Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading –  Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Willie & Jodie Johnson’s son, Brice, will have surgery early this morning.  I am about to head to the hospital to pray with him and then sit with W & J during the procedure.

Bro. Jerry visited J.L., Carolyn and Miss Bowden yesterday.  J.L. is now in a regular room.  Miss Bowden was doing good.  Carolyn is not sure when she will be going to the rehab facility.  (BTW, Trish did not send me an update via e-mail!  Wait, Trish is always late so yesterday’s update is probably coming tomorrow!  LOL!)

The visitation with the Tony Barnes family and the funeral service takes place tomorrow at the church.  Visitation is from 12:00PM until the 2:00PM service time.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be given to GRACE Ministries in memory of Tony.  All donations will be used to build a house(s) in Tony’s memory on a November 2014 GRACE trip.  Pray for Miss JoNell and the family.

Mission of Hope service tonight at 7:00PM.  Bus leaves the church at 6:15PM for those interested in riding.

The wedding of Aaron Akridge and Taylor Sprinkle (Kevin & Tina) takes place tomorrow afternoon, 3/1, at 3:30PM in Eight Mile.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend.

The students will host a spaghetti dinner (take out only) this Sunday, 3/2, with plates for a suggested donation of $6.  All proceeds help defray their costs on the GRACE trips this Summer.

Pastor Ted Traylor will be our guest on Thursday, March 13, 2014 in a special service beginning at 6:30AM.  This service takes top priority over everything else on our church calendar.  Please pray, attend, and bring others with you.  I am praying for a standing room only crowd.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday, 3/2.  The southern gospel group, The Revelations, will be our special guests in the 6:00PM service.  I am told they are good.  I pray that the Friendship family will support that service very well.

Our friend’s, Mandi Fortner, grandmother in northern Louisiana is not doing well physically.  Your prayers would be appreciated by her, Mandi, and us.  Thanks!

Dana, Gina, & I had a great road trip yesterday.  Thanks to Craig Moss and Joe David & Lori Bailey for their help.  They were a blessing to us!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18 28

Good day in our services yesterday.  I always enjoy the morning crowd and appreciate those who remain faithful on Wednesday nights.  We thank God for His continued blessings!

Sammy Bowden’s mother, Miss Eunice, took a fall late yesterday afternoon.  It is my  understanding that she is in one of the units (I assume NICU) in a local hospital.

J.L. Nesmith had to have surgery on Tuesday night.  He is in ICU in a local hospital.  I “think” they removed his spleen.  (The key word is “think” as I am not certain)

Carolyn Blaylock remains hospitalized.  Not sure when she is going to rehab.  Trish, send me a message, please.

Miss Kathleen Henderson was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  I thought she had been discharged on Monday but I was wrong.

Bro. Jerry, Bro. Kerry & I attended the visitation for the Kevin Benefield family yesterday afternoon.  Wow, what a crowd!  Bubba told us that we did not have to stay for the service as it was crowded and was going to be a long service.

The service for Tony Barnes takes place Saturday at 2:00PM preceded by two hours of visitation with the family.  Everything takes place in the church auditorium.

The wedding ceremony for Aaron Akridge and Taylor Sprinkle takes place this Saturday afternoon at 3:30PM.  The ceremony will take place at Kalioka Stables 7925 Herbert Morgan, Eight Mile, AL 36613.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend.

Mission of Hope on Friday night at 7:00PM.  Bus leaves the church at 6:15PM.

The Revelations quartet (Southern Gospel) will be featured in our evening service this Sunday.

I am using a vacation day today for a road trip with my girls.

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

The visitation with the Tony Barnes family will take place this Saturday, 3/1, from 12:00PM until the 2:00PM service time.  The visitation and service will take place in the auditorium of Friendship Baptist Church.  The interment will take place in Serenity Memorial Gardens in Theodore.  Keep praying for the Barnes family.

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17 27

The arrangements for Bubba Benefield’s brother, Kevin, are as follows:  visitation today from 12:00PM until the 3:00PM service time.  Visitation and service from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pascagoula.

The arrangements have not been finalized for Tony Barnes.  The family is considering doing everything this Saturday, 3/1.  Please note that final decision has not been made at the time of this writing.  The family made it back to Grand Bay last night.  They are emotionally drained.

J.L. Nesmith was involved in an automobile accident recently.  Suffered some broken bones.  I am hearing that he may be having surgery today but have not verified that at this point.

Remember the wedding for Aaron & Taylor this Saturday, 3/1, at 3:30PM in the Eight Mile area.  Everyone invited!

Spaghetti dinner this Sunday morning as a fundraiser for our students going on the mission trip this Summer.  $6 per plate.  Carry out only.

Regular schedule today/tonight.

Hearing Guy Penrod sing and Pastor Jim Cymbala preach last night was awesome!  Lisa and I actually sat in the choir loft on the front row.  Good stuff!  We invited the owners of the “B&B” where we stayed to join us.  We never saw them during the service but they mysteriously showed up afterwards and said they had been present?  I think they were thinking we would take them out to eat but I did not fall for that trick.  Maybe I should have in hopes of being a spiritual influence but all I could think about was getting home.  Must have seen at least sixty deer on the side of the interstate on the drive home last night.

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

Tony Barnes, husband of JoNell, father of Peggy Knighten, and a faithful member of the Friendship family passed from this life earlier this morning.  He was in Baton Rouge, LA where he has been working.  His wife was with him at the time of his unexpected passing.

Barney & Linda Rogers along with their pastor went to the hospital to be with JoNell.  Family members along with Bro. Jerry & Bro. Kerry have also traveled to the hospital.  I appreciate everyone doing ministry to this family.  Cecil Guidry has been a valuable resource of information to me during this time and I am grateful.

Obviously, it will take a few days to make arrangements, et cetera.  Pray for the Barnes family.

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16 26

The visitation with the Benefield family takes place tomorrow from noon until the 3:00PM service time.  Everything takes place from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pascagoula.  Pray for the Benefield family.

Attempted to visit with Carolyn Blaylock yesterday but she was sleeping soundly.  There continues to be talk of her moving to a rehab center this week.

Visited with Miss Kathleen Henderson in the hospital.  She was in good spirits and was thinking she was going home yesterday.  I do not know if that happened or not.

Visited the convalescent home but only got to see a couple of folks due to a program taking place.  Miss Woods was still in the bed which is unusual.  She did not feel well at all.  Pray for her.

Lisa and I made it Millbrook last night where we found a “bed & breakfast” to spend the night.  Nice young couple.  They provided a bed but I have been awake since 3:30AM and have yet to see/smell breakfast!  Maybe that is why we got such a good rate?

Bro. Jerry tells me that his GRACE trip in July is at capacity – that is great!  Pastor Jonathan Mast and his church family have taken the spots Bro. Jerry had remaining.  So, anyone wishing to go with a GRACE team this Summer must now get on a waiting list.

Amazingly, the fares to San Salvador in early May are still very good.  Is that a message to someone?  Still willing to take the praise band if five or six $500 donors step forward while the fares are low.

I have a meeting today with another pastor and one of his staff members.  Tonight, Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle preaches which is the sole reason for my attending the evangelism conference.

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

Herbert called and shared the arrangements for Bubba’s brother, Kevin.  Here is the copy from the funeral home’s website:

Kevin Dale Benefield

Moss Point, MS.

Born: 06-22-1951

Died: 02-22-2014

Visitation Date : 02-26-2014 Time : 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Visitation Place : Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Service Date : 02-26-2014 Time : 3:00 PM
Service Place : Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Please continue to pray for the Benefield family.

From Missionary Mark Mast:  

MonFeb 24

6°

-17°

Partly Cloudy

TueFeb 25

-1°

-16°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF SNOW:

0%

 

WIND:

NW at 18 mph

Details

WedFeb 26

6°

-24°

Cloudy

CHANCE OF SNOW:

20%

 

WIND:

NW at 15 mph

Details

ThuFeb 27

-7°

-23°

Cloudy

CHANCE OF SNOW:

10%

 

WIND:

NNW at 10 mph

Details

FriFeb 28

-4°

-24°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF SNOW:

10%

 

WIND:

NW at 8 mph

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14 25

Tuesday, 2/25 – Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16 26

Wednesday, 2/26 – Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17 27

Thursday, 2/27 – Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18 28

Friday, 2/28 – Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Saturday, 3/1 – Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-3,1 Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21 02

Sunday, 3/2 – Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday in spite of the rainy weather.  As long as I live, I will never figure out why folks cannot go to church on rainy days but can go everywhere (and anywhere) else under the same conditions.  I thank God for those who are faithful!

The Friendship family responded beautifully to “loving your neighbor” through the offering yesterday morning.  More than met the need. Thank you!

The funeral arrangements for Bubba’s brother are scheduled to be completed today.  I will post them on here once they have been finalized.  I do know that the Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa is handling the arrangements.  Pray for the Benefield family.

Miss Kathleen Henderson has been in a hospital for the past few days.  Difficulty with her breathing again.  She may be coming home today but that is not a given.

Carolyn Blaylock remains hospitalized but is doing well.  I suspect that she will be moving to a rehab facility at some point this week.

Andy Hamil tells me that Pastor Bud Parker is not doing well.  He remains hospitalized and in need of our prayer support.

Our students going on the GRACE trips this Summer will be hosting a spaghetti dinner this Sunday, 3/2.  These will be “to go” orders only and will be available immediately following Sunday School for those who attended the 8:00AM service and then after the 10:30AM service for those who attend  that service.  Cost is $6 per plate.  All proceeds go directly to help defray the cost of the mission trip for the students.

Amazingly, the fare is still good for those wishing to go to El Salvador the first weekend in May.  However, I do not expect those fares to last much longer at all.  Seven have already made the commitment and purchased tickets.  (If five or six folks would step up today with $500 then I would take the praise band too!)

Speaking of mission trips, we could possibly squeeze one or two more in on our June trip.  The August trip is full.  Bro. Jerry has openings on his July trip.  Interested?  Contact us.

Have I mentioned that Pastor Ted Traylor will be at Friendship on Thursday, 3/13, at 6:30PM?  Pray!

Lord willing, Lisa and I will be attending the state evangelism conference in Montgomery today and tomorrow.  I have plans to be back in time for Wednesday morning’s service.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12

Herbert Benefield left me a voice mail and sent an e-mail around 9:30PM last night saying that Bubba Benefield’s brother has been killed in an automobile accident.  I had already left my computer for the night and did not get the message until 1:30AM today.  I do not know the details but do ask that you join me in praying for Bubba’s family.

Thanks to all those who took part in the food festival last night.  The night was carried by our forty and above crowd.  There were very few folks present (ticket purchasers) under the age of forty.  So, thank God for the older crowd!

Regular schedule today/tonight.  This morning’s message is “Questions & Answers with Jesus.”  I hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family even though the rain is already falling which tends to keep some Baptists away.  Do not be in that number!

Blessings!