Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 14:1-52 John 7:31-53 Psalm 109:1-31 Proverbs 15:5-7

Miss Bea Unrue remains in the rehab facility.  Otherwise, we do not have anyone from the Friendship family in the hospital.  Praise the Lord!

The visitation with the Kay Suthoff family takes place this afternoon beginning at 5:00PM and lasting until the 7:00PM service time.  The visitation and service will take place in our auditorium.  Pray for Rusty and his family.

Herbert & Peggy Benefield have a granddaughter who is expecting and was having labor pains this past Sunday.  This is early and they stopped the pains.  Pray for her.

Peggy & Judy Benefield have an uncle, Bob, from Laurel who has been diagnosed with leukemia.  The early reports do not sound good at all.

I learned from Mary Hall yesterday that Pastor Jack House (former pastor of 1st Grand Bay) is in a Tuscaloosa hospital and is not doing good at all.  As a matter of fact, it is very serious.

Lindsey Vice called me late yesterday afternoon to say that she had contacted a major company via e-mail that was willing to supply all forty pair of shoes for the children in the feeding center.  They just needed some legal information from GRACE Ministries.   I thought, “amen, this is great!”  Hold the phone – the company then almost immediately sent a message to Lindsey rescinding their “willingness” to help as they realized that we are a “religious organization!”  Are you surprised?   I really appreciate Lindsey’s efforts!

As I mentioned this past Sunday night, we need an iPad for one of our staff members in Guatemala.  I believe someone is going to provide either the funds or a very, very good slightly used one.  Need more information?  Contact me personally.

BTW, a sweet family in the church has provided a laptop for another one of our staff members in Guatemala.  Thank you!  God is good!

Got to go pick some snap beans.  The corn is tasseling.  Yes, God is good!

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

Pamela “Kay” Smith Harrell Suthoff, 58, died Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Pascagoula with lung cancer.

Kay was born on January 18, 1956 in Pascagoula, Mississippi to J.T. and Pat Smith. She was an honors graduate of Moss Point High School. She was employed for twenty three years with the United States Postal Service and was currently employed by Dollar General in Pascagoula. She was also a member of Griffen Street Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Hayleigh Noelle Harrell-Suthoff; father, J.T. Smith; sister, Janet Smith, and her brother, Bobby Smith.

Kay is survived by her three loving children, Leigh (Jamie) Shelton, Leasa (Tim) Salter, and Rusty (Caryn) Suthoff; four grandchildren, Tiffany and Cody Davis, Zachary Salter, and Rayleigh Shelton; mother, Pat Smith Nelson; sister, Susan (Troy) Dees; two nieces, two nephews, and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. until service time all under the direction of Southern Mississippi Funeral Services of Ocean Springs.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or Friendship Baptist Church, P.O. Box 756, Grand Bay, Alabama 36541.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Clarkson and his staff; the staff of Ground North East at Singing River Hospital, and the staff of Hospice of Light.

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 12:1-13:23 John 7:1-30 Psalm 108:1-13 Proverbs 15:4

Tuesday, 5/13 – 1 Samuel 14:1-52 John 7:31-53 Psalm 109:1-31 Proverbs 15:5-7

Wednesday, 5/14 – 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 John 8:1-20 Psalm 110:1-7 Proverbs 15:8-10

Thursday, 5/15 – 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4 John 8:21-30 Psalm 111:1-10 Proverbs 15:11

Friday, 5/16 – 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24 John 8:31-59 Psalm 112:1-10 Proverbs 15:12-14

Saturday, 5/17 – 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15 John 9:1-41 Psalm 113:1-114:8 Proverbs 15:15-17

Sunday, 5/18 – 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29 John 10:1-21 Psalm 115:1-18 Proverbs 15:18-19

Really good services yesterday with a great spirit and really strong attendance.  I was especially impressed with the number of folks who attended the service last night.  Thank you for being faithful.

I appreciate the ladies who helped with the roses after the two services.  That seemed to be a really big hit!  Thanks to Dr. Jack Bailey and the folks at Danville Baptist for the idea.

Remember, the visitation with the Kay Suthoff family takes place tomorrow afternoon from 5:00PM until the 7:00PM service time.  Everything takes place in the church auditorium.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15 John 6:43-71 Psalm 107:1-43 Proverbs 15:1-3

Regular schedule today with one exception – no choir practice or Discipleship Training.  We will have our evening service at 6:00PM.

We are looking for a great day with Mother’s Day, recognizing the oldest mother present in the morning services, roses for mother, parent/child dedication, et cetera.  It is my prayer that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.

I will talk to Larry today about his brother’s funeral arrangements.  However, I do not expect those will be known for a day or two.

Friendship family, remember Rusty Suthoff and his family during their time of grief.  Visitation and service this Tuesday night, 5/13, from the church auditorium.

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

The visitation with the Kay Suthoff family will take place this Tuesday, May 13, from 5:00PM until the 7:00PM service time.  Everything will take place from the auditorium of our church.  Pray for the Suthoff family as they walk through this valley.

Larry Whitehurst called me this morning to let me know that one of his younger brothers, Eugene, passed away.  Eugene was only 56 years old.  Arrangements pending.

Bernard Suthoff then called to let me know that Rusty’s mother, Kay, had just passed away.  I went to the hospital to be with the family.  It appears that the visitation and service will take place on Monday afternoon/evening, 5/12.  Final arrangements will be posted here once they are known.

The 20 – 29 year Sunday School class will feed the family on Monday.  Rusty & Caryn are very faithful members of that class.

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27 John 6:22-42 Psalm 106:32-48 Proverbs 14:34-35

Sara Nell Moulds and Donnie Felps were both discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Pretty amazing considering they had surgery on Tuesday & Wednesday respectively.

Rusty’s mother, Kay, is receiving medicines that are keeping her asleep.  The goal at this point is to keep her comfortable.

Lisa and I attended the visitation with the Dale Dees family last night.  Lord willing, I will attend the funeral service for Kenny Erwin’s maternal grandmother this afternoon.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow with one exception – there will not be any choir practice or Discipleship Training.  However, we will have our 6:00PM service.

We will be dedicating parents/children in the 10:30AM service and giving away roses following both morning services.  It should be a really good day of worship.

The rain held off long enough yesterday for me to get all of the grass mowed, some weed eating done, the chickens cared for, and to pick the first crop of green beans from the garden.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17 John 6:1-21 Psalm 106:13-31 Proverbs 14:32-33

Sara Nell Moulds is doing great and is supposed to go home from the hospital today.

Donnie Felps is also doing great and “may” go home late this afternoon.

Rusty’s mother, Kay, continues to do not do well.

Miss Bea Unrue did not have a good day in rehab yesterday.

Lisa and I arrived home safe and sound around 10:00PM last night.  Hopefully, I can get some yard work done today before the rains come.

Congrats to AU & UA for each having two players selected in the first round of the NFL draft last night.  Coach Eric Collier was CJ Mosley’s position coach at Theodore High which is obviously the reason CJ went in the first round.  Rumor has it that CJ will be giving Coach Collier a boatload of money as soon as he signs his contract!  (I fully expect the offerings to go way up!)

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22 John 5:24-47 Psalm 106:1-12 Proverbs 14:30-31

Art Elliott was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Donnie Felps did good through his hip replacement surgery.

Sara Nell Moulds is doing great in her recovery.

Janice Julian had surgery yesterday.  As far as I know, she did well.

Rusty’s mother remains hospitalized and is not doing well.

Miss Bea is doing good in her rehab.

Kenny Erwin’s maternal grandmother passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  I think she was 92 years old.  Arrangements pending.

Dale Dees, Sr. passed away yesterday.  The visitation will take place tomorrow night from 6:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home with a 10:00AM service on Saturday.  Pray for the Dees family.

Lord willing, Lisa and I head home today.  We were able to spend about three hours in the feeding center with the children yesterday.  What a blessed time!  There are some needs that we will be sharing upon our return.  Folks, those children will bless (steal?) your heart!

We also were able to visit with Paul & Cristy, Wilfred & Shirley Johnson and John & Laurie King along with the Canadian team.  All in all a productive day.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 John 5:1-23 Psalm 105:37-45 Proverbs 14:28-29

Happy third birthday to our oldest granddaughter, Emmy!  We will celebrate with her this Saturday!

Sara Nell Moulds had hip replacement surgery yesterday and everything went well.  I did  not realize it was taking place yesterday so I apologize to Sara Nell for not mentioning that on the blog!

Donnie Felps is having hip replacement surgery this morning as I type this entry.  (Sara Nell must have referred him so they both could get $50 off their respective surgeries!)

Art Elliott is doing better and hopes to “possibly” go home today.

Rusty Suthoff’s mother remains hospitalized.

Miss Bea Unrue remains in rehab.

The Friendship family did well in attending the visitation and funeral service for Tena’s dad.  Thank you!

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching in the two services.

Lisa and I met with Lazaro & Glendy yesterday morning, visited with Paul & Cristy yesterday afternoon, and met with Philippe Rambert last night.  I also spent some time meeting with John King yesterday afternoon discussing GRACE Ministries business.  I did take the time to go into Chimaltenango and get a haircut which cost me $1.32!

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