From Survival to Solid Ground
32 years, Asa’s life was dictated by generational chaos. He was born into an environment where drugs were the family’s financial backbone, leading him to drug use by age eight and selling by age eleven. After time in a youth correctional facility and prison, he found himself homeless, worn out, and physically struggling, even needing back surgery and new teeth.
Asa describes his time on the street as pure survival. He lived with constant fear, sleeping with “one eye open”, and using any spare money he could find for alcohol. His life was completely disoriented, lacking any stable foundation.
A Brutal Turning Point
In 2022, Asa’s life reached a terrifying low in a homeless camp in Crescent City. One night, he was ambushed by a large man who brutally attacked him, declaring, “I’m gonna kill you. This is your day”. At the hospital, he later learned that the attack was part of a gang initiation to kill a homeless person.
Traumatized and resolved, Asa told the hospital staff, “I cannot do another day on the street”. He asked them to buy him a ticket back to Grants Pass, determined to check into the Gospel Rescue Mission.
He had been at the Mission before, but this second chance was different. He returned, committed to regaining his sobriety and straightening his mindset.
Second Chance
Asa embraced his second chance, becoming a dedicated Resident Assistant (R.A.) and finding joy in helping other men progress.
Staff, like Executive Director Brian Bouteller, saw his commitment and challenged him, asking him to consider: “Would you hire Asa right now?”.
Recognizing his rough appearance and missing teeth, Brian made a deal: stay clean, finish the program, and the Mission would help him fix his teeth. This partnership gave him tangible goals and helped him transform his entire physical appearance.
Finding a Foundation of Faith
Asa left the Mission for a time, but a severe relapse brought him back. Upon returning, Asa entered the ADAPT Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program. He focused on building a new relationship with the Lord. He credits the Mission’s structure—from waking up on time to making his bed—as providing the stability he desperately needed after years on the street.
His faith was solidified by a statement from Monica, the Women’s Coordinator, that finally gave him a clear direction:
“I’d rather live my life believing that there’s a God and find out that there isn’t, then live my life believing that there isn’t a god and find out that there is.”
Asa said this quote “drug me right off the fence”. His commitment led him to baptism, weekly fellowship, and deep involvement in his church community.
Home at Last
The ultimate blessing came faster than anyone expected. Asa had initially joked he wouldn’t be in his own place until March 2026, but just one week later, he was moving into his own home!
This is the long-term transformation that your support makes possible. The Gospel Rescue Mission was able to walk alongside Asa every step of the way, even helping him acquire the new appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator) needed for his new home.
As Asa settles into his life, his story proves that Christ can transform generational chaos into lasting security and stability.
When you support the Gospel Rescue Mission, you are helping someone move from the disorientation of a tent and a life of survival to the blessing of finding solid ground and building a foundation of their own. Thank you for helping to change lives like Asa’s!
MissionView Village is the Solution Our Homeless Seniors Need Now
The need is real. Studies report, “Homelessness among older adults is increasing, with a growing proportion of the population experiencing homelessness aged 50 and older.” A recent news video from NBC highlights the overwhelming flood coming our way warning that, “Researchers estimate that the number of homeless Americans over the age of 65 could more than double in the next five years.” Our concern is more than one of housing, but one that connects a right kind of program to meet the unique needs of this particular demographic, seeing beyond their statistics towards the care of each person.
Praying for God’s wisdom to help us address this need, we believe MissionView Village is that solution.
Our case management team has worked for years with this population to transition them from the needs associated with emergency shelter all the way to independence. However, for the elderly this takes much longer due to the slow process of developing financial stability and the vacuum of available housing. Thus, terms like “transitional” become nearly meaningless in the modern world of homeless support services, and time is not on our side.
This is why we must refine this aspect of our ministry to address those needs specific to those whose primary barrier to independence has to do with age and a corresponding fixed low income.
Luke 14:28 says, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
We are well over the halfway point towards the $3.3million cost of building MissionView Village and many of you have helped significantly to get us there, but we still have more than $1,000,000 to go. We need your help and partnership, and we need it right away. With your help we can get it both built and filled before the end of 2026. Please prayerfully consider how you might make the difference and bring MissionView Village to life.
Brian Bouteller
Executive Director
Wake Up With a Purpose
Imagine starting your day with a cup of rich, perfectly roasted coffee, knowing that every sip is fueling a powerful transformation in your community. That’s the promise of Homeless Joe Coffee—it’s more than just a bold, smooth blend; it’s coffee with a mission.
When you purchase a bag of Homeless Joe, you aren’t just buying gourmet coffee; you are investing in hope, healing, and independence right here at the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission. Every single purchase directly supports the Mission’s efforts, providing essential services like meals, shelter, and crucial programs that help individuals move from the uncertainty of homelessness to lasting independence.
This richly roasted coffee delivers the comforting flavor you crave, making your daily ritual a truly meaningful act of service.
Whether you’re brewing a pot to kickstart your morning or sharing a warm cup with friends this Christmas season, you are directly contributing to someone’s “second chance.” You are helping provide the resources needed for job training, counseling, and housing assistance—real steps toward rebuilding a stable life.
Drink good. Do good.
One cup at a time.
Make your next coffee purchase count. Pick up your bag of Homeless Joe Coffee today and start making a difference with every brew.
Available at the Second Chance Thrift Store and Booth Street Thrift Store in Grants Pass, and Kelly’s Automotive Service in Medford and Grants Pass.
Second Chance Downtown Thrift Store
429 SE 6th Street
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Phone: (561) 479-9748
- Monday – Friday: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
- Saturday: 9:00AM to 4:00 PM
Second Chance Booth Thrift Store
114 SW Booth St
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Phone: (561) 501-6711
- Monday – Friday: 9:00AM to 5:00PM
- Saturday: 9:00AM to 4:00 PM
