Four men in the Central Church of Christ family have joined the ranks of deacons, the designated servants of the congregation. 
 Receiving their letters of appointment from the elders July 5 were Steve Cantrell, David Hitchcock, Boyd Ramsey and Greg Vinson. 
 “The Central church family is happy to welcome these gentlemen as our newest deacons and we pray for the success of their work with our congregation,” said Charles Bogle, one of the elders.  “The office of deacon is an honorable position worthy of great respect, so much so that some of the very first deacons were recognized by name in the Book of Acts.  
“The elders and members of the church sincerely appreciate the willingness of these fine Christian gentlemen to undertake these serious duties and to assume the solemn responsibility of office,” he continued.  “Each of them has lived faithfully to the Lord and is admired in the community for his integrity and good will toward others.”
Cantrell, an employee of Barrett Arms in Murfreesboro, is married to Kim Cantrell, principal of Morrison Elementary School. The couple and their daughter, Lilly, 9, reside on Pioneer Haven Road.
Nursery owner-operator Hitchcock and his wife, Jacqueline, make their home on Shellsford Road with their sons Grant, 15, and Ethan, 13.
Ramsey, agent/principal with Southern Insurance Group, and wife Angela are parents of a daughter, Belle, 16, and are in the process of moving into their new home on West Main Street.  
Vinson, who serves as an accountant with Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District in Smithville, resides at East Drive, Rock Island, with wife Tammy and daughters Calista, 15, and Sarah Grace, 11.
“As the Central congregation continues to grow in service to its members and the community at large, the time had arrived to enlist additional deacons,” Bogle explained.  “The selection process includes a thorough examination of candidates according to the requirements and qualifications prescribed in the New Testament. We have the greatest confidence in the ability and Christian devotion of these and all of our deacons.”