The Lacey Church recently built a fellowship hall for $380,000 and named it Tuttle Hall after the family who donated the land where the church is located.
The members borrowed about $110,000 to finish the project and voted in January to pay off the remaining $80,000 debt by year's end. In 2003, the church members applied to the Washington Conference for a grant, but at the time, funds were not available and so the request wasn't granted.
However, the conference experienced a financial blessing from matured wills and trusts, and the grant fund was re-opened. In August, John Freedman, Washington Conference president, surprised the Lacey congregation by presenting them with a check for $38,000. With the final payments in sight, Tuttle Hall is nearly debt-free.
John Freedman, Washington Conference president, presents a check for $38,000 to Steve Shipowick, Lacey pastor (left), and Steve Enders, a church leader (right, holding check).
