Category: Baptist Press

Sunday

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

~John 3:16 NLT~

 

 

Pray for JoEllen Carruth of Greensburg as she has tests done in Baton Rouge tomorrow morning.

 

 

Several people in our area had surgery last week and are slowly recovering.  Thank God for the forward progress.  As you continue to pray for them, please also pray for their families, especially where young children are involved.

 

 

The Southern Baptist Convention will be this week in Dallas.  Pray for those in attendance.

 

 

William Jeremy Ferguson

October 17, 2008 – June 07, 2018

William Jeremy Ferguson, 9, a resident of McComb, MS passed away June 7, 2018 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.  Visitation will be Sunday June 10, 2018 from 1:00 PM until services at 3:00 PM at Holmesville Baptist Church in McComb.  Burial will be in the Holmesville church cemetery.  Bro. Lee Mathis will officiate.  Hartman Jones Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.

William was born October 17, 2008 in Hammond, LA to Jeremy Neil Ferguson and Monica Edwards Norrell.  He attended Franklin County Elementary School and had just completed third grade. He was a member of Sunnyhill Baptist Church as well as Holmesville Baptist Church. He loved to fish, play baseball, swim, hunting, playing x-box, four wheel riding, and TV watching.  He enjoyed all these activities as well as many others with his siblings.  He loved people of all ages, welcoming them all as friends.  He started a bible club at Franklin County Elementary School.  He was a perfect angel and will be missed greatly.

He is preceded in death by paternal great grandparents, Walter Cleveland Ferguson and Aline Pigott Ferguson, John Grimsley and Nettie Lee Grimsley; his paternal grandfather, Walter Neil Ferguson; maternal great grandparents, Thomas Edwards and Linda Lebo, and Joe Lebo; step grandfather, Johnny Wade.

He is survived by his parents, Jeremy Neil Ferguson and Charity of McComb and Monica Norrell and Ryan of Kentwood; grandparents, Linda and William Edwards of Kentwood and Betty Edwards of Kentwood, and Sue Ferguson of McComb; step grandparents, Bobby and Carol Dykes of Kentwood and Dianne Wade of McComb; two brothers, Austin Abbott of Kentwood and Levi Sterling of McComb; five sisters, Magan Cagle and her husband Wade of McComb, Alyssa Abbot of Kentwood, Jordan Etheridge and her husband Josh of Centerville, Emma Grace Ferguson of McComb and Brelyn Norrell of Kentwood; a nephew, Braxton Cagle; a special cousin, Kinley Edwards; along with numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

Pallbearers will be:  Kenneth Petty, Jeff Coon, Ryan Norrell, Tracy Edwards.

 

 

 

Read the Bible

  • 2 Kings 24-25
  • job 14
  • 1 Corinthians 2

 

 

I hope you have plans to be in God’s house this morning.  If not, it is not too late to change plans to do that.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“God says he will accept and acquit us — declare us ‘not guilty’ — if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins.

And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like.”

~Romans 3:22 TLB~

 

 

Big requests for Connor Corkern:

Buckle up folks, the Connor coaster has begun… 🙏🎢💙
Connor man was extubated yesterday and seemed to do great with minimal oxygen support for a few hours. Yesterday evening he began having withdrawals from the fentanyl he was given while intubated. He started methadone to treat his withdrawal symptoms and we saw relief soon, thank You, Lord! He started bipap last night due to increased respiratory distress and remains on this now. His left lower lung is back full of gunk and not moving air, which is not good. In addition to all these new hurdles, he has a small pleural effusion. This is a small pocket of fluid on the outside of his left lung that limits the expansion of his left lung, ultimately making it harder to overcome his pneumonia. The effusion isn’t large enough to drain through a chest tube so we are just monitoring it for now.

Here is where we need our prayer warriors: Please pray for his stamina to heal, for his pneumonia to loosen and break up, for him to be able to cough up all this mucus, for the effusion to resolve on its own, and for his fentanyl withdrawal symptoms to quickly dissipate! God hears our prayers and continues to be so good to us. Coye and I cannot begin to express just how grateful we are to you all. Your constant love and support through this storm have been so encouraging and what our hearts need. Love to each one of you!

 

 

 

Mrs. Ruby Dillon is now in room 1709 at North Oaks Rehabilitation.  Pray for her as she builds her strength back up.  Pray for Mr. “Cete” too.

 

 

 

Read the Bible

  • I Kings 21-22
  • Job 9
  • Romans 8

 

 

Baptist Press

 

 

Spend some time today thinking about how you can be useful in service to God.

Anna Lee

 

 

 

Friday

God is not unjust;

he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

~ Hebrews 6:10 (NIV) ~

 

 

Bro. Darryl and “Miss” Laurie have a grandson! 

Joseph Wayne Hutto was born at 5:59 PM Wednesday.  He weighed 6 lb. 9.5 oz. and was 19  3/4 in. long.  Parents are Joe and Ashley Hutto.  Joseph is welcomed home by two big sisters.  Both mother and baby are doing well.

 

 

Read the Bible

  • 1 Kings 1-2
  • Job 4
  • Acts 26

 

 

Bible Study

  • 10 A.M. at FBC, Kentwood
  • Romans 9
  • Bring your Bible.

 

 

Louisiana Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com/

 

 

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

 

 

Need to find a Sunday School class?  Contact the church office of FBC at 229-8111

 

 

Need to sign up children for VBS?  Contact the church office of FBC at ww9-8111

 

 

Third Thursday at the Cabin – Hopefully next month!

 

 

 

The more you give of yourself, the more you will be blessed!

Anna Lee

 

Thursday

 

“Trust me in your times of trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give me glory.”

~Psalm 50:15 NLT~

 

 

 

Demi Jane Drago has arrived.  She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 inches long .  Shaw Marie Drago is the older sister.  Joey and Meghan Sharkey Drago are the blessed parents to these two daughters who are certainly gifts from God.

 

 

Linda Hornsby-Craddock is hospitalized in Brookhaven with a appendix issue.  Doctors are working to clear up infection so surgery can be done.  Pray for all to go well during this process.

 

 

George Bales’ surgery went well.  He is home recovering nicely.

 

 

 

Philip “Steve” Steven McMichael

April 24, 1982 – May 13, 2018
Steve, age 36, passed away on Sunday, May 13, 2018. He was a proud native of Hillsdale, LA and a resident of Amite, LA, who was passionate about being a Heavy Equipment Operator. Steve was a member of many Jeep Clubs and Cummins Clubs. Steve had a passion for anything that ran on diesel; whether it was his four wheel drives or heavy equipment, spending quality time with his wife cooking crawfish or anything outside was where he was often found. He had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Steve’s true love was his family and always put them first in everything he did. He would help anyone in need, always shared his huge heart with anyone around and was never seen without his beautiful smile, he never left without a big hug and always said he loved you before leaving. Steve was an incredible husband and father, loving brother and son, and remarkable person who will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 5 ½ years, “My Jenny” McMichael; son, Timothy Alan Humphries McMichael; daughter, Taylor Ann Humphries McMichael; parents, Philip Owens McMichael and Rhonda Harper McMichael; siblings, Rhonda “Michelle” McMichael Honeycutt and husband Jonathan, Matthew “Dewey” Owens McMichael, Aaron Ray McMichael, Joshua Caleb McMichael and wife Haley. He is also survived by his niece, Avery Ann Bellaci; godchild, Alexis Bromell; new puppy, Diesel; and many close friends and extended family.
Steve is preceded in death by his grandparents; and best friend and dog, Tank.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Service Times and information are being developed by the family at this time. Please check back soon.

 

 

Read the Bible

  • 2 Sam. 23-24
  • Ps. 63
  • Acts 25

 

 

Friday Morning Bible Study

  • Romans 9
  • 10 A.M.
  • Fellowship Hall of FBC, Kentwood
  • You have an open-invitation to join us.

 

 

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

 

 

Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com/

 

 

Vacation Bible School at FBC, Kentwood

  • “Shipwrecked – Rescued by Jesus”
  • June 4-8
  • 8:30-11:30 A.M.
  • Ages – Pre-K through 5th grade
  • Kickoff – June 3rd at 5 P.M.
    • Water slides
    • Food
    • Fun
  • Preregistration
    • Sunday morning at church
    • @fbckentwood.org
    • Shirts available at church office
    • Need more information? – Call 229-8111

 

 

God has plans for you to be on-mission today!

Anna Lee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday

“Be still in the presence of the Lord,

and wait patiently for him to act.” 

~Psalm 37:7 NLT~

 

 

David and I just watched the homecoming of the hostages who were held in North Korea.  What great homecomings they will have during the next few days and weeks!

 

 

A missionary had a homecoming too.  She arrived in heaven.   https://wordpress.com/post/theprayerlink.com/22947

‘Return to sender’: Casket proclaims life journey

by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, May 09, 2018 (11 hours ago)
Tags: Heaven

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Retired Southern Baptist missionary Patricia Stooksbury wanted everyone to know her life’s journey. She had it printed plainly on her pine shipping-crate-modeled casket.

“Return to Sender.” “To: Heaven thru Jesus Christ.” “This end up.” “Fragile.”

John Green, pastor of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., described the casket as unique and unlike anything he’d ever seen.

“I was so impressed because it was such an interesting way to share about her faith,” Green told Baptist Press today (May 9). “Everyone recognizes a shipping crate is sending you to another destination. That’s the story she was telling, even in her death — the story she was telling all throughout her life, which is that through faith in Christ we can have another home where we’ll spend eternity.”

Stooksbury, of Powell, Tenn., returned to her eternal home April 29 at age 70. Her journey was recounted and celebrated May 3 at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, named in 1953 for William Wallace, a medical missionary to China for 17 years until his death at the hands of the communists in 1951.

At her funeral, the custom-built casket was front and center. By then, many friends and family members had signed the casket with well wishes.

“God speed.” “See you on the other side.” “Thank God for missionaries.”

The International Mission Board commissioned Stooksbury for the mission field in 1976. She spent more than 36 years spreading the Gospel, first as a Journeyman in Ecuador, then as a missionary to Costa Rica and Bolivia. She took medical leave in 2010, returning to the U.S. with pulmonary hypertension and stage 3 kidney failure.

She commissioned her casket in 2014 from Stevens Mortuary in Knoxville, the Knoxville News Sentinel wrote at the time.

“I think it’s appropriate for the occasion,” the News Sentinel quoted her as saying. “I want those at my funeral to notice my witness. I am going back to God, so I had them put ‘return to sender’ on top.

“On the sides, in English and Spanish, it says ‘To Heaven [thru] Jesus Christ,’ because it is because of Him and what He did that I can get there.”

Friends who spoke at her funeral, including her Knoxville pastor Mark Sasser, said she relished heaven.

“Here’s what I learned about Pat over the years that I’ve known her — she was ready to go,” said Sasser, pastor of Callahan Baptist Church. “She was ready to go. She had made her preparation.”

Stooksbury accepted her call to missions while a teenage member of Wallace Memorial Baptist, under the tutelage of former and longtime pastor Jim McCluskey. She joined Callahan Baptist after retiring from the mission field.

Retired Southern Baptist missionaries Carter and Charlotte Davis, longtime friends of Stooksbury, also noted her eagerness for heaven.

“Why isn’t the Lord calling me home?” she asked Carter Davis two months before her death, Davis said at the funeral. Davis didn’t know what to tell her, he said, other than God still had use for her on earth.

Bringing greetings from IMB to her survivors, Davis read from Ecclesiastes 7:1.

“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth (NIV),” Davis said. “That’s the way Patricia viewed death, something to behold and celebrate. Patricia, we love you and we miss you. We return you to sender.”

 

 

We may not have a homecoming to our country like the hostages did, but we can all have a sweet homecoming like Patricia Stooksbury!

 

 
Read the Bible 

  • 2 Samuel 11-12
  • Ps. 60
  • Acts 19

 

 

Let’s all get prepared for a heavenly homecoming!

Anna Lee

Friday

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Daniel 3:17-18

I love to read about Daniel.  He had such high standards as he served God.

 

 

Mrs. Bessie Hayden got her portable oxygen yesterday and called to say she will be at Bible study this morning.  How many other places could she have chosen to to go today, but the desire of her heart is to be at church studying God’s Word.  We’ll be glad to have her back.

 

 

Pray for Debi Bales as she has  tests today at Cypress Point.  Pray for medical answers.

 

 

M-JAM is tomorrow.  Pray for the hundreds of hearts to be open to God’s word and the message of telling others about Jesus.

 

 
Read the Bible

  • 2 Sam. 1-2
  • Eccl. 11:6-10
  • Acts 14

 

 

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net

 

 

Baptist Message – http://www.baptistmessage.com

 

 

Operation Christmas Child 

  • Do you like to paint, draw, crochet, sew, cut with scissors, laminate, etc.?  You will be able to make some items for OCC shoeboxes!
  • Do you shop?  Keep your eyes open for items children need or would enjoy (spoons, small bowls, flashlights, hair ornaments, solar calculators, highlighters, small puzzles and games, hairbrushes, glue sticks, t-shirts. scissors, fishing needs, aprons, small cars and trucks, small dolls, balls, small battery operated clocks, etc.)

 

  • If you received a shoe box two weeks ago, please see me for a label for your box.

 

 

How are you going to help someone know about Jesus this weekend?  One way is to bring them to church and let the Sunday School teacher and the pastor do the “teaching” for you!

Anna Lee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

~Romans 12:12 (NIV)~

National Day of Prayer

(http://bpnews.net/50810/firstperson-tomorrow-is-the-national-day-of-prayer)

 

 

Read the Bible

  • ! Sam. 28-29
  • Ps. 553
  • Acts 14

 

 

Tomorrow’s Bible Study 

  • Romans 7
  • 10 A.M. in Fellowship Hall of FBC
  • Anyone who wants/loves to study the Bible

 

 

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

 

 

Ten people are lined up to attend M-JAM in Alexandria.  Say prayers the event will be meaningful to all the children and adults who will be there.  May each person’s heart for missions be encouraged.

Anna Lee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday

 

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.

He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

~1 Chronicles 28:20~

 

Two ladies who are now home:

  • Mrs. Jeanette McGehee is home and able to get around a little.
  • Lisa Cutrer had her appendix removed Thursday night and is already home.

The last information I had, Alice Faye Lee was still hospitalized.

Keep praying for all three ladies.

 

 

Read the Bible 

  • Ruth 3-4
  • Psalm 48
  • Acts 3

 

Louisiana Baptist Message – http://www.baptistmessage,com

 

 

Baptist Press – http:www.bpnews.net

 

 

Those who will be attending the Children in Action trip to M-JAM need to get their permission slips and money in tomorrow.  Final reservations will be made Monday.

 

 

Thank-you for praying today.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

~Isaiah 1:18~

 

Mrs. Jeanette McGehee is in North Oaks with a fractured neck.  Thank God it was not broken.  Keep “Miss” Jeanette and Mr. Ed in your prayers.

 

 

Mr. Elwood Courtney of Holden had bladder surgery for cancer.  The doctor removed a tumor the size of a softball.  Mr. Elwood is doing well.  He is 99.  This is his 3rd round with bladder cancer.  Please pray his recovery continues to go well.

 

 

 

Shirley Foster

January 27, 1935 – April 16, 2018
A resident of Kentwood passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. She was born January 27, 1935 in Wheeler, MS and was 83 years of age. She is survived by son, Larry Leon Foster, Kentwood; 2 daughters, Mary Lynn Jordan and husband, Ted, and Sue Ann Huber and husband, Robert, both of Kentwood; sister, Peggy Gilley, Tupelo, MS;10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, Robert Marvin Foster; parents, Leon Percy Brewer and Lillian Beatrice Cox Brewer; brother, Gerald Leon Brewer; 2 sisters, Jimmy Sue Haile and Mary Nell McCreary. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 11 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018. Services conducted by Rev. Ernest Graham. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

 

 

Jerrye Kay Rawls

December 17, 1938 – April 15, 2018

Mrs. Jerrye Kay Hendry Rawls, 79 of Magnolia, MS passed away Sunday April 15, 2018 at McComb Nursing and Rehab.

Visitation will be Wednesday April 18, 2018  at Hartman Jones Funeral Home 1801 Delaware Ave. McComb, MS from 9:00 AM until services at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in the Simmons Family Cemetery in Magnolia.  Dr. Dave Hartson will officiate.

Mrs. Rawls was born December 17, 1938 in Amite, LA to the late Louis Hendry and was Maybelle Davis Hendry.

Jerrye Kay was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She loved God and her family dearly.  She was a long time member of Bala Chitto Baptist Church of Magnolia.  She had a great sense of humor and loved a good prank.  She loved to have a house full of company with a meal on the table.  She was not afraid of anything and was always up for a challenge.  She fought for the rights of the underdog and was the first one to give to someone in need.  If anyone needed a bed for the night or months she never   turned anyone away.   She loved crafting, mining, gardening, and fishing. She was a very skilled marksman.  She taught her family the importance of family, hard work, and ensured her children were raised with strong Christian values.

She was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Maybelle Hendry; two brothers Beau and Bennett Hendry.

Survivors include her husband of 59 years Mr. Willie Rawls of Magnolia; one son David Rawls and his wife Jennifer of McComb; two daughters Tonya Perniciaro and her husband Andy of Diamondhead, MS; Jackie Davis and her husband Chuck of Phoenix, AZ;  seven grandchildren Brooke Barton and her husband Dr. William Barton of Tuscaloosa, AL; Brandi Lockley and her husband Geoffrey Lockley of Oak Grove, MS; Josh Rawls and his fiancé Meghan Fadden of Mandeville, LA; Lauren Perniciaro, Logan Perniciaro, Quintin Davis and Peyton Davis; three great grandchildren William and Beau Barton and Elin Lockley; two brothers Gary Hendry and his wife Linda of Amite, LA; Shirley Littel and his wife Debbie of Amite, LA; two sisters Terrye Rhame and her husband Jerry of LaPorte, TX; Leslie Cleveland and her husband Arthur of Springfield, LA; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

 

 

Mr. John Alan Blackwell – No obituary yet!

 

 

 

Read the Bible

  • Judges 16-18
  • Eeccl. 8:1-9
  • John 21

 

 

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net

 

 

Please be in prayer for the many hurting families in our community.

Anna Lee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday

“You will search again for the Lord your God.

And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”

~Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT~

 

 

Sharon Phillips’ heart valve surgery yesterday lasted 7 1/2 hours, but went well.  She is in ICU in Covington and will have a rather long recovery time.  Please pray for her.

 

 

Mrs. Mildred Birch continues to have back problems.  Please pray for her to get some relief.

 

 

Bobby Simpson is improving and may even be able to be in church Sunday.  Thank God for his improvement.

 

 

Martha Griffith seems to have also had a stroke.  Pray for her as she fights to recover.

 

 

Gail Brister will have a knee procedure Friday in Covington.  Pray she benefits from the surgery and can get around better.

 

 

Thank God for medical personnel and medical knowledge to take care of Gail and all the rest of us.

 

 

Read the Bible

  • Judges 1-3
  • Psalm 44
  • John 14

 

 

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

 

 

Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com

 

 

VBS at FBC, Kentwood will be the first full week of June.  Mark your calendar.

 

 

Last night, in Children in Action, we played a learning game.  One part was to stand in a circle facing away from each other.  This represents the focus of our church – others!  Let’s pretend to stand in a circle facing away from each other, but looking outward.  That will surely direct our paths in better directions.

 

 

If you have children who are interested in M-JAM, please sign them up at church.  Also, get an information sheet from me Sunday.  M-JAM is May 5th at Camp Tall Timbers.  We will leave Kentwood at 4 P.M. on the 4th and return Saturday night.  It will be a fun, but very inspiring day.  Boys and girls in grades 1-6 are invited to join with us.

 

 

May our churches continually focus outward!

Anna Lee