We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Grewe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

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.

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.

Jessica , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Covered By Faith was established in 2017. 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.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

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.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2014 I went into a depression or as some call it a mid life crisis. I was a full time mother and a part time reseller on Amazon.com. The small business I had was successful and I was a mother of four healthy young children with a supportive husband. What more could I want? I guess I knew I had more in me that I could share with the world. I started studying in my spare time, listening to podcasts and reading books I was selling and some from our local library. When I was folding laundry I would be listening to podcasts. While I ate my lunch I would watch YouTube videos. I studied for an entire year before making the leap. In 2015, we received money from the government through our taxes for putting solar at our personal residence. This gave us enough to be able to purchase the smallest real estate possible in Rochester a small studio condo.

In 2025 I feel like this is happening again and that God is calling me to possibly start a new adventure. I still plan on continuing Covered By Faith short term rentals but add on another adventure to help with another basic need guests need. After reading the paragraph I just wrote, it makes me realize I need to study and prepare before taking the big leap again. Stay tuned to see what happens next.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coveredbyfaithrentals.com
• Instagram: @CoveredByFaithShortTermRentals
• Facebook: Covered By Faith
• Linkedin: Jessica Grewe
• Youtube: http://m.youtube.com/@coveredbyfaithrentals3779
• Yelp: Covered By Faith

Image Credits

Mural painting in the house done by Isabella Grewe.