Pastor's Blog

I have mentioned several times in recent blog entries of my looking for a baker’s dozen.  Obviously, a baker’s dozen is thirteen.  So, I am looking for thirteen what?  Or who?  Glad you asked.

The school, Colegio JET, on GRACE Mountain in Guatemala just began a new school year for the entire school, K – 11, on Monday, January 8.  The school year will end in October of 2024.  Presently, we have twenty-one administrators/teachers employed.  The annual average salary of those twenty-one folks is sixty-five hundred dollars.

At the time of this writing, 1/13, there are eleven of these folks who have been sponsored for this year by three individuals and three churches.  So, that leaves ten more who need to be sponsored.  These sponsorships are financially crucial to Colegio JET.  Yes, God has faithfully provided every cent needed since January 2020 when Colegio JET opened the doors.  God has used individuals and churches to help fund theses salaries.  As the school grows, so does the need for more teachers which in turn means the need for more sponsors.

At some point in December, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart “the baker’s dozen!”  Was not clear exactly when to propose it but then I felt settled on 1/13 with the thirteen being the important number.

So, I am looking for thirteen folks to join my wife, Lisa, and me being a part of this baker’s dozen which means you will commit to giving five hundred dollars in 2024 to sponsor a teaching position (not a specific person).  You can give a lump sum or divide it up however you need to according to your personal budget.  I simply ask that you not use even one cent that should go to the Lord through your local church.  This is to be above and beyond those tithes and offerings.  Also, this should be in addition to any other offerings you already give to GRACE Ministries or SLAM.

I need to hear from all who will join this opportunity to let me know via email no later than January 31 (thirteen backwards), 2024.

Here is the deal – if we reach our goal of a baker’s dozen by 1/31/24 then an anonymous donor will match it meaning two teaching positions will be filled.  That deadline is in concrete as far as the matching sponsorship is concerned.

Honestly, I would be thrilled beyond measure if we could receive all ten sponsorships by 1/31/24.  Is that possible?  Yes.  With God all things are possible.

I am asking all thirteen of our blog readers to make this a matter of prayer.  Is God speaking to your heart?  Will you be at least one (you can be more than one) of the baker’s dozen?  Will you spread the word to your church, Sunday School class, Bible study group, missions organization, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, et cetera?

Pastor, I cannot give five hundred dollars but I can give some.  Perfect!  Pastor, I can sponsor a teaching position by myself.  Perfect!  Pastor, our church, missions group, et cetera can sponsor a teaching position.  Perfect!  To quote the late Miss Kittie Camp, “many hands make light work!”

I am praying that the first email will come to me before midnight on 1/13/24!  Will that be you sending it?

Nellie Jean Hatcher, age 86, a resident of Grand Bay, AL, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 13, 2024. She was born on March 28, 1937, to her loving parents, Floyd Ernest and Virginia Williams Ledlow. She loved her four-legged canine companions and had many puppy dog friends over the years. She also loved fishing, as well as Duke Basketball, Alabama Crimson Tide Football and her main love, Little League Baseball. She was Owner of CJ’s Par 3 Golf Course for many years and worked and retired from the US Postal Service after over 30 years of faithful service. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great-grandmother, who will be missed by all.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cleveland Hatcher; her parents, Floyd and Virginia Ledlow; her sister, Maggie Ruth McAdory; her brothers, Ernest Ledlow, Raymond Ledlow and Willie Mason Ledlow.

She is survived by her children, Shelia (Melvin) Harris, Chuck (Jamie) Hatcher, Stan (Becky) Hatcher, Steve Hatcher and Vicki (Leslie) Adams; grandchildren, Joseph “Jody” (Kelly) Harris, Jeanna Harris, Keri (Anthony) Watters, Neely (Veronica) Hatcher, Lindsey (TJ) Vice, Marcus (Rachel) Hatcher, Ross (Betty Clair) Hatcher, Ryan (Kayla) Hatcher, Reed (Sarah) Hatcher, Bethany Alcantra, Michael (Christian) Hatcher, Holly (Ayush) Parashar, Jason (Kelly) Adams, Jacob (Alice) Adams, and Kaitlyn (Jonathan) Crawley; sister in-law, Ruby Ledlow; many great grandchildren; great great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and other friends.

Services will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, AL at 1:00 p.m. A Visitation will be held from 12 o’clock noon until service time. Interment will follow in Grand Bay Cemetery.