversary love offerings.  This Sunday, 9/10, we will receive a fourth year anniversary offering for Bro. Abel Garcia.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

On Sunday, 9/17, we will receive a first year anniversary offering for Bro. Dylan Westbrook.  Again, pray and give as the Lord leads.

Then, on Sunday, October 1, we will receive another “bus barn” offering.  We did not do well on our initial offering so we are going to do it again.  Please pray and then come prepared to give graciously so we can get this barn built in a timely fashion.

If everything goes as planned, these will be the final three special offerings for 2023.  Just FYI.

There have been two deaths in our community in recent days.  Peggy Benefield passed from this life last Friday, 9/1.  A visitation with the family will take place tomorrow, 9/6, from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Everything will take place at First Baptist Grand Bay.  Pray for the Benefield family.

Kendall Falana’s mother, Carolyn Falana, passed from this life last Thursday, 8/31.  A visitation with the family will take place this Thursday, 9/7, from noon until the 2:00PM service.  Everything will take place at Serenity Funeral Home.  Pray for the Falana family.

I ask you to join me in praying for Pastor Mel Hacker.  Tough days!

Our student ministry will be serving a meal after tomorrow’s morning service and then before tomorrow’s evening service.  Large plates are eight dollars each while small plates are six dollars each.  Spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert & drink.  Support our students by purchasing a meal(s).

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

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Leslee H was able to show off her mathematic skills in our evening service.  Just saying!

Robert Baria continues to try and build his strength by eating when he can and by receiving nourishment through a feeding tube.  Keep praying for Robert!

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday, 9/3:  Sunday School at 9:00AM; worship at 10:00AM; EG launch at 5:00PM (CAB) and children’s choir at 5:00PM in the choir room.

I am liking the expected highs for Friday through Monday as they are all in the eighties – hooray!  Still looking for night time lows in the sixties.  Praying for snow!

Lisa and I will be out of pocket for the next two days so there will be no blog entry until probably Tuesday, 9/5.  Just FYI.

I do want to mention that Saturday will mark the thirty-seventh anniversary of Lisa’s brother’s passing.  Seems like yesterday on one hand and like hundreds of years ago on the other.  Michael is definitely missed by his family!

College football begins for real tonight.  Go Gators!  (That is for Rick Bradley!)

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

We are blessed in the fact that we have no “new” prayer requests.  I ask that you continue to pray for Robert Baria, Larry Crawley, Jennifer Kirschenman and the others who have been on our recent prayer lists.

Praying for those who are in the path of the hurricane this morning.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Tomorrow is the final day to sign up for the June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip.  You must email me personally in order to sign up.

Yes, we are aware that this is Labor Day weekend and, yes, we are having our Experiencing God launch this Sunday, 9/3, at 5:00PM in the Christian Activities Building.  The calendar dictates that we begin this Sunday and we are good with that fact.  I simply ask that those who are in town be present for our morning Sunday School (9:00AM), morning worship (10:00AM) and then the 5:00PM EG launch.  Our children’s choir will meet at 5:00PM this Sunday too.

Are you aware that Twitter has changed their name to X?  I am so tired of reading what someone posted on X followed by the statement, “formerly Twitter!”  This change did not happen yesterday!

If the weather forecasters are correct, we get two days (Friday & Saturday) with daytime high temperatures below ninety degrees – hooray!  Still no nights with lows in the sixties.  However, we also have a fair chance of rain Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  Two things I like – colder weather and rain.  I am fully aware that God knows what He is doing when it comes to the weather and I trust Him completely.  I am not a weather whiner!

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

Sorry for no entry yesterday.  I could make up some excuses or I could be honest and blame the real reason but I am going to take the high road!

Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne Baria.  What a joy to see Roseanne in our service this past Sunday morning.  If my memory serves me correctly, they both will see a doctor today.  Pray!

Special thanks to Charlotte Moulds for taking Jason H to the doctor yesterday.  She and Carl Ray hosted him for five days and I much appreciate their kindnesses to him.

Jennifer Kirschenman is scheduled to have another eye surgery this week.  Pray that all goes well.

We did receive the promised pledge for the bus barn as a part of the special offering this past Sunday.  However, we only received around two thousand dollars above that gift.  Translated?  The finances are not sufficient to have the barn built at this time.  Praying as to the next step.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services Sunday.  Bro. Dylan did a very nice job of preaching Sunday night.  Good content!

The start of our Experiencing God begins this Sunday, 9/3, at 5:00PM in the CAB with our launch night led by Bro. Abel.  I am asking everyone in town to be present for this special service.  Classes begin Sunday, 9/10.

Only a couple of days remain to sign up for our June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip.  The deadline is August 31, 2023.  Email me personally to sign up.

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

Mission of Hope service tonight beginning at 7:00PM at the mission.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 8/27.

A special offering will be received for the bus barn in both of our services.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

June ’24 mission trip sign up continues through 8/31/23.

Keep praying for the folks battling sicknesses, recovering from surgery, et cetera.

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

Not really anything “new” to report this morning.  I simply ask that we all continue to pray for those who have been on our recent prayer list.  Keep Robert Baria at the top as he sees a doctor today.

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

Special offering this Sunday, 8/27, for our bus barn.  Pray and give!  By the way, you can give online to this offering.  Make sure it gets marked as “bus barn” offering.  Questions about giving online?  Contact Bro. Dylan or Brandon Baker.

Sign up for the June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip ends on August 31, 2023.  Sign up by sending me a personal email.

If you are a participant on the November 28 – December 5, 2023 mission trip then you should have gotten an email earlier this week.  Please read and respond.

Our annual church fellowship at Presley’s Outing will take place Sunday, September 24, 2023.  Save the date!

I continue to have concern for those folks working outside in these extreme temperatures.  I am praying for them.  Folks, drink plenty of water and be safe!

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