An Evening of Honor

What a treat this week for me and Kathy to join with our retired ministers, widows and widowers for two regional gatherings of fellowship, food and fun. On Monday night we were hosted by Pastors Pete and Flo Petry at Bedico for our southern region and on Thursday night we were hosted by Pastors Ron and Teresa Brown for our northern region. Both evenings were delightful and well attended by the honorees and their pastors!

A special treat was my travels with Bishop Nettles, our spiritcare director to the homes of those who were unable to attend due to health limitations. We visited in the homes of Ruth Turner, Marjorie Jenkins, Fannie Webb and Thomas Collins. I was moved to be in the presence of these faithful servants of the Lord. Sister Fannie Webb is 102 and as coherent as you could believe! She's hoping to make it to April 18th and her 103rd birthday.



Kathy and I humbly recognize how much our lives are enriched by our association with those who are ahead of us. The work of these pastors and leaders has impacted Louisiana and provided a place of ministry for us. People like Virgil and Bobbie Nettles are such important colleagues for us. When I spend time with George Bloomingdale and his wife Freida, I realize how special the fellowship of God's family truly is.

Regardless of years, the value of one human being to another cannot be emphasized enough. It is truly a connection of great worth to us.

I'm grateful to stand alongside these faithful people in the kingdom such Thomas Collins.

New grandson on the way!

Another grandson will be born into our family in February, the Lord willing. Jeremy and Corrie sent me this wonderful picture of our new grandson which they plan to name at this time--Branson Christopher. Cooper David is going to have a brother.





Jan Wright sent me this picture from our recent trip to the Virgin Islands. It pretty much gives the overall impact of the trip on Pat and I.








Dad and I are busy preparing for our upcoming mission trip to Honduras--October 14-21. There are 29 men and women going with us to help rebuild a parsonage in Saledito and a roof on another parsonage to San Juan Pueblo.

Hit that ball, Church of God!

When my son Jeremy was just a small tyke, his mother would dress him up in his baseball uniform and bring him to the church softball games. He would stand against the fence, near our dugout and when our guys would come to the plate, he would yell -- "Hit that ball, Church of God!" Everyone would laugh and it was quite funny. I could not help but remember that as Cooper David hit whiffle balls off a tee with his dad and I in the parking lot of a shopping area in Gulfport, MS while his mother and Mimi were shopping. The boy can hit the ball, believe me! He is also a quick learner as evidenced by his ability to keep a toothpick in his mouth like his father.

Celebrating 28 years of marriage bliss!

Kathy and I have been in St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) over the past three days celebrating our anniversary. For years, our anniversary fell during the youth camp season and we always planned it for later in the year. Now that we are no longer responsible to run youth camps, we still plan our anniversary for later seasons in the year.

We have been joined on this trip by our good friends, Pat and Jan Wright.