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Sparrow

About Sparrow

Strengthening families. Building community. Showing God's value for people.

To strengthen families into health, build transformational communities, and demonstrate the value God has for people by fostering environments where individuals thrive.

Our story

In 2016, Andrew Wenger — a leader at The Hive Church in Corvallis — had a dream. In it, a single-wide home had been purchased and restored for a family in crisis, and a church community surrounded them with friendship, coaching, and wraparound care. That dream became Sparrow.

The first participant — a single mom in crisis, expecting her third child — came to his church community, and the church rallied to purchase and restore a trailer, just as Andrew had dreamed. In 2021, Sparrow was formally incorporated as a nonprofit.

Today, through a grant from the State of Oregon, Sparrow owns Twin Oaks Community in South Corvallis and runs the LifeChange Program — walking families facing homelessness toward lasting transformation.

What's in the name

In Matthew 10, Jesus points to the sparrow — the cheapest bird in the market, easily overlooked — as evidence that not one of them falls apart from the Father's notice. "You are worth more than many sparrows." We exist for the people the world tends to overlook. Every person carries immeasurable worth — not because of what they've accomplished, but because of who made them.

"Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts." — Psalm 84:3

Our core values

Eight commitments that shape how we show up for every person we serve.

We Are Responsive to Our Faith

Sparrow is a faith-based nonprofit founded on the truth of Scripture and shaped by the person of Jesus Christ. Our beliefs form the foundation of our work, not the edges. Jesus loved us fully, at cost, before we had anything to offer — because He served, we serve. Caring for the vulnerable in our community isn’t an optional expression of compassion; it’s our mandate.

We See People the Way God Sees Them

Every person is made in the image of God — beloved, purposeful, and of infinite worth. We don’t define people by their struggles, diagnoses, crises, or past; we hold a vision of who they are in God and treat them accordingly — because people often grow into the identity they are given.

We Are Hope-FULL People

Our hope is not rooted in circumstances — it is rooted in God. We hold hope for people until they can begin to carry it themselves. Our programs are designed to awaken life, not just stabilize crisis.

We Make Room for Transformation

Lasting transformation is whole-person, and rarely fast or linear. We walk with people through a process — not just a program — with support tailored to the individual. We invite people into the choice of transformation, knowing real change must be chosen, not forced.

We Rebuild Family and Community

Homelessness is rarely just a housing problem — it’s often the loss of healthy family and community. We help rebuild belonging, because community isn’t an accessory to our work; it’s one of the main ways healing happens.

We Learn as Much as We Give

We don’t arrive as the people who have it figured out. The individuals and families we serve bring wisdom, resilience, and perspective that Sparrow genuinely needs. We stay curious, ask before we assume, and hold our expertise loosely.

We Are Stewards

We are stewards, not owners. We manage finances carefully and transparently, hold people’s stories with discretion, and build systems that reflect the weight of our responsibility. We also teach stewardship to those we serve.

We Pursue Partnership

We don’t pursue donors, churches, or volunteers primarily as sources of funding — we pursue relationship. We believe God is our provider, and giving, service, and partnership are the natural outgrowth of that, never the starting point.

Our faith

We believe lasting transformation happens in community, and that every person is valuable to God — created in His image, with inherent worth. Our faith in Jesus shapes and guides us as we serve those around us.

Our team

The people walking alongside families every day.

Andrew Wenger

Andrew Wenger

Founder & Executive Director

Andrew founded Sparrow out of a vision to serve people beyond the walls of the church and become an agent of change in the local community. A contractor by trade, he leads the organization with a passion for building up people and healthy communities — driven by the conviction that every person can thrive and know the incredible value God has for them.

Shelly Wenger

Shelly Wenger

Director of LifeChange Programs

Shelly serves as Sparrow’s Director of LifeChange Programs 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 LifeChange, 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

Susanna

Operations Manager

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

Bethany

Partnerships Coordinator

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

Audrey

Resident Services Coordinator

Audrey serves as Sparrow’s Resident Services Coordinator, supporting both Twin Oaks Community residents and families participating in LifeChange. Within Twin Oaks Community, she coordinates resident services, addresses concerns, and helps foster a healthy, connected community as a consistent and trusted presence. Within LifeChange, 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

Teresa

Bookkeeper

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

Lindy

Twin Oaks Caretaker

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

Raymond

Twin Oaks Groundskeeper

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.

Join the work of restoration

However you're able — give, volunteer, or partner — you help families find hope.