Pastor's Blog

What, a blog entry?  It is.  Please remember that my plans were to end this blog come March 31, 2021, but I wrote one basically daily all the way to April 13.  So, we are in bonus time now.

Nanette Fontenot sent word to me that her mother, Marie Brooks, has a cracked vertebrae in her back.  She will see a specialist today.  Pray for Marie.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Our attendance was up.  The Spirit was excellent.  God was glorified.  We praise Him!

Mark, Tina & Rachel Mast did a wonderful job in singing and sharing last night.  Good stuff!  It is always a blessing to have the Mast family with us.

Beautiful day today.  Praise the Lord!  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

I posted the obit for Miss Catherine Leach in an earlier entry.  Pray for Elizabeth, Joe and the family.

Miss Lanell McConnell is schedule to have surgery tomorrow, 4/14.  Pray that all goes well.

Marcus Hatcher sent me an update on infant Harvey Hatcher.  He remains in NICU but is no longer on oxygen.  So, he is making improvement.  Keep praying!

Debbie Kendrick sent me an email saying that she is doing good as she is now only dealing with the pain/discomfort from the actual surgery.  She misses being able to attend our church services in person.

Speaking of tough women, Rachel Haynes drove her bus yesterday and basically jumped right back into her normal routine.  Pretty amazing!

Speaking of maybe not so tough women, Dana is still struggling in her recovery from her surgery of last surgery.  Prayers appreciated.

Sonny Bates was in our evening service this past Sunday and it was good to see him.  Keep praying for a complete healing.

Pray the Guatemalan gentleman who flew in yesterday afternoon to begin the process of driving the vehicle purchased by Hands & Feet Ministries to Guatemala. Matt & Bonnie are ready to have their own means of transportation.  I am told it will take three days to get the vehicle to Chimaltenango.  (Sonny Bates, Gene Davis, Mac McGriff, Harold Morris, Stan Strickler, Larry Whitehurst, Larry Wilson and I were able to squeeze that three day trip into five and one half days back in 2000 – just saying!)

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Special thanks to deacon Joey Bosarge for his help yesterday afternoon.  Where are Eddie Albritton and Joey Switzer when you need them?  (Asking for a friend!)

I am going to be forced to take a personal day today in order to make my garden a Santa Claus garden – hoe, hoe and hoe some more!  Plow too!  The weather forecasters are calling for rain basically for the rest of this week.  I may be able to do some mowing on Friday and/or Saturday but the ground will most likely be too wet to hoe or plow.

Bro. Jerry and Bro. Abel will be in the office today and available to assist with any needs.  Obviously, I am available in the event of an emergency.

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

Catherine Grace Lasker Leach, native of Whistler and longtime resident of Saraland passed away April 11, 2021. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. Her faith in God, kind heart, warm smile and love for her family were unsurpassed. She was 87 years old.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Leach, daughter Virginia (Ginny) Easterling, her parents, Lee and Katherine Alberta Lasker and brother, Ralph Holmes. She leaves to cherish her memory, a daughter, Elizabeth (Lee) Sessions and a son, Joe (Doris) Leach, her brother, Mark (Sybil) Lasker and her grandchildren; Dr. Amy (Stephen) McKay, William Sessions, Ryan Sessions, Jennifer (Michael) Green, Brian West, Brandy Taylor and Shane Easterling and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and many, many wonderful friends.

Catherine was always the “Grandma with no rules”. If mom and dad said no, Grandma always said yes. If you had a problem, she had an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, great bits of wisdom to share, or a prayer for peace of mind no matter what time of the day or night you needed her. Her passing has left a huge hole in our hears but we are comforted knowing she is in heaven watching over us and guiding us still as we remember her daily.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the SAADS Hospice Car staff for their care of mom during her last days. Also, the family would like to than Stacy Dickens Sessions for her constant care of mom and to Jennifer Green for being there for not only mom but for all of us during her illness and passing. We know you wouldn’t have had it any other way and for this we love you and are truly blessed.

We also send our love and much gratitude to Ms. Tammy Duiett for not only the gentle, tender care she gave mom but also her love, devotion and friendship. You are truly an angel on earth.

Funeral services for Catherine will be from Radney Funeral Home in Saraland on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Saraland, AL.

Yesterday morning around 8:30AM, Miss Catherine Leach, was promoted from this life to Heaven.   The family will complete the arrangements today but it appears everything will take place this Thursday, 4/15, from Radney’s in Saraland.  The visitation will take place from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service time.  Pray for Miss Catherine’s family.

Rachel Walton was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Gary showed a great commitment by coming to drive the bus before going to the hospital to be with Rachel.  Pray for Rachel to recover completely.

I do not have an update on infant Harvey Hatcher but do ask that you keep praying for him, his twin brother and their parents.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Special thanks to Pastor Clint Landry for bringing the charge to the deacons last night.

The family whose house was shown at the end of last night’s service have now had their need met financially.  As a matter of fact, more than one family offered to meet the need.  Thank you and praise the Lord!

Our Guatemala coffee supply has been exhausted.  Thank you to each person who purchased coffee.  Thank you to my brother, Eddie, for selling a ton of it in North Alabama too.  A family in Guatemala is going to be super blessed because of folks in Alabama being used by the Lord.

This entry is late.  Why?  Yes.

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

Rachel Walton will have some tests performed today as the doctors try to locate the source of her problems.  Pray for Rachel.

Bro. Abel has called off all of our soccer matches scheduled for today due to the weather.  I am sure all of those involved are already aware of this fact.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Deacon ordination for Brandon Baker & Joey Bosarge during our 6:00PM service tomorrow.

Meeting tomorrow afternoon at 5:00PM for students and parents regarding youth camp.

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

Gary Walton called me this morning to tell me that his wife, Rachel, has been admitted to the hospital. Issues with her kidneys.  Pray for Rachel.

Saw Angie Bentley’s mother yesterday.  She said Wednesday was a tough day but yesterday was some better.  Keep praying!

Keep praying for infant Harvey Hatcher.

Dana did well through her surgery.  Daphne & Lisa are doing a great job of taking care of her.  My doctor friend, Aninha Barrett, tells me the second twenty four hours can be tougher than the first twenty four.  The nurse told me that day eight would be a monster too.  Thank you for the prayers.

Received a prayer request during that night that cannot be shared publicly at this time.  God knows and I simply ask you to join me in praying.

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

I do not have an update on Angie Bentley’s surgery but do ask that you pray as she goes through the recovery process.

Debbie Kendrick is home and doing well all things considered.  Amazing woman!  Keep praying.

Bibbi’s sister was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She will eventually go to UAB.  Keep praying.

Dana’s surgery should take place around 8:30AM today.  I will taking a personal day in order to help take care of her.  Pray that all goes well.

Our attendance took a hit in both services yesterday especially last night.  I am pretty amazed at the folks who miss during Spring break week even though they have no students in their house.

The morning crowd was very generous in buying the coffee as four pounds generated two hundred and forty dollars!  What?  It is called donations for a good cause.  Thank you to those gave above and beyond. The evening crowd was not as generous – LOL!

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

Debbie Kendrick’s surgery was a success per the surgeon.  She was in a room by 10:00AM and they had her up and walking later in the day.  If all goes as planned, she will be discharged from the hospital today.  Praise the Lord!  Pray for a quick and complete recovery.

Angela Bentley will have surgery today.  Pray for all to go well.

Marcus tells me that infant Harvey has made some “small” steps of improvement but still has a way to go.  Keep praying for Harvey!  Harrison is doing well.

Bibbi’s sister will most likely be discharged from the hospital within a few days.  She has been referred to UAB.  Pray for the medical personnel to find the answers.

Our daughter, Dana, will have her tonsils removed tomorrow.  I am told this can be a bit tougher on a adult so pray for Dana to do well.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Come join us for Bible study.

We probably have twenty or so pounds of Guatemala coffee left to sell.  We paid six dollars per pound and are selling it for ten dollars per pound.  The proceeds will go toward building a house in Guatemala.  The older boys from Colegio JET will do the actual building.  I am told the coffee is great (I think that is an oxymoron) and I know the cause is great.  I will have the coffee with me at church today and tonight.

Our students are selling Boston butts from the Meat Boss.  Contact Bro. Abel for the details.  This is a fundraiser for camp.

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

After a long waiting period, Debbie Kendrick will have surgery today.  Debbie is a very tough lady but she needs some relief from the physical pain she has been enduring.  Pray that all goes well today!

Angela Bentley will have surgery tomorrow.  Pray for a successful surgery.

Miss Lanell McConnell will have surgery on Wednesday, April 14.  Pray for Miss Lanell.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Praying for a strong attendance.

Yes, we still have coffee from Guatemala available for sale.  Stop by the church office today or let me know and I will have it after the services tomorrow.  Ten dollars per pound with four dollars going toward the cost of building a house in Guatemala.  House will be built by our older students under the direction of Soy Taylor & Matthew Cain.

I was disappointed by the championship game last night.  I wanted to see a close game and thought Gongaza would come out victorious.  I was way wrong!  I actually did not watch much of the second half as it was so one sided.

The Lord has been blessing us with some great weather over the past few days.  I am grateful.

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

Well, praise the Lord for giving us an awesome Easter weekend.  The Bible studies and egg hunt on Saturday morning saw over three hundred in attendance.  The weather was perfect.  God is good!

Our Easter Sunday saw our attendance go over four hundred and fifty folks.  We had a good attendance for our sunrise service and our last service as our best attended.  Evangelist Michael Mason did a superb job of preaching the Word.  The Friendship family gave generously to the love offering.  Really blessed weekend!

Debbie Kendrick will finally have her surgery tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

Angie Bentley will have surgery on Wednesday.  Pray that goes well too.

Miss Lanell McConnell will have surgery on April 14.  Pray for Miss Lanell.

Linda Green has been discharged from the hospital.

Sonny Bates is not allowed to drive for the next six weeks while he recovers from his surgery.  Pray For Sonny.

Keep praying for the Hatcher infants – Harvey in the hospital, Harrison at home and their cousin, Bekah, at home.

Keep praying for Bibbi’s sister.

Want to enjoy some great coffee while helping a great cause?  We have coffee from Guatemala available for ten dollars a pound.  Four dollars from each pound will go to help build a house for a family in Guatemala.  The builders will be the older students from Colegio JET.  I do not drink coffee but I am told this is great coffee and I know it is going for a great cause.  Also, makes for a great gift.

If you have already sent me an email letting know you want some coffee, you can come by the church office to make the purchase or get it from me this Wednesday following either of our services.  Pass the word about this coffee, please.

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