A resident of East Fork, LA, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, LA. He was born August 22, 1946 in East Fork, LA and was 78 years of age. He worked at the Amite Steel Mill for 20 years and later managed Don Lewis Western Auto in Kentwood, LA for 15 years. Every morning you would find him at the East Fork Quick Stop with his friends drinking coffee. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Connie Hatcher Holmes; son, Jamie Holmes and wife, Stacey; daughter, Robbie Holmes Tate and husband, Brandon; 5 grandchildren, Dally Holmes, Brantley Tate, Kaylee Holmes, Parklyn Tate, and Colton Holmes; sister, Elane Phillips; and brother-in-law, D. M. Holmes. Preceded in death by his parents, Willie J. and Willie G. Holmes; and sister, Jerry Holmes. Visitation at East Fork Baptist Church from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on Monday and from 9:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Services conducted by Rev. Jay Avance. Interment East Fork Cemetery, East Fork, LA. Pallbearers will be Brantley Tate, Colton Holmes, Jimmie Hatcher, Clay Milton, Scotch Phillips, and Taylor Alford. Honorary pallbearers will be Pete Alford, David Hendrickson, Glenn Burkett, and Roger Tate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to East Fork Baptist Church Youth Fund. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.
Sunday School Lesson
Portions of Psalms 105
A hymn written to be sung.
Prayer Request
Kenny Ray Gill’s wife, Melody, is hospitalized at St. Tammany Hospital. Your prayers for this couple will be appreciated.
Who is current in their reading? I am! I trust you are too. If not, spend some extra time reading until you get caught up.
Prayer Focus
Today, the Two Rivers Associational WMU will meet in Greensburg. As we meet, please pray for WMU and Women on Mission in churches throughout our association to be strong in leading women in mission projects and activities throughout this area. It’s not too late for you to gather a couple ladies from your church and drive to Greensburg to be encouraged and grow. Judy Noonan has a extensive knowledge of missions that she gladly shares with others. Come and be encouraged. Even if you won’t be attending, pray for the role women have in missions everywhere around the globe. The next WMU meeting will be in Kentwood in September.
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Billie Joyce Sullivan Accardo, a deeply kind, loving, and selfless woman whose presence brought warmth and comfort to everyone she met. Born on June 6, 1941, Billie lived a life full of grace and quiet strength. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend – always putting others before herself and offering love without conditions. Her gentle spirit, unwavering compassion, and boundless generosity were the foundation of her family and a blessing to all who knew her. Billie was well known as a para for Natalbany Middle School and retired from Office of Motor Vehicles. Billie will be remembered not only for her selfless heart, but for the way she made everyone feel special and truly seen. Her legacy of love will live on through the many lives she touched. She leaves behind family and friends who cherished her deeply, and who will continue to carry her light forward in their hearts. She was the kind of person who always put others before herself-whether through quiet acts of service, thoughtful words, or simply being there when it mattered most. Her love was the steady foundation of her family, and her spirit will be cherished forever. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her 4 children, Leatrix Cockerham (Kenneth), John Accardo (Aimee), Toni Baiamonte (Van), and Rebecca Ann Accardo; 10 grandchildren, Ashley Callegan (Chase), Jennifer Richard (Timmy), Marianne Patout, Philippe Myre (Kerri), Michelle Accardo (Matthew Pecoraro), Megan Accardo, Elizabeth Acosta, Vanessa Smith (Marc), Angelle Baiamonte, and Heather Accardo; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, James “Jimmy” Sullivan (Mickey); brother-in-law, Joseph D. Accardo; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband, Salvador Joseph Accardo; parents, James and Mildred Sullivan; brothers and sisters, Geneva Venuto, Rev. Lewis Sullivan, Anna Mae Hart, Henrietta Newman, and Annie Laura Tompkins. A private family service will be held at a later date. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Additional Bible Reading ‘God’s Word’
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
A Day of Preparation
Christians have often used Saturdays as a day of prepatation for the Lord’s Day. What can you do today to help make tomorrow a little easier?
Prepare your Sunday School lesson
Invite someone to attend church with you
Prepare a meal or a dessert for tomorrow
Water your plants
Wash an extra load of clothers
Etc.
“See you today at WMU and tomorrow at church!”
Today, I want to encourage you to be a part of a Sunday School class. If you don’t have a church or a class ask me to share some information with you;
10:00 Regular Meeting Followed by Potluck Meal (Bring a side or a dessert.)
Feel free to bring other ladies or girls with you.
Obituary
Nancy White Leglue
September 14, 1952 – July 17, 2025
A resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at her home. She was born September 14, 1952 in Brookhaven, MS and was 72 years of age. She is survived by her husband, Henry “Hank” Leglue; son, James “Jamie” A. Clark, Jr. and wife, Rhonda; 4 grandchildren, Dusty Clark , Lacie Clark, Kortnie Bates and husband, Lance, and Chance Travis; 2 great-grandchildren, Kynlie Bates and Cooper Bates; 2 brothers, Grover “Buster” White, Jr. and wife, Kathy and Nickie White and wife, Teresa; sister, Mittie W. Rohner; sisters-in-law, Dorella Milligan and husband, Vince and Diane Leglue and husband, Connie; brothers-in-law, Nolan Leglue and wife, Sharen and Jeffery Leglue and wife, Gretchel; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Margaret Edwards White; grandparents, Lanier and Dessie Thornhill White and Charlie and Mittie Crawford Edwards; sister, Sally Mullins; brother-in-law, JT Rohner; niece, Grace Rohner Chandler; sister-in-law, Linda Dier; brother-in-law, Phillip Leglue. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on Sunday and from 8:00AM until Religious Services at 10:00AM on Monday, July 21, 2025. Services conducted by Bro. Lance Bates. Interment Stevens Cemetery, Amite, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Today, we want to pray for Sunday School members as they prepare their weekly S.S. lesson.
“God’s Faithfulness” for July 20th
Psalms 105:1-11 and 42-45
Psalm 105 was written to be sung as a hymn.
Additional Bible Reading
‘A Great Mission, A Junior Partner’ Acts 12:24-25
Operation Christmas Child
Pray for most of the area churches as they purchase and collect many items which will be placed in our “Shoeboxes” in the coming months. Individual churches will turn their boxes in at drop off location during specific hours and church sites in November. Check with your church for needs.
We made several purchases yesterday, but always have a list of needs. One of out biggest needs now is AAA batteries.
Stores have school supples out, so it is a good time for pens, pencils, erasers, folders, loose leaf paper, etc.
What is ahead for us today? God’s plans or our plans? What takes priority?
Daily Bible Reading
Thursday
I Kings 12-14
Obituaries
William “Billy” Maurice Rhodus
August 3, 1943 – July 15, 2025
A resident of Kentwood, LA , passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at his home. He was born August 3, 1943 and was 81 years of age. From a young age, Billy had a great love of horses. He was a member of the Kentwood Riding Drill Team and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Posse Drill Team. Throughout the years, he competed in numerous horse shows. His two favorite horses were Dandy and Blaze, who won many competitions and were well known as two of the finest horses in the area.
A favorite past time of Billy’s was deer hunting, especially with his dogs. He was also a die hard LSU fan who enjoyed tailgating and season football tickets with the same group of friends and family for 10+ years. Billy was a dedicated member of the Kentwood Lions Club for many years, serving as president from 1993-1994. As a member he spent many hours contributing to community service, evidenced by his support for the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and Louisiana Lions Camp.
Billy was always a hard worker, working in many capacities throughout the years resulting in eventually becoming a business owner himself. In his later years, the thing he most enjoyed was working on the land where he was born and raised.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Charlotte Brown Rhodus; 2 daughters, Rebecca Rhodus Horne and Mary Megan Rhodus Roberts and husband, Justin “Jut” Roberts; 6 grandchildren, Peyton Horne, Piper Horne and fiancé, Jackson Bratton, Ivy Roberts, Isla Roberts, Violet Roberts, and Autumn Roberts; former son-in-law, Trey Horne; and special niece, Debra Sala. Preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Ivy Rhodus; sisters, Betty Faye Williams, Gay Slaven, and Marilynn Sue Rhodus. Visitation at East Fork Baptist Church from 1:00PM until Memorial Services at 3:00PM on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Services conducted by Bro. Danny Smith. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation or Louisiana Lions Camp.
Jeanette Finch
February 11, 1938 – July 15, 2025
A resident of Prairieville, LA, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at The Carpenter House in Baton Rouge, LA. She was born February 11, 1938 in Amite, LA and was 87 years of age. She was a devoted christian lady who enjoyed sharing her faith with others. She was a kind, gentle, humble, and loving lady who loved Jesus with all her heart. She enjoyed gardening and bird watching. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her 4 daughters, Anita Gail Wilson White, Darla Rea Wilson Burge (Tray), Sara Colleen Wilson Gueho (Willie), and Insa Diane Wilson Becnel; 1 sister, Mary Imelda Davis; 1 brother, Karl Junius Finch (Margaret); 9 grandchildren, Arlyn Diane Becnel Gamble, Mallory Gueho, Morgan Burkhalter (Brenton), Austin Gueho, Evan White (Lauren), Dylan White, Connor Burge (Kyndall), Chase Burge, and Lauren Burge; 8 great-grandchildren, Eden Gamble, Cameron White, Owen White, McKenzie White, Jensen Burkhalter, Jasper Burkhalter, Beck Burkhalter, and Adalyn Burge. Preceded in death by her father, William Joseph Finch; mother, Viola Frances Sharkey; brother, Willie Zelton Finch; sister, Mildred Collean Bickham; brother, Glyn Taylor Finch; sister, Helen Inez McDowell; brother, Jerry Emile Finch; son-in-laws, Byron James Becnel and Douglas Brian White. Visitation at Kedron Baptist Church from 9:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Services conducted by Bro. Harrell Sharkey, Jr. Interment Kedron Cemetery, Amite, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Bring a side dish or a dessert for the potluck meal which follows the meeting.
Feel free to bring a guest(s).
Please pray for:
Eddie Keith Schwartz
Keith Allen.
David Sellers
Sharing of Services
What a blessing that our church is able to share our services with church members and others three times each week! Other churches also do that, but I cannot provide an accurate list, so I will just list FBC, Kentwood.
Children’s Camp is coming soon.
Pray for the families, especially the children, who will be attending. You still have time to write to each child or any children you choose. Turn in your cards at the table just inside the front doors to the sanctuary.
Today, let’s pray for those who need to come to know God as their personal Lord and Savior. This group can certainly include those who will receive “Shoeboxes” from our churches.
Daily Bible Reading
Joly 16
I Kings 10-11
Verse of the Day
Weather Watch
We have both a flood watch and a heat watch for this afternoon, but no additional rain is expected. Be alert!
Eternity Watch
There is a watch today, and every day, for both a long and permanent problem, a not-so-happy home for eternity in hell! If your phone didn’t alert you to the situation, contact a pastor or Christian friend to guide you away from a bad decision.
Potluck lunch to follow. Bring your favorite side or dessert
Leadership meeting at 9:00 A.M.
Operation Christmas Child
We are collecting three additional AAA batteries for each of the 425 small flashlights (one set comes with each flashlight) we will be sending. Thanks to my very special “Hammond friend” who sent a check that will be used to purchase some of the additional batteries. If you can, please purchase additional AAA batteries too. If you would like to order flashlights with one set of batteries online, please ask Wanda Smith to tell/show you what she ordered recently. Thanks to her Sunday School class for regularly supplying funds for online purchases. (Wanda will also order for you or your class.)
Good morning. I’m sure you will be happy to hear there is no rain predicted for today, until you read what I have posted next.
HEAT ADVISORY
Heat Advisory from TUE 10:00 AM CDT until TUE 7:00 PM CDT
This was found on the Action 17 site this morning.
Prayer Focus
Pray for all the parents that are having to consider sending their children to camp this summer. I know it is probably a big, first time decision for many parents, but it is a bigger decision this summer.
Also, pray for those without air conditioning. When I was a child our homes, schools, and churches as well as most businesses were equipped with large fans, but we had never had AC at home. Now, we are accustomed to it and find our home are not equipped for no air conditioning.
Verse of the Day
Daily Bible Reading
July 15
I Kings 8-9
Sunday School Lesson
July 20
God’s Faithfulness
Psalm 105:1-11, 42-45
Obituary
Amanda Kathleen Parnell
January 30. 1984-July 12, 2025
This is all the information I can provide at this time. The McKneely site is down for maintenance. You can check later for more information on this obituary and for additional obituaries.
What a pretty morning. The sun is shining very brightly through the trees this morning with a lot of pink in the sky. Thank-you God for the pretty view. Good morning friends. I hope you see the pretty sky God has for us this morning.
Daily Bible Reading
7-14-25
I Kings 6-7
Verse of the Day
This is the start to a new day. I hope you have plans to accomplish several things today. Without plans of some sort, we tend to not accomplish much before the day ends.
Prayer Focus
Today, the emotional pain is enormous for many families because of a recent flood. Pray for them every time you think of them or hear a news report concerning the tragedy.
Appointments
If your family is like ours, you have at least one appointment this week. Thank God for the medically educated and trained individuals you will see. What would we do without them? Many of us would not be here today.
As you thank God for them, thank Him also for those learning to fill their shoes. What an awesome field medicine is for many of our young adults to go into! I am blessed to know and know of many who will be caring for us in the future. Encourage and pray for those you know as they prepare for tremendous responsibilities.
Pray for Missionaries
Today we ask you to pray for Aaron and Melanie Stoval, who serve as missionaries in Central Asia. They are partnering with national believers and four local churches to provide hope, healing, and discipleship to men who are recovering from addiction at House of Hope, a halfway house in the region.
House of Hope provides a place to stay, job skills training, and fellowship for Central Asian men who are recovering addicts. Men staying at the House of Hope participate in Bible studies and prayer times, and learn how to weld, which gives them a marketable occupation. They also raise and sell rabbits and grow vegetables for sale. The men are mentored and discipled so they can grow in their personal faith and also impact the vast lostness in their region. The Stovals live alongside these men to invest in their healing and discipleship.
One of those men is Damir. After graduating from an alcohol rehabilitation program in Central Asia, he struggled to get on his feet. Yuri, a Christian, saw Damir by the side of the road and invited him to House of Hope. There, Damir received the help he needed to stay clean, learned welding skills, and grew in his faith. He is now a successful welder, has a place of his own, and is thriving.
Additional Bible Reading
‘Living as a New Creation’
Galatians 6:12-18
Baptist Press
I encourage you to read one or more of these articles.
Today is a good day to write and mail some cards of love, sympathy, thanks. appreciation, encouragement, etc. I believe in writing cards because I enjoy receiving them. What about you?
I trust you have plans today that include worshiping the Lord. Even if you physically cannot attend there are some good services available online. Many of the local churches are included in that number.
Daily Bible Reading
July 13
I Kings 3-5
Today’s Verse
Prayer Request
Pray for missionaries working in dangerous assignments, locals who assist them, and those eager to hear.
Plan for Today
Worshiping God
Up to you
Samaritan’s Purse
After sharing the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said “Go and do likewise.” That is the mission of Samaritan’s Purse—to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel.
FBC, Kentwood and many others in our area help by packing “Shoeboxes” which Samaritan’s Purse distributes around the world. Teaching about Jesus is part of the distribution process.
Additional Bible Passages
‘Joy and Skepticism’ (Acts 12:13-15)
[Peter, after his deliverance from prison by an angel,] knocked at the door in the gate [at Mary’s house], and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
Acts 12:13-15
Unstoppable! ‘Joy and Skepticism’
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25
OCC = Operation Christmas Child
David and I have found many calculators and glue sticks in the last two weeks. These items are part of the pencil bags we make for the Shoeboxes. I thank God we have enough glue sticks now.
Things you might could find for the boxes this week.
5-inch flashlights with 3 AAA batteries included
Lots of AAA batteries so we can give each child an extra set
Solar calculators
Thanks for reading and praying today. It’s not about you or me. It is about others!
Good morning, friends. I am glad you check in and hope this site blesses, encourages, informs, and/or teaches you something. I love writing it each day.
Verse of the Day
I sincerely hope each of you will be walking through the gate in heaven. I desire you to be prepared to walk through the gate to heaven for eternity. If you are not prepared to do so, talk to a pastor, a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, or another Christian so they can guide you. Don’t wait. Do it today!
Daily Bible Reading
We have completed another book of the Bible and are starting another one. That’s great. I certainly enjoyed II Samuel and being reminded of passages I studied previously.
Who knows the thoughts that another person has? Only a person’s spirit that lives within him knows his thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God….
1 Corinthians 2:11-12
Prayer Focus – Texas Flood
Thank God for all the lives that were lost in Texas last week that were Christians, not that they were lost, but that they were Christians. They are already with Jesus! How wonderful for them! It is also comforting to their parents to know their little girls are in heaven. That gives their family, friends, and all the rest of us about an example to follow if we are not already on the right path.
The water took many people other than the little girls at their summer camp. Let’s pray they were also Christians!
How sad the whole situation is. Let us all be comforted in knowing many of the victims are already in heaven.
Thoughts:
Have the young boys and girls around us chosen to follow Jesus?
What about the older boys and girls?
What about the adults?
What about you?
Several years ago, I heard a lady say that all but one of her grandchildren but one were Christians. Then, she was able to say all of her grandchildren were Christians! Now, she is praying for and teaching great grands!
Yesterday, as we returned from David’s appointment in Covington, we stopped at a Dollar Tree to look for three items for our shoeboxes. As soon as I got inside the door, a former school system employee greeted me. We had the opportunity to visit a few minute.
After she left, we headed to the school supplies to see if they had any of the specific items we are in need of. We were pulling out items. from the shelves and loading our basket when she returned and gave us $20.00. She said for us to put it on the shoeboxes. We were buying a number of that item, eight packs of glue sticks, so her donation helped buy some of them.
I read a book a few years ago, “God Winks”. That was surely a “God Wink”!
The Prayer Link 
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