In August 2023, Lafayette (Tennessee) United Methodist Church received a matching $9,000 grant from ENCORE Ministry’s Bill & Lynn McAlilly Fund for Church Accessibility. Money from grant was used to transform two small restrooms and an unused Sunday school classroom into an updated and accessible family restroom – complete with an infant changing table, wide doorway, and space to accommodate anyone using a walker or wheelchair.

The new room was consecrated on November 19, 2023, during a worship service attended by Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Conference Bishop Bill McAlilly and his wife, Lynn, and ENCORE Ministry Executive Director John Rivas and his wife, Cecelia. During the service, Lafayette’s pastor, Rev. Gene Martino, Jr., presented a check for $2,000 to Rivas because the church ended up not needing the entire grant amount.

Rev. Martino explained, “After the initial construction bid and grant process, several unexpected things happened. First, some of the materials we expected to pay for were donated. Second, church members contributed sweat equity related to demolition and construction — thereby shaving off a few more shekels off the tab. And finally, the contractor was so impressed in what and why we were doing this that he deducted some incidental expenses as his contribution to the project.”

Over the years, numerous church accessibility grants have been given to TWK Conference churches and organizations to make them accessible to older adults so they may fully participate in activities. Lafayette UMC now joyfully joins that list.

TWK United Methodist churches receive ENCORE Ministry services at no cost. For more information or to apply for a grant, click here.