Pastor's Blog

If I understand correctly, Carol Lucky will be taken to a Pensacola hospital today in order to have her hip surgically repaired.  Not sure what the exact schedule will be but do ask that you pray for Carol, Terry, the surgeon and the surgical team.

I do not have an update on Dale Ellerman but do know that he continues to need our prayer support.  Thankfully, he has his daughter, Vanessa, there to help him during this time.  Keep praying!

Sonny Bates got a good report from the doctor yesterday – praise the Lord!

Katelyn Johnson’s maternal grandfather, Mr. Hill, will have surgery on one of his shoulders today.  Pray that all goes well.

Missionary Mark Mast arrived in Northern Canada yesterday to teach Bible in school for the next two weeks.  He is scheduled to teach thirty two classes each week and to preach on Sunday evening.  Mark is the energizer bunny on steroids!  Pray for Mark!

My Mama is scheduled to be moved from the nursing home back to assisted living this morning.  Thank you for praying.

Our “Helping Hands” ministry will have a diaper give away this morning.  Pray for this ministry.

I spent much of yesterday and last night remembering Hurricane Frederic.  Wow, what a night 9/12/79!  Will never forget that one!

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

Carol Lucky is being transported to Pensacola later this afternoon where she will have surgery on her hip.  I do not know when that surgery will take place but am assuming maybe tomorrow.  Pray for Carol & Terry.

Dale Ellerman was discharged from the hospital last night but was readmitted today due to excessive pain.  Pray for Dale.

Good day in our services yesterday.  We had another public profession of faith.  Praise the Lord!

Bro. Dylan did an excellent job of preaching the Word in our evening service.

Missionary P.C. “Alex” Alexander will be our guest messenger this Sunday, 9/18, in all three services.

Church fellowship on Sunday, 9/25, from 4:00 – 7:00PM at Presley’s Outing.  Baptism at 4:30PMish.

I pray that you will have a great rest of the day with Jesus.

Carol Lucky’s doctors decided to do dialysis before proceeding with the surgery on her hip.  There has been some thought to sending her to Birmingham for the surgery.  Nothing has been set in stone as far as I know.  Pray for Carol, Terry and the medical folks making these decisions.

Gary Walton’s brother is in the hospital and is not doing well.  It is critical.  Pray for this situation.

Also, Gary will be having a test to try and determine a course of action for his leg and knee.  Pray!

Dale Ellerman is scheduled for surgery in Birmingham tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

Myrtle Bowden definitely continues to need our prayers.  She is fighting hard but needs all of the prayers she can get.

Joey Switzer’s father remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

The celebration of life service for Chris Barrett’s father-in-law will take place tomorrow, 9/9, from Mobile Memorial Funeral Home beginning at 2:00PM.  It will be preceded by an hour of visitation with the family.  Pray for this family.

David & Sandra McElwee’s son-in-law’s mother passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  A service will take place in Mobile.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for this family.

“Camp 20” is in full swing!  You with us?  We have one camper from Texas, a church family from Atmore and a lady from Mobile who have joined us for camp.  The invitation is open for everyone to join us as we honor God by remembering Miss Kittie.

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

Carol Lucky took a fall last night which resulted in a broken hip.  It is the hip that has previously been replaced.  Not sure what the plan of action is as she is now in the hospital.  Pray for Carol & Terry.

Larry & Judy Whitehurst returned home from Florida last night.  The latest MRI revealed that the tumor remains the same size at it was four years ago.  The doctor did not guarantee that it would never grow again but did say this is good news.  Larry & Judy are giving God the glory and are rejoicing in Him!

Dale Ellerman is scheduled to have surgery in Birmingham this Friday.  I do not know the details but do ask that you pray all will go well.  Dale is faithful to attend our services and is an important part of the Friendship family.

Joey Switzer’s father remains in a local hospital.  (This is also Hilda Gunter’s brother)  Not sure of all that is going on but do ask that you pray for Bobby & Shirley.

Tim & Peggy Knighten are back home after being out of town over the weekend.  Not sure what is next for Peggy and her “friends” but I do know Tim now has an appointment at M.D. Anderson in November.

Gary Walton is having issues with a leg/knee.  It has not kept him down as he drove the church bus this past Sunday.  Pray for healing!

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.

Also, continue to pray for Anna Carol Bosarge.

Sharon Jardee continues to need our prayer support as she has been basically sidelined at home for a couple of months.

The visitation and service for Chris Barrett’s father-in-law takes place this Friday afternoon, 9/9.  Pray for the family.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Bro. Jerry will be meeting with our senior adults tomorrow morning at 10:00AM in the preschool building.  All senior adults are invited to attend.

Our ladies ministry is in need of more diaper donations.  Collection point in the foyer of the auditorium.

Missionary P.C. “Alex” Alexander will be our guest in our services on Sunday, 9/18.  Pray for those services.

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/25, from 4:00 – 7:00PM.  We will be observing the ordinance of baptism during that fellowship.  Pray for this to be a great fellowship, food and fun!

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

Good Tuesday morning.  Larry & Judy Whitehurst are in Florida today to have consultations with the doctors, tests, et cetera.  Pray for good results and traveling mercies.

Otherwise, nothing new to report today as all of our prayer requests remain the same.  Keep praying!

We were blessed with a good day this past Sunday with two more professions of faith and one other joining the Friendship family by transfer of letter from a sister Baptist church.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

The church office was closed yesterday so I do not have an update on the financial side of Camp 20.  Miss Edna will get that information to me today.  Remember, we are “camping” through the end of this calendar year.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

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

Joey Switzer called me yesterday to ask that we pray for his father as he was admitted to the hospital Friday night.  Pray for Bobby, Miss Shirley, the family and the doctors.

Aninha Barrett sent me a message yesterday to share that the father-in-law of their son, Chris, passed from this life.  Pray for the family during this difficult time.

Of course, the brother of Judy Dickens passed from this life too.  Keep praying for the family.

Tim Knighten has now been scheduled to be back at M.D. Anderson Hospital in early November for a scan.  Not exactly sure what the schedule will be from that point forward but keep praying for Tim & Peggy.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning.  Camp 20 is our emphasis!  Let’s have a great offering on this first Sunday of camp!

Evening service and children’s choir at 5:00PM today.  Nothing else on our campus this afternoon/evening.

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

Judy Dickens’ brother passed from this life earlier this afternoon.  This was a very unexpected loss.  The family is taking it very hard.  Prayers needed.

Obviously, everything is pending.  I will share the details once things begin to take shape.  Just pray!

Today marks the thirty sixth anniversary of the passing of Lisa’s only brother, Michael.  Michael was eighteen years old and on his way to his first day of college.  I can truthfully say that death stings!

Judy Dickens brother was involved in an accident yesterday morning and was in critical condition in a local hospital last I heard.  The last report I received was that his chance of survival was very low as he suffered burns over much of his body.  Pray!

Peggy Knighten does have the two kidney stones but she also may have other issues so keep praying.

I am praying for an amazing first Sunday of Camp 20.  Sunday’s focus will mainly be on the financial gifts.  I pray that you have had a good first week of praying, reading the Bible and sharing Jesus with others.  Remember, put your financial gifts in an offering envelope and write your name and the amount along with “Camp 20” on the designated side of the envelope.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning, 9/4.  We will only have children’s choir and a worship service at 5:00PM as our evening activities.  Pass the word!

I decided against driving to Hartselle and back today.  Long story.  However, Lord willing, I will go to Tuscaloosa tomorrow for the Bama game.

I do not plan on posting a blog entry tomorrow, Sunday or Monday unless something happens which I pray will not be true.  Hope you will have a nice Labor Day weekend.

Church wide fellowship on Sunday, 9/25, at Presley’s Outing from 4:00 – 7:00PM!  Save the date!

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday!  I drove away from our campus last night audibly thanking God for His blessings on the Friendship family.  God is good!  We give Him the praise!

Peggy Knighten is battling kidney stones.  Tim told me yesterday that she has a stone in each kidney.  I am not sure what the plan of action will be but I do ask that you pray for Peggy.

Myrtle Bowden received a shot on Tuesday and was doing well yesterday.  Keep praying for Myrtle as she continue to battle through this sickness.

Gary Walton is having issues with one of his knees and a leg.  He is in considerable pain but, Gary being Gary, is still going full steam ahead.  Pray for Gary!

Sharon Jardee will be seeing her doctor today.  Pray for Sharon!

Pray for Dale Ellerman as his surgery takes place next Friday, 9/9.

Leslee Harrington asked us to pray for a co-worker who is having major surgery today.

Friendship family, normal schedule on our campus this Sunday morning, 9/4.  We will have children’s choir and our evening worship service at 5:00PM.  Pass the word!

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

Camp 20 remains our emphasis.  The Lord allowed me the opportunity to use some of my twenty minutes sharing about Jesus yesterday along with the prayer time and Bible reading.  How about you?

If you want to give financially to Camp 20 then just place your money or check in an offering envelope and write the amount being given and “Camp 20” on the designated side of the envelope.  Remember, we have thirteen Sundays in September, October and November to give to this emphasis.  The amount given to date stands at $1,250.  Our goal by 11/30/22 is $5,500.  I will keep a running tab of our up to date gifts on this blog at least once per week.

Our women’s ministry has a diaper give away monthly.  They are running short on diapers.  Please consider helping this ministry. You can leave your donations in the auditorium foyer.  Thank you!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  Our college students meet at 7:30PM with Martin & Jennifer Brinkman.  I “think” they are going to be meeting on campus beginning tonight but I am not positive of the location.

This Sunday evening, 9/4, our evening service will begin at 5:00PM as will our children’s choir.  There will be no other evening classes or activities for the day.  Sunday morning will be normal.

Deacon led church will fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, September 25, from 4:00 – 7:00PM.  The church will provide the hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks.  You are asked to bring the sides and desserts.

We will be observing the ordinance of baptism as a part of that fellowship.  More details to come.

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