Faithfulness in the Small Things…
As the energy of January has faded and the emotional motivation of February has passed, we move into a month where spring is approaching but the growth isn’t visible yet. March is often marked by monotony and a loss of momentum. It can be the month where New Year’s resolutions quietly die (like when I resolve to read the Bible in a year and I just hit the book of Numbers). It is for these reasons that in March, the Mission team will turn our focus not on excitement or inspiration, but on consistency. We’re saying, “Your future is being build right now… in the boring parts!”
We’ve talked with plenty of homeless folks who come with expectations of big change but seem to imagine that it can come without obedience in the small things. Our challenge is to help them reframe success away from big emotional breakthroughs, dramatic spiritual moments, and immediate independence, toward “small” things, like showing up on time, doing chores well, keeping one’s word, and repeating it even when no one’s applauding. Faithfulness is what love looks like on an ordinary Tuesday.
The Apostle Paul told the Galatian church, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” This applies to values we are trying to ingrain like work readiness, discipline in addiction recovery, trust building, and independence formation. When our culture tells us to wait until something big happens, March reminds us to be faithful where we are. This is important for our residents and staff who are learning that independence isn’t sudden, trust is earned slowly and stability is built quietly.
Proverbs 10:4 says, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Diligent people don’t quit when the job gets boring or tough, but instead they persevere.
They keep their word even when enthusiasm fades. A slack hand refers to someone who stops when things get hard, but the diligent person stops because the job is done. That’s not a name it and claim it message, it’s a work hard and watch it grow message.
Throughout March we will look to highlight small acts of faithfulness among our residents, staff, and volunteers. We hope you’ll celebrate them with us and pray for Gods encouragement towards them along the way.
– Brian Bouteller, Executive Director
As we do this maybe you can take the time to consider a “small” responsibility that God may be asking you to take more seriously? What makes it hard to stay consistent? And who can you encourage to stay the course this week? The road to transformation is paved with small, steady steps of faithfulness.
Tools for Transformation: The Outreach Card
We’ve all been there—standing at a stoplight or walking down the sidewalk, locking eyes with someone holding a cardboard sign. Your heart wants to help, but your head knows that a five-dollar bill often only sustains the very cycle we want to see broken. In those moments, what if you could give someone hope instead?
In this month’s envelope, you’ll find two Mission Outreach Cards. We designed these for you to keep in your car or wallet so that when you encounter a neighbor in need, you have a tool ready to help them find a way out. These aren’t just pieces of paper; they are invitations to a new life. Written with direct, honest language, these cards offer a clear choice: the streets, or a pathway to safety, sobriety, and independence.
As we move into March, our theme is “Faithfulness in the Small Things” based on Luke 16:10.
This principle is at the heart of our program—we teach residents that mastering basic tasks and showing up punctually are the first steps toward a restored life. By handing out these cards, you are performing a “small thing” that God can use for a massive impact. You are providing the vital information needed to attend one of our upcoming Open House events, where they can see firsthand that restoration is possible.
Let’s stop merely managing homelessness and start ending it by inviting our neighbors into a community of transformation.
Finding Faith in Humanity: Shane’s Story of Restoration
At the Gospel Rescue Mission, we often talk about “rescuing people from poverty in Jesus’ name.” But if you sat down with Shane, he’d tell you that sometimes the most profound rescue isn’t from a lack of funds or a roof—it’s a rescue from isolation.
Shane grew up in a world of shifting father figures and a family dynamic that left him feeling lonely and alone from a very young age. This early blueprint of brokenness followed him into adulthood, leading to a cycle of three marriages and three divorces.
“I was doing exactly what I saw growing up,” Shane reflects. Eventually, heretreated into himself, living single and largely solitary for 24 years. He wasn’t a “hater,” as he puts it, he just preferred to be left alone.
When life’s circumstances brought him to our door six months ago, Shane expected structure. Having spent seven years in prison, he knew how to follow rules. What he didn’t expect was the surprise blessing of genuine relationship.
A gifted writer finds his most important story yet: his own restoration.
“It’s not as much the living at the Mission around a bunch of guys,” Shane says. “It’s the folks like Brian, Aaron, Laura and Monica. They have stirred up in me the desire for personal relationships again. You guys have helped bring me back to a place where I’ve regained my faith in humanity.” Shane spends much of his time working at our yard sale, a partnership with the ROC Food Pantry, where he interacts with the community. He credits ROC staff member Shonna for modeling a “sincere caring about people” that has fundamentally changed his outlook. This connection is more than just “being nice”—it’s a reflection of God’s design.
A gifted writer who has been honing his craft for 50 years, Shane uses his experiences as a rich backdrop for his writing. He finds the process cathartic, leaning on the wisdom of the Apostle Paul to put the past behind him while using its lessons to build a better future. Currently, Shane is navigating significant health challenges, including eye and shoulder surgeries. While he waits for clarity on his next steps, and hopes to one day write full-time, he is actively engaging in our Christ-centered program. In chapel, he finds his sword sharpened by the teachings and fellowship.
Shane has a message for you, our supporters: “Their funding and their investment and their prayers… truly is making a difference. They’re not just feeding and showering dudes. The fundamental difference that the donors are making in men’s lives is dramatic.”
It is your support that allows us to provide more than just hot meals and warm beds for our men, women and children. You help us provide a place where people like Shane can find community and rediscover their value- because they are made in the image of God.
Please join us in praying for Shane as he seeks clarity for the next phase of his life and heals from his upcoming surgeries.
Staff Spotlight: Laura Smithwick
From Silicon Valley to Scenic Southern Oregon
If you’ve visited the administrative offices at the Mission lately, you’ve likely been greeted by a warm smile, the smell of coffee, the sound of an acoustic guitar and a spirit of genuine care from our Director of Resident Services, Laura Smithwick. Laura joined our team with a unique background and a heart perfectly tuned to the Mission’s calling to see lives transformed from the inside out.
Laura’s journey to Grants Pass began in the fast-paced world of California’s Silicon Valley, where she spent over 20 years managing and roasting for a busy independent coffee house. While the tech world hummed around her, Laura was busy building community—a skill she now brings to our residents every day.
In the summer of 2023, seeking a better environment for their growing family and to be closer to her husband’s parents, Laura and her family made the move to our beautiful corner of Oregon. They’ve since become deeply rooted in the local community and their church in Sunny Valley, where the whole family serves, in roles ranging from tech and security to worship and children’s ministry. After a few months of decompressing from her move, Laura sought an opportunity to serve others. She began volunteering for the ROC Food Pantry, which is located right next door to the Mission.
“I really missed the community that I had in California,” Laura recalls. “Volunteering at the ROC was just really up my alley… I loved meeting new people and learning about the needs of Grants Pass”.
When an Executive Assistant position opened at the Mission, Laura felt a clear nudge from the Lord to apply. That role eventually evolved into her current position as Director of Resident Services, where she now leads a dedicated team, helping our residents navigate their own pathway to independence.
Laura’s professional background is proving to be a “divine appointment” as the Mission recently launched Homeless Joe Coffee.
“My worlds are colliding,” Laura jokes. Her expertise is invaluable as we look to potentially roast on-site, providing not just a great product for our supporters, but meaningful job skills training for our residents. When she isn’t managing resident services or talking shop about coffee beans, you might find Laura with a guitar in her hand. A lifelong lover of music—having played the flute and piano and performed in choir and musical theater—Laura recently picked up the guitar and now leads worship at her church.
She sees her work at the Mission through a lens of faith, believing that God equips us for the hard tasks He calls us to. Her favorite part of the job? The people.
“I love how different we all are,” Laura says. “I love seeing the different gifts and talents that God’s given us all… and it’s just amazing to see God work in our residents”.
We are so blessed to have Laura’s leadership, wisdom, and caffeinated enthusiasm on our team!
