Pastor Curt Duncan stands in front of Laura Christian Church's new handicap accessible elevator.

By ALISHA MCDARRIS

Record Herald Writer

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LAURA - Making Laura Christian Church a handicap accessible place of worship has been a long time coming for its congregation. After nearly a decade of fundraising, the church can finally say it is handicap friendly with the addition of an elevator, a bathroom, and a new sitting area.

While for years Laura Christian had a ramp leading up to the sanctuary, it was difficult to maneuver for some wheel-chair bound and elderly individuals. Also, the ramp only led to the sanctuary, leaving those with the inability to navigate stairs without access to a usable restroom or the fellowship hall on the lowest level of the building.

But with a handicap accessible entrance on level with the parking lot that houses the new elevator, all members of the congregation can access the fellowship hall, sanctuary, and classrooms.

Pastor Curt Duncan is thrilled that the wait is finally over for all the much-needed and long-awaited improvements.

“We’re all excited and relieved,” Duncan said.

The excitement extends to the congregation.

“They’re all just thrilled and can’t believe it’s finally finished,” said Jane Trout, a volunteer at the church.

But why wait so long to implement such important upgrades to the older building? Duncan believed it was important to raise all the funds necessary to complete the project before it was started.

“I don’t believe debt is Biblical,” Duncan explained.

So for almost ten years the church has been hosting annual fish frys and at least two ice cream socials. Laura Christian is famous for their homemade ice cream. They’ve sold it at Troy’s Strawberry Festival to raise money and been on the refuse removal team for the festival for the past six years. The parsonage across the street, which was not currently the pastor’s residence, was also sold to bring in a large chunk of money needed for the projects.

Duncan admits that not a large percentage of the congregation is handicapped or in need of the new features, but believes they are important, none the less.

“We’ve always believed that access to a good church should be available to everybody. Jesus had a heart for the handicapped and so should we. Every person who comes in the door is important,” Duncan stated.

Duncan and Trout recognize that they couldn’t have done it alone. The congregation and community were invaluable in their support of the fundraising events.

“We’re proud of the work the congregation has done,” Duncan said. “I can’t over-emphasize how much the congregation pulled together to make it happen.”

The final projects came in under budget at $220,000 and deserved a celebration. And no celebration would be complete at Laura Christian without homemade ice cream. The church opened its doors last Sunday to congregation and community alike to show off all the new features and rejoiced together over all their hard work coming to fruition.

“We are a little church but God is a big God and he is able to do exceedingly more than we can imagine,” Duncan beamed.