Pastor's Blog

Danny and family are still at the funeral home making arrangements for his mother’s COLS but I do now know that all food should be brought to our Preschool Building no later than 10:00AM tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, March 25.  Please place all items in containers that do not have to be returned.  Please leave these on the island in the kitchen.  If you bring something that has to be refrigerated then obviously leave it in the refrigerator and leave a note on the island.

Once again, thank you for helping minister to this family.  Blessings!

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

The church office will be open today from 8:00AM until noon.  Once again, I will be the chief cook and bottle washer.  The phones literally rang almost non stop yesterday morning.  We had six or seven folks come by and leave their offering and two things stood out to me about those folks – all of them were senior adults i.e. sixty years of age or older and one of them has been laid off from his job.  I was blessed to see their faithfulness!  Not surprised, blessed!

FYI, the church office will be open again tomorrow morning and Thursday morning from 8:00AM until noon.

I keep saying that we are in a fluid situation so you can expect changes.  Here are a couple as they relate to tomorrow (Wednesday) – the church auditorium will be open from 10:00AM until 11:00AM for folks to come and pray.  Please do not congregate but rather just come in, find a spot, and pray for however long you desire.  The offering plates will be placed on the platform on either side of the pulpit if you want to bring your offering – check or cash.  Larry Whitehurst will be present during this hour and will collect the offering at the conclusion of this time.

Tomorrow night, the church auditorium will be open from 6:30PM until 7:30PM for the same purpose.  I will be present and will collect the offering at the conclusion of this time.  Please pass the word.

Our counters will get the offerings given this week on Thursday afternoon and make a deposit.  Thank you to those who gave yesterday, to those who have given online and to those who will give this week either in person or online.  This is important to the ongoing ministries of our church.

One of our men called me yesterday morning with some news that he did not want to hear from the doctor.  I failed to ask if I could share it so for now I will just ask you to pray.

Eddie’s dad is no better physically.  They had talked about discharging him tomorrow but they may keep him for another week or so.  Keep praying.

Levi Seymour’s sister did well through her surgery yesterday.  Pray for a quick and complete recovery.

I did not talk to Kirk Lightfield yesterday but do ask that you continue to pray for his dad in Oklahoma.

We should know the arrangements regarding Danny Lewis’ mother’s service today.  Still in a holding pattern.

Marie Brooks is making face masks.  She graciously provided me with some yesterday.  I am healthy and do not need one at the moment but one could serve me well if I become sick.  Thank you Marie.

You do see a lot of folks around the world wearing masks with most thinking it keeps them from catching the COVID – 19.  The following comes from the Alabama Department of Public Health website:

Q: Should I wear a face mask when I go out in public?

A: No. Face masks are not recommended for the general public, though masks can be useful in some settings — such as in a hospital or clinic waiting room — to prevent someone who has a respiratory illness from spreading it to others. The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a facemask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).

Hey pastor, what is our schedule for this Sunday, March 22, 2020?  Yes!

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

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

Let me begin this entry with a couple of reminders.  First, our church office is open today through Thursday from 8:00AM until noon.  One of our ministerial staff members will be in the office during those hours in the event folks need to bring their offering or for other reasons.  Again, females coming alone will not be allowed in the office as there will only be one male staff member present.  So, we are asking folks not to stop by just to be stopping by.  I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Second, no activities on our campus this week.  No services or classes on Wednesday.

Eddie Albritton, Sr. remains hospitalized.  I so feel for the folks who are presently in the hospital as not only are they sick but they also cannot have any visitors – not even family members.  Eddie tells me his dad’s situation is about the same.  He is experiencing great pain due to muscle spasms.  Keep praying for Eddie!

Kirk Lightfield told me yesterday that his dad is in ICU in an Oklahoma hospital.  Kirk’s dad is eighty eight years old.  His physical condition has actually improved since being admitted to the hospital.  Pray for Mr. Lightfield.

Keep praying for the Lewis family.  Danny is a very faithful member of the Friendship family and is one of the finest guys I know.  I need for the members of the Friendship family to step up and provide the meal for Danny’s family following the COLS.  Tina Wilkinson is coordinating this ministry effort and I will deliver the food to Baldwin County.  The service will be Wednesday or Thursday if things go as planned.  More details will be posted once I receive them.

I know there are folks who are disappointed in my leadership as a pastor due to our going online with our music and message yesterday.  I am sorry that I have disappointed you but I am doing the best I know to do in a trying situation.  Do me a favor – if you are going to talk about me then please talk to the Lord about me!  Deal?

I also know that there are folks who are pleased with the decision to go online.  I received iMessages, text messages, e-mails and phone calls of support all of yesterday afternoon.  We had folks tune in from at least three states – Alabama, Michigan & Texas along with folks from two other countries – Guatemala & Mississippi.  I am not going to throw numbers at you but I will tell you it is pretty amazing!  I did indirectly hear from Jason Stewart and Craig & Jennifer Moss who are former members who now live elsewhere and they were delighted to join us online for the music & message.  I also heard from some who said it was nice to “pause” me in order to get something to eat or drink, et cetera – thank you!

Let me say what an outstanding job our media team did yesterday.  Folks, the quality of our online service was second to none! Dale Bosarge, Rhett Butler, Abel Garcia, James Mareno, Soy Taylor & Raymond Wilkinson worked extremely hard Thursday, Friday & Saturday to make this thing happen in a most professional way.  Give those guys their due!  Thank you guys for a job very well done!  I also appreciate Josh Harkins from Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile meeting with James & Rhett on Saturday to lend his expertise as media is what he does at CHBC.  What a gracious and kind move on his part.  Thank you Josh!

Bro. Jerry Hovel did a nice job teaching the Sunday School lesson online.  Randall, Rita & Paige Broome did a nice job of leading our musical worship and sharing the message in song.  Jeanette Bates and Tena Hovel, pajamas and all, did their usual nice job of playing the piano & keyboard.  It was definitely a team effort and I say “thank you” to all of these folks while giving God the glory!

Pastor, what are we going to do about this Sunday, March 29, 2020?  Yes, we are!

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  I will be in the office this morning but am available 24/7 to minister to you.

As I announced in our online service this morning, Danny Lewis’ mother passed from this life early yesterday morning.  Arrangements are pending but it appears the celebration of life service will take place either Wednesday or Thursday of this week.  Because of the current situation, the service will be private.

I have told Danny that the Friendship family will feed the Lewis family following the service.  I am asking you to bring the food to our campus and I will then transport it to Baldwin County the day of the service.  We need to provide food for around twenty five folks.

So, stay tuned for the details that should come tomorrow.  I have a message in to Tina Wilkinson asking her to coordinate this ministry as she does such a wonderful job.

To view the Sunday School lesson, the worship music and the message, click the link below:

https://www.friendshipfamily.net/live-streaming/

To give online at any time click the link below:

https://wwwfriendshipfamilynet.reachapp.co/donations/new

First, if you use FaceBook then you most likely know how to activate FB live.  If not, contact someone on FB tonight and ask for instructions.

For those who do not want to use FB live or for those who do not have FB you will need to go to our website (which is where you are now).  When the home page appears you will see a screen that prompts you to click it to go live.  Also, there is a menu up top and the last word on the right is Live.  Click that word and you will be connected once the live stream begins at 9:15AM.

Did he just say 9:15AM?  Yes.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will be teaching tomorrow’s Sunday School lesson on justification beginning at 9:15AM.  That lesson will end around 10:00AM but the live stream will continue while showing a banner and with music playing.  At 10:30AM the live part of the stream will begin again with Randall Broome leading musical worship.

Our hope is that many members of the Friendship family along with others will tune in tomorrow for the lesson, the music and the message.  Everything will be finished by 11:30AM.

Friendship family, remember that you can give online too.  That process has been simplified to help you.  You can also mail a check made payable to Friendship Baptist Church and mailed to P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, AL 36541.  Do not mail cash!  Or you can stop by my wife’s office and simply place your offering in the drop box 24/7.  Again, please do not place cash in this drop box but rather checks made payable to Friendship Baptist Church.

If I have confused you or you have questions, need help, et cetera then send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  I probably will not know the answer but I know folks who will.

Blessings!

P.S. – From 8:00AM until 10:15AM tomorrow I will be in make up so send those emails prior to 8:00AM.  Just saying!  LOL!

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

I made the decision Thursday night that we, as a church family, would broadcast our music and message this Sunday, March 22, 2020, via the internet as a live stream and on Face Book live.  This goes against everything in me personally but this is not about me.  Actually, I have had far more support for folks wanting to have a service versus those who did not.  However, I prayed and considered a myriad of things before coming to a final decision for this Sunday, 3/22.

So, at 10:30AM this Sunday morning, 3/22, we will go live with some announcements by Bro. Abel, music by Randall Broome and a brief message by the pastor.  You can find the live stream on our website and the FB live on our church’s FB page.  Everything will take place from our auditorium but the only folks in attendance will be the aforementioned and our media people.  I ask you to share this news with others and invite them to watch.  I do not encourage folks/families getting together to have a watch party as has been suggested by others.  The reason we are not meeting is because we are being told to not meet by the state health department so meeting for watch parties would make no sense.  All of the buildings on our campus will be locked this Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Obviously, we are not having a work day i.e. sanitizing the building at the church this morning.

There will be no services/classes/gatherings on our campus this coming Wednesday, March 25, 2020.  Please pass the word.

There will also be no other activities on our campus this coming week.  Does not matter what or how many – everything is canceled for the week of March 23.

The church will be open in the mornings from 8:00AM until noon Monday, 3/23, through Thursday, 3/26.  One ministerial staff member will physically be in the office each of those days.  However, we ask that folks not come to the office unless it is an urgent manner.  Females will not be allowed in the office as we will only have one male staff member present.

Let me say a huge “thank you” to Dale Bosarge, Rhett Butler, Bro. Abel Garcia, James Mareno, Soy Taylor, Gina Turrentine & Raymond Wilkinson for helping us get everything ready for this online thing.  Also, a huge “thank you” to Jeanette Bates, Randall Broome & Tena Hovel for being willing to come to the church campus this afternoon and tomorrow to furnish the music portion of our live stream.

My pastor friend, Jack Bailey, will also be preaching online this Sunday, 3/22.  He said this yesterday, “I will be preaching online but we will not be having a service online because you cannot have a “service” without people!”  I totally agree with Dr. Jack.  Ministry is relational and you need folks present to be relational.

Bibbi Bosarge, is livid at me because we are not having the work day.  She said that she was in charge and it should have been her call as to whether or not we had the work day.  I told her to go drink a glass of “sweet tea” and simmer down!  Pray for Joey!

The hospitals are allowing no visitors and that includes pastors.  My life has changed drastically.

We have folks ready, willing and able to assist anyone with a reasonable need during this time.  Just contact me.

Keep praying for those who are sick.  Eddie Albritton, Sr remains in the hospital and no one, not even his family, can visit him.  That is tough on him and his family so pray.

Remember, tune in online at 10:30AM tomorrow for the music and the message.  Give online by going to our website.  By the way, my weekly letter is also on our website.  Go to the tab “about” and click on weekly newsletter in the pull down menu.

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

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

Karla Bosarge will have a biopsy today.  Pray that all goes well and that she will get a good report.

Jay Oakwood will have a surgical procedure today.  Pray for Jay.

Visited with Eddie Albritton, Sr yesterday morning.  Really no change in his situation.  Keep praying.

My dad will receive his fifteenth, and final, radiation treatment today.  Thank you for your prayers through this process.

As I have said numerous times recently, we are dealing with a fluid situation when it comes to this virus.  The state health officer issued an order yesterday that included a myriad of things including public gatherings.  So, I am now considering how we, as a church family, will proceed from this point forward.  I will post a definitive statement either later today, tonight or first thing in the morning after getting counsel from others and seeking some opinions.  So, please stay tuned, pray and be patient.  Thank you.

I will tell you that the work day scheduled for tomorrow will be very limited in number if we proceed with it.  In other words, by invitation only so as to limit the number present.

My plan is to get off the grid today and just work outside, enjoy the sun, and talk with my Father.

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

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 (NASB)

The church office will be closed today, 3/19.  Bro. Jerry & Bro. Abel will be working from home.  I will be visiting hospitals and then attending a funeral service.  We can all be reached on our cell phones in the event of an emergency.

Belvin McDonald was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Keep praying for Belvin as he rehabs from home.

Eddie Albritton, Sr. remains in the hospital.  I did not visit him yesterday but have plans to do so early today.  Keep praying.

Bobby Broome & Ann Clark’s sister, Betty Landrum, pass from this life and her celebration of life service takes place this afternoon in Wayne County, Mississippi.  Miss Betty was 92 years old.  Bobby plans on attending the service but Ann will not be able to do so.  Lisa and I plan on attending to represent Ann.  (I am going to see if Charles will give us gas money and lunch money!)

Jay Oakwood is having a surgical procedure tomorrow.  Karla Bosarge is having a biopsy on tomorrow.  Pray for these two situations.

Levi Seymour’s sister will be having brain surgery this coming Monday, 3/23.  Obviously, we need to pray for her.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday morning and last night.  We were below fifty in attendance in each service and the people were spread out among the auditorium.  There was no fellowship time i.e. shaking hands, hugs, et cetera.  Randall & Rita blessed us with a song at the end of the evening service.  There was an excellent spirit in both services.

Bibbi Bosarge is excited about leading the work day this Saturday morning beginning at 8:00AM.  She told me that she can hardly sleep at night because of the anticipation.  That is weird to me but we are talking about Bibbi.  Said she wants Willie to be proud of her!

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

Lisa and I went today and picked up a few items for her parents along with another senior adult who lives in Grand Bay.  We talked about it and decided that offering to do the same for the senior adults within the Friendship family is very possible.  Since I have been home I have received a message from one of our young adults who is now off work and has offered to do the same.

So, if you are a senior adult within the Friendship family, or know of such a person, who needs someone to run necessary errands i.e. buying food, picking up medicines, et cetera then contact me and we will help whenever possible.  The key word is necessary and not just things of convenience.  Obviously, we are mainly focusing on those who do not have family members who can help in these areas.

Also, if you know of a senior adult regardless of church affiliation, or with no church affiliation, within our community who does not have anyone to help them then we can minister to them as well.

Pass the word, please.