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.

Click here to get your copy!

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

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 19

Simple Harvest Reads, November 20 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews , November 20

Artistic Nobody, November 21 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, November 22 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 23

Fiction Book Lover, November 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 25

Stories By Gina, November 26 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 27 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 29

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 30 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 1

Books Less Travelled, December 2 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, December 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linette is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/3dc76/start-little-dream-big-celebration-tour-giveaway

Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, I’m a Buffalo native and a Navy veteran who never expected to end up in ministry, let alone as an author! But God had other plans. After a spinal injury ended my military career, He led me down a path that I could never have imagined — one that began with a thrift store “no” and turned into a community mission now meeting over 40,000 needs each year. I love coaching and mentoring women, hosting sisterhood gatherings, and helping others re-discover the dream and calling that God has tucked inside their hearts.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
Honestly, I think I’ve known my whole life. Writing has always been my way of processing and praying — whether it was journaling during hard seasons or scribbling dreams on napkins and sticky notes. I often say I have so many books inside of me; they feel like babies waiting to be born when the time is right.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9 — and fun fact, it’s also my birthday (12/9)! It says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” That verse reminds me daily that I don’t have to be strong or have it all together — His grace fills every gap. I just have to show up with what I have and trust Him with the rest.

Where did you get the inspiration for your latest book?
The story of Start Little, Dream Big actually began the day I was turned away from a thrift store. I had gone in hoping to trade a bag of skinny jeans (jeans that no longer fit my mom-body) for essentials my family needed, but they said no. It stung. But somewhere between the store door and my car door, God dropped the seed of a new dream into my heart — one that grew into a community center now serving thousands. This book tells that story and invites others to believe their small beginnings can make a big difference too.

How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?
My faith and spirituality are woven into everything I write. I don’t separate the two. Writing for me is a form of ministry — a way to testify, encourage, and remind women that God is still writing beautiful stories out of broken places.

How much time do you spend researching before you write?
Because my writing is rooted in real-life experiences, much of my “research” is reflection — revisiting old journals, ministry notes, and prayer moments. But when I’m developing new lessons or devotional content, I love digging into Scripture, word studies, and stories of other women of faith who’ve walked through similar journeys.

What advice would you give to new authors?
Start with an outline, even if it’s simple. Make a list of Scriptures and quotes that connect to your message. Create your own list of “callouts” — those little nuggets or one-liners that could stand alone as encouragement. And when you write, picture yourself chatting with a friend over coffee. That’s what keeps your writing warm, real, and relatable.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your book?
I want readers to believe they can dream again — that no matter where they are, God can do something beautiful with what’s already in their hands. You don’t have to wait until everything’s perfect. Just take one small step in faith, right where you are, and watch what God can do.

How long have you known you’re a writer?
My whole life. Writing has always been a part of who I am. There have been seasons where the words were quiet, but they’ve always been there — waiting. I often describe it like being pregnant with stories — carrying them until the right time comes to bring them into the world.

Is there a book you’ve read that you wish you’d written?
Oh, without a doubt — The Purpose Driven Life. I remember reading it for the first time and laughing because I had so many notes written on that same topic. I even joked with God, “You gave him my notes too!” But truly, it was confirmation that when we follow God’s lead, He can birth similar messages through many voices, all pointing back to Him.