Central's 2006 Vacation Bible School was an enormous success this year! The theme this year was "God's ALL-Stars" = Champions of Faith! Each day the children enjoyed a dramatic Bible lesson presented in the auditorium, had classroom periods, watched puppet skits, made crafts, played games, enjoyed snacks from the "concession stand" and of course sang lots of songs.

We greatly increased our numbers from last year. We averaged 82 children everyday. Monday: 73 Tuesday: 78 Wednesday: 82 Thursday: 85 Friday: 90!! There were over 100 children who came at least one day during the week. Counting children, teenagers, and adult workers we had between 120-130 each day. The official count for Friday night's Open House program was 218! Over 100 of those who attended were visitors from the community. It was so exciting to visit with so many of these afterwards outside on the youth house lawn while they enjoyed a hotdog, cold pop and a snow cone and watched their kids play games and have "a ball" in our giant moonwalk sports theme bounce! Soon we will be following up with these and delivering a CD package with the VBS slideshow and information about the Central congregation.

Friends, I am so encouraged and thankful at the overwhelming show of support that this congregation gave our VBS, the late nights, and countless hours of hard work and preparation. There are so many people to thank, and I want each one of you to know that I appreciate your selfless dedication. There is no way that I can mention everyone involved, but below is a small list of people that made VBS possible.

There were so many others who played a crucial role and worked behind the scenes in VBS. I want to thank those people who helped with decorations, baked and brought cookies, helped serve on Friday Night during our Open House program, donated money, and invited and brought children to VBS.

There are some special people that also deserve some special credit. Rita Romberg is responsible for the great majority of all decorations around the building. VBS would not be the same without her creativity and great ideas and enthusiasm. Maggie Prater for the teacher's preparatory work and overall help to other workers and especially to me (Must be why I married her!) Bob Stephens for making the street banners, awesome puppet stage, and the great looking large size "champion of faith" posters and also printing a smaller "baseball card" size for every kid to take home each day. Scott Perry for taking off work each morning to help run the PowerPoint projector and for the time he spent in putting together the VBS Slideshow, and for finding us a snow cone machine and helping operate it on Friday night. Jim Pettyjohn, he basically played "all positions" and volunteered and did just about anything I needed him to do from kitchen help, taking all of our VBS pictures, helping setup for Friday night, driving the van, etc.

The next time you see all these workers, let them know how much you appreciate their hard work. These are the people responsible for VBS; these are the real "All-Stars" here at Central! What a beautiful example of so many coming together to offer such an outstanding program to our congregation and community. Soon, we'll have a meeting to evaluate this year and make plans for next year! May the Lord our God bless us all as we continue to serve in His kingdom.

-- Robert -- (robprater@sbcglobal.net)

We are so pleased to announce that Colin Tucker was baptized into Christ on Thursday afternoon by Dwyane Dennis. Colin is the eleven year old son of Lloyd & Tess Tucker who are visiting from Florida. He is the grandson of Carol Mahnke and the nephew of Lori Farris and Evelyn Dunavan.

04 Norma Edgmon

04 Doris Phillips

05 Karen Hilditch

05 Bill Lawerance

07 Ron Dunavan

07 Sandon Hilditch

08 Brianna Perry

08 Charlotte Seikel

10 Jennifer Hudgins

11 George Mastick

12 Sarah Epley

13 Steve Eaton

13 Anthony Kane Harmon

13 Lucas Qualls

15 Dale Beard

15 Louise Dixson

18 Dennis Parmer

19 MariahBolinger (Vanlandingham)

20 Chris Hilditch

20 Margie Stone

21 Tim Norton, Sr.

22 Mary Jo Fleming

22 Devin Riley

23 Nina Baylis

23 Ruth Guin

24 Vesta Mays

23 Polly Reese = 90^th !!!

26 Mary Gaines

27 Noma Epperson

27 Louise Honaker

29 Hazel Lee Behrnes

30 Linda Qualls

31 Nancy Irelan

03 Earl & Judy Finch = 40^th

03 Paul & Paula Harris = 44^th

04 Lynn & Cathy Harmon = 33^rd

04 Steve & Mary Kelly = 34^th

05 Greg & Analisa Beal = 7^th

06 Adam & Misti Beard = 1^st

14 George & Carolyn Mastick = 46^th

16 L.B. & Rachel Hall = 65^th

16 Fred & Doris Phillips = 25^th

17 Jim & Vivian Cross = 43^rd

18 Dennis & Donna Parmer = 28^th

We extend our best wishes to all who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in August. We especially congratulate Polly Reese on her 90^th birthday. We also offer special words of congratulations to L.B. & Rachel Hall on their 65^th Wedding Anniversary, to Earl & Judy Finch on their 40^th, and to Fred & Doris Phillips on their 25^th.