Leicester Flooring: A Christ-Centered Business Helping Its Community

The Rev. Shane Roughton, pastor of Refuge Church in Sylva, needed a little help. Or, rather, a couple of his church members did. A young couple, ages 19 and 21, were taking on a big responsibility: raising two younger siblings at a time when they were just beginning their lives together.

To do so, the couple was moving into an older home that needed a lot of work, especially where flooring was concerned. Roughton knew about Leicester Flooring as a Christ-centered business and decided to travel to Asheville to seek help.

“I know a lot of people would just email, but I like to do it face to face,’ the pastor said. “I just came in and got to sit down and talk to the owner.’

To make a long story short, the couple’s flooring needs were met with the help of the church and Leicester Flooring.

“We couldn’t have been happier with how it was handled,’ Roughton said. “And, of course, we thought of them (Leicester Flooring) when we had our own flooring project at the church.’

Last August, Leicester Flooring installed 1,656 square of feet of luxury vinyl plank in the church’s main lobby, nursery space, and toddler room.

“The old flooring was showing its age and was hard to keep up,’ Roughton said. “That new plank has really been a lifesaver for us. Everybody loves it.’

Roughton started the nondenominational Refuge Church five years ago and has been pleased to see it grow to about 300 members, with an average attendance of 200.

“It’s a challenge to keep people engaged. We put a big emphasis on getting out in the community. You can’t just rely on people to walk in,’ he said. “We’re also a very kid-friendly church with a huge emphasis on the children’s ministry. If you get the children, you will get the parents.’

Helping the young family with their housing need fit wonderfully with the church’s mission, according to the pastor.

“I teach the Bible as a living and active word that we can apply to our lives,’ he said. “We are to love God with our whole heart and then we are to love everybody else.’