A few years ago, if you asked Jared and Jessica Raines what terrified them, public speaking would rank high on their list.

It’s not that they don’t enjoy talking to people. They do. But Jared and Jessica were never the kind of people to give a formal talk in front of a group. That’s why, in 2023 when Jared and Jessica knew God was drawing them to become missionaries, Jared sought the advice of his pastor, Steve Olsen* of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Smithville, Ohio. Jared asked, “Can we do this without raising support?” His pastor replied, “Uh, no.”  

What was comfortable for Jared was working with his hands in the heating and cooling business. He spent nearly 20 hard-working years meeting people’s needs for their homes. As a stay-at-home mom, Jessica was in her element working outdoors on their hobby farm in Ohio. It was these very skills that God used to call Jared and Jessica to Missionary Acres, BMM’s ministry of providing affordable, quality housing for retired Christian workers. Missionary Acres needed people just like them to take care of residents’ homes full-time. 

Jared and Jessica knew the only way they could overcome their challenges was with God’s help. “Raising support is scary on the front side,” says Jared, “but once you realize it’s all up to God, you know you can do it.” The Lord provided three pastors who went to bat for them, including Jared’s former youth pastor, Kevin Fath of Hillside Baptist Church in Rittman, Ohio. He became one of their biggest cheerleaders and asked all the pastors he knew: “Hey, have you met Jared and Jessica? You should support them!” Jared also devoted every Thursday (his day off) to driving to churches with Jessica. Together, they met new pastors one-on-one to seek meetings to present their ministry. 

Although Jared is not a preacher (something he was told would be a hindrance to getting meetings), many of his churches requested up front that he not preach. They wanted more time for their people to learn about missionaries’ ministries rather than hear a sermon. Jessica initially dreaded public speaking but chose to do her best for the Lord. When she shared her personal testimony of learning dependency on God through painful circumstances, her audiences were riveted.  

Jared and Jessica’s challenges proved to be no obstacle for the Lord. The Raineses raised their support in 18 months, about half the average time. They credit it solely to God, who called them into missions and made a way when they couldn’t imagine how it would be possible. “It wasn’t us—we can’t say that enough,” says Jared. 

It wasn’t easy for the Raines family to uproot themselves from their hometown and leave behind family and lifelong friends. After finishing support raising in 2024, Jared and Jessica moved with their children, Russell and Riley, to Silva, Missouri, where Missionary Acres is located. They did it to follow God, and He’s been with them every step of the way. Today they are thoroughly enjoying the work God called them to do: servicing and repairing HVAC and other home systems, cleaning guest homes, doing outdoor work, and interacting with residents and volunteer teams.  

Jessica likes to say, “The fact that Jared doesn’t preach and came from a hardworking blue collar job shows you don’t necessarily have to go to a Christian college to be a missionary. You can literally come out of a working job with your family and serve. It makes people think, ‘Oh, we might be able to do that.’”

Jared and Jessica are down-to-earth people, and they still scratch their heads over why God chose them, and not someone else, for the honor of serving in missions. One thing is certain. They were willing to listen to God’s voice when He called and to trust that He would meet their needs. And that’s just the kind of people God delights to use.