Central Church of Christ holds homecoming
But despite the difficulties and worries of changing directions, we need to pause now and then to make sure the path we’re on is taking us where we want to go. Help and encouragement are at hand, a visiting preacher at Central Church of Christ says, when we need to make those all-important corrections in our lives.
“New directions” is one of the themes for the annual homecoming and gospel meeting starting Sunday at Central, with Van Vansandt, minister of Leoma Church of Christ in Lawrence County, as guest speaker.
“Even after we become a Christian, God helps us with new beginnings through Jesus,” Vansandt said in an interview this week. Christians, including those who lived and served many years in the faith, sometimes need a change of spiritual direction, and the Bible offers guidance, support and encouragement for that kind of difficult course correction.
“In every gospel meeting we’re making a special effort to reach out to the community to save precious souls and to strengthen and energize the church,” Central elder Steve Stubblefield stated. “With Brother Vansandt leading our pulpit work next week, and with the Lord’s blessings on our efforts, I think we’ll be very successful in all these fronts,” he said.
The series opens with Vansandt as teacher for the main Sunday school class in the Central auditorium at 9:30 a.m., followed by his sermon in the worship service at 10:30 a.m. The traditional homecoming meal, with visitors and former Central members who moved away treated as guests of honor, begins at 12 noon in the church’s Fellowship Hall. The Sunday evening service will be at 7:30 p.m., a departure from the usual 6 o’clock time to accommodate members of other churches which are also holding Sunday evenings services.
The gospel-preaching series continues at 7 o’clock each evening Monday through Wednesday. Ample parking is available on Central’s lots immediately east of the Morford Street building and on public lots on the east side of North Spring Street.
A popular feature of previous gospel meetings at Central — the Friends and Neighbors Buffet Luncheon on Tuesday — returns this year, with serving starting at 11:30 a.m. Visitors are invited to come and go as their schedules allow, until 1 p.m. Central minister Tim Parish will welcome the assembled guests and Vansandt will offer brief remarks at 12 noon.
“Anyone who wishes is invited to enjoy a free luncheon as a neighborly gesture from Central, known far and wide for its genuine friendliness and hospitality,” said Marion Pistole, another of Central’s elders. “We honor and appreciate our neighbors in the community, and we would be delighted to entertain them as our guests at the luncheon,” he added.
The evening services Sunday through Wednesday will be broadcast live on radio stations WBMC 960 AM, WCPI 91.3 FM, and WSOJ-LP, 101.3 FM. Public Radio WCPI normally carries live broadcasts of the meetings of the Warren County Commission, but due to the schedule conflict Monday evening the recorded proceedings of the county’s governing council will be aired starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 17, according to program director Gloria Grissom.
An Alabama native and graduate of Freed Hardeman University, Central’s visiting speaker is a son, brother and father of preachers. One-year-old Van got his first acquaintance with the life of visiting preachers when his late father worked as an evangelist in the Philippines, then in Colorado, Illinois and Alabama. Vansandt’s parents also worked as Christian missionaries in Russia.
For details on next week’s homecoming and gospel meeting, as well information on Central’s individual Bible study aids, worship schedules, transportation and benevolence services, call the church office at 931-473-6537.