Photo by Deb Gau The Rev. Doug Wing, senior pastor at Grace Life Church, welcomed the congregation to a dedication service for the church’s new building addition.

MARSHALL — It had been a long journey. And it wasn’t over yet — faith always takes growing and facing new challenges, speakers at Grace Life Church said Sunday morning.

But there was time to celebrate along the way.

Grace Life’s congregation gathered to dedicate the building expansion at its East Side campus, with a worship service and an open house. The church broke ground for construction in 2017, but the process of fundraising and planning went back further.

“We started this journey five years ago,” said the Rev. Doug Wing at the dedication service. Now, the completed building addition has space for worship, as well as gathering space where people could enjoy coffee and fellowship. “We’re excited we’re finally here.”

Wing said church members were thankful, too. It took a lot of effort to make the building addition possible, from people including church members, community partners and the city of Marshall, and construction workers and management.

The focus of Sunday’s service was looking ahead, to Grace Life’s future mission. Part of that mission, Wing said, “Is to do as much as we can to reach people.”

Grace Life will be holding Easter worship services at 10 a.m. next Sunday, Wing said. Fellowship and an Easter egg hunt will follow the service.