Pastor's Blog

Betty Carol Neal did not have surgery yesterday, will not have surgery today, might have surgery tomorrow.  She will have a test today.

I will go by and see Leslie and the baby today.  As far as I know, both are doing fine.

Members of the Friendship family are asked to bring their donations of bagged, wrapped candy for the Hallelujah Festival to the church by this Sunday, 10/28.  A box is in the fellowship hall near the kitchen window and the bags of candy can be placed in it.

Rick & Beth Bradley came over for a visit last night and it was so good to see them.  They moved to the East Central, MS area about three years ago and are active members of Wade Baptist Church.  Actually, Beth & Sanna Collier are first cousins and the Bradleys moved once Sanna started attending church at Friendship – just saying!  LOL!

Watched the Lions vs Bears game to the ned last night mainly because of my friend, Jeremy, in Michigan.  What has happened to the Lions?  Their offense is almost non-existent!

Rusty Suthoff is a LSU fan.  Did you see where the university digitally removed the crosses from the guys (in a picture the university published) who body paint themselves for the LSU games?  Christian guys who love the Lord and are faithful followers of LSU football.  The university said they did not want to offend anyone.  Well, Bill Kendrick is offended by this move!  Rusty, come on over to the good side!  Courtney Cavin (USM) is close to doing the same.  Ross Hatcher is not close but you never know!

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

RileyAnn Hayden Kearns made her entrance into the world this morning.  She checked in weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces and is 21 inches long.  Mother and daughter are doing fine.

It is not known if Betty Carol’s surgery is going to take place today.  It was to be an outpatient surgery but they have admitted her to the hospital.

By the way, it is pretty much a miracle that Leslie and baby are fine as Jennifer Wetterer Zirlott is her nurse!

Leslie Messer will give birth this morning as they are doing a C-section around 7:30AM.  Betty Carol Neal will have a toe amputated this morning.  I will go pray with Leslie and then make my way to the hospital where Betty Carol will be having her surgery.  Pray for these ladies and their respective surgeries.

Caral Kyser will have to “start all over” in some regards as her latest tests were flawed.  Pray that she will not have to receive chemo on a daily basis.

Joe Povilonis traveled to Louisiana to visit with one of his brothers who is battling cancer.  I talked to Joe last night and it does not sound encouraging.

Katelyn Jackson will be having surgery on Wednesday morning.

Pastor Clint Landry did a very nice job of sharing the Word with us last night.  Diane Bryant did a great job of making the five bus cakes for the fellowship.  Overall, we had a really good day in our services.  We are thankful to God!

I remained puzzled at how Clint hoodwinked Suzanne into marrying him?  He definitely married out of his league!  (Like I have room to talk but that is beside the point!)

The workday this past Saturday was very successful.  Thanks to the many who showed up to help.  The Hallelujah Festival got a great jump start as a good number of folks were working on getting the games ready.  God is good!

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

Karla Cooper placed a comment on yesterday’s entry saying that Kenny passed his kidney stone.  That is good news!

I always live by the “no news is good news” philosophy so I am thinking everyone on our prayer list remains basically unchanged.  Pray for Carla Kyser today.

The 2012 pastors’ conference in Guatemala is now history.  We had a blessed final day.  Pastor Doug and Pastor Terry did a nice job of sharing about overcoming challenges and resisting false doctrine respectively.   The committee has already begun working on the 2014 conference.  Thank you to each person who gave to help cover the cost of this conference.

Mark Mast, Abel Garcia, and Clint Landry leave from the mission house at 3:15AM – ouch!  The rest of us leave at 9:00AM.  The only good thing about getting up so early is getting home earlier.  It is all good!

Lord willing, I will be at the work day on Saturday and in the pulpit four times (Spanish service included) on Sunday.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join me.

The biggest news coming out of the Turrentine household yesterday was that Dana (96) and Gina (92) both passed their drivers’ license test!  I am thankful and proud.  Just did not want one to pass and one to fail.  If you are driving around Grand Bay, you might want to be a little more cautious now!

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

Bea Unrue went home from the hospital yesterday.

Kenny Cooper was battling a kidney stone(s) yesterday but I do not know what the outcome of that battle was.

Miss Kathleen Henderson remains hospitalized and is still have breathing difficulties.

Carla Kyser’s new regiment in her fight begins tomorrow.

We had a good day in the pastors’ conference yesterday.  Mark Mast preached on money matters, Clint Landry preached on the profile of a pastor, and Terry Rainey preached on prayer.  The folks in attendance really seem to be enjoying the preaching/teaching they are receiving.  Today will see Doug Chappelle and Terry Rainey preaching in the main sessions.  Pray that this final day will be a blessing to all those in attendance.

Remember, work day this Saturday beginning at 8:00AM.  Breakfast will be served at 7:30AM for those interested.  We will finish the work by noon.  Join us!

We are asking that all donated bags of wrapped candy be at the church no later than Sunday, 10/28.  This will give the leaders a chance to take inventory before the Hallelujah Festival.  Thanks to all who donate!

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

Miss Kathleen Henderson has been admitted to a local hospital with breathing issues.  I saw her this past Saturday night and she did not sound good.  I gave her specific instructions to stay away from the hospital but I guess she did not listen!

Lynne Watson was moved from NICU to a regular room late yesterday afternoon.  I do not know if she will be discharged today or not.

Bea Unrue is doing well.  Morris Dupont is now in a convalescent facility.

Tena Hovel’s dad got a good report as the latest spot they found is not malignant.  Praise the Lord!

Our schedule for today is normal.  Bro. Jerry is preaching in my absence during the morning and evening services.  Dale Bosarge is covering the 8:00PM Bible study for me.  I hope that many members of the Friendship family will show spiritual maturity and attend these services.

The celebration of our bus ministry’s anniversary takes place this Sunday evening beginning at 6:00PM and followed by a fellowship.  Wow, forty years is a long time and shows the faithfulness of God and of our people.

Bags of wrapped candy are still needed for the Hallelujah Festival.  A container is in the fellowship hall to receive these.

Herbert Benefield plans to be on the back forty this Saturday as a part of our work day.  Remember, breakfast at 7:30AM (please call the church office if you plan on attending breakfast) and the work begins at 8:00AM.  We will finish no later than noon.

The first day of the pastors’ conference went well.  Pastor Abel Garcia did a nice job of preaching on discipline and Pastor Eddie Burdette did likewise preaching on adversity.  Today, pastors Mark Mast, Clint Landry, and Terry Rainey will preach during the main sessions.  We all will teach during the breakout session.  Pray for us.

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

Lynne Watson’s surgery went well per Bro. Chris.  They removed a very small amount of blood.  It is possible (maybe probable) that she will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

I do not have an update on Bea Unrue.  However, I do know that Bea is trusting God and encouraging anyone and everyone who walks into her hospital room.

Members of the Friendship family are asked to remember the work day this Saturday, 10/20, from 8:00AM until no later than noon.  I am placing Rob Nevin in charge of the power washing detail.  Jimmy Tagert is in charge of the air conditioner work.  Bernard Suthoff is in charge of the coffee drinking crew.  TJ & Brad are in charge of getting the games ready for the Hallelujah Festival.  We need someone to be in charge of the back 40 i.e. mowing, bush hogging, et cetera.

Also, it would be a tremendous help if you could let us know by tomorrow, 10/17, if you plan on eating breakfast at 7:30AM.  Marisa Felps is leading the cooking of that meal and we want to be good stewards of the food i.e. want to have enough but not be wasteful.  Please call the church office either today or tomorrow.  Thanks!

I am assuming that all of the folks leading the pastors’ conference arrived safe and sound.  Pastor Abel Garcia was set to arrive late last night.  I did not wait up so that is why I “assume” everyone is here.  One of the guys, Trey Lightner, serves on Pastor Doug Chappelle’s staff but he also works at AU.  Had I know that in advance. . . . . . . . .

The conference begins this morning with the registration followed by the first session after lunch.  Pastor Abel will lead things off and then Pastor Eddie Burdette will close the first day this evening.  Everyone will be involved in teaching a breakout session on various topics assigned to them.

I have communicated with Alisha Vice a couple of times within the last week.  She is doing good.  Keep praying for her and the ministry to which God has called her.

Obviously, I did not see the game but I read where the Broncos came from 24 down to beat the Chargers – wow!

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

I am writing this entry on Sunday night as I have much to do in the morning – more on that later.

We had a good Sunday – God is good!  We saw two professions of faith and one join the Friendship family by letter.  We fully recognize that God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!  The attendance was good and the spirit was excellent.

Many thanks to those who stayed for the Hallelujah Festival meeting.  We need bags of wrapped candy.  You can place the bags in the bucket in the fellowship hall.

Lynne Watson will have surgery today (Monday) around noon.  They are going to remove a section of her skull and go in to correct the spot that is bleeding.  She will be in NICU for at least one night and, if things go well, she “could” be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.  Bro. Chris is going pray with Lynne before surgery and stay with the family during surgery as Lynne is very active in our student ministry.

Visited with Bea Unrue on Sunday afternoon.  What a delightful lady.  She has pneumonia in her left lung.  They are pumping her full of antibiotics.  I told Bea that Bro. Jerry or Bro. Kerry would be checking on her daily.

John Cole broke his wrist and they set it.  It was not a surgical procedure but they did put him out.  Pray it heals quickly.

Pray for the pastors’ conference in Guatemala this week (Tuesday – Thursday).  Eddie Burdette, Doug Chappelle, Abel Garcia, Clint Landry, Trey Lightner, Mark Mast and Terry Rainey will be preaching/teaching during this conference.  Dr. Tico Vargas is overseeing the entire conference.  I appreciate these men being involved.  Also, I appreciate those who have given scholarships toward this conference and the upcoming one in El Salvador.

By the time most of you read this I will be on a plane from Gulfport to Atlanta to Guatemala City.  This time the airfare out of Mobile was too steep.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching on Wednesday and Dale Bosarge is teaching the 8:00PM Bible study for me.  Again, I am grateful to those who fill in during my absence.

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

It is now almost 8:00AM and Bea Unrue just called to tell me that she has been admitted to a local hospital.  She is battling pneumonia.  Pray for her.

Lynne Watson has been admitted to a local hospital.  She has been suffering from headaches and a scan last night revealed that she has bleeding on the brain.  Pray for her, her family, and the doctors treating her.

Regular schedule tomorrow.

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

I spent the majority of yesterday at home studying so I do not have an update on any of the folks for whom we have been praying.  As far as I know, Morris Dupont remains hospitalized.

I will be preaching a funeral service tomorrow for an infant who lived only one hour after birth.  Pray for the Wittner family and for the service.

We are on a regular schedule for this Sunday.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in the two morning services and the evening service.  We “may” baptize as a part of Sunday night’s service if anyone desires to be obedient in that area of their Christian walk.

There will be a meeting this Sunday night immediately following the worship service for all folks interested in helping with the Hallelujah Festival.  Lindsey & Daphne will update folks on what they can do to help.  The times for the HF are 6:00PM until 8:00PM.  Again, there will be no regular services/classes that day/night.  Bags of candy are needed and can be placed in the basket in the fellowship hall.

Jerry & Gloria Whitmore are in Maryland visiting family.  Their former pastor, Clyde Neidhammer, will be having a heart cath today in preparation for a valve replacement surgery on 11/1.  Pray for him.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching this Sunday morning in Pastor Clyde’s place so pray for that service too.

The pastors’ conference in Guatemala takes place next week (Tuesday – Thursday).  Please pray for Eddie Burdette, Doug Chappelle, Abel Garcia, Clint Landry, Trey Lightner, Mark Mast and Terry Rainey as they travel and minister during this conference.  We still could use scholarship money for the Guatemalan pastors.  If anyone outside of the Friendship family is interested in helping, contact me for more information.

Read this morning where a mayor in a small town in South Alabama has admitted to stealing $201,000 from the town.  So, things like that happen all the time, you say.  Maybe.  But this mayor is 91 years of age!  She has been paying hush money too!  Wow!

The Orioles were able to overcome the umps and the Yankees last night to tie that series.  Game five tonight!  Justin Verlander of the Tigers is just tough!  Watched most of the WKU vs Troy game last night just because Troy is an Alabama team.

It is 2:30AM and Lisa has demanded that I be back from Walmart by 4:30AM today.  Folks, she is tough!  (Not the beast that Kay Fore Collins is but not far behind!)

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