Pastor's Blog

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Leslee H was able to show off her mathematic skills in our evening service.  Just saying!

Robert Baria continues to try and build his strength by eating when he can and by receiving nourishment through a feeding tube.  Keep praying for Robert!

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday, 9/3:  Sunday School at 9:00AM; worship at 10:00AM; EG launch at 5:00PM (CAB) and children’s choir at 5:00PM in the choir room.

I am liking the expected highs for Friday through Monday as they are all in the eighties – hooray!  Still looking for night time lows in the sixties.  Praying for snow!

Lisa and I will be out of pocket for the next two days so there will be no blog entry until probably Tuesday, 9/5.  Just FYI.

I do want to mention that Saturday will mark the thirty-seventh anniversary of Lisa’s brother’s passing.  Seems like yesterday on one hand and like hundreds of years ago on the other.  Michael is definitely missed by his family!

College football begins for real tonight.  Go Gators!  (That is for Rick Bradley!)

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

We are blessed in the fact that we have no “new” prayer requests.  I ask that you continue to pray for Robert Baria, Larry Crawley, Jennifer Kirschenman and the others who have been on our recent prayer lists.

Praying for those who are in the path of the hurricane this morning.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Tomorrow is the final day to sign up for the June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip.  You must email me personally in order to sign up.

Yes, we are aware that this is Labor Day weekend and, yes, we are having our Experiencing God launch this Sunday, 9/3, at 5:00PM in the Christian Activities Building.  The calendar dictates that we begin this Sunday and we are good with that fact.  I simply ask that those who are in town be present for our morning Sunday School (9:00AM), morning worship (10:00AM) and then the 5:00PM EG launch.  Our children’s choir will meet at 5:00PM this Sunday too.

Are you aware that Twitter has changed their name to X?  I am so tired of reading what someone posted on X followed by the statement, “formerly Twitter!”  This change did not happen yesterday!

If the weather forecasters are correct, we get two days (Friday & Saturday) with daytime high temperatures below ninety degrees – hooray!  Still no nights with lows in the sixties.  However, we also have a fair chance of rain Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  Two things I like – colder weather and rain.  I am fully aware that God knows what He is doing when it comes to the weather and I trust Him completely.  I am not a weather whiner!

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

Sorry for no entry yesterday.  I could make up some excuses or I could be honest and blame the real reason but I am going to take the high road!

Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne Baria.  What a joy to see Roseanne in our service this past Sunday morning.  If my memory serves me correctly, they both will see a doctor today.  Pray!

Special thanks to Charlotte Moulds for taking Jason H to the doctor yesterday.  She and Carl Ray hosted him for five days and I much appreciate their kindnesses to him.

Jennifer Kirschenman is scheduled to have another eye surgery this week.  Pray that all goes well.

We did receive the promised pledge for the bus barn as a part of the special offering this past Sunday.  However, we only received around two thousand dollars above that gift.  Translated?  The finances are not sufficient to have the barn built at this time.  Praying as to the next step.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services Sunday.  Bro. Dylan did a very nice job of preaching Sunday night.  Good content!

The start of our Experiencing God begins this Sunday, 9/3, at 5:00PM in the CAB with our launch night led by Bro. Abel.  I am asking everyone in town to be present for this special service.  Classes begin Sunday, 9/10.

Only a couple of days remain to sign up for our June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip.  The deadline is August 31, 2023.  Email me personally to sign up.

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

Mission of Hope service tonight beginning at 7:00PM at the mission.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 8/27.

A special offering will be received for the bus barn in both of our services.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

June ’24 mission trip sign up continues through 8/31/23.

Keep praying for the folks battling sicknesses, recovering from surgery, et cetera.

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

Not really anything “new” to report this morning.  I simply ask that we all continue to pray for those who have been on our recent prayer list.  Keep Robert Baria at the top as he sees a doctor today.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning at 10:00AM and tonight at 6:30PM.

Special offering this Sunday, 8/27, for our bus barn.  Pray and give!  By the way, you can give online to this offering.  Make sure it gets marked as “bus barn” offering.  Questions about giving online?  Contact Bro. Dylan or Brandon Baker.

Sign up for the June 13 – 20, 2024 mission trip ends on August 31, 2023.  Sign up by sending me a personal email.

If you are a participant on the November 28 – December 5, 2023 mission trip then you should have gotten an email earlier this week.  Please read and respond.

Our annual church fellowship at Presley’s Outing will take place Sunday, September 24, 2023.  Save the date!

I continue to have concern for those folks working outside in these extreme temperatures.  I am praying for them.  Folks, drink plenty of water and be safe!

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

This entry is late.  My apologies.  It is called time management.

Robert Baria was having a tougher day yesterday.  He is scheduled to see another doctor tomorrow for a second opinion.  Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne.

Jennifer Kirschenman is having cataract surgery this week but I do not remember which day.  One eye this week and the other eye next week.  Pray for all to go well.

Scott continues to recover at home from his surgery.  Nanette keeps hinting of the need for another meal.  Just saying!  Keep praying for Scott.

Keep praying for Pastor Mel Hacker as he remains hospitalized.

The celebration of life service for Pastor Brannon Lott will take place this Thursday, 8/24, beginning at 2:00PM from Wade Baptist Church.  Continued prayers needed.

My thoughts continue to be with those who are having to work outside in this oppressive heat.  Folks, stay hydrated and be safe!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Bus barn love offering this Sunday, 8/27, in our services.

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

I said in yesterday morning’s message that you needed to be “present” or you might miss when God shows up.  Well, I had no idea that would happen in last night’s service.  God showed up.  A good number of folks have commented to me how God used that service to minister to them personally.  One of our active deacons sent me an encouraging note about how God spoke to him through the message.  Another very active member posted something very positive inviting others to come join him in our services.  All I can say is, “thank you, Jesus!”

I have been stating that Pastor Brannon Lott is thirty-five years old.  I was wrong.  He was born on February 24, 1990.  Wow!  The arrangements have not been completed but I do ask that you keep praying for the Lott family and the Wade Baptist Church family.

I am going to just refer to Robert Baria as “the miracle man” as God just continues to bless him physically!  Amazing!  Keep praying!

It was good to see Nanette Fontenot in our services yesterday.  Scott obeyed the doctor’s orders and stayed away.  Keep praying for Scott!

Leslie Hacker’s nephew, Pastor Mel Hacker, is in ICU.  He is receiving a treatment and I think that will continue throughout this week.  Pray for Pastor Mel and his family.

Jason Fosmore’s mother is presently undergoing chemo treatments so please pray for her.

Kaydenz Edwards is at home (probably back in school today) and waiting on the next visit to the specialist regarding her heart condition.  Keep praying!

The Experiencing God facilitators meeting was well attended.  I sense an excitement in the air.  Looking forward to this study.  We have well over one hundred adults signed up.  Why not sign up to join us?  It all begins with a launch night on Sunday, 9/3.

August 31 is the deadline to sign up for our June ’24 mission trip.

Pray for the folks who will be working outside in our area this week as the temperatures are forecast to be brutally hot.  The humidity is high too.  Folks, be careful!

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

Burl Brewer sent me the statement that was put out by the Wade Baptist Church last night simply stating that Pastor Brannon Lott passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  So, we now focus our prayers on Pastor Lott’s wife, their children, the rest of the family and the Wade Baptist Church family.  While I did not personally know Pastor Brannon, I cannot explain the emotional sorrow that grips me whenever a fellow pastor passes from this life.  Join me in praying!

Leslie Hacker has a nephew, Mel, who also serves as a pastor.  Mel is presently hospitalized and they are doing some procedures to try and help him.  Pray for Pastor Mel and his family.

Robert Baria continues to be a walking miracle!  Praise the Lord!

Keep praying for Scott Fontenot!

Regular schedule on our campus today!

EG facilitators training with Bro. Able today at 4:00PM.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

Word came to me through Burl Brewer that Pastor Brannon Lott is not doing well physically.  Obviously, his wife is struggling big time.  Pray for this family and the Wade Baptist Church family.

Kaydenz Edwards was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Devon & Witney have been told by the doctor that Kaydenz will have to have a pacemaker within the next five years.  Kaydenz is ten years old.  Here is the God thing in this – her chest pains were unrelated to the reason she needs a pacemaker.  In other words, without the unrelated chest pains, they would have most likely never discovered the other problem.

Robert Baria has been taken off hospice care.  He will be seeking a second opinion on his physical condition.  He is doing well per Roseanne and they are most grateful to God.

Scott Fontenot continues to recover at home.  Nanette keeps asking if Lisa can bring them another meal?  How about that!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

John Milton Ladnier has given us fresh okra – hooray!  What a great guy!

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

Happy birthday to our son-in-law, Soy.  I pray that he will have a great day!  I am sure Deidra will roll out the red carpet for him today!  How old is Soy?  Yes.

Scott Fontenot’s visit to the doctor actually took place yesterday morning.  It was a success as far as getting everything out of his sinuses but he did need a pain pill when he got home.  (Scott does not like to do pain pills)  The doctor has advised him to avoid crowds for the time being due to there being a uptick in covid cases.  So, just keep praying for Scott & Nanette.

Kaydenz, daughter of Devon & Witney Edwards, has been admitted to the hospital.  She is having an issue with her heart and a pediatric cardiologist will be examining her today.  Pray for Kaydenz and her parents.

Robert Baria continues to do some better.  Robert is an amazing man!  Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne.

I do not have an update on Pastor Brannon Lott but do ask you to continue to pray for him, his wife and their children.

I “think” the number of adults from the Friendship family committed to our Experiencing God class now stands at one hundred and five.  I am very thankful for that number and hope to see it go even higher.  Not signed up yet?  Contact Bro. Abel!

Eddie Albritton and his friend, Justin, have repaired the church’s Kubota mower.  Praise the Lord!

June ’24 mission trip sign up ends August 31, 2023.  Email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net if you want to sign up.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 8/20.  Join us!

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