Pastor's Blog

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Friendship family, please be faithful.

I am doing something today that I have not done since January.  I am going to board a plane and take a flight to Houston and then one to Guatemala City.  There are a boatload of things that need to be handled for GRACE Ministries as well as Colegio JET.  Deidra has been making decisions but is ready for me to assume the leadership position on several issues.  She has me lined up to meet, meet and then meet some more.

Flying has obviously changed drastically since March.  I had two tests on Monday for the virus.  Both came back negative.  Let me say what a huge help Todd Stork was through this entire process.  I could not have asked for a person to do more than Todd has done to get me tested and to get the results back in a timely manner.  Thank you Todd!  Todd has always been about as nice of a guy as you could possibly meet.  I am most grateful to Todd and to the nurse, Tammy, who “rammed” that Q-tip up my nose – LOL!  Actually, she did an excellent job and was very gentle.

I also want to say a huge “thank you” to Mike Borja who drove over from Long Beach, MS this past Saturday to help with the loading of the container.  Mike is a great friend and I literally first met him while he was leading the loading of a container bound for Guatemala.

Nic Gray from Bay Minette also drove over to help with the loading of the container.  Nic has no expertise in this area but heard there was going to be a free breakfast so he decided to come.  Nic is a great guy!  The best thing about Nic is his sweet wife, Annie. Thank you Nic!

The weather forecasters are now calling for daytime highs in the seventies and nighttime lows in the forties and fifties for the Gulf Coast.  The forecasted low for Friday night is forty two degrees.  Hallelujah!

I plan to blog while in Guatemala.  I hope to catch us up on some of the happenings there.  By the way, Deidra has posted some good blog entries recently on shininglightabroad.com.  You would do well to read them.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Karen McGriff’s mother had a biopsy done yesterday.  Her problem was an abscess and not a malignancy.  This is great news and the family is thrilled and giving God the glory.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Praying for the members of the Friendship family to be faithful in attending.

The weather forecasters are calling for some slightly cooler temperatures on the Gulf Coast over the next ten days.  Nothing to write home about but some cooler.  I am always up for cooler temperatures.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

The Lord blessed us with a really good day in our services yesterday.  Our attendance was about average in the 8:00AM service but we were up in our 10:30AM and 6:00PM services.  Praise the Lord!  Once again, there was an excellent spirit in all three of the services.  We are now seeing guests in almost each service with many of them being first time guests.  I sense folks are interested in the things of the Lord.

Martin & Jennifer Brinkman became grandparents late last week.  The baby is a bit premature but all is well at this time.  Congratulations to Brenden & Katie and all of the Brinkman family including all of those uncles.

Today marks the one year anniversary of Miss Lillian Brinkman’s passing.  That seems so like it happened yesterday.  Miss Lillian was a jewel and has been missed by the Friendship family.

Larry Crawley was in our morning and evening services yesterday.  Keep praying for Larry.

I do not have an update on Tracy Prater in North Alabama but do know she continues to need our prayer support.

The container was loaded this past Saturday and should leave the port of Gulfport today.  It is a long story but I just want to say a huge “thank you” to everyone who showed up to help.  Talk about great attitudes in the face of some adversity!  I saw the church being what the church is supposed to be!  Now I ask you too pray that we will find favor with the various customs officials and that the container will be released in a timely manner.

They say cooler weather is on the way to the Gulf Coast.  Hooray!

We are still strongly considering taking a team to Guatemala either in late October, November or December.  Anyone interested needs to contact me personally as soon as possible.

It was great watching SEC football this past Saturday.  I was surprised at State’s win over LSU.  Jeff Holifield called it.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

This entry is being written on Friday night from “container central!”  I have relied exclusively on the blog to notify the men of the need to be here at 7:00AM tomorrow (Saturday) in order to load the container that will set sail from the port of Gulfport on Monday, 9/28.  Some folks do not read the blog (let that sink in for a minute) so please pass the word!

How long will it take to load the container?  Great question.  I truly believe we can walk away completely finished by 9:00AM if enough guys show up to help.  Please pass the word!

On Friday afternoon Rhett “they call me McGyver” Butler led a crew of five men from the Mission of Hope in basically unloading the existing container and getting almost everything outside and placed in order to be loaded.  Rhett & crew finished their task in less than one hour – impressive!  Can the loading crew beat that time?  Nope.

Curtis Richmond graciously loaded the skids onto the existing container in late August or so.  He has agreed to come, on his off day, tomorrow to unload them and then put them on the container that will go to Guatemala.  How nice is that?  The guys at MAECO Fabrication located across the street from our church campus have always been so helpful whenever we have asked.  I am thankful to Curtis and the others at MAECO.  By the way, Curtis will be using a front end loader.  Did not want you to think he was lifting those things by hand.  Just saying.

So, with almost all of the contents of the container outside, we have had to put a security guard in place for the night.  Just being proactive.  He is armed and dangerous much in the mode of Barney P Fife!

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

SEC football begins today at 11:00AM – hooray!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Short and sweet today.  We need the men who signed up to help load the container to be in place by 7:00AM in the morning.  We ask that you park your vehicles on the East side of the auditorium or on the back forty.  Please do not park on the South side of the CAB.  Once again, if you did not sign up to help but want to come join us, come on!

Well, I was wrong.  I thought the UAB vs South game last night would be competitive but it was not.  Maybe the Jags can right the ship before the Trojans come to town on 10/3.

The real college football season begins tomorrow morning at 11:00AM.  SEC!  SEC!  SEC!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Our AWANA ministry begins at 5:00PM followed by children’s choir at 6:00PM.  Parents, involve your children in these ministries.

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

The trucking company contacted me this afternoon and have agreed to have the container on our campus at 7:00AM this Saturday, 9/26.  We need all hands on deck.  Honestly, I do not think it will take that long to load it with the crew we have committed to help.

Here are the men who have signed up:  Eddie Albritton, Brandon Baker, Joey Bosarge, Rick Bradley, Rhett Butler, Bob Evans, Kendall Falana, Abel Garcia, Stan Hatcher, Jeff Holifield, Brad Hutto, Scott Kirschenman, Steve Morris, Josh Nelson, Jay Oakwood, Jerry Poiroux, Kale Siker, Shawn Siker, Ian Tagert, Jimmy Tagert, Jason Taylor, Grant Tillman & TJ Vice.

If you want to help but your name is not on the list, come join us!

The four ladies baking the cakes are asked to have them at the church by 8:00AM Saturday.

Please help pass the word to the men who have signed up and any others who may be willing to lend a hand.  Thank you.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

First, we have the four cakes needed for Saturday.  The first four ladies to respond were Jeanette Bates, Jennifer Brinkman, Clara Broadus & Jennifer Kirschenman.  We had a ton of others offer too.  I appreciate each.  How do I feel about the four who will be doing the cake baking?  I am good with two of them – LOL!  Ladies, I will let you know what time the cakes are needed once I know tomorrow.

We need the men who signed up to help load the container to be on stand by for the exact time they need to show up on Saturday. I am in hopes in will be early morning.  I will get that call in the morning.  As soon as I know, I will post it on the blog.

The weather forecast has turned in our favor for the loading of the container.  A blessing from God.

By the way, Rhett “call me McGyver” Butler needs three rusty paper clips, some expired milk and some Crisco.  Says it will help with the unloading of the container.  LOL!

We had a good day in our services yesterday morning and last night.  Our evening attendance started a bit slow but then the Baptists showed up and we had a good attendance.  Thank you to each person who attended yesterday morning and last night.  We give God the praise for His blessings!

South plays host to UAB tonight.  It should be a good game.  I like what UAB has done but will obviously be pulling for the Jags!

SEC, SEC, SEC!  I am ready!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

The visitation with the Jane Hanson family takes place from 8:30AM until the service time at 10:00AM today at the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Sonny Hanson was a faithful member of the Friendship family for several years and is just a really nice man.  I will attend the visitation and then Bro. Jerry will represent the Friendship family at the service.  Pray for Sonny & family as they walk through this valley.

Tracy Prater is doing “better than she has in a month” per Spencer but the prognosis remains unchanged.  I have plans to call her this morning as I am driving to the funeral home.  Keep praying for Tracy.

Keep praying for Larry Crawley.  Keep praying for Karen McGriff’s mother.  Keep praying for Carol Lucky.  Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.  Keep praying for Sonny Bates.  Keep praying for some unspoken, private requests that have been made to me personally.

I was unaware that Bro. Jim Jordan of the Mission of Hope has retired.  Congratulations to Bro. Jim.  Pastor Brandon Rogers is the new director and I had the pleasure of speaking to him via the phone yesterday.  Seems to be a really nice guy.

It was confirmed to me yesterday that I will not know until Friday what time the container will be in place on Saturday.  Again, I am going to request early but there are several factors that will help the company decide.  Men, please be ready.

Lisa is going to do a biscuit breakfast for the guys loading the container.  I am going to ask for four ladies to each back a homemade cake to be served.  (The homemade part just eliminated Amy Huhn, Kim “Amy” French, Amy Switzer & Amy Reynolds. Any takers?

Rhett “call me McGyver” Butler has a plan for making the loading of the container much easier and faster.  The man is amazing and always has whatever you need and a plan in place.  (Who else would have thought of a helicopter?)

Regular schedule this morning and evening.

Have I mentioned that it is game week?  SEC, SEC, SEC!

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

Happy sixth birthday to our granddaughter, Audrey!  Audrey lives in Guatemala so we celebrated while she was here a few weeks ago.  She will have another celebration there today.  Soy & Deidra now have a six year old, seven year old and eight year old – how crazy is that!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Today is the first day of Fall 2020!  Temperature wise, it actually feels a bit like Fall this morning.  I am a huge fan of cold weather.

The men who signed up to help unload/load the container this Saturday need to keep in mind that they signed up.  I am in hopes of a morning schedule.  I want to be finished before the 11:00AM SEC conference games kick off.  As soon as I know the loading time then I will post it on the blog and we will begin to contact folks.  By the way, Lisa is planning of serving a biscuit breakfast.  We will have coffee, juice, milk & water available too.

My entire yesterday was spent inside the container.  Everything is basically now finished.  Begin praying now for favor with the customs officials as the container will leave the port on Monday, September 28.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

Parents of preschoolers and elementary students.  Our AWANA ministry takes place on Sundays in children’s church and then the second segment begins at 5:00PM.  Our preschool choir and children’s choir meet at 6:00PM each Sunday. Parents, these are great opportunities for your sons and daughters.

I recently took on a side job of mowing a yard once a week.  The hurricane made it so that I did not get to mow last week.  My “boss” contacted me yesterday to let me know that I had missed a week and that I could be replaced.  And I thought Lisa was tough!  So, I was mowing in the dark this morning trying to catch up.

It is game week!  SEC, SEC, SEC!  I am ready!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

The Lord blessed the Friendship family with a good day yesterday.  We were able to have our AWANA ministry and also to begin our children’s choir and preschool choir.  I am told there was a good number in our children’s choir.  I encourage parents to bring their children to the AWANA ministry at 5:00PM on Sundays and then let them be involved in children’s choir at 6:00PM.

It was a blessing to have Matt, Bonnie, Eli & Gunner Cain in our second morning service yesterday.  They will be moving to GRACE Mountain soon as independent missionaries i.e. they will be raising their own financial support.  Matt will be the facilities manager and Bonnie will be involved in the children’s ministries in a capacity to be determined.  Pray for this couple and their four children as they prepare to make this major move in obedience to God’s call upon their lives.

We had twenty three men sign up to help load the container this Saturday, 9/26.  Mike Borja is coming to lead this effort. We can probably use a few more.  We will have a specific time slot to get the container loaded.  The problem is that I probably will not know what that time is until Friday as the shipping company makes that call.  The weather forecast is calling for a forty percent chance of rain that morning.  It will be helpful if it is not raining but the Lord knows and we trust Him.

It looks like it will be a wet week on the Gulf Coast.  Not sure how that will impact our soccer practices.  Bro. Abel will be the point person on this matter.  The back forty is really wet from Hurricane Sally and the rains now coming from Beta.

The first game week of 2020 is here!  It all begins this Saturday at 11:00AM.  I am ready!

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