The couple are glad to see stage one of the centre’s project now in progress, with work under way on a new kitchen.

Mr Mammen said the new kitchen would enable the centre to extend its reach in the community.

“It will be a kitchen that will be used not only for our church services and events – we can do frozen meals to give out, we can use it for community functions,” he said.

“Our vision is to use it as a meeting place for various community groups.”

In late 2016, the centre received a grant of $4500 from Gunnedah Shire Council to to install a functioning enclosed kitchen in place of the makeshift kitchen on the verandah which was used for 10 years. 

The makeshift kitchen was exposed to the elements and consisted of an urn, a bench with a sink and no plumbing, so a bucket was used to collect the water from the sink.

The grant from the council funds the enclosure of the verandah, the installation of a flat pack kitchenette and oven, plumbing, and floor coverings. A functional feature of the new kitchen will be a servery, with windows that open onto the courtyard.

So far, the walls for the kitchen have been built and plumbing and electrical work has begun. Mr Mammen said he expected the windows to be installed in the next 10 days.

“We’re still pursuing quotes and plans and designs for the final kitchen design,” he said.

“It’s been an arduous process, but we’re doing it precisely.

“It will be a first class kitchen once it’s complete.”

Mr Mammen said he was pleased with progress and the church community was invested in the project.

“It is pleasing to the soul,” he said.

“It adds energy and excitement to the [church] congregation to finally see something happening.

The project has been in planning for three years, with unsuccessful grant applications and development application delays throwing a spanner in the works.

The kitchen is the first part of a much larger project, which is estimated to cost about $18,500 and was approved by the council in October. 

Changes will include a marked car park, new front entrance with a wheelchair ramp, a creche room and storage space.

The centre’s buildings are already used regularly by the church community and Family and Community Services (FACS), and the changes will mean the space is used more effectively.

The Mammens said the centre had a 10-year vision for the land, which includes a communal garden, food bank, English classes, and two homes for refugees. 

“I’m very happy. It’s exciting, it’s challenging and it’s really a great step forward. We are a church on the move,” Mr Mammen said.

“Our vision is always bigger than we are.

“It is definitely a faith project and God has been good all the way.”