Good morning friends. God has chosen to bring us through the night. Let’s be thankful and show Him our appreciation by what we say and do today.

Read the Bible in 2026

• January 16
• Mark 6-7

Prayer Focus

As we pray for other needs, let’s continue to pray for our country each day at noon as well as praying for family members and friends who are facing a struggle today.

Obituary

Jimmy Earl Ebarb

December 19, 1938 – January 15, 2026

A resident of Independence, LA, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at The Richard Murphy House in Hammond, LA. He was born December 19, 1938 in Ebarb, LA and was 87 years of age. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Renee Cernich (Danny); sisters, Lavern Bourgoyne, Margaret Sossaman, and Linda Miller; grandchildren, Joseph Cade Cernich (Grace), Cobie James Cernich (Laura), Tyler Dan Ebarb, and Kyle Ebarb; great-grandchildren, Landon Joseph Cernich, Annaleigh Grace Cernich and Kynnedy Ann Ebarb. Preceded in death by his wife, Frances Arnone Ebarb; sister, Carol Michelli; brother, Danny Ebarb; son, Samuel “Bo” Ebarb; parents, Sallie and Daniel “Dan” Ebarb. Pallbearers are Cade Cernich, Cobie Cernich, Danny Cernich, Robert Richerson, Issac Duhon, and Gary Clyde Durbin. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM on Monday, January 19, 2026. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Carter. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. In lieu of flowers donate to Richard Murphy Hospice House or St. Helena Catholic Church. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

A Message from Waylon Bailey:

“It’s Not Time to be Invisible”

• April 28, 2020
• Stories Worth Telling

The last six weeks have been remarkable. We will never forget this time in our lives.

One of the positives that has come from this time is the necessity to connect with people other than in our weekend worship services. So many of us connect simply–and wonderfully–by passing someone in the hallway, smiling, and moving on.

That isn’t happening now and we are forced to connect in other ways–also wonderful and meaningful. Everything that happens gives the opportunity to connect to people.

One of those happened last week in our church. We sent out a request for people to send us a picture to put up in our worship center to help me with my preaching and to remind us that the church is not a building but the people of God. It also helps our pastors have a mental picture of people for whom they are praying.

One of the men in our church sent his picture and a few lines about knowing and serving Christ. I responded back thanking him for sending the picture and being faithful in this time. He answered with a classic response: “It’s not time to be invisible.”

In fact, it is time to be very visible as we serve and minister. It is time to be bold and courageous. It is a time to pray and to encourage others to be faithful as they live out their faith.

Jesus made clear our necessity for being visible. “In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

It is time to live for Christ with all that we are and all that we have.

Additional Scripture

Unstoppable!

‘More than Filling the Gap’

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

^r“ ‘May his camp become desolate,

and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

^s“ ‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during ^tall the time that the Lord Jesus ^uwent in and out among us.

Acts 1:20-21 ESV

Have a “Fantastic Friday”!

Anna Lee

Have a “Fantastic Friday”!