Adrian E. SIMILA

1948–2022

On March 3rd, Adrian Everett Simila, 74, went home to be with his Lord Jesus. As John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lays his life down for his friends." This sums up what this man, who was on a mission from God, was all about: love, sacrifice, humility, generosity, and compassion.

In the late 1960s, after a dark spiritual search and a bad "trip"in Hawaii, the native Portlander lost his mind and was living in a tree house. While sitting on the beach naked, he met two surfers playing guitar, who told him that Jesus could heal him. Adrian experienced a dramatic conversion to Christ, Who healed his mind and gave him a vision to reach the counterculture.

Upon his return home, he made his way south and attended Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA in the start of the Jesus People Revolution. He roomed with the legendary Lonnie Frisbee and went on to Haight Ashbury; always bringing people home to serve Jesus. After graduating in the first class at Portland Bible College, a predominately black Portland Maranatha Church welcomed him and his hippie friends with open arms. A historic youth revival broke out as the fruits of Adrian's outreach gave rise to the Jesus Movement there. He founded the area's first Christian hippie commune, leading to a dozen more hippie houses in the city. He lived in christian houses during revivals in Spokane, Seattle, and Arizona. Later, he joined Gospel Outreach's Lighthouse Ranch in Eureka, going on to lead GO in Portland where he brought in Gospel giant Keith Green to minister. He also traveled the U.S. with Christ is the Answer, a tent ministry.

Adrian turned toward Europe in 1986 and moved a team of 25 missionaries to Finland after he heard the Lord instruct him to build the road east; that the Berlin Wall would soon fall. Sixty people left Sweden after the Wall fell, rolling into Czechoslovakia with their Bibles, buses, tents, and translators. Other Americans followed, ministering in surrounding countries as well. A great revival in Eastern Europe ensued, resulting in the founding of Harvest International Bible School in the now Czech Republic. After his return to the U.S., he founded SimilaSoft, a Bible software company in Olympia, WA.

Pastor Adrian never made much of his early leadership in the famed Jesus Movement that changed church as we know it. He didn't write books, appear on national TV, or lead stadium crusades. He didn't seek fame and in the end, stayed with the humble street ministry. He spent the last 20+ years going under bridges, to Rainbow Gatherings and other events, bringing converts back to The Lord's Ranch near Spokane – a work just like he had begun doing over 50 years before. Adrian was laid to rest at Newport Cemetery and lives on in the memories of the many lives he touched.

Adrian is survived by his wife of 25 years, Janis, their two children, Erica, and Benjamin (Rebekah) and his three children from his first marriage to Debi Zaida: Rachel Leduque, Jonathan, and Israel aka Akutra. Also survived by siblings: Eric (Diantha,) Marie (Paul) Petterson, Keith (Anne) and Fred. He was preceded in death by his parents and twin brothers: Don (Martha) and Dale (Jackie.)

Please join us celebrating his life on June 25th at 4 pm at Family of Faith Church, 1504 W. Grace Avenue, Spokane. For more info, call 509-292-1001. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Lord's Ranch at worldharvestmissions.org or by check to World Harvest Missions, PO Box 280, Elk, WA 99009. Please sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com