Described by friends as an "old hippie who got saved," Adrian Simila runs The Ranch, a men's recovery center just north of Spokane, Wash.

About 50 men, most of whom were formerly homeless, reside there on more than 20 acres, maintaining the property, caring for livestock and running a community food bank and other programs.
Housing is offered to anyone, with few restrictions, says President Darrow Burke. There is a heavy emphasis on discipleship programs for the residents, he says.

"We have a lot of guys who (initially) only stay a couple months," Burke tells me. "A lot of the time, they come back."

Brian Douglas (pictured left) graduated from a similar program 10 years ago, then met Simila.
Now he works at a lumber mill in Idaho and lives at The Ranch part time to preach and help out.
In the beginning, "I did not want to be saved. In fact I didn't want anything to do with God, because I was raised in such a religious family," he says.

Adrian Simila's wife and Ranch secretary, Janis Simila (pictured lower right), says funding for the ministry, launched in the mid-90s, has been down along with the economy. Expenses run about $5,000 per month, with an additional $1,000 per month needed for a newer women's facility located nearby.
"It's quite an interesting life, living in community here as long as we have," she says.
"We keep going by God's grace. It takes a lot of wisdom."

Burke was nice enough to show me around on Friday and hook me up with some salad from the food bank.

Here he's standing in front of a building that will hold classrooms, bathrooms and a sanctuary when needed money comes in to finish it.

This 1973 International Harvester bus is one of a motley fleet The Ranch has acquired over the years for outreach at events, such as barter fairs, says Burke.    

(The white bus in the background has been converted to run on propane!)