As part of Caesar's 34th annual Will Thou Be Made Whole Conference, beginning on Sunday in Raleigh, Genworth will launch a one-week series of free workshops by industry professionals to educate participants how to begin building wealth through homeownership.

Caesar is working with Pastor Fredrick A. Davis of First Calvary Baptist Church in Durham and other area clergy to promote the effort. The pastors have given information to their congregations and have urged them to attend workshops that will be conducted Monday through Friday.

Genworth and certified homebuyer and credit-counseling agencies will lead two sessions daily from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sheraton Capital Center, 421 Salisbury St.

Lenders will be available to pre-qualify borrowers who are ready to buy homes. Admission is free and attendees from throughout the Triangle are welcome.

The kickoff event will be held Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Caesar's church, Mount Calvary Word of Faith, 3100 Sanderford Road, Raleigh.

New and improved vacation Bible school

Vacation Bible school at Yates Baptist Church will be held next week in a newly renovated facility, part of a recent $1.8- million project at the church at 2819 Chapel Hill Road.

Elementary-age children will be taught in the brand-new student "Attic," which has brightly painted classrooms, a general meeting room with state-of-the-art video/audio equipment, a kitchen and recreation room. This additional space will allow for an increased enrollment in the school. The renovation project also added space in the education building and child-development area, along with a welcome center at the entrance from the parking lot.

The Bible-school theme for this year is "Son Treasure Island," in which children will conduct treasure-hunting adventures. They will discover that God's love is giving, kind, caring, forgiving and forever, said Donna Reedy, Bible-school director.

"The goal is to teach them about Jesus, who loves them, and about the Bible and to lead the older ones into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ," she said. "This will be accomplished through Bible studies, singing, creating crafts, watching skits and playing games."

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to noon each day, beginning Monday. The Bible-school staff will also provide extended care from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a fee of $5 per day. Otherwise, the school is free.

Children from the community, as well as the Yates congregation and the Yates Child Development Center, are invited. Children from age 3 through students who recently finished fifth grade may enroll. Parents may register children online at www.myvbs.com or call the church office at 489-2309.

Westminster remembers the reverend

As part of its farewell to the Rev. Haywood Holderness, who retired recently as pastor at Westminster Presbyterian, the church renamed its mission center "The Holderness Mission Center." The building connects the sanctuary and the fellowship hall on the church campus, 3639 Old Chapel Hill Road.

The announcement, along with other gifts to both Holderness and his wife, Mary, was made during a recent program and reception at the church.

The church contributed $75,000 to set up a charitable fund with the Triangle Community Foundation in honor of the couple. Other gifts to Holderness were a rod and reel, especially hand-made for him with Matthew 4:19 inscribed on it. That's the verse in which Jesus said, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

The Holderness family will continue to live in Durham.

Coffee and a concert, anyone?

Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, a ministry of St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2700 N. Roxboro Road, has released its schedule of musical groups to appear on Saturday nights through October:

* Tonight: Brien Barbour, soulful singer/songwriter with wide range of musical styles, 8 p.m.

* July 22: Gone Fishing, contemporary Christian group with leanings toward Southern rock, 7 to 10:30 p.m.

* Aug. 5: T. Moody, contemporary Christian singer from South Carolina, 8 p.m.

* Aug. 12: City Folk, Americana music, 8 p.m.

* Aug. 26: Eric Thomas, wide range of music from a singer/songwriter, 8 p.m.

* Sept. 9: Danny Smith, contemporary Christian singer, 8 p.m.

* Sept. 16: My Calvary, contemporary Christian group from South Carolina, 8 p.m.

* Oct. 14: Stuart Pierce, local singer/songwriter, 8 p.m.

* Oct. 21: Ted Fillhart, Christian singer/songwriter, keyboard player, 8 p.m.