The Sparrow Story
In Benton County, the number of people experiencing homelessness nearly doubled between 2017 and 2022. Statewide, Oregon’s rate of families experiencing homelessness stands at three times higher than the national average with 70% being led by single moms. In Corvallis, the strain is especially visible as housing costs rise and too many people are left without a safe place to call home. For many in our city, the problem has felt overwhelming—without clear answers for lasting solutions.
Amid this need, a local leader at the Hive church, Andrew Wenger, experienced a growing conviction to respond. The words of Luke 12:48—“Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required”—weighed on him deeply.
In 2016, as Andrew prayed about how to respond to these needs, he had a vivid dream at night. He dreamt of a single-wide home in South Corvallis, purchased and prepared to welcome a homeless family, while the church community provided wrap-around care, aiding them to get off the streets and build a new future.
Not long after, a single mom in crisis came to The Hive church. Her
home was unsafe, she was expecting her third child. The church
community rallied around her, purchasing and restoring a singlewide trailer—just as Andrew had seen in his dream. She became the very
first participant in what would grow into what is now Sparrow
Ministries.
What began as a burden, then a prayer, and then a dream became a living reality. Today, through a grant from the state of Oregon, Sparrow purchased Twin Oaks mobile home park in South Corvallis and has grown into two branches:
Sparrow Housing, providing affordable housing opportunities, fostering community and offering support.
Sparrow Ministries, aiding struggling families through spiritual, relational, emotional, and financial mentorship.
Our motivation is rooted in faith, but our vision is simple: we believe lasting transformation happens in community and that people are valuable to God.
Statement of Faith
Sparrow is a Christian nonprofit whose purpose is to show the love and power Jesus Christ demonstrated through His life on earth and in His death and resurrection. We believe that God created all men and women in His image, giving each person inherent value and worth. Our faith in Jesus shapes and guides us as we serve those around us. We pursue restoration—of people, families, and neighborhoods—through relationship, practical help, and hope in Christ.
Sparrow Core Values
People Are Valuable
Love
Belonging
Family as a Foundation
Empowering to Serve
Jesus is the Solution
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Our executive director, Andrew, founded Sparrow because of a desire that grew in him to serve the local city and serve people beyond the walls of the church, becoming an agent of change in society. Andrew leads our organization, maintaining everything that we do dedicated to our mission and core value of seeing people thrive and know the incredible value God has for every person. A contractor by trade, Andrew is passionate about building up people and healthy communities and leads our team forward in investing in that vision together.
Shelly serves as Sparrow’s Program Director and manages the development and design of all of Sparrow’s programs. She carries a vision to see lives transformed through experiencing a personal relationship with a loving God. For Sparrow Ministries, Shelly develops the structure and content of our year-long, live-in mentorship program. Married to Andrew, she has assisted in developing Sparrow from the ground up and dreams of seeing a community come into wholeness spiritually, physically, relationally, and emotionally.
Susanna serves as Sparrow’s Operations Manager, bringing clarity, structure, and consistency to the organization’s day-to-day work. She translates vision into action by building the systems, timelines, and accountability structures that keep the team moving forward with focus and confidence. Susanna works closely with leadership and staff to align priorities, maintain operational quality, and develop the infrastructure Sparrow needs to grow sustainably.
Bethany serves as Sparrow’s Partnerships Coordinator, representing Sparrow to the broader community with warmth, clarity, and consistency. She cultivates and stewards relationships with churches, donors, community partners, and supporters — building the kind of long-term trust that invites meaningful participation in Sparrow’s mission.
Audrey serves Sparrow in two complementary roles, supporting both housing residents and families participating in Sparrow Ministries. Within Sparrow Housing, she coordinates resident services, addresses concerns, and helps foster a healthy, connected community as a consistent and trusted presence. Within Sparrow Ministries, she provides relational and practical support to families, walking alongside them as they work toward stability and long-term independence by coordinating resources, tracking progress, and building trust-centered relationships.
Teresa manages Sparrow’s day-to-day financial records, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and responsible stewardship of resources. She supports the organization by maintaining organized financial data that informs leadership and compliance.
Lindy serves as the on-site caretaker at Twin Oaks, supporting both the physical upkeep of the property and the wellbeing of residents. She provides a steady, relational presence that helps foster safety, care, and connection within the community, and serves as the on-site point of contact if issues arise outside of regular office hours.
Raymond maintains the landscaping and outdoor spaces at Twin Oaks, helping create a safe, welcoming, and well-cared-for environment. His work supports the beauty and livability of the community for residents and visitors alike.
My husband and I moved to Oregon 7 years ago. I am currently employed at Citizens Bank in Philomath with 15 years of banking experience. Since moving here, I have been startled with the growing housing crisis. I’m drawn to Sparrow Ministries’ passion to provide more affordable housing while building relationships. My banking experience motivates me to partner with Sparrow to oversee the budget and grow the impact to provide healthy community where residents can flourish.
Scott’s professional path includes stints as a researcher in the labs of Sun Microsystems and IBM working on novel computing methods. He also taught circuit design and managed Capstone projects for Computer Science majors at Oregon State University. He worked locally in the lumber industry while designing scanners for Lucidyne Technologies. He has a PhD from Cambridge University in the UK.
“I didn’t choose to pursue work with the economically challenged in Corvallis, but I learned of Sparrow’s vision and saw the difference they were making. It is gratifying to work alongside the staff and fellow board members to help in the lives of many others.”
Scott is married with three grown children. He is on the opening side of his twilight years. He will not go quietly.
