Generous Hearts Transform Tragedy Into Hope After Billings Church Windows Shattered

The Billings community is stepping up to support a historic South Side church after three stained-glass windows were vandalized last month.

Wayman Chapel AME Church has weathered storms before, but the October night when glass shattered across their sanctuary floors struck a particularly painful chord.

On the night of Oct. 13, Bergen received a call from police alerting him that someone had smashed several windows.

"It was my birthday," said Bergen. "I get here, and its glass is all over the place, all three windows are busted out."

The destruction hit especially hard for a congregation that has served as a gathering place, a support system and, according to its pastor, a symbol of hope since 1897.

Pastor Simon Bergen faced an agonizing decision when police asked if he wanted to press charges against the suspect.

After intense soul-searching and community discussion, the church chose a path of mercy.

They did not believe the vandalism was targeted or motivated by hate, but rather connected to someone struggling with mental health. "After allowing my emotions to calm down and to pray, it didn't sit well with me to press charges," said Bergen.

But forgiveness doesn't repair broken windows, and estimates to replace each window range from $3,000 to $6,000, and for a small congregation, the cost seemed overwhelming.

Everything changed when word spread across Billings about the historic church's plight.

First came social media messages flooding the church's page, then businesses reaching out with offers to help.

The most remarkable response came from Susan Kennedy Sommerfeld, owner of Kennedy's Stained Glass, who has operated her Billings studio for 43 years and has created stained-glass pieces for churches across the state, including one done several years ago for Wayman Chapel.

"The first thing I thought of was, 'I got to help out,'" said Sommerfeld. "I just feel like I need to do what I can to make it comfortable again and to help them to move forward."

Her generous offer: complete repairs at no charge.

Other stained-glass professionals, including Grizzly Glass and Pella Window and Door, also reached out to the church with offers to help.

For Bergen, who has served as pastor for nine years and member for over 25 years, the outpouring represents something deeper than simple charity.

"Just as the church has given back to the community for many years, now the community is giving back to them. For Bergen, the support from artists, neighbors, and strangers has given the church new energy as it works toward restoration."

The church continues Sunday services despite boarded-up windows, maintaining their mission to "feed people, clothe people, help people with their bills and utilities."

While winter temperatures approach and restoration work begins, "We're faced with some dark situations, and we're still hanging on the hope," said Bergen. "Hopefully, when it's all said and done, we'll be in a better place than we were before we started."