A wheelchair-bound man is being raised up both spiritually and physically these days when he attends Sunday services at Calvary Christian Reformed Church. Tim Horneman wasn't able to attend his family's church for the past 16 years, but that changed recently when the Chatham church had an elevator installed.

 

"I'm happy," said the 38-year-old man, who uses a computer keyboard to communicate.

Horneman attended an open house and dedication ceremony on Saturday with his parents Rita and John. Rita Horneman said she often stayed home with her son as he watched church services on television or over the Internet, or listened over the telephone.

 

"We can all go to church as a family again," she said. "That is really great."

 

Pastor Chris Schievink said the church closed its doors for eight weeks over the summer so work on the elevator and new foyer could be completed. During the time, he said different church members offered to host Sunday services at their homes. Schievink said the services were well attended and enjoyed by the members.

 

He joked: "If we had known it was going to be that great we could have saved $300,000 and been a church on the move."

 

Schievink is hoping that the good spirit they experienced during summer will be the same kind of spirit that happens within the walls of the church.