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HOMELESS
Stan Simmons has always loved people. But
he’s discovered a whole new level of love as
he and his church have reached out to the
homeless in their city.
The construction site-style portable toilet in the
parking lot of Hope Center (Billings Southside
Foursquare Church) in Billings, Mont., isn’t pretty,
but it’s very practical. It meets a simple, basic need
of the street community around the church in the
lower-income area of the city.
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It’s something of a symbol of how Pastor Stan
Simmons’ view of ministry has changed since he
stepped down as leader of Faith Chapel (Billings
Foursquare Church), across town, a few years back.
There, at the thriving church he built up over more
than 30 years, he focused on order and excellence.
And while he still values both, he recognizes in a
new way that in a small congregation serving many
struggling with life-controlling issues—ministries
include a food and clothing bank—church can be
unavoidably messy.
“The Lord took me by surprise,” Stan shares, “and
gave me a second chance for hands-on loving
people.” He now carries a few $5 bills to give
to people in need, knowing some might take
advantage. “God can more than make up for
that,” he says. “I would rather err on the side of
generosity.”
Articles compiled by Andy Butcher, Rod Light and Natalie Werking
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