Bishop Fred T. Simms, D.D.
Bishop Fred T. Simms &
First Lady Marilyn Simms
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About Bishop Simms
A West Virginia native, Fred Thomas Simms was born on April 28th to George W. Simms and Audrey M.(Simms) Totten. Bishop Simms is one of eight children. He was raised and educated in Raleigh County. Bishop Simms and his wife, Lady Marilyn L.Staples-Simms are the proud and loving parents of five daughters and ten grandchildren.
In October of 1977, he was ordained as a deacon and on December 18th of that same year, he preached his first sermon at the New Jerusalem Holiness Church in Lester, West Virginia. He continued to work diligently in the service of the Lord by serving as Assistant Pastor at New Jerusalem Holiness Church for fourteen years under the leadership of Bishop Joe Hairston.
Commissioned by God in February of 1993, Pastor Simms began to fulfill the vision to birth what is now known as Heart of God Ministries. The Lord blessed Pastor Simms and the church to purchase the land located at 1703 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, West Virginia. In April 1996, construction of the sanctuary began.
Under the inspirational leadership of Pastor Simms, the ministry began to experience tremendous growth in the congregation and expansion became necessary. In November 2004, Heart of God Ministries completed construction of the renovated sanctuary and dedicated the new edifice.
Pastor Simms was ordained as Bishop by the Apostolic Faith Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. in 1997. His biblical studies include courses through Aenon Bible College in Columbus, Ohio (now in Indianapolis), the Institute of Biblical Studies in Lynchburg, Virginia and St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida where he received a Doctorate of Divinity Degree.
In addition to his evangelistic ministry and pastoralship at Heart of God Ministries, Bishop Simms has appeared on DayStar, Living Faith TV, and Streaming Faith Webcast. His dynamic style of anointed preaching and teaching has opened many doors for him throughout the United States. He also spreads the Word of God through a Sunday morning radio broadcast, The Sword of Victory, WJLS 560 AM.
 Bishop Simms is a present day visionary who continues to lead Heart of God Ministries forward in growth and development. He teaches his congregation by example; and lives what he preaches. The church has a thirty-eight member ministerial staff and thirty-two auxiliary ministries in operation to serve the community.
He labors untiringly through counseling, intercessory prayer, preaching and teaching. Bishop Fred T. Simms is a dedicated and loyal Pastor, and truly has a heart for the ministry and the people.
His two favorite mottos are: “It’s not about Fred T., it’s about God” & “Let’s Have Church”!
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About First Lady Marilyn Simms
Marilyn Lee (Staples) Simms was born on September 12th to Mrs. Pauline Staples and the late Warren Staples. She is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia. In November of 1971, she married Fred T. Simms and they are the loving parents of five daughters and have been blessed with ten grandchildren.
Her greatest miracle came in May of 1974, when she was saved and baptized with the Holy Ghost. While a member at New Jerusalem Holiness Church, in Lester, West Virginia, she was a choir member and a Sunday School teacher.
In February of 1993, her husband, Elder Fred Simms founded the Heart of God Ministries in Beckley, West Virginia. She submitted to the leadership of her husband and co-labors with him in the ministry. Lady Simms believes supporting her husband in ministry and raising godly children and grandchildren are her primary purpose and calling.
Lady Simms oversees the women’s ministry, “Women of Excellence” and is host to an annual women’s conference every October. Restoring women and family relationships weigh heavy in her heart.
As an anointed psalmist, many yokes have been destroyed as she ministers in song. She has allowed God to “order her steps” and is an influence in the music ministry as well. Demonstrating the love of God through a meek and gentle spirit is how she graces the office of “First Lady”.
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