Central's investment in diverse and high quality worship experiences will continue to be a priority for ministry funding in 2003. Three Sunday morning services and a number of specially designed worship experiences provide different styles for a broad constituency. In addition, Central's music program has grown to support these multiple approaches to the praise of the true and living God. Worship attendance increased in 2002 and we expect this trend to continue throughout 2003. The worship budget also will contribute to the support of a sanctuary face-lift expected during the year.

Central continues to expand its commitment to reaching the world around us with the gospel in both word and deed. This year's budget includes new support for 8 missionaries from Central to various countries and organizations locally and around the world. In addition to the 90 regular missionaries and organizations we support, we also send Centralites into hands-on ministry involvement both near and far. Social Action continues to work with and support holistic ministries which demonstrate Christ's compassion for the needy and educate the church about Biblical justice.

This is a place where people in their twenties and early thirties can connect, grow, and serve God with their gifts and talents. The plan for the upcoming year is to continue with social activities, small groups, and other elements of the current ministry. We plan on developing more small groups for young adults, holding several retreats, and creating new teams within the ministry, including a college team and a connecting team. With God's help, Central will continue to be instrumental in reaching local young adults for the Lord and raising up a new generation of Christian leaders.

Students reaching out to their peers is what this ministry is about. As we continue to train students in how to do this, we are seeing growth happen in a steady way. 'the Storm' is THE place to be on Sunday nights. And that attitude is spreading rapidly throughout all our ministries as well as the community. Our Satellite Stations (discipleship) are growing and EOS (core students) is teaching our students how to be leaders. The student ministries head into 2003 planning their first combined middle and high school mission trip to Rand, West Virginia.

In God's Big Backyard, Children's Ministries has expanded significantly, both in number of attendees and in ministries. Second Sunday for the World continues to excite children about having God's heart for His world. Missions Minded Kids' Club is discipling our children who want to be career missionaries. Trunk'n'Treat was a fun addition to our outreach ministries. Our Weekday Preschool is growing rapidly, offering five classes with 75% of the families being from the local community.

In order to have a solid foundation for impacting the world, we must be sure that we are effectively equipping and caring for the members of our church community. This area is critical to the fulfillment of our mission and our new Philosophy of Ministry. Growing initiatives in this area include Small Groups, Adult Sunday School, the EM (Equiping Ministry) and the continuing service of the Diaconate and Paraclete Ministry.

To support Central's growing programs, and to handle its multiple new outreaches, we must heat, light, clean, and maintain our large facilities seven days a week and fourteen hours most days. The higher cost of energy and the cost of maintaining multiple complex systems are also driving up this expense.

This provides for office staff, telephone service, postage, copy machine and other administrative costs necessary to support the above growing ministries. Good management and faithful volunteers help to keep the growth in this area down. The need to communicate about our many ministries is what drives the expenses in this area.