Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Children attending Outreach Deliverance Center Vacation Bible School pose for a group photo in front of scenery which was constructed and hand painted by church member Reggie Hughey.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Left to right, William Jenkins, Willie Dawkins, Benjamin King, Conor Dawkins and Sylvester Tucker were present during Friday's VBS cook out. The group meets at the church each Tuesday to complete yard work and each Friday to clean and prepare the church for Sunday services.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Outreach Deliverance's culinary staff prepared food all week for VBS.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Floyd Lyles leads a game at the beginning of VBS on Friday.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The Rev. Eddie McConnell stands with one of several photo collages created by the students in his bible school class.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times A close-up look at the hand-painted animal characters and "forest" created by Reggie Hughey.

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CARLISLE — When it’s time for an event at Outreach Deliverance Center in Carlisle, the entire church pitches in.

The theme of this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Outreach Deliverance Center was “Sonrise National Park.”

The cover of the CD — of songs for VBS — displayed a forest with various animal characters. For a backdrop to go in the Outreach Deliverance Center gymnasium, volunteer Floyd Lyles planned to have the photo on the CD cover enlarged, but church member Reggie Hughey thought otherwise.

“He said, ‘That’s not real enough,’” Lyles said. “He told me, ‘We’ve gotta make this thing come alive.’”

Hughey is a retired Marine and a self-proclaimed “bootleg artist from way back.” He took it upon himself to go out and cut down small pine trees and then mount them for display in the gymnasium. He also cut and painted pieces of plywood to look like the animal characters on the front of the Sonrise National Park CD.

Hughey said he was active in the U.S. Marine Corps for 28 years, and during that time he made various signs and emblems, drawing and motivating young Marines.

“Whatever needs to be done, you do it,” Hughey said.

Hughey was not the only church member to pitch in. The church culinary staff provided food all week for the 42 children who participated, and on Friday, hosted a cookout to which students, parents and the entire community was invited.

A volunteer team of William Jenkins, Willie Dawkins, Benjamin King, Conor Dawkins and Sylvester Tucker were also at Friday’s cookout. The group meets at the church twice a week to socialize and complete work that needs to be done. On Tuesdays, they work in the church yard, and on Fridays, they clean the inside of the church, making sure it is ready for Sunday morning services.

Church member Josephine King organized the week-long VBS activities, which included scripture and prayer, music, games, crafts and various other activities. Each day included a different focus point: Monday — true peace; Tuesday — true riches; Wednesday — true power; Thursday — true love; and Friday — true hope. The scripture of focus for the week was Philippians 4:19.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The church pastor — the Rev. Eddie McConnell — taught the oldest VBS group, and the class made framed collages of photos from various church events which will be displayed inside the church.

“I try to take the older group each year and make something we can leave in the church,” McConnell said.

Watch for more information about Outreach Deliverance Center and Pastor Eddie McConnell in upcoming editions of The Union Daily Times, as the church’s 20th anniversary is approaching.