Lisa Chastain
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa, the granddaughter of Ray Chastain, founder of Gospel Rescue Mission (GRM), was born and raised in Tucson. She grew up in a successful family business and was certain to follow in her dad’s footsteps. But in her early 20s, God changed her life, replacing her desire for monetary success with a passion for helping the poor and those in need.
My hope is that we never grow numb to the suffering around us—but that we see, care, and act, so every man, woman, and child knows they matter.
In 2007, Lisa became CEO of Hope Network, the organization behind Hope Fest, a one-day event providing basic necessities of life and connecting participants with ongoing care with partnerships from social services. Dental care, medical care, food, hygiene items, clothing and more were given away to support individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness. She increased collaboration among local churches and organizations, which ended up serving over 20,000 people in one day for many years. While this was very impactful in the community, Lisa’s desire was to create a permanent facility that could assist people year-round.
In 2017, she received a call that would change her life – to join Gospel Rescue Mission as part of a CEO succession plan. Shortly after she began, the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation began working with GRM to build the Center of Opportunity. Lisa quickly realized this would be the culmination of that vision to bring the same help and healing people experienced during Hope Fest to the community every single day.
By 2019, Lisa stepped into the role of CEO, guiding GRM’s expansion and deepening its impact on the community. Under her leadership, the Center of Opportunity has become a national model for collaborative care, housing over 50 nonprofits and agencies with GRM serving as the Managing Partner. Lisa has championed a holistic approach to homelessness, addressing its root causes by providing long-term transformation programs that support individuals in achieving true wholeness—mind, body, and spirit. In 2025, GRM will expand further into social enterprise solutions, creating additional sustainable pathways for individuals to rebuild their lives.
With over 25 years of experience serving the vulnerable, Lisa embodies a rare blend of compassionate service and strategic, servant leadership. She is deeply driven by a heart for those in need while also possessing the business acumen to create sustainable, lasting impact. Above all, Lisa is a visionary leader—one who sees not just what is, but what could be—and has a unique ability to inspire and unite others around a shared mission. She remains actively involved in leadership councils, boards, committees, and community initiatives, continually bringing people together to solve problems and serve with purpose.