Pastor's Blog

June Strickler
January 20, 1941 — September 21, 2023

June Marie Shofner Strickler, 82, a resident of Grand Bay, Al passed from this life in her home on September 21st, 2023. Mrs. Strickler was dedicated to her family, friends, and church. She was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 40 years along with numerous other ministries within the church. Mrs. Strickler was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Stanley Robert Strickler Jr, her parents, Clifton Shofner and Marie Dees Shofner, and her beloved daughter, Kaye Marie Strickler, and brother, Roy Glenn Shofner. She is survived by her son, Neil Strickler (Cynthia Phan), granddaughter, Madeline (Kasey) Byrd, grandson, Zachary Dunn; brother Cecil (Rebecca) Shofner; sister-in-law, Mary Rousseau Shofner, and nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Graveside service will be held at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery on September 25th, 2023 at 10am. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials may be made to Mission of Hope- P.O. Box 8504, Mobile, Al 36689. The family would like to express a sincere thank you to Clara Broadus for her time and dedication to Mrs. Strickler and family during this most difficult time.

Happy ninth birthday to our granddaughter, Audrey!  I hope that she will have an awesome day!  Soy’s & Deidra’s girls are now eleven, ten and nine!  Again, happy birthday Audrey.  We love you!

There will be a graveside service for Miss June Strickler on Monday, 9/25, beginning at 10:00AM.  A private, family only, visitation will take place beforehand.  The graveside service is open to anyone wishing to attend.  Keep praying for the Strickler family.

Marisa Felps’ cousin, Greta Odom, passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Marisa has been a great caregiver to Greta.  Pray for the family during this time.

Donnie Felps has some blockages in his legs.  He has an appointment with a doctor this afternoon.  It appears surgery will be coming sooner than later.  Pray for Donnie.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.  Experiencing God small groups from 3:30PM until 4:15PM in the CAB.  Church-wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing officially beginning at 4:30PM.  Baptismal service at 5:00PM.

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

In the early hours of this morning, Miss June Strickler departed from this life and entered Heaven.  Obviously, arrangements are pending.  Pray for Neil, Madeline and the family as they walk through this valley.

Gayla Dyess had a surgical procedure done yesterday and should be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray for a quick recovery.

Chuck Rockwell will have a stent placed today.  Pray that all goes well.

Keep praying for the others on our prayer list.

Pastor Mel Hacker’s family has established a Go Fund Me account to help with his medical expenses.  Any, and all, donations are appreciated.  Keep praying for Pastor Mel.

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

Good Wednesday morning.  We will be having a regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I pray many folks will be faithful to attend.  By the way, our GA’s and RA’s now meet in the Preschool Building.  Those classes begin at 6:30PM.

Keep praying for June Strickler, Jeanette Bates, Jerry Francisco, Carol Lucky, Robert Baria, Larry Crawley and the others for whom we have been praying.  God knows each situation.

Church wide fellowship this Sunday, 9/24, at Presley’s Outing.  Folks can go whenever to Presley’s whenever they desire but we will technically begin the fellowship around 4:30PM.  Going to observe the ordinance of baptism around 5:00PM and then eat.  We are asking the members of the Friendship family who attend to bring sides (beans, potato salad, chips and a dessert).  Please bring enough for those attending with you PLUS two others so we can accommodate our guests.

The cost for the fellowship is five dollars per person for those eleven years of age and over.  We will collect this either Sunday morning or at the fellowship.  Simply tell the person at Presley’s that you are with Friendship as you enter.

Our Experiencing God small groups will meet this Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 3:30PM and will end at 4:15PM.  Please note this change.

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

Good morning from the Mobile airport.  I am taking vacation days this week in order to be with our granddaughter, Audrey, for her ninth birthday.  Lisa normally makes this trip but the pleasure is all mine this time.  Saying that to simply say that my blog entries may be non-existent or sparse at best.  Just FYI.

Keep praying for Jeanette Bates, Carol Lucky, Jerry Franciso, Robert Baria, Larry Crawley and others for whom we have been praying.  I will try to update once I receive updates.

What a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise God for two more public professions of faith – one in each service.  Bro. Abel did well preaching last night.  Great spirit in our services.  God is good!

Our EG groups are doing well.  I encourage our participants to stay faithful even if you fall behind a bit.

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing this Sunday, 9/24.  We will officially begin at 4:30PM but you can go earlier if you so desire.  Baptismal service around 5:00PM.  Food around 5:15PM.  More details forthcoming.

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

Jerry Francisco will basically have two surgical procedures today.  Pray that all goes well and, if so, he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  Pray for Jerry & Sandra.

Jeanette Bates now has a new knee.  She will be recovering at home and says she will be in our services next Sunday, 9/24.  Time will tell.  Pray for Jeanette & Sonny.

Carol Lucky’s surgery was deemed successful and she should be discharged from the hospital today.  Keep praying for Carol & Terry.

Miss June Strickler is at home and is not doing well.  Pray for June, Neil & Madelyn.  June is a precious saint of God.

I failed to give an update on Bubba, Coley’s & Katelyn’s son.  Basically, they are experimenting with his medications to try and eliminate the number of seizures he is having.  Pray for Bubba, Coley & Katelyn.

We will receive a love offering for Bro. Dylan Westbrook this Sunday, 9/17, in both of our services.  August marked the one year anniversary of Bro. Dylan serving full time with the Friendship family.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

Our Fall soccer season begins in the morning.  Pray for Bro. Abel and all those involved.  Pray for ministry opportunities.

The EG video will begin playing at 3:30PM this Sunday, 9/17, in the CAB.  Large group meeting begins at 3:55.  Small groups begin at 4:00PM.  Pray for this ministry.  Our evening service begins at 5:00PM.

We will have Sunday School beginning at 9:00AM followed by our morning worship service at 10:00AM.

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 4:30PM.  A baptismal service will be included.

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

Surgery is the word for the day.  Jeanette Bates starts things off early this morning with her knee replacement.  Pray that all goes well and that she will recover quickly.

William Sessions will have a surgical procedure sometime around noon.  Likewise, pray it goes well.

Carol Lucky will have shoulder surgery beginning around 1:00PM.  Pray that this will bring her some relief from the pain she has been experiencing.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  We thank God!

Our senior adults will gather for a breakfast fellowship this morning beginning at 8:00AM.  All senior adults invited to attend.

Our Fall soccer leagues begin play this Saturday, 9/16.  Pray for great ministry opportunities.

Thank God for the rains we have gotten recently.  How refreshing.  I love the rain.  There is a seventy percent chance we will get some rain this afternoon.  God is good!

By the way, regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 9/17.  Come join us!

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

More good news.  This came to me from Larry Whitehurst yesterday afternoon – We are praising God for a good report. The tumor has not grown and there is a spot in the core that could possibly be dying.  How great is that!  Pray for Larry & Judy as they travel home today.

Robert Baria will see his oncologist next week to set a plan for treatments.  Keep praying for Robert & Roseanne.

Carol Lucky is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well.

Jeanette Bates batting leadoff in the four folks from the Friendship family who are having their knees replaced.  She will have her procedure done tomorrow.  Pray that all goes well and that she will recover quickly.

Keep praying for Emilee Burdette.  Pray that her body will continue to not reject this donated kidney.  Pray for the donor, Brooke, too.

Still rejoicing over Tim Knighten’s great report from his doctors.  God is good!

I have a dear pastor friend who is in a tough spot right now.  I only learned of this last night and it caused me some sleep loss during the night.  Will you join me in praying for him?  God knows.

Pray for our Fall soccer season that begins this Saturday, 9/16.  I am excited about the ministry opportunities.

Pray for our Experiencing God Bible study.  I am hearing such good things from this and how God is working in lives.  Praise Him!

Church wide fellowship at Presley’s Outing on Sunday, 9/24, beginning at 4:30PM.  Baptism at 5:00PM.  The meal will be served beginning at 5:15PMish.  Everyone is invited to attend this fellowship.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  Join us!

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

It is about time!  I know, I know.  In my defense, we do not have internet service in our house due to the road workers apparently cutting the line – again!  I will be glad when the work is done on the Potter Tract 500!

Just got this from Peggy Knighten regarding Tim’s visit:  Just walked out of appt. Waiting on shuttle. Everything looked great!! Scans clear, no sign of weakened immune system or anything. PRAISE THE LORD!!!  How about that!  Tim & Peggy will be driving home this afternoon so pray for traveling mercies.

Larry Whitehurst is seeing the doctors at the Mayo Clinic today.  Pray for another great report.  He and Judy will travel home tomorrow.

Coley & Katelyn’s son, Bubba, has been having frequent seizures.  Here is what she sent to Lisa on Sunday:  Will you please let Bro. Teddie know that Bubba has an appointment with his neurologist on Wednesday to figure out the cause of why he’s having so many seizures. He had 7 during the night, whenever we got home from church he ate lunch then immediately fell asleep. He’s exhausted. I want the whole church to know & to pray for him.  Join Lisa and me in praying!

Pastor Eddie Burdette from Anderson, SC has a daughter-in-law, Emilee who desperately needed a kidney.  Pastor Eddie’s daughter, Brooke, turned out to be a perfect match.  So, this morning the transplant has taken place and both ladies are doing great!  Praise the Lord!

Our first night of Experiencing God went great!  There was a buzz in the air!  Exciting!  We are making one change to the Sunday schedule beginning this Sunday, 9/17.  The video will be played in the CAB beginning at 3:30PM for those who have not gotten to watch it previously or those who just want to watch it again.   Entire group meeting for prayer at 3:55PM.  Small groups will then meet from 4:00PM until 4:50PM.  Please note this change.

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

This entry is obviously very late.  My apologies.

Let me begin by saying how blessed the Friendship family was this past Sunday in our two services.  Really good attendance in the morning service.  An excellent spirit was present.  God moved.  O praise Him!

What can I say about our evening service on a major holiday weekend?  Hallelujah!  Glory!  The attendance was amazing!  We have one hundred twenty-one adults participating in Experiencing God and all be nine of them were present.  Of those nine missing, six were accounted for.  Not a bad percentage!  Bro. Abel did a nice job of sharing the introductory session.  All of us should now be on day two of the study and we will gather this Sunday, 9/10, at 4:00PM in the CAB for our small group time.

A special thank you to Eddie A, Blake, Blaine & Natalie, Gina and Kayla for handling the refreshments.  They did an excellent job! I appreciate Bro. Abel, Eric & Paul setting the tables and chairs up following the morning service.  I was in charge of the decorations – table center pieces, table cloths, et cetera and I feel that I did well!  Just saying!

The next two Sundays will see us receive staff anniversary love offerings.  This Sunday, 9/10, we will receive a fourth year anniversary offering for Bro. Abel Garcia.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

On Sunday, 9/17, we will receive a first year anniversary offering for Bro. Dylan Westbrook.  Again, pray and give as the Lord leads.

Then, on Sunday, October 1, we will receive another “bus barn” offering.  We did not do well on our initial offering so we are going to do it again.  Please pray and then come prepared to give graciously so we can get this barn built in a timely fashion.

If everything goes as planned, these will be the final three special offerings for 2023.  Just FYI.

There have been two deaths in our community in recent days.  Peggy Benefield passed from this life last Friday, 9/1.  A visitation with the family will take place tomorrow, 9/6, from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM service.  Everything will take place at First Baptist Grand Bay.  Pray for the Benefield family.

Kendall Falana’s mother, Carolyn Falana, passed from this life last Thursday, 8/31.  A visitation with the family will take place this Thursday, 9/7, from noon until the 2:00PM service.  Everything will take place at Serenity Funeral Home.  Pray for the Falana family.

I ask you to join me in praying for Pastor Mel Hacker.  Tough days!

Our student ministry will be serving a meal after tomorrow’s morning service and then before tomorrow’s evening service.  Large plates are eight dollars each while small plates are six dollars each.  Spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert & drink.  Support our students by purchasing a meal(s).

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