American Faces No. 104
In a world that seems a bit bruised, beaten down and in need of a whole lot of compassion I would like to introduce Chris Bellanger who is a “City Focused Compassion” kind of guy. That compassion comes from a childhood and a lifetime of struggle. Chris’s first 27 years were riddled with difficulty. Drugs, nightlife, overdoses and just flat out hard stuff were a part of the tapestry that he called his family. His life in those formative years had him tracking to at best end up addicted or at worst, dead. Instead, he found hope. As he put it, “I found Jesus.” The “righteous path" started for him when he was 27. Chris’s backstory is what drives him every day. His compassion for the city of his childhood is in his DNA. He remembers his family being on the streets. He remembers the agony of loss and now he is always searching for the next person he can help; the next person who needs a kid word. This heavily bearded, street-wise pastor from the Southside of Minneapolis has serious "street cred" as he lives, breathes and cares for his city.
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I went along with Chris and a crew of like-hearted people to South Minneapolis where I watched Chris and his team provide compassion focused meals that they had packed, hygiene packs, and sleeping mats to the people who were experiencing homelessness and those in tent cities. There wasn’t judgment by Chris and his team, just sharing the love of Christ to the brokenhearted and homeless souls of Minneapolis. Prayer was offered by the team to those that wanted it. Most importantly, all humanity was cared for by the team just by being present. They were just true “Difference Makers”.
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Check out Chris and where he pastors at Free Grace United Downtown Minneapolis. Oh and if you are really bold, meet him and maybe tag along. I am pretty sure you will just get pulled into the tide of City Focused Compassion that Chris leads. I did!
Be bold and go make a difference.
Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios
Editing by: Cristine Nielsen
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