Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Grewe.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Covered By Faith short term rentals started in 2017. This is how we acquired the first rental the Storybook Home.
This is the story how God gave us the first house. Darin and I had been looking at houses for a year. At the end of April 2017 the Storybook home came on the MLS market. Once I saw the location and price, I knew I had to put an offer into the home. We called 3 agents to show us the house, none of them could, so I called the listing agent to show us the home. We got in that day and went to put an offer in the next day. The agent said “What were you thinking on price?” We gave him our price and he said you are not even close. We went up a bit more; he said we were not close. I asked about another small increase. We still were not close. There were 6 people bidding on the house. There was no way we were going to go that high on a house that needed as much work as it did. So we walked and never put in an offer.
A week goes by and I was watching a YouTube video from LifeChurch. The pastor, Craig Groeschel, on there said “You should pray for something specific. Don’t be so generic in your prayers.” I quickly prayed to God, “If I am suppose to start this new business and help others, I am going to need a house.” Two hours later I received a phone call from the sellers agent stating if I wanted the house it was mine. This started my new full time job and gave us the name for our company. Covered By Faith.
Darin and I (Jessica) came to Rochester in 2000 after graduating from college at Bethany Lutheran College and at Minnesota State University of Mankato. We both come from small towns in Minnesota. We lived in California for two years from 2001-2003. We purchase our first home in 2003 in Rochester. We joined a church the same year. I also started my own online book business that same year as Darin continued working in the technology industry. We had our first child, in 2005 and the blessings of children began and so did my second job of being a stay at home mom. We had our second child in 2006. My health wasn’t in the best shape to continue having children. When I was able to, we decided to try for our 3rd child and in 2010 she arrived. In 2011 our 4th child completed our family. When she was a couple of years old I was able to start reading some of the books I was selling. I made my husband read some of the books and listen to the podcasts which helped get my husband on board to starting the rental business. I grew up working construction as my father is a carpenter and my mother was a house cleaner. You put them together and you get a short term rental manager. Once our youngest began Kindergarten in 2017, it was my time for my next adventure of care taking by starting Covered By Faith short term rentals. Our family is everything to us. We feel like God has placed everyone who books with us to be a part of our lives.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One example is during 2020 when everything was shutting down. This is when my husband and I said this is when people need us the most. We did the opposite of shutting down we kept our doors opened. We had a family contact us saying they couldn’t find anyone who would take them in. Other short term rental businesses were shutting down at the time. I picked up the mom from the hospital and gave her a tour of our last house we had available to book. I told her the story of how we were able to get the house and how God has lead us the whole way. After hearing that story she wanted to hear every story for every house we owned or managed for others. When she was a little girl she said she went to church with her grandmother and knew nothing else about God. Everyday or every other day I had to council her to keep her staying in Rochester so her husband could keep getting the treatment he needed at the Mayo clinic. She was so fearful. I kept telling her to rely on God and not to let the devil (fear) win. If the Mayo Clinic was letting him get the treatment it meant his life depended on it. When they were ready to leave they asked me if they could take the bible with them that was in the house. I of course said yes. Three months later I got a phone call from the mother saying she had to tell me this. Her oldest who just started kindergarten wanted to read the bible to her public school class. I didn’t do much but be the seed God wanted me to be. At the time I didn’t think much of it talking to her everyday. But looking back at the outcome the small things in life are what makes the change. God has a plan even though sometimes it’s not the outcome we want. We keep the faith for our clients and make sure they know they are not alone.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
CoveredByFaithRentals.com has been helping others since 2017 with short term housing needs in Rochester, MN. We have been able to help many with their basic needs of housing when coming to Rochester MN. The days have their ups and downs but what keeps us going is helping those in needs. People coming to Rochester MN are usually here to be seen at the Mayo Clinic. Some people are coming at the worst times in their lives. We bring comfort to those in need of housing. If we can provide one of their basic needs in life (shelter) they feel so relieved. We let people know by our name that they are staying in a Christian place. This brings comfort to many to know they will be taken care of. In our homes we have Christian wall decorations with sayings and some books. One book is my father’s book about seeing Jesus 4 times. The book is He Walked with Me and Talked with Me: Bruce Hultgren’s Real LIFE Encounter with Jesus. We don’t tell anyone of our guests about the book. If they are suppose to find it, they will. We have had guests reach out to me after finding the book and asking questions. We are happy to answer. We don’t force religion on anyone and we are welcoming all. If guests want to talk we are more than willing to meet up with them. It’s our mission to help all in need during their ups and downs in life.
How do you define success?
Being happy with yourself and how you are living life. For us, it is helping others with one of their basic needs in life, housing. Also quality of life in health is a huge success. Eating right and exercise is key to feeling good and being able to help those in need. How are you suppose to help others if you aren’t taken care of basic needs for yourself first? Woman need to be felt as understood, seen and feel safe. Men need to feel appreciated, playful and open, and they need freedom. If men and women get these basic needs they will feel successful in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coveredbyfaithrentals.com
- Instagram: @CoveredByFaithShortTermRentals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoveredByFaithRentals/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coveredbyfaithrentals3779
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/covered-by-faith-rochester-2?osq=Short+Term+Furnished+Apartment&override_cta=Request+information
