To our graduates, CONGRATULATIONS! You have achieved a significant milestone in your life. How proud we at FMBC are of you. This, of course, is the first step in the marvelous, yet challenging, journey called life. You have demonstrated the overcoming spirit necessary to accomplish whatever you choose to do or to be. With that in mind, I need not remind you of the importance of making good choices and wise decisions. Early on you were taught the necessity of making wise choices in life, knowing that there are consequence for your actions. As you prepare for the next phase in life, set your sights high. For you know that you can do all things through Christ who gives you overcoming power. Remember, you are blessed.
And to the Retirees. Our Heavenly Father has been gracious to you. And here you are, RETIRED! You’ve waited a long time and the Lord has brought you to this time in your life. There are those who would say, “this season of life”. Personally, I prefer “this segment of life”. As an illustration, there were three “segments” in the life of Moses, servant of the Most High God. Segment one, forty years prince of Egypt; segment two, forty years shepherd and Nomad; and segment three, forty years prophet and lawgiver. It was during the last segment of his life that we see the greatness of Moses. It can be, retirees (recent and /or longtime), that during this segment of life you can be, like Moses, the most effective for the Lord. Be blessed as you serve Him in your retirement.
Pastor J. Amos Jones
g mothers everywhere. If you are reading this (and for those who are not), you owe a debt of gratitude to your mother. It is altogether fitting and proper that there is a special day where we honor our mothers. The woman who has given birth to us, nourished and provided for us as we grew from dependent children to independent adults. Mothers wear many hats; maid, cook, nurse, doctor, chauffer, counselor, just to name a few of the tasks lovingly performed by these extraordinary women. Whether she is called, mother, mom, mama, ma or dear; mothers we honor you and we thank God for you. We love you and we recognize your contributions to the Kingdom through Godly children. Of course you know that our love for you transcends one day of recognition, however, today is tangibility. What we feel and say today is representative of everyday of the year. Mothers, we honor you today and every day. Be blessed on this, your day.
There are times when words seem so inadequate, so incapable of conveying the heart’s message. Even the most learned etymologist would experience difficulty in articulating appreciation and gratitude for the acts and deeds of the loving people of Friendship. On today we share with the Greeters their Annual Day. What a great group of people, who contribute significantly to the expansion of the Kingdom of God. On this day we recognize the Greeters, and as such, we all share with them their core ministry. Today, we are all Greeters. In a much larger sense, the Greeters are part of the whole, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ” (1st Cor. 12:12). How thankful we are to God for the Greeters, and we appreciate their faithfulness to the Kingdom. The same can be said concerning the choir, the Missionary Society, the Brotherhood, the deacon’s and trustees, the ushers and each and every member of the Friendship family. To simply say “thank you” for all the awesome work and deeds that Friendship members do for the Kingdom, and for this Pastor and his family seems totally inadequate, however, it does convey the hearts message. To the Greeters and to all of Friendship: THANK YOU! and “The Lord bless you, and keep you: The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”