By: Laura Smithwick, Executive Assistant
The problem of homelessness isn’t something easily ignored in Grants Pass. Brokenness and suffering exist on every street, every park, and on many faces in every corner of town. This reality brings heaviness to my heart and when I moved here over the summer of 2023, I began to see the Lord open doors for me to join a ministry that not only cares for these people, but that also has answers and solutions that transform lives. Coming to work at the Mission was divine orchestration in full glory. I love to tell the story about how God lead me here. The Bible says in Psalm 119, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God usually doesn’t light up the whole path forward with a flashlight. Most of the time, God lights our way with a lamp, illuminating a small portion of the path in front of us. It is up to us to walk forward, faithfully, in the way He leads. For me, it was as if God had a big spotlight pointing down directly on the Mission. I am not alone in my certainty that God lead me here. For many in our community, the Gospel Rescue Mission is a beacon of hope, a light in the darkness.
One of my favorite things about the Mission is that if you are driving down G street, its distinguished blue buildings can be seen a mile away. Marked by a distinct cross at the very top, the Mission stands tall and strong, a symbol of a way forward into a new life full of possibility and promise. That is what we do here. More specifically, that is what God is doing here through us. We are just part of His story.
The staff here are amazing, God-fearing, kind, and generous people. They love the Lord, and deeply care for the people they serve. During my first week, a few of the residents were helping us carry some things to put into storage and one of the guys was deeply troubled by an interaction between him and another resident. I’ll never forget the way our women’s coordinator, Monica, responded to this man. She immediately stopped what she was doing and had a mini counseling session right there in that storage room. She talked about turning the other cheek and giving grace instead of holding onto anger. The resident thought he was just doing a chore for us, and instead left the storage room with a new perspective on his situation and a way forward to mend a relationship.
When someone checks in at the Mission, they aren’t just gaining a place to sleep and a hot meal. They are given resources, cared for, prayed over, and guided through any challenges they face. If they truly want to change, they will be given a hand up and a pathway to independence. They simply need to choose to walk forward in the way He is leading.