About the Book

Book: Start Little, Dream Big – Grow The Ministry You Were Born To Build Author: Linette Rainville Genre: Christian Books, Women’s Spiritual Growth, Adult Ministry, Ministry and Evangelism, Church Leadership Release Date: August 7, 2025 “Start Little, Dream BIG” is Linette’s personal story of how God turned one bag of skinny jeans into a million-dollar outreach. Learn how the smallest step of faith could change your life! Linette Rainville knows this truth firsthand. A proud Buffalo native and U.S. Navy veteran, Linette began with one simple act of obedience—a bag of skinny jeans she tried to “trade in” for things her family needed. That humble beginning sparked a million-dollar outreach ministry that now serves over 40,000 families every year with food, clothing, hope and Jesus. In Start Little, Dream Big, Linette shares her redemptive journey and practical wisdom for women ready to step into their God-given calling. It’s filled with real-life moments—some laugh-out-loud funny, some bring-tears-to-your-eyes kind of raw—but all with one goal: to provide you a guide and a blueprint to build your own meaningful ministries, projects, and movements from the ground up. Whether you’re just dreaming or ready to launch, Linette invites you to join her and a growing sisterhood of modern-day Esthers who are answering their call with courage, faith, and Godfidence. You don’t have to do this alone. Your big dream starts with one little step.

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About the Author

Linette Rainville, Jesus girl, USN Veteran and Movement Leader, is on a quest to raise up the next generation of Esthers and Movement Makers. As a podcast host, speaker, mentor and founder of Daughters United, a global equipping ministry, she empowers women to build projects and start ministries from the ground up. With 25 years of hands-on poverty outreach experience, Linette has reached thousands of Kingdom women, guiding them to pursue their callings, lead movements, and build missions.

More from Linette

Friend, can I just take you back for a moment? I never thought I’d find myself here in this place. After serving my country in the U.S. Navy, I came home with a spinal injury that ended the career I had dreamed of. Suddenly, the uniform I loved was gone, and I was simply doing my best to care for my family on an income that barely covered the basics. It stung. It carried a stigma I swore I’d never face. You see, as a young girl my mom and I had lived on welfare, and I had made a promise to myself that my children would never have to experience that. But then life happened. A “disabled” label got stamped on my record, and just like that, my best intentions seemed to evaporate. A few years later, I was blessed with the gift of motherhood and the challenge of disability. My husband and I were making it on one single blue-collar income, just trying to survive. And then—God. One ordinary day, walking out of a thrift store, the Lord planted a seed in my heart. That tiny whisper turned into a vision. That vision grew into a mission. One obedient baby step at a time—one yes, one phone call, one event, one open door—the Lord built something so much bigger than me. Over the years, what started as a little prayer has grown into clothing programs, a pregnancy help center, food pantries, a soup kitchen, domestic abuse support, homeless outreach… and an army of volunteers who joined me along the way. What’s wild is this: that one “yes” in 1991 has rippled out for over 30 years—locally, regionally, and now even globally… reaching over 50,000 lives each year—meeting real, practical needs. And here’s where you come in. Because this story—it isn’t just about me. It’s about you too. I believe God is stirring dreams and assignments inside of my sisters today. Maybe you’ve walked through storms. Maybe you’ve carried labels that felt heavy. Maybe you’ve stood staring at the “skinny jeans” of your life—dreams or abilities that no longer seem to fit. But here’s the truth: all is not lost. I see you. I see you walking out of those valleys and climbing mountains, becoming warrior-ready and equipped to make a difference. I see you searching for a guide, a compass, and a roadmap for your mission. That’s why I wrote this book. It’s the first in my Skinny Jeans Series, and I pray that it will become a companion for you—to remind us that God’s plans are never finished, even when ours feel broken. Because as Jeremiah 29:11 declares: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” So take heart, friend. God can take your little and build something bigger than you ever imagined… one small YES at a time. With BIG LOVE, ❤️ Linette

Interview with the Author

Why do you think the topic of your book is important? Because we live in a world where so many people feel like their dreams are too small to matter.Start Little, Dream Big reminds readers that God specializes in using small beginnings — that the tiniest seed of faith or idea can grow into something far greater than we could ever imagine. It’s a message of hope and holy possibility that every generation needs to hear.
Why do you think this topic is needed? It’s needed because too many women feel disqualified by their past, their pain, or their perceived limitations. I’ve walked through seasons where I felt overlooked and underqualified, yet that’s where God met me and began to build something beautiful. I want others to know He can do the same for them — right where they are, with what they already have in their hands.
What did you learn from writing this book? WritingStart Little, Dream Bigtaught me that obedience is more important than outcome. When I started, I thought I was writing to encourage others, but I quickly realized God was using the process to strengthen my own faith. Each story became a reminder that miracles are born through simple acts of “yes.”
What is your favorite hymn and why? “Amazing Grace” will forever move me. Every time I hear those opening notes, I’m reminded of the story behind the song— and the man who clung to his faith amidst soul wrenching loss. The lyrics in this song carried me through long dark nights and soul healing days — it’s a melody that seems to follow me wherever I go.
What is your favorite verse and why? My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Funny enough, it’s also my birthday — 12/9. That verse feels like God’s personal love note, reminding me that I don’t need to have it all together. His strength shows up best when I find myself at my weakest.
What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you? Most people are surprised to learn that I actually served in the U.S. Navy — and that I had to get a height waiver because I’m just shy of five feet tall! (Proof that God uses little things.) What many don’t know is that my journey into ministry really began after a spinal injury ended my military career. That season of loss felt devastating at the time, but it became the very soil where God planted a brand-new vision. It’s such a reminder that He can take broken beginnings — and yes, even little ladies — and birth something truly big and beautiful through them.
Outside of the Bible, what is the one book or author that has had the biggest influence on you?

Oh, hands down—Sarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling. Her writing feels like sitting in a quiet corner with a journal and a cup of tea, just listening for God’s whisper. I’ve always loved how intimate, real, and Spirit-led her words are. They remind me that writing can be ministry—an overflow of what God speaks to your own heart.

If you could sit down with someone for five minutes, what would you say to them? I’d look them in the eyes and tell them, “You matter more than you know.” I’d remind them that their story isn’t over, their pain isn’t wasted, and their dreams aren’t too small. God has this beautiful way of weaving every detail together — even the detours — into a story worth sharing.
What is one question you would like readers to ask you? What would be your answer? I’d love for someone to ask, “How do I start?” Because that’s really the heart of this book. My answer would be simple: start where you are, with what you have, and just do the next “little” thing God directs you to do. You don’t need a platform or a plan — just a willing heart and a mustard seed of faith.