Pastor's Blog

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

Regular schedule on our campus today with two morning services, Sunday School and the adult choir’s Christmas musical tonight at 6:00PM.  The 8:00AM and 6:00PM services will be streamed live.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 12/23.

The church office will be closed this Thursday, 12/24, and then on Thursday, 12/31.

Bro. Jerry Hovel will be on vacation beginning this Wednesday, 12/23, through Saturday, 1/2/21.  I respectfully ask that no one contact Bro. Jerry about church stuff via phone calls, in person, electronically, et cetera.  Please respect his time away.  Here is how that goes, “I hate to bother you while you are on vacation but. . . ”  Please refrain from doing this.  Bro. Abel and I will be available and the church office will be open Monday – Wednesday each week.

I hope to be joined in person by a good number of the Friendship family members this morning and evening.

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

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

Our basketball leagues begin play this morning.  The virus has hurt our participation but it is exciting to see the boys and girls involved this season.  Pray for all involved – players, coaches, administrators, officials and everyone else.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in both morning services.

Jeanette Bates and our adult choir will present their Christmas musical tomorrow night beginning at 6:00PM.

The news coming from the doctors regarding Donnie Felps is enough to keep ones head spinning.  Pray for Donnie!

Keep praying for those folks from the Friendship family who are battling the virus.  As far as I know, we have no one in the hospital due to the virus.  Thank the Lord!

Deidra and I drove to Hartselle, AL and back yesterday.  We were able to spend five hours with mama and others.  I am thankful for traveling mercies as we got home shortly before midnight.

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)

Donnie Felps is just having issue after issue health wise.  It would take me about two blog entries to even begin to list them all.  Donnie is seeing a doctor about every day and certainly needs our fervent prayer support.  As does Marisa.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  The adult choir will present their musical in our 6:00PM service.  Folks, come prayed up and come expecting!

Basketball leagues begin tomorrow morning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry.

I have now had my Christmas!  Getting to spend about ninety minutes with Jason Husband was a blessing.  He so misses the Friendship family and was thrilled at the cards, ornaments and gifts given to him.  We just do not realize how blessed we are!

Deidra and I are driving to Hartselle and back today.  Going to visit my mama and others.  (Actually just going for some great bar-b-que!)

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Remember to pray for those battling the virus.

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

We had two good services in the auditorium yesterday but our numbers were down.  I fully understand our elderly folks staying away but not so much on our younger, healthy adults as they tend to go everywhere else they want to go.  Other churches are experiencing the same situation.  Has God become less important to us during this pandemic?  Where will those young or median adults go if calamity, in any form, strikes?  Folks, it is all about priorities!

Donnie Felps saw a nurse practitioner  yesterday.  Continue to pray for Donnie & Marisa.

Learned in our morning service yesterday that Tim Knighten will be having a scan on Monday and Peggy Knighten will be having shoulder surgery on Wednesday.

One of the members of the Friendship family called me yesterday to tell me they have been diagnosed with the virus.  So that is three new cases within a twenty four hour period.  None of them, as far as I know, picked up the virus from a church service.  Pray for all of those who are battling the virus.

Our basketball leagues begin play this Saturday.  Pray for this ministry.

Soy & Deidra arrived at our house early this morning.  Lizzi waited up on them and was glad to see her daddy and mother.  I was glad to see her mother!  (They drove to Grand Bay from Atlanta)

Lord willing, I will driving to Lucedale, MS today in order to take Jason H to lunch.  I am sure my ears will be sore but it is a privilege to do this.  Jason is missed by the Friendship family.  Thank you to those who have sent gifts and cards to Jason.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Our adult choir will present their Christmas musical in our evening service.  I am looking forward to that night of ministry.

The weather service is calling for a low of thirty one degrees in Grand Bay tonight.  Hooray!

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)

I would ask you to continue to pray for Donnie Felps.  It seems that Donnie takes about half of a step forward in his recovery and then two steps backward.  He is very weak physically and they are trying to get in to see his medical doctor.  Keep praying for Donnie & Marisa.

Last night, I learned of another member of the Friendship family who has the virus.  This morning I was told of yet another member who has it.  Obviously, I am not making these names public but do ask you to join me in praying for all those battling or recovering from this virus.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

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)

Well, there was no blog entry yesterday morning.  Duh, you say.  What happened?  I simply thought I had posted one and did not know until Deidra (the one who blogs like once every two weeks) sent me a message asking why I did not blog.  Folks, it is tough getting old!  However, I did test positive for the virus on 11/30.  Just keep that in mind!

Tina Sprinkle’s father is now at home.  That is good news for him and the family.  Tina is very grateful for the prayers.  I would encourage you to keep praying.

Donnie Felps continues to struggle in his recovery from surgery.  Marisa has her hands full in trying to nurse him back to being well.  Folks, Donnie needs our fervent prayer support.

Jeff Holifield continues to be at home but is not jumping any fences.  Keep praying for Jeff.  (Jeff “thinks” he is about to get out and about but I talked to his mama and she said, “not happening!”  As she was speaking, she was sharpening a razor strap!)

Larry Crawley continues to battle a malignancy.  Keep praying.  His wife, Lee, had hip replacement surgery and is recovering at home.

This may be the most important part of this blog.  Lord willing, I am going to drive to Lucedale, MS on Thursday and take Jason to lunch.  If you want to send him a Christmas gift, card, money, whatever then get it to me by tomorrow night.  You can drop it by Lisa’s office if that is easier on you.  Obviously, you can bring it by the church office or to the service in the morning or tomorrow night.  Jason misses the Friendship family.

A thumbs up to Tena Hovel, the other workers and the children for a job well done with the Christmas program Sunday night.  They did a really good job especially considering the circumstances.  We thank God for this ministry.

The Grand Bay Church of God hosted a live nativity scene this past weekend.  Nicely done.  Poor choice of wise men but we all make mistakes!

Jay Oakwood must be an effective prayer warrior.   Just saying.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Our attendance was up this past Sunday.  I am grateful to our people and give God the glory.  I thank those who have given financially thus far in December and encourage all of us to join together in finishing 2020 very strong in this area.  You may give in person, online, through the mail, Lisa’s office, et cetera.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Our basketball leagues begin play this Saturday, 12/19.  Pray for these leagues.

Did you encourage anyone yesterday?  (Asking for a friend!)

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)

No updates this morning except to say the Donnie Felps will see the doctor today in hopes of having his remaining staples removed.  Pray that goes well.

We are on a regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 12/13.  In person attendance for all three services and Sunday School.  Our buses will run their regular routes.  The 8:00AM service will be live streamed.

Folks attending the 8:00AM service are asked to wear a face covering if they sit on the lower level.  The balcony will be open for those choosing to not wear a face covering.

I had a million things to do on my first day of being out of quarantine and I think I got four of them done!

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

Happy adoption day to Dana Leighann & Gina Elizabeth!  Twenty two years ago today, we stood before Judge Red Noonan and he declared Dana & Gina to legally be members of our family.  Talk about a day that changed our lives!  Good or bad?  Yes!  LOL!  Lisa and I love Dana & Gina just like we do our biological daughters – absolutely no difference.  I hope their day is special!

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

An old Southern Gospel song said, “Thank God I am free, free, free!”  I am feeling it today as I will be removed from the “list” and can get back into society.  Again, I am very thankful that I never had the first symptom.  Call me blessed and I know it!

Donnie Felps had another long day in the doctor’s office yesterday.  He gets today off and then will go back tomorrow to hopefully get the remaining stitches removed.  Pray for Donnie!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 12/13.  Our children’s choir will present their musical in the evening service.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in the two morning services.  I am deciding whether the live stream will once again require a pass code or not.  Will announce that tomorrow.  I am in hopes that we will have a really strong in person attendance this Sunday.  Our elderly and those with underlying health issues need to use wisdom.

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)

YES, we are having “in person” attendance in all of our services during the month of December and beyond. That includes this Wednesday morning and evening, 12/9. It includes all three worship services this Sunday, 12/13, Sunday School, the buses running their routes, et cetera. (We will not have any evening activities on Sunday, 12/27 or any activities on Wednesday, 12/30, but otherwise we are on a regular schedule.) This is a fluid situation and could change but plans call for us to be very normal for the rest of 2020 and then into 2021. Pass the word!

Markee Brinkman was taken to Birmingham yesterday for an appointment with a specialist. He is now scheduled for a virtual follow up appointment later this month.  In the meanwhile, the specialist in Birmingham will confer with Markee’s doctor at South.  Pray for all to be good.

Sonny Bates will be having some scans this morning.  Pray all goes well.

Lee Crawley’s surgery was a success.  She should be discharged tomorrow.  Pray for Lee.

Donnie Felps saw a doctor yesterday, sees another one today and then goes back to yesterday’s doctor this Friday.  Donnie has had his share of struggles following this surgery.  Pray for Donnie and Marisa.

I did not contact Jeff Holifield yesterday as I know he needs rest much more than he needs to be talking to me.  Keep praying for a complete healing!

Tina Sprinkle’s dad remains in rehab and in need of our prayer support.

Normal Wednesday on our campus this morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry will be teaching in my absence.

Friendship family, thank you to those who are mailing in your offerings.  I would ask others who are having to miss our services to consider the online giving option available via the church’s website.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Lord willing, I will be one of those “cows” from Mark Mast’s barn come tomorrow afternoon!  I do not have to take another test before I will be officially released from this quarantine.  Tomorrow will mark day twenty one in quarantine for me – exposure to Lisa & Gina and then my little episode.  I am very grateful to God that I have not had even one symptom from this virus.  God has blessed me in that regard.

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)

YES, we are having “in person” attendance in all of our services during the month of December and beyond.  That includes this Wednesday morning and evening, 12/9.  It includes all three worship services this Sunday, 12/13, Sunday School, the buses running their routes, et cetera.  (We will not have any evening activities on Sunday, 12/27 or any activities on Wednesday, 12/30, but otherwise we are on a regular schedule.)  This is a fluid situation and could change but plans call for us to be very normal for the rest of 2020 and then into 2021.  Pass the word!

Lee Crawley is having hip replacement surgery today.  Pray that all goes well.

Jeff Holifield was discharged from the hospital late yesterday afternoon.  He expressed extreme gratitude for the prayers offered on his behalf.  Keep those prayers going.

Donnie Felps had a better day yesterday and is scheduled to see the doctor today.  Keep praying for Donnie.

Tina Sprinkle’s father remains in rehab.  Keep praying.

Seven members of our mission team are heading home this morning.  Pray for safe travels.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening, 12/9.  Have I mentioned that?

I am having internet connection issues so having to cut this entry short.  I remain symptom free from the virus.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit this Sunday morning for both services and will be in Sunday School too.

Our overall numbers were down this past Sunday.  Folks, we can do much better.  I understand our elderly and those with health issues who need to be careful.  What I do not understand are those who can go shopping, to sporting events, to wherever but they cannot attend church services/activities.  So, I am calling on the members of the Friendship family to step up to the proverbial plate this Sunday and attend church.  Again, if you are elderly or have health issues, be wise and careful.

Let me end this entry on a most positive note – we are presently running two buses on Sundays.  We did not run them on 11/22 or 11/29.  It always seems to take a few weeks to get the numbers up after taking a Sunday off.  Our two buses had forty eight riders this past Sunday with six first time riders!  How awesome is that!  There were forty four children in children’s church.  I say “great job” to Dylan & Elizabeth along with all of the other workers.  Good stuff!  We give God the glory!

YES, we are having “in person” attendance in all of our services during the month of December and beyond.  That includes this Wednesday morning and evening, 12/9.  It includes all three worship services this Sunday, 12/13, Sunday School, the buses running their routes, et cetera.  (We will not have any evening activities on Sunday, 12/27 or any activities on Wednesday, 12/30, but otherwise we are on a regular schedule.)  This is a fluid situation and could change but plans call for us to be very normal for the rest of 2020 and then into 2021.  Pass the word!

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