Earle Street Baptist Church in Greenville has completed the process of merger with the former Central Baptist Church, also in Greenville. The members of Central joined Earle Street approximately five years ago. The Central church property recently was sold to another church group. On April 8, checks from that sale were presented during the morning worship service. Funds from the sale will be used to retire the current building fund debt, with the remainder placed in the church’s endowment fund. Central was the mother church of Earle Street, but had been in decline for years. Jim Wooten, pastor at Earle Street, said that the merger with Central demonstrated that “churches which are dying can still have vitality by becoming a part of like-minded churches which are building the kingdom of God.” Participants in the check presentation are from left, back row, Earle Street treasurer Terry Huggins, Wooten, and Central trustee Brian Poole. Front row, from left are Earle Street deacon chairman Don Kirkland and Central trustees Ray Gray and Jimmy Slice.