Pastor's Blog

The Lord blessed and the second day of VBS went well.  Our average attendance for the first two days has been 314 with an enrollment of 344.  I didn’t view all of the pictures from Monday and this morning I am not sure if there are additional ones from yesterday or not but I do encourage you to view those pictures.  I really appreciate Chris & Nicole taking the time and effort to get the pictures on the website.  By the way, I also appreciate Bro. Benny keeping us fueled up – that is a blessing!

Jean Hatcher had surgery yesterday morning.  Her granddaughter, Lindsey, was so very kind to let me know about this – after the surgery was done!  I understand she is in ICU.  I will check on her today. 

Carla Kyser had another treatment yesterday, will take next week off, and then will receive three more treatments before having some more scans done.  David Boutwell remains hospitalized.  Casey & Kylie Lavender should go home today and I am hearing the Estuardo Morales is also going home today. 

It became very obvious to me last night that the members of our Finance Committee are not blog readers!  Nor do they read the newsletter, the news & notes on Sundays, or listen to any verbal announcements!  Several of them missed their meeting last night and I have yet to decide on their form of punishment.  Of course, Sammy Bowden had a good excuse – Myrtle told him he was going to do something else!  I would write that they have another meeting tomorrow night, 6/5, at 7:00PM but since they don’t read this blog it would be useless! 

The visitation with the Paul Smith family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Again, I am hopeful that a large number of the Friendship family will attend this visitation.  The service is tomorrow at 2:00PM from the church auditorium with the burial taking place in Wilmer. 

The arrangements for Dewayne’s aunt, Paulette Tillman, are set for a Thursday night visitation from 5:00 – 8:00PM and a 10:00AM service on Friday.  Everything will take place from the St. Michael’s Community Center which is just before Alabama Port. 

We need your help – quickly!  Our 6/27 GRACE team will be hosting a fish fry/yard sale on Friday, 6/13.  We need yard sale items.  Please contact Melissa Brown or Teresa Ladnier to make donations of good items.  Also, please buy a ticket for the fish fry.  It will all take place from the old Hardware House location and I appreciate Charles Clark allowing us to use that building. 

Today is a normal Wednesday with the exception of no morning service.  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family in their respective places tonight. 

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

VBS got off to a nice start yesterday with over 300 in attendance.  I drove a bus to and from VBS but was making hospital visits during the actual school so I can’t give a first hand report on how everything went.  However, my sources say it went well.  Keep praying for VBS.

You have read the arrangements for Paul Smith.  Please note that we will be providing food for the Smith family but not the traditional meal.  Miss Vinnie is taking care of this and we are fulfilling the Smith family’s request.  Thank you to all who were willing to cook but it isn’t necessary this time. 

David Boutwell remains hospitalized.  Of course, Casey Lavender does too as she gave birth to Kalie yesterday afternoon.  Burney Barnes went home.  Carla Kyser is continuing her treatments.  Tom Russell is having a tough time at home in his battle with cancer.  Estuardo Morales remains hospitalized in Antigua. 

Today is a voting day in Mobile County and it features something new for us as our church will be used as a polling place for the first time.  Voters will be directed to the west house due to the VBS classes in the other buildings. 

Chris Taylor continues to impress me as he updates our website, the blogs, et cetera.  I hope you are enjoying the changes.  Again, check out the photos from yesterday’s VBS. 

I need to remind our Finance Committee members of their meeting tonight, 6/3, at 7:00PM.  The meeting will take place in the pastor’s office. 

Happy birthday wishes go to Holly Bunnell today!  Holly is a young lady from Michigan who has gone with us to Guatemala four or five times.  She is a sweetheart! 

Also, today is the wedding anniversary date for Bro. Robbie & Miss Peggy Howard.  I am not sure how many years this would have marked for them but it does remind me of how much Miss Peggy is missed by so many.   

A guy in Wisconsin found an old tin container buried on his farm.  Inside it contained depression era cash which was in pretty tough shape.  It is estimated to be worth about $1,700 and the treasury department will replace the bills for him.  That story made me think of Andy & Betty’s friend, Pat Patterson, in Georgia with all of his tin cans filled with money buried in his back yard!  Pat, those bills will deteriorate in time!

I hope you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Pray for our VBS! 

Kylie Elizabeth Lavender entered this world today checking in at 7 lbs 4 oz and measuring 21 inches long.  Proud parents are Eli & Casey Lavender and proud big sister is Kameron.  Even prouder grandparents are Tim & Vic Burnett.  Mother and new daughter are doing fine! 

The visitation for the Paul Smith family will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 5:00 – 8:00PM from the Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore. 

The funeral service will take place on Thursday, June 5, at 2:00PM from the auditorium at Friendship Baptist Church.  Burial will take place in Wilmer, AL. 

The Lord blessed and we had another good day in Bible study and worship.  I am thankful to each person who attended our services, Sunday School, and Discipleship Training. 

The weekend was filled with sad news as we learned of the passing of the two young men from Pathway Ministries, the passing of Scott Fontenot’s friend, Brad Cooper, the passingof Dewayne Lavelle’s aunt, Paulette Tillman, and the passing of our friend, Paul Smith.  Pray for each of these families as they go through this difficult time. 

I have challenged the members of the Friendship family to come out in full force for Paul’s visitation and/or service.  Those arrangements will be made today and posted here as soon as we know them.  Thank you in advance for responding! 

Casey Lavender was admitted to the hospital today and will have induced labor in order to give birth to their second child.  Pray for Casey, Eli, and the entire family as they receive this new blessing into their lives. 

Continue to pray for Burney Barnes, Carla Kyser, David Boutwell, Tom Russell, Estuardo Morales and our summer missionary.  I will have updates by tomorrow’s posting.

Michael & Deidra arrived “home” safely last night.  They will be living in a house just a short distance away from the church building.  A simple “thank you” doesn’t seem sufficient to those young adults who helped us move their belongings from storage last Wednesday night and late last night.  The number is much too great to list them all but please know that Lisa and I are grateful!  It is good to have Deidra home and we are glad that God has brought Michael into her life too! 

The updated website is a work in progress but Chris Taylor deserves applause for the work he has done thus far.  Stayed tuned for more improvements!  Check out the VBS picture gallery as the week progresses. 

Our VBS begins this morning at 9:00AM.  Pray! It promises to be an awesome week!

The Faith Baptist team left the mission house on Saturday morning and the First Baptist Lacombe team arrived very shortly thereafter.  The weather is pretty rainy right now so pray that this team can accomplish what they went to do.   

Birthday wishes go to Max Peacock, Adrian Skipper, and Bro. Johnny Tucker today.  I wish each of these men a happy birthday!

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  I’m off to drive a VBS bus! 

Word just came to me from Jason & Judy Creal that Paul Smith passed away this morning from an apparent heart attack.  He was in the hospital at the time of his passing.

Sherry Lavelle just called to say that Dewayne’s aunt, Paulette Tillman, just passed away very unexpectedly.   She was 45 years of age and the exact cause of death is yet to be determined but a heart attack is suspected. 

Also, Scott Fontenot had a good friend, Bradley Cooper, to pass away early yesterday.  He was 44 years of age and had a brain aneurysm so his death was very unexpected too.  His service will be Tuesday afternoon. 

Pray for these families!

Rickey & Carolyn Barkley are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary today, June 1.  Happy anniversary to Rickey & Carolyn!