Today, we thank God for all the people who watch our services from home each week. It doesn’t matter where you live or why you watch our broadcast, we are thankful and say special prayers for you today.
Amite Nursing Home (The Lodge)
Today, let’s pray for the two ladies from our class and church who are in the local nursing home. We thank God for their faithful service for the many year and know they continue to love you even when they are away from their home and their church.. Thank God for Mrs. Mary Varnado and Mrs. Velma Anthony.
We are also thankful for two ladies from our class at church who are “homebound” for a while. These ladies are Mrs. Thueple Hurst and Mrs. Alice Faye Lee.
If you haven’t been to The Lodge, make a visit to this beautiful place. You can visit someone you know and even “run across” someone you know, but did not know was a resident there.
Challenge
We have had many visitors and new members at church in the last few years. I know many of you say you do not know all these people. I challenge you to introduce yourself to a new family each week. Write their names down and speak to them by name when you see them. Then, find another new family to introduce yourself to and to speak to each week.
Just think of all the new people you will know at the end of a month! Make this a weekly habit and learn who all those people are that haven’t been at our church as long as you have.
Appreciation
I appreciate all of you who read and pray after you read. I also appreciate those of you who introduce others to The Pray Link. If you have the skill, you might even “fix” their phone so they can easily locate TPL each day.
Please pray for a young church friend who had two seizures last night. He was taken to the ER, but released for observation at home.
Also, please pray for a young man who was involved in a piling on accident. He seems to be okay, but his car is not.
Read the Bible Every Day
Joshua 9:1 – 10:28
Psalm 50:1-6
Proverbs 11:30-31
Luke 14:25 – 15:10
Prayer Focus
Today, let’s pray for families as they make plans for summer vacations. Pray for good choices to be made that are appropriate to each family situation.
Obituary
Elizabeth “Betty Jo” Dykes
February 5, 1930 – April 21, 2024
A resident of Montpelier, LA, passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Landmark Nursing Center of Hammond. She was born February 5, 1930 in Carthage, MS and was 94 years of age. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Masters plus 30 years in Education and was a lifelong member of Eleanor Chapter #105 Order of Eastern Star. She was the oldest living member of Pine Grove Methodist Church. She is survived by her son, Tommy Dykes and Ann Watermeier; daughter, Sherri Dykes Rardon; grandchildren, Chansley Dykes, Kelly Hoover and husband, Darrel, and Haley Hicks and husband, Tim; great-grandchildren, Carson and Caleb Hoover and Timmy, Harper, and Finley Hicks. Preceded in death by her husband, Herbert T. “Tag” Dykes; son, Richard W. Dykes; parents, Fountain and Inez Morgan Young; 3 brothers, Fountain Young, Willie Young, and Robert Larry Young. Visitation at Pine Grove Methodist Church from 10:00AM until religious services at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Services conducted by Rev. Dr. Michael Townsend. Interment Pine Grove Cemetery, Pine Grove, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Pine Grove Cemetery Association, c/o Jelaine Fitzhugh, 44241 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., Hammond, LA 70403. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
A Beautiful Day!
The day is starting out a little cool, but is predicted to be sunny and pretty all day.
What will you do today to impact another person in a positive way?
Today, we want to pray for two local ladies who will be having surgery. Please pray for Shontell and Theresa.
Updated OCC Report
I have an updated count of the number of totes that were cut out Saturday. It was 125! Ladies, you did a great job! We’ll meet for more “marking” and “cutting” again next month.
Prayer Focus Today
Pray for those in need, not of money, but love and attention. May each person who could describe themselves that way find the love and attention they need. May others be aware of the need and help them to feel satisfied and pleased with the love and attention they receive.
Remember, we can “put feet to our prayers” and needs! May we learn to focus our prayers on others, not ourselves.
Read the Bible Every Day
Joshua 7:1 – 8:35
Psalm 49:16 – 20
Proverbs 11:27-29
Luke 14:7-24
Baptism
We had a baptism of a teenager yesterday. There were many family members present, the most I have ever seen for a baptism. How special it was to see so many relatives present to encourage this young man about the big step he was taking!
We had a great group of ladies marking and cutting fabric for totes. More than a hundred bags are now ready for the next step, sewing. You did a fantastic job yesterday, ladies.
Welcome to another weekend. Make it count by doing something for others.
Here’s one opportunity.
Ladies’ Fabric Cutting Workshop Today
FBC, Kentwood’s Fellowship Hall
9:00 A.M.
Bring pinking shears if you have some.
We will be cutting fabric to make totes which will go into our OCC Shoeboxes.
Read the Bible Every Day
April 20
Joshua 1:1 – 3:17
Psalm 49:1-9
Proverbs 11:22-23
Luke 13:1-21
Sunday School Preparation
Learning more about Jacob
Genesis 35
Applying the Scripture to our daily lives
Prayer Focus Today
Let’s pray for our country. May we cease the unauthorized protesting and become more aware of others. I’m not saying we all need to agree, but when there is a difference of opinion, speak up in a kind, legally approved way.
For example, there was a protest on a bridge in California this week that stopped thousands of cars for hours. What a danger this was! What an inconvenience it was to those who had plans for the day! People had planes to catch, classes to teach, patients to see, children to keep, stores to run, meals to serve, etc. Let’s be considerate of others and helpful in any way we can.
Kentwood does not have a bridge like that, but it does have people with their individual plans. Let’s be helpful, not a hinderance to other today and every day. If we pray for those around us, I don’t think we would be praying to be a hindrance in any way.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 61:11
Read the Bible Every Day I missed posting correctly, so today you get two days of readings.
April 18
Deuteronomy 31:30 – 32:52
Psalm 48:1-7
Proverbs 11:16-18
Luke 12:22-40
April 19
Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12
Psalm 48:8-14
Proverbs 11:19-21
Luke 12:41-59
Prayer Focus
Today, let’s focus our prayers on the Middle East and for the people in that region of the world.
Marking and cutting fabric for tote bags for Shoeboxes
Saturday at 9 A.M.
Fellowship Hall
Bring pinking shears if you have some.
Today is a good day to reach out and help someone.
Who and how will you help a friend, neighbor, church member, or strangers? Use your talents, time, and resources as God leads you today.
Committees
I often mention classes at church. Today, I want to say most churches function because of a number of committees who meet regularly with a specific area of church ministry as a focus. Often, other church members are not informed about their purpose or plans. Let’s thank God for these people who give of their time to serve in this way.
Thanks to all those who keep up with needs and guide others in determining how they will help.
May we step in a do a part in ministering to others. Go back to the top and reread the Scripture for today.
Joy Smith Stegner, 71, of Kearney, MO, passed away on the morning of Saturday, April 13, 2024 at her home due to complications from a recent illness.
She was the youngest of four children born to the late Elbert and Ellen Smith on October 2, 1952, in Kentwood, LA, and grew up on a dairy farm. Joy placed her faith in Jesus and was baptized on June 17, 1962. She attended Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, LA, where she completed her 5-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree in 3 and a half years.
Joy met the love of her life, George Stegner, while taking night school classes at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, and they were married on November 15, 1975. Their family continued to grow with the birth of two sons, Jeffrey in 1982, and Steven in 1984. Joy was a career pharmacist (retiring in 2016) who maintained her registration in 5 different states all while being a loving, devoted mother to her two sons. As a mom, Joy never missed an opportunity to see her sons’ band and choir concerts or little league baseball games.
Joy was an active member of several organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the War of 1812, where she enjoyed helping other women trace their genealogy. Joy was also a member of the Mustang Club of Greater Kansas City, serving as the membership chair for 20 years. In addition, she was a member of the Mustang Club of America, where she served on the national board of directors, participated on multiple committees, was a Gold-Card Judge, and earned her pin last weekend for having judged at 50 national shows. George and Joy loved to travel across the country to various Mustang Club of America car shows. Over the course of 18 months between October 2021 and March 2023, they visited 43 states in her Joyride Mustang and checked off her 50th state by cruising Hawaii.
In addition to her membership responsibilities, Joy enjoyed watching LSU and Kansas City football, as well as working on beautiful, quilted masterpieces with her mother-in-law, Jeanette. Besides Joy’s love for the Lord, her greatest passion was her love for her family—especially as Gramma to two grandchildren, Mykah (age 10) and Phoebe (age 3). She loved going on coffee dates and shopping with Mykah and reading to Phoebe.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Elbert and Ellen Smith, and her grandson, Gideon Stegner.
She is lovingly survived by her husband, George Stegner; her sons, Jeff Stegner (Richard) and Steven Stegner (Lisa), and her granddaughters, Mykah and Phoebe. Joy is also survived by her mother-in-law, Jeanette Stegner; her sister, Carolyn Baxter (Henry); brothers, Johnnie Smith and Lea Smith (Wanda); numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and many more beloved chosen family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Kearney, MO, 303 S. Grove St., Kearney, MO 64060. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A fellowship meal will follow.
Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, 13992 MO-N, Pilot Grove, MO 65276.
Arrangements in care of Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney.
Please pray for the family.
Prayers Please
Theople Hurst – Home with a brace
Judy Dickinson – Foot recovering nicely from surgery
It’s never too late to contribute to the Annie Armstrong Offering which is used to tell people in North America about Jesus.
Senior Adult Luncheon
Yesterday, the senior adults had lunch at Duke’s in Watson yesterday. The food was delicious. The service was excellent.
The Sunday School Lesson continues with the life of Jacob.
I hope you will study this lesson in your churh. If you do not have a Sunday School class in a church near your, please feel free to join us at FBC, Kentwood.
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Darryl Bridges having surgery in New Orleans Tuesday morning. Please pray for Darryl , the family and the doctors.
Thank-you. James for sharing this request.
Additional Prayer Needs
Please pray for two ladies from my Sunday School class. One is Alice Faye Lee. The other is Theople Hurst who fell and is now in St. Tammany Hospital with a fractured vertebra. Your prayers for both of these ladies will be greatly appreciated.
Prayer Focus Today
Today, let’s pray for caregivers as they continue their difficult task of caring for someone 24 hours a day. They are focused on the loved one whose needs daily help and often do not do some things for themselves. Maybe, you can do something special for them by ….
Obituary
Carlton S. Faller, MD
August 18, 1932 – April 14, 2024
Carlton Samuel Faller, M.D. passed away April 14, 2024, at the age of 91, at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Tickfaw on August 18, 1932, raised in Metairie, and graduated from Metairie High School in 1950. He attended LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans graduating in 1958. He was Board Certified in Family Medicine and practiced in Kentwood from 1961 until 2010. He served as a Chief of Staff at E.S. Pike Memorial Hospital and Hood Memorial Hospital, Medical Director at Kentwood Manor Nursing Home and was a former President of Tangipahoa Parish Medical Society.
He married the former Janice Locascio in 1958, moved to Kentwood in October 1961, and has been a faithful member of Kentwood Methodist Church since. In the community he was elected to the Town Board of Aldermen, was a member of the Lions Club, an honorary Rotarian, a founder of KCRA, and was a coach of his sons’ little league baseball teams and his daughters’ softball team. He proudly served the Kentwood Kangaroos Football team as doctor for over 40 years and was honored to have been inducted into KHS Hall of Fame in 2022.
He was preceded in death by Janice, his wife of 42 years, parents Clenny and Myrtis Hebert Faller, sisters Dorothy Achord, Perry Holder and Maxine Selman.
Carlton is survived by his children Julie Faller, Susan Hayes (George), Carlton Jr. (Mary) and John Faller, his grandsons Alec and Elliott Hayes, Miles and Matthew Faller, his brother Jimmy Faller and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many very good friends.
Visitation at Kentwood Methodist Church from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on Tuesday and from 10:00AM until religious services at 1:00PM on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Services conducted by Rev. Beryl Billiot. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA.
We, his children are grateful for the loving, tender kindness and care Daddy received from Valillian Sibley and Tookie Lenoir these last years. We could not have survived without them.
We also wish to thank the nursing staff of Modern Hospice.
In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to Kentwood Methodist Church or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
OCC Thank-You
You are greatly appreciated if you make purchases, give money, or perform tasks for OCC. Today, I wish to thank the family that helped by sending an Amazon order for the March items and now for the April items we suggested – all five of the items. All five items were ordered and delivered to me last week. What a generous heart for missions! They are seeing, not a picture of us packing shoeboxes, but of a child opening a shoebox that contains some of our essential items, like a toothbrush that is not always possible for them. The child will have the opportunity to gather with other children for some lessons, similar to Sunday School lessons, that introduce them to Jesus and gives them a chance to have Him for their Savior.
Another individual, a man, called to ask what he could order for us. He had a tax refund and was spending a portion of it for Shoebox item. When the order came in he started investing time in dividing it as we need it to pack.
While I am thanking a generous individuals, I also want to thank Sunday School classes that ask Wanda Smith to place Amazon orders for them. She would gladly do so for other classes too. If you give her your money, she will order what you suggest or ask me what is most needed. I love to see the Amazon boxes.
There are two men who have a number of pencils to sharpen. That’s a slow process, but they gladly give their time to give pencils their first sharpening on electric sharpeners.
One more group I need to mention is those who gladly give time when I let them know we have something they can do. There are periodic needs when we unexpectedly find we need some help. I appreciate these volunteers too!
If you have some time to give us, tell us. If you told me and I forgot, tell me again.
Dr. Faller passed away, but the obituary is not available yet.
Lea Smith’s sister Joyce Stegner, of Kansas City, passed away. Her funeral will be in Kansas City.
Nelda Rohner Boyd
August 3, 1927 – April 13, 2024
Nelda Rohner Boyd was born in Montpelier, Louisiana on August 3, 1927 and passed away peacefully on April 13, 2024. She attended Greensburg High School and Southeastern Louisiana College, and proudly served as the secretary of the First Baptist Church of Greensburg.
Nelda was renowned for her extraordinary kindness, enthusiasm, and beautiful smile. She was an exceptional mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and the very best of friends to many. She will be fondly remembered for her unwavering dedication to family and friends and the boundless joy and happiness she brought to all that knew her.
She was a lifelong resident of Louisiana and a seasoned traveler who became an unofficial ambassador of the state, singing the praises of all things Louisiana during her travels around the country and abroad. She loved attending meetings as a member of the Daughters of the British Empire, Strawberry Fields Chapter, and her selfless nature exemplified the organization’s national motto: “not ourselves, but the cause.”
Her absence leaves an immeasurable void in the hearts of all who knew her. Nelda’s legacy is carried on by her loving family: her siblings, Floyd and Barbara, Betty, and Jeanette; her children, Suzi and Brent, Bob and Sarb, Barry and Debby, and David and Fiona; her stepson Alan and Debbie; her grandchildren, Lani and Brad, Lee and Katherine, Steven, Kelly and Will, and Brian and Dani; her step-grandchildren Dana, Heather, Fairis, Brock, Lori, Michael, Erin, Lee, Alane, and Matthew; and her great-grandchildren Bennett, Caleb, and Liam. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Childress Boyd.
Services will be private, but in recognition of Nelda’s love of a good party, her family will host a celebration in her honor at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Nelda’s family requests donations be made in her name to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank at brfoodbank.org or First Baptist Church of Greensburg. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Jerilea T. Case
December 21, 1935 – April 12, 2024
A resident of Amite, LA, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024 at her home. She was born December 21, 1935 in Eunice, LA and was 88 years of age. She is survived by her children, Kenny Case and wife, Maggie, and Mike Case; grandchildren, Heath Case and wife, Geralyn, Heidi Case Silver and husband, Kaleb Silver, and Ben Case; great-grandchildren, Jade Case, Zack Silver, and Allie Silver; and brother, Harry Thomasson and wife, Martha. Preceded in death by her husband, Murphy Case; parents, Lawrence Joseph Thomasson and Olea Champagne Thomasson; brother, Warren Thomasson; sister-in-law, Gertrude Thomasson; daughter-in-law, Trudy Case. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6:00PM until 9:00PM on Wednesday and from 8:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Services conducted by Pastor Jeff McKneely. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Mary Louise Cash Howard
July 6, 1925 – April 12, 2024
Mary Louise Cash Howard died at 3:00 PM on Friday, April 12, 2024, at The Lodge at Tangi Pines in Amite. She was a native of Charlie, Texas. Age 98 years.
Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Visitation will resume at Plymouth Primitive Baptist Church, 3991 Plymouth Church Road, Gloster, Mississippi at 10:00 AM until Religious Services at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Services conducted by Pastor Elder Harvey Bates. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola.
She is survived by her daughter, Marion Howard Punch and husband Sonny, Lafayette; daughter, Sharon Howard Blanchard and husband Louis, Amite; daughter, Margaret Howard Dubreuil, Denham Springs; son, Harold Lynn Howard and wife, Debbie, Prairieville; grandchildren, Michelle Blanchard Dees (Brian), Hisham Hegab (Beth), Troy Punch (Rachelle), Donald Blanchard (Keri), Renée Blanchard Carpenter (Frederick), Ryan Punch (Shanna), Mark Dubreuil (Heidi), Chris Howard, Kim Howard, April Pellegrin (Justin), Ashley Strehlow, Leslie Martinez (Koby); 41 great-grandchildren; 29 great-great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her husband, Henry Clifford Howard; her father, Henry Adkin Cash; her mother, Ada Lloyd Cash; three brothers; four sisters; daughter, Linda Howard Hegab; son-in-law, El-Sayed Hegab; son-in-law, Michael Dubreuil; four grandchildren, Bonnie Punch, Joshua Punch, Hala Hegab and Matthew Dubreuil.
Prayer Focus
Today, please pray for these people mentioned and for the other families who have experienced a death recently.
Hospitalized
To the best of my knowledge, these people are still hospitalized at North Oaks:
Mrs. Mary Varnado
Mrs. Betty Catherine Hatcher
Saturday, Workday to Cut Fabric for OCC Totes
9:00 A.M.
Fellowship Hall
Bring pinking shears if you have some.
Senior Adult Lunch
Tuesday
Bus leaves at 10:00
Call the church office for details
Pine Ridge Ladies
If you are a member of this group, there will be a lunch gathering Wednesday at 10:00.
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