THE BUILDER

A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE OBLONG CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN HOME

Spring 2017

A publication of the Oblong Children’s Christian Home 4094 E 1050th Ave., Oblong, IL 62449

(618) 592-3633 www.oblongchristianhome.org

or visit us on Facebook THE BUILDER

HELP to children.

HOPE to families.

HEALING through Christ.

Signs of Spring!!

Track Stars The spring season is a great one. The initial track meets for the New Hebron Eagles are generally a bit chilly, as the season really kicks off in March when the weather is iffy. But, here are some photos of just a few of our track stars: Tristan, Negatu, Jordan, and Anna. Good luck this season, and GO, NEW HEBRON EAGLES!

Congrats to Our Oblong High School Cheerleaders!

They've got spirit. They're terrific tumblers. And, they have been cho- sen for the Oblong High School cheerleading squad! Congratulations are in order for Denver and Kimberly. It will be a joy to watch them this fall/winter at football and basketball games as they cheer on the Panthers! We are proud of you two!

Art Parties Aren’t Just for Kids! The Oblong Chil- dren’s Christian Home is offering a NEW kind of fundraiser: PAINTING PARTIES! Join us for our next party on Monday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. Reg-ister online at www.oblongchristianhome.org. We promise to show you a good time: laughter, snacks, and fellowship. Bring some girlfriends and enjoy the night out! Cost is $30 per painter, and all supplies (as well as canvas) are provided. May’s picture is a terrific patriotic piece, just in time for Memorial Day!

Visit our Facebook page for lots of great pictures. “Like us” and get daily updates!

What Does A Brainiac Look Like When He Eats Lunch?

He must look a little like Brayden. We are proud of Bray-den. Brayden is a junior at New Life Academy. New Life Academy is in its 8th academic year on our campus. We've had students of all grade levels pass through the doors, but Brayden is the first student from our cam- pus school to take the ACT test! What a privilege for him to set the precedent for coming juniors who attend New Life. Brayden was feeling a bit "brain dead" after the four hours of testing, so Subway was in order. Thanks for your hard work, Brayden!

Increasing our

At the Children's Home, we have been focusing this year on extending

our reach. Over the course of the fiscal year, we've made visits to more than 30 churches who might never have

known about our ministry otherwise. It is always a blessing to sit in the office of a minister and share the good news of this Home.

Our objective is to make these churches (and the families that they minister to) aware of our resources. Maybe they will one

day send a struggling family to our door. Maybe they will organ-ize a work group trip to our campus, which would not only help us, but also give the work team a time of service and fellowship. Maybe, once they see the blessing we can be to others, they will step behind us financially as well. If you receive this newsletter and belong to a church that might not know about the ministry,

please let us know. We'd be happy to make a visit to your church and share our good news story!

In Memory Tim & Vicki Ferguson in memory of Mindy Weir ♥ Carrie & Caleb Wartsbaugh, Frank & Wanda We-ber, Keith & Martha Waldrop, Larry & Charlotte Sackrider, Bill & Jodi Holt, Mackie & Karen Woods, Anonymous Donor, Janice Jennings, Mary Henry in memory of Ilene Kirk ♥ Doris Gosnell & Family in memory of Eugenia Gosnell Mullins ♥ Glenn & Norma Hesler in memory of Harold Grove ♥ Loretta Deisher in memory of Paul Deisher ♥ Central Christian Church of Newton in memory of Den-nis Miller ♥ Jess Newton in memory of Roy and Pauline Hill ♥ Don & Kay Reed in memory of David & Lyle Reed ♥ Michael Robison in memory Debbie Robison ♥ Michael Robison in memory of Mike & Judy Robison ♥ Ruth Ann Flennor in memory of Kathy Williams and Nancy Groff ♥ Beth Meeks in memory of Dennis Darin ♥ Marilyn King in memory of Hal King ♥ Brian & Susan Roher in memory of Jim Follis ♥ Joann Strobel in memory of Helen Lash ♥ Kirklin Christian Church and Faus-set family in memory of Mildred Fausset ♥ Stan Pool in memory of Glenda Pool ♥ Lloyd & Melanie Moden in memory of Phyllis Martin ♥ Ruth Ann Fleenor in memory of Jane B. Moretti

Pictures of Progress! The progress this spring on our building project has been outstanding! In Febru-ary, we received a generous gift from U.S. Gypsum in Shoals, Indiana. They blessed us with a healthy supply of wall board for the new welcome center. Then, in March and April, David Heath and Wayne Jennings donated considerable time day in and day out hanging that wall board throughout the empty shell of a building. Keith Bellinger has worked tirelessly as well, mudding and drywalling, at a cost that is truly next to nothing, which we also count as a gift. And, we’ve seen a steady stream of volunteer help in and out of the building every weekend. They have done a fair share of painting. It is truly coming together! Our thanks goes to our on-staff construction supervisor (Chris Martin), who ensures that the work doesn’t get delayed or stalled. We look forward to moving in upon completion.

Academic Prowess! New Hebron students recently participated in the Crawford County History Fair on March 25. Do you remember those days? Too of-ten (as teachers will tell you), projects looks as if the student procrastinated. He or she might not have facts correct. The display is less than creative. And, the project doesn't show much effort. NOT TRUE FOR THESE STUDENTS! We want to share our good news that Kayla and Sa-brina not only advanced from the March competition, they took home a first and a second place, respectively, for their history projects at the regional competition! Kayla even qualified for State! WOW! Way to go, ladies. You surely do make us proud!

When Your Teacher Is Also The Worship Director. . . At New Life Academy, students have been learn-ing new instruments during the school year. In fact, we've found out that these gentlemen have a real talent for their instruments of choice. There is an added benefit to learning to play when your school teacher is also the worship director at

the local church: the opportunity to play on stage and showcase your talent! Here, Mickey, Bray-den, and Preston play "Ten Thousand Reasons" during communion time at First Christian in Ob-long. Great job, guys!

Experiences of a Lifetime: Creation Museum and Space Camp

To bring you these travel stories, I invited Bella and Sa-brina into my office to share about their journeys to the Creation Museum/Ark Experience and Space Camp. These girls talked my ear off!

Both girls are students at New Hebron Christian School, and every five years the school travels to Huntsville, Ala-bama to emerge themselves in Space Camp, undergoing the same simulations that astronauts would have gone through in their training for space travel. Both girls raved about several simulations: M.A.T. (Matrix Access Training), Space Shot, and G Force, to name a few. Bella is shown in the M.A.T. simulator to the left; her team leader, Ariel, is pictured with her.

Sabrina was excited to tell me that she made it to the top of the rock-climbing wall at Space Camp. In fact, upon her decent, the instructor said to her, “You’re a pro at this.” She admitted that she was a little scared about the whole

thing, but she was still clearly proud of her accomplishment.

New Hebron students filled their days on the short trip there and back with plenty of learning and fun. They even had time for IMAX movies and rocket launches. Proudly, both of these girls (and others from their home) graduated and were awarded a certifi-cate, a NASA pin, and a picture.

The trip to the Creation Museum/Ark Experience was funded through the interest groups programs at the Children’s Home. If you’ve ever participated in a painting party here or purchased a plate of chicken and noodles at the Palestine Pioneer Rodeo Days, these are the fundraisers that help to underwrite these kinds of “non-operational” trips.

Sabrina is the young lady holding the snake in the middle of the picture collage to the left. She said it was a bit scary, but that the snake was 21 years old and had always been held by humans. . .since birth.

When I asked about the ark, both girls said that traveling to it was a surprise. You arrived in a valley and boarded a charter bus, when the bus crested at the top of the hill, all of the girls in the van gasped and said “Woah!” in unison. It was far bigger than they thought, but made to Biblical proportion they were quick to tell me.

They enjoyed the Adam and Eve garden and particularly the wallaby and baby joey. Oh, the stories that these girls told. I wish I could bottle their excitement and find a way to make these words say what only smiles can. This is the stuff that growing up is all about.