Pastor's Blog

Received a message from Missionary Mark Mast that his dad took a turn for the worse during the night.  The family has now made the difficult decision to place Mr. Mast under palliative care.  Pray for comfort for Mr. Mast and peace for the family.  This family is definitely trusting God through it all.

Good morning (late morning) from GRACE Mountain.  Wait, “are you not supposed to be on a plane heading home?” you ask.  Great question.  The answer is “yes” but last night my flight out of Guatemala City got delayed which meant I would miss my connection in Atlanta so they moved me to Saturday morning instead.  I had a number of reasons to be ok with that move but “three” really important ones – Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey.  (It does delay my meeting Asher by one day which is the bad part of the delay).

The service for Miss Ora takes place today at 2:00PM preceded by two hours of visitation with the family.  Everything takes place from our auditorium.  Those helping feed the family need to have the food in the fellowship hall no later than 2:00PM.  Contact Tina Wilkinson if you have questions or need information.

Robert Baria underwent a five hour surgery yesterday afternoon.  They think it will help but could take some time.  Pray for Robert’s recovery.

Art Elliott was admitted to the hospital and they are doing tests.

Ruby Gulley & Tommy Watson remain hospitalized.

Keep praying for Greg Boutwell.

Our students are returning home from camp today.  Pray for their safety in travel.  It seems they have had a great week!

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Please take note and plan on being faithful!

Probably will not have an entry tomorrow or Sunday.  Lord willing, I will be in all of our services on Sunday.

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

Robert Baria will be having surgery today at noon.  Pray that all goes well.

Caroline Ford’s surgery yesterday went very well and she was sent home soon thereafter.  I was not expecting that so it is certainly a blessing.  I appreciate deacon Larry Whitehurst being there in my absence.  Our deacons are servants.

No real significant change in either Ruby Gulley or Tommy Watson’s condition.  Both remain in the hospital.

A scan revealed something in Art Elliott that the doctors want so examine more closely so he is scheduled to be admitted to the hospital at some point today.

They took Mark Mast’s dad off the ventilator yesterday and he is doing remarkably well at this point.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying!

The celebration of life service for Miss Ora Loyd will take place tomorrow, 6/30, at 2:00PM.  It will be preceded by a time of visitation with the family.  Everything will take place in our church auditorium.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching the service in my absence.

Friendship family, we need some help with the ministry of feeding this family following the service.  There will be an expected forty to fifty family members present.  So, if you will help please call the church office today during regular hours or call Tina Wilkinson.  The food needs to be in the fellowship hall no later than 2:00PM tomorrow.  Thank you in advance for your help.

I have not heard from our students so I am believing that “no news is good news!”

I am told that the firm of Hackevans has completed the installation of the doors in the CAB.  Great!  Special thanks to Leslie Hacker and Bob Evans for taking care of this project.  (Not sure if others were involved or not).

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

Caroline Ford is having surgery today.  Pray that all goes well and the doctors can determine what has been the source of her continual sickness.

Ruby Gulley remains hospitalized and is not doing very well.  Having problems with her lungs.

Tommy Watson remains hospitalized.

Sharon Jardee had her brace removed and is doing well.  She is a happy camper.

Marjorie Peacock’s son passed from this life.  The family is simply requesting privacy and prayers as they walk through this valley.

Robert Baria is scheduled to have neck surgery tomorrow.

Mark Mast’s dad is not doing well.  He remains in ICU and the family has some decisions to make soon.  Mark’s brother will fly in from California tomorrow.  Mark is in Canada doing his usual Summer schedule of camps.  He and Tina are looking at going to Michigan this Sunday.

Pray for all of these situations.

Jim Chinners tells me that your students are having a great time at camp.  There have been some salvation decisions along with other decisions.  Pray for our students at camp.

Regular schedule today and tonight.

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

This entry is actually being written on Monday night, 6/26.  I apologize for no entry the past two mornings.  I was offline from Saturday night until just a couple of hours ago.  Had every intention of getting online this morning but more on that later.

Carol Lucky’s Aunt, Ora Loyd, passed away early Sunday morning.  As far as I know those arrangements are still pending.

One of James Hyatt’s sisters also passed away on Saturday morning.  I do not know those arrangements.

Dylan and Elizabeth Westbrook welcomed their first son (second child) into the world this past Saturday night.  I literally just found out today.  Know no details.  Congratulations to Dylan & Elizabeth!

Tommy Watson & Ruby Gulley both remain hospitalized.

Mark Mast’s dad is in a Michigan hospital in ICU.  He is now on a vent.  Mark is back in Canada.  Pray.

Bro. Jim Chinners and our students arrived at camp safe and sound as far as I know.  Pray that they will have a spiritual week.

Morris Bryant sent me some pictures of the CAB floor.  Nicely done!  Very nicely done!

Tuesday’s GRACE blog will explain why there was not entry Monday morning.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Job 1-2; Acts 7:22-43

Ruby Gulley was admitted to the hospital.  No real change in any of the others for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying.

Today is a big day for Brad & Daphne Hutto as they are scheduled to arrive in Mobile this afternoon with their newest son, Asher.  Congratulations to Brad & Daphne.  Lisa and I are “happy” to welcome our seventh grandchild home!

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening as far as our worship schedule/Bible studies are concerned.  I am praying that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.

Remember, the CAB will be open tomorrow morning but the access areas will be limited as we continue to protect the newly painted floor.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Esther 9-10; Acts 7:1-21

First, I apologize for no entry yesterday.  Courtney Cavin had asked to “fill in” for me one day while I was gone and yesterday was that day.  Need I say more?  Exactly!  Pray for Chris!

I do appreciate Bro. Jerry Hovel sending me updates so I can keep all fourteen (can you believe it?) of our blog readers informed.

Today is an important day for Greg Boutwell as he has a consultation with his doctor concerning his legs.  Folks, Greg needs our prayers and is so deserving of them.  Would you stop right now and voice a prayer for Greg, his family, his doctors, et cetera?

Wanda Jordan has been discharged from the hospital.  They will continue to evaluate her.

Miss Cora Martin either was moved to a rehab facility yesterday or that will happen today (I think).

Speaking of rehab facilities, keep praying for Nadine Holifield’s mother, Mrs Jones, as she continues to be in one.

Tommy Watson remains hospitalized and will be moving to the rehab week probably in a week or so.

Mark Mast’s father came through his surgery on Wednesday.  He too will need to move to a rehab facility within time.

Pastor Joe David Bailey arrived home safe and sound from his mission trip yesterday afternoon.  Thank God for his protection.

Regular schedule Sunday with Bro. Jerry filling the pulpit in all three services.  Friendship family, be faithful!

Please note that the CAB will be open Sunday but with limitations.  Folks will be asked to stay on the perimeter as the main floor will be off limits.  Morris tells me the painting process has gone well and that Bernard has done a good job with the sprayer.  We should be good to go for next Wednesday’s activities.  As a matter of fact, the CAB will basically remained closed until Wednesday, 6/28.  Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.

I am about to shift over the the GRACE blog and give an update on the team that arrived yesterday.

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Esther 3-5; Acts 5:22-42

Hopefully you read the entry posted yesterday afternoon about Missionary Mark Mast’s dad.  His surgery is scheduled to take place today so pray for that situation.

Bro. Jerry visited Wanda Jordan in the hospital and she remains about the same.

He attempted to visit with Tommy Watson but Tommy was asleep so he did not awaken him.

As far as I know, Miss Cora remains hospitalized.

We are on a regular schedule today.  I realize that it is supposed to be a wet Wednesday.  Some of our senior adults may not want/need to get out in this weather.  Drivers need to be extremely careful over the next couple of days.

Brad & Daphne are now the proud parents of Asher Hutto.  He gets his visa on Thursday and then they head home.  Congratulations to the Hutto family.

Dana and I got to the Mobile airport yesterday morning, breezed through customs (well they patted me down because of a candle), got boarded and then the pilot said, “folks we are having a small mechanical problem.  Should not take long to resolve and we will be on our way!”  Not so fast my friend!  We left Mobile eighty minutes late which caused us to miss our connection in Atlanta which allowed us to sit in the Atlanta airport for eight lovely hours waiting on the evening flight.  It took us ninety five minutes to drive from the airport to GRACE Mountain as traffic was heavy.

It was certainly worth it all though when Soy & Deidra met us at the door with huge smiles and offers to help with our luggage.  Wait, they did not!  Arrived around 10:05PM and unloaded by myself (too heavy for Dana) as the Taylors were already in bed – are you kidding me!  Par for the course!  I will stop now!

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

The following prayer request comes from Missionary Mark Mast:

“Please pray for my (Mark’s) dad. Last Thursday he had a stroke and is in Spectrum hospital in Grand Rapids, MI awaiting surgery to remove a cyst in his brain that is bleeding. We know that our prayers are precious in the sight of the LORD, so please pray earnestly for Divine healing and intervention on behalf of my father. We love dad dearly, and have our eyes fixed on Jesus during this difficult time. He is Lord! “I Am the LORD that healeth thee” Exodus 15:26 He will be having the surgery on his brain tomorrow (Wednesday). Thank you sooo MUCH for the power/healing that has been unleashed in his life by the prayers you are offering! (I am so grateful for Tina, Rachel and Ben who are carrying on the ministry back home, doing VBS in Pitt, MN this week. Please pray for them too.) Thanks again.”

Join me in praying for Mr. John Mast, his wife and the rest of the family.