Pastor's Blog

Wow, what a blessed Easter weekend!  God is so faithful!  The best news of the weekend is that two ladies prayed to accept Jesus as their personal Savior during the 9:00AM invitation.  Hallelujah!

The Saturday classes were great – I had the opportunity to visit seven of them in action.  Children’s church was great too.  The bus workers did a very nice job as well.  The choir did well in presenting the Gospel through song on Saturday night.

Sunday morning’s services were a blessing as we had a very strong attendance.  How many?  Do not know at this point.  We will be taking the yellow cards and attendance sheets from Saturday to come up with as close to an exact number as we can.  Junior Bosarge did his usual great job of counting yesterday but I have not gotten with him yet.  The 9:00AM service was our best attended but the other two services did not lag far behind.

Randall Broome & Jennifer Kelley did great on the special music in all three services.  The praise band gets an “A” for a job well done too.  (I have been very encouraged by your response to them)  Our instrumentalists went “above and beyond” in their service and I appreciate it!  Our deacons and the other ushers/greeters were superb in their service.  To God be the glory!

Vance Holifield (Wes & Traci’s son) is in the hospital.  I visited Vance last night.  Sarah Morgan was taken to the hospital but was released.  I will get an update from Christie today.  Pray for these folks.

Xavier Blackwell, Larry & Trish’s grandson, will have another heart surgery in Birmingham on 4/18.

Bro. Jerry is on vacation this week so please respect his privacy.

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

I did not post yesterday out of respect for Good Friday.  It is just one of those days where I feel a post from me is not appropriate.

Jaden Brooks is an infant who attends our church with his family.  He was put to sleep Thursday for a minor procedure and then they had a hard time awaking him.  He came home from the hospital yesterday and all is well.

I learned that Sandy Hodges sister is in an ICU with cancer in several places within her body.  Pray for her.

Today is a busy one for the Friendship family.  It begins at 9:15AM with Sunday School for all children through the fifth grade.  Preschool church and children’s church will begin at 10:15AM and end at 11:15AM.  Then an egg hunt will take place.

Tonight at 6:00PM our adult choir will be sharing their Easter musical.  I pray that many members of the Friendship family will support this ministry.

Tomorrow we are set for three morning services (7:30, 9:00, & 10:30AM) and then our Spanish service at 2:00PM.  I pray that you will join us for at least one of those services.

I did something this past Thursday night that I basically never do – I went to a movie.  Lisa, Dana, Gina & I went to see “October Baby”.  Folks, I am not a movie critic (obviously) but, if you are pro-life, then, in my opinion, this is a movie you must see!  When the movie ends, do not leave but stay for the credits.  Why?  Trust me!

Our cleaning/repair team in Guatemala has grown to eight.  It happened really fast.  I am grateful.

God has blessed us with beautiful weather today and the forecast calls for more of the same tomorrow.  I pray that we will be faithful to attend the church services to celebrate His resurrection!

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

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

The airfare to Guatemala for the dates of May 1 – May 5 are now at $570.  They will only increase as those dates draw nearer.  So, if you have an interest in being a part of the cleaning/preparing crew now is the time to act.  This is the final time that I will mention this opportunity.  Thanks!

Evangelist Ken Freeman was in The Foundation worship service last night and they saw a large number of decisions.  I will not give an exact number as Bro. Chris has not had the opportunity to check the commitment cards.  However, we praise God for each soul saved.  The tornadoes in Texas almost prevented Ken from getting here but the Lord made a way.

My wife did an outstanding job of preparing a meal as we hosted Ken after the service.  I married way out of my league!

The observance of the Lord’s Supper in the 10:00AM and 7:00PM service was special.  “All the way to Calvary He went for me, to die and set me free!”  Amazing!

Tommy Johnson’s maternal uncle passed away on Tuesday.  There will be a visitation tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home with a 2:00PM service tomorrow.  Pray for Tommy’s mother and the family.

Nanette Fontenot e-mailed me yesterday (which is not unusual) to tell me that Korie’s eye socket will most likely not need to be surgically repaired.  However, the doctor is not pleased with her nose and will check her again next week with surgery being a possibility.  Korie does not want to have surgery so pray that her nose/sinus will be much improved when she sees the doctor.

I have gotten several e-mails from folks assuring me of their prayer support as I prepare for Sunday’s services.  I am moved by your sincerity and blessed by your prayers.  I have kept the details to myself but it seems the forces of hell have hit me from all sides this week.  (I imagine other preachers have been hit harder)  I believe in prayer and I need all I can get.  Thank you!

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

I know that a few of you have shown some interest in traveling to Guatemala to help clean/prepare the mission house for fourteen consecutive weeks of use this summer.  Airfares were low, then high, then low, and then high again.  As it stands at this moment, the fares are lower than they have been yet.

This would be leaving Mobile on Tuesday, May 3, and returning on Saturday, May 5, 2012.  The fare presently showing on American Airlines is $541 (folks, in today’s economy that is a really good fare).  Leave Mobile at noon on 5/1, connect in Dallas, and arrive into Guatemala City at 7:00PM.  Leave Guatemala City at 8:35AM on 5/5, connect in Dallas, and arrive in Mobile at 5:30PM.  IMO, great fare and great flight schedule.

As we have seen, the fares can change at any moment.  So, if you are interested you need to contact me and be ready to commit on the spot.

Edwin Williams did a really nice job of preaching his Aunt Margaret’s funeral service.  It was a graveside service so he was limited on time but he clearly presented the Gospel and kindly remembered Miss Margaret which had to be a comfort to the family.

Keith Dikes mother was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  The surgery was successful as it brought her immediate relief.

Merwyn Gunter is having problems with swelling.  He went to the ER this past Saturday but they did nothing for him.  He will see his doctor soon for a consultation.

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and then the evening activities.  The 8:00PM Bible study folks are asked to attend the 7:00PM service in the CAB with Evangelist Ken Freeman.

That afternoon of studying for me did not happen yesterday.  We will see what today holds.  I appreciate those who let me know they are praying for me and the services this Sunday.

It is a little after 3:30AM as I write this and I have been watching the lightning and listening to the rain fall for the past almost hour.  I thank God for the rain.  I may lose some of my garden because of it but God knows the absolute best.  He is in control and I fully trust Him!

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

The graveside service for Miss Margaret Smith will take place this morning at 11:00AM in the Grand Bay Cemetery.  Edwin Williams will be preaching this service for his maternal aunt.  Pray for Edwin and the family.

Keith Dikes’ mother had surgery yesterday in Mississippi.  Pray for her as she recovers.  Of course, Keith’s dad recently fell from a ladder breaking both wrists.

Wow, it is definitely Easter week!  It seems the forces of hell are camped around our campus and will do anything to disrupt this weekend’s services.  Folks, hell hates it when we proclaim that Jesus is alive!  Spiritual warfare comes with the territory but thank God we win because of Jesus.  Lord willing, I will spend this afternoon with my nose buried in the Word prayerfully seeking a word from the Lord for this Sunday’s services.  I feel the pressure so I definitely ask for your prayer support!

I wrote yesterday morning that the good airfares remained for the May trip to Guatemala.  Scratch that!  They remained good until shortly after noon when they jumped by $96 and then went up by another $85.  So that $570 ticket quickly became a $751 ticket.  That is why I always encourage folks to act quickly on airline ticket purchases.

SEC, SEC, SEC!  Simply the best college conference in the USA!  I honestly thought Kentucky would win by a larger margin last night but a win is a win!  (By the way,  I heard no complaints that neither UK or KU did not win their respective conference tournaments or that they had already played this season.  Where was all of the “we do not want to see a rematch” talk?)  Will the SEC win the baseball championship as well?

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

Evangelist Ken Freeman will be the guest messenger in The Foundation service this Wednesday, 4/4.  The service begins at 7:00PM and meets in the CAB.

Folks interested in serving as counselors during the invitation need to meet with Bro. Chris at 6:00PM.

The young adults who normally attend the 8:00PM Bible study will be joining this service with Ken.  There will be no 8:00PM Bible study this Wednesday, 4/4.

Sueanna Bryant’s father was moved from ICU into a regular hospital room yesterday.  Kyle and Sue came home yesterday.

Korie Fontenot was in our 10:30AM service yesterday.  She sees the surgeon today and he is supposed to tell her whether or not she needs surgery.  I am praying for a good report.

Bro. Chris & Nicole brought their son, Truett home yesterday.  All is well.  Praise the Lord!

Ed Williams aunt, Miss Margaret Smith, passed away early yesterday morning.  Pray for the family.  Pray for Ed as he will be preaching that funeral service.

We were blessed with another good day in our services yesterday.  We did not have any public decisions but it was good to see folks at the altar during the invitations.

It was a blessing to have Dr. Mark Stid, his wife Dr. Karen, their three children and a friend in our 10:30AM service yesterday.  Mark & Karen are a huge part of the GRACE Ministries medical missions.  They are vacationing in Orange Beach this week.  Special thanks to Sherry Schlehuber & Josh for helping take care of them!

The airfares remain friendly for anyone wishing to travel to Guatemala to help ready the mission house for the busy summer season.  The dates are now Tuesday, 5/1, through Saturday, 5/5.  Airfares can, and often do, change moment by moment so contact me if you are interested.  (FYI, the fare from Mobile to Guatemala City is presently $570)

A huge week is before us with all of the ministry opportunities this Saturday and Sunday.  Pray, attend, and bring folks with you.

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