Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 7:1-9:11 Hebrews 5:1-14 Psalm 105:1-15 Proverbs 26:28

The following came from TJ & Lindsey regarding the Hallelujah Festival – “PTL with rain and all the Hallelujah Festival/ Chili Cook-Off was flawless. This year was a little different in the fact that we didn’t have to ask specific people to volunteer to work games…the Friendship Family came to us ready to serve. We had so many youth/ members of Friendship show up to work that we asked some to walk around and greet people, invite them to church, share Christ. Bro. Chris and his youth did an amazing job. The plan for the Chili Cook-Off was to have around 8-10 crockpots of chili however we had 18 volunteer. We needed around 150 bags of candy but 175 were donated. It’s awesome to be a part of a church family that is ready and willing to serve with positive attitudes. To God be the glory!”

Yes, it was great to see members of the Friendship family from students to senior adults taking the lead and serving through the Hallelujah Festival ministry.  Thank you!

Laurie Chandler and family will receive family and friends tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  The celebration of life service for Laurie’s father will take place tomorrow morning, 11/4, at 10:00AM.  Pray for this family.

Spoke to Beverly Aldrich last night regarding her mother’s services.  The family will receive family and friends this Saturday, 11/7, from 10:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place at Serenity Funeral Home.  Pray for this family.

Claire Turner’s maternal grandfather is in the hospital.  As a matter of fact, he has been in the hospital since Saturday, 10/24.  I visited with him yesterday afternoon.  He hopes to be discharged at some point this week.

I did not get to visit with Cynthia Cumbie yesterday but hope to do so today.

Obviously, I have done a really poor job of communicating about the revival services we are having this week featuring the preaching ministry of Pastor Lazaro Suruy.  It is NOT for Hispanics only.  It IS for every member of the Friendship family.  The emphasis is on our Hispanic ministry with hopes of helping them grow spiritually and numerically.  It is an opportunity for the entire church family to encourage those involved in this ministry as well as our Hispanic brothers and sisters.

So, tonight’s service begins at 6:30PM.  Pastor Lazaro did an awesome job of preaching the Word in last night’s service.  Rita Broome did her usual great job of translating.  Rita, Kyle and Levi did a nice job leading the musical worship.  My prayer is that tonight’s service will be supported by the leadership and membership of the Friendship family.  Pray and attend.  (BTW, there will be no morning service tomorrow, 11/4, as we will all gather in the auditorium tomorrow night at 6:30PM for the service – this includes RA’s/GA’s/middle school and high school students)

By the way, thanks to the 30-39 Sunday School class for providing a meal for our Hispanic brothers and sisters following last night’s service.  They did a nice job!

If you sponsor a child in our feeding center ministry, I am asking you to attend tomorrow night’s service and then stay for a brief meeting with Lazaro immediately following that service.

This blog is designed to be a help to our nine readers.  Therefore, here is a PSA – the Lighthouse restaurant will be closed tomorrow, 11/4, and Thursday, 11/5, as they will be having some electrical work done.  (When a restaurant contacts you with information such as this then you know you are considered a regular customer!)  Here is the ultimate translation of this PSA – I have to get Lazaro there today for lunch as he leaves for Guatemala early Friday.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 3:16-6:14 Hebrews 4:1-16 Psalm 104:24-35 Proverbs 26:27

Tuesday, 11/3 – Ezekiel 7:1-9:11 Hebrews 5:1-14 Psalm 105:1-15 Proverbs 26:28

Wednesday, 11/4 – Ezekiel 10:1-11:25 Hebrews 6:1-20 Psalm 105:16-36 Proverbs 27:1-2

Thursday, 11/5 – Ezekiel 12:1-14:11 Hebrews 7:1-17 Psalm 105:37-45 Proverbs 27:3

Friday, 11/6 – Ezekiel 14:12-16:41 Hebrews 7:18-28 Psalm 106:1-12 Proverbs 27:4-6

Saturday, 11/7 – Ezekiel 16:42-17:24 Hebrews 8:1-13 Psalm 106:13-31 Proverbs 27:7-9

Sunday, 11/8 – Ezekiel 18:1-19:14 Hebrews 9:1-10 Psalm 106:32-48 Proverbs 27:10

As I was gathering the daily Bible reading assignments this morning, received word from Rita Vice that Laurie Chanlder’s father passed away.  Wow!  He was diagnosed with cancer just last Wednesday.  Pray for Laurie, her mother, and the entire family as they walk through this valley.  Laurie’s parents are active members of Dayspring in Mobile so I am assuming that church family will take the lead in ministering to this family.  The Friendship family will be available to assist in whatever way is needed.

Carla Kyser was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Carla talked the doctors into letting her come home.  She is one hard headed young lady!  Pray that she will improve daily.

Cynthia Cumbie remains hospitalized.  The thought process is that she will be moved to a rehab facility at some point this week.  Keep praying.

Eddie Whitmore did have a positive visit with his doctor last Thursday per Sierra.  He is not coming to church on Sundays right now as his doctor wants him to avoid crowds.  He did come last Wednesday morning wearing a mask.  I can promise you this – if Eddie is not in our services it is not because he does not want to be!  Keep praying for him too.

As a matter of fact, pray for all of the folks who are battling cancer.

The rain hurt our attendance in our second morning service yesterday although it was still pretty good.  Our first service was well attended.  I do not know about the evening service yet.  Thank you to those who are faithful regardless.  I told someone last week that “one drop of rain will keep forty Baptist away from a church service but will not keep any followers of Jesus away.”  There is truth in that statement.  I cannot help but think about our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church who endure so much just to gather together – wow!  Convicts me personally.

Revival services tonight with Lazaro Suruy.  Yes, the focus is on our Hispanic ministry but the entire Friendship family is asked to attend.  Service begins at 6:30PM.  All other activities for this afternoon/evening have been suspended in order to focus on this service. Same holds true for tomorrow and Wednesday.  On Wednesday night, everyone from the first grade up will meet in the auditorium for the service.  Pray for revival.

Lisa and I were able to travel to Wetumpka yesterday afternoon in order to attend the service at Thelma Baptist where Doug Chappelle serves as the pastor.  What a wonderful church family!  Lazaro ministered there yesterday morning and then again last night.  He did an awesome job.  Pastor Doug and the Thelma family presented Lazaro with a new Mac Book Pro laptop last night – what an amazing gift!

We will be traveling home this morning after making a stop in Montgomery to visit with some supporters of GRACE Ministries and the feeding center.  I want them to meet Lazaro and vice versa.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 1:1-3:15 Hebrews 3:1-19 Psalm 104:1-23 Proverbs 26:24-26

Received word from Marisa last night that Carla was a bit better.  They appreciate the prayer support.

Talked to Cynthia Cumbie’s oldest daughter at the Hallelujah Festival last night and she said her mother was doing much better.  Again, she has a ways to go but is much, much better than the doctors originally anticipated.

Received an e-mail from someone in the church yesterday telling me they had been admitted to the hospital.  I replied to find out which hospital only to find out that this person is not even sick.  Where did that e-mail come from?  Strange!

I do not have any numbers but it appeared to me that the Hallelujah Festival was a great success.  Special thanks to TJ & Lindsey Vice for leading this ministry opportunity but they had lots of help too so “thank you” to each person who was involved.

Today is going to be a rainy day.  I trust this will not keep folks away from the church services.  We are on a regular schedule this morning and evening.

We will receive a special offering in our services today for the playground.  This is part two of this offering with the first part being received on 10/18.

Tomorrow night, 11/2, through Wednesday night, 11/4, we will have Lazaro Suruy with us to preach revival services.  The emphasis is on our Spanish ministry but this is open to the entire Friendship family.  Please pray and participate.

What a wild play to end the Miami vs Duke game last night.  Three weeks in a row with wild finishes.  By the way, I was four out of five in my picks yesterday morning.  Just saying!

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