About Us | Get Involved Today — Samaritan Worldview

About Samaritan Worldview

Samaritan Worldview is a christian outreach organization that actively seeks out the poor, homeless, destitute and necessitous of society, meeting them where they are at with immediately needed supplies, building relationships, then connecting them with partner organizations that have the proper resources to help them get back on their feet and become dignified contributing members of society.

History

Nearly twenty years ago, Samaritan Worldview Founder Joseph Riverson was doing cleanup in the community and ended up in a greenbelt near I-5. As he was working, he was struck by the fact that there were tents tucked away in the bushes. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. There were people who were living out there in the underbrush, with tarps tied to different bushes and trees, and the squalor they were living in. The experience left a strong impression on him; an impression he couldn’t ignore. He felt The Lord speak to him that those in the “highways, byways and hedges” needed to hear the Gospel.

Joseph didn’t heed the words immediately, but the tug of the Lord on his heart for those living outside grew stronger and stronger. In 2015, Joseph got the clear vision for the mission, with God revealing the details. He drafted an entire business plan aimed at setting up a nonprofit to serve those experiencing homelessness in the community. The foundation for the nonprofit was based on scriptures with accounts that involved people from Samaria - The Good Samaritan, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the ten lepers Jesus healed with the one who returned to give praise being a Samaritan.

When the pandemic started in 2020, Joseph was doing outreach to folks living on the streets of Seattle with another agency. One day in particular, the group he was with happened to meet nearly a dozen people with his same name - “Joseph”. During this period also, he’d been having dreams of people from the street calling his name and coming to his house and knocking on his door. They were saying “we need help, come help us”, and in one dream in particular, a person almost broke down his front door. He couldn’t ignore the signs any longer so in January of 2021 he officially started the agency Samaritan Worldview. On February 2, 2022, Joseph resigned from his corporate work and surrendered to full-time ministry, with Samaritan Worldview.

What We Do

Two people having a conversation outdoors on a rainy day, with others in the background. One person has gray hair tied in a ponytail and is wearing a white jacket; the other has long blond hair, is wearing a black leather jacket, and a black cap that says 'Support Musicians.'

Build Relationships

We build relationships with partner organizations and those we serve.

People are gathered under a white canopy at an outdoor event in the rain. One woman is smiling and talking, another woman is standing nearby, and a man is holding a red umbrella and a water bottle. There is a table with snacks and other items in front of them.

Outreach

We actively seek out those in need, in the highways, byways, alleyways, hedges and bushes, meeting them where they’re at, meeting their immediate basic needs with supplies, connecting them to Jesus through sharing of the Gospel, then to partner organizations as needed.

We connect with, and help families stage early interventions for their loved ones who may be facing a crisis which could lead to them being homeless if they don’t change.

Two men greet each other at an outdoor market, with one man placing his hand on the other's shoulder. One man wears a black cap and blue puffer jacket, the other wears a dark jacket with a white hoodie.

Discipleship and Mentorship

We stay in relationship with those we get off the street, taking them through our proprietary discipleship and mentorship program whilst in community.

Resource Sharing

From our robust compilation of much needed resources across the greater Puget Sound region and accumulation of donated supplies that meets the immediate needs of those we serve, we are able to not only offer long term solutions, but immediate short term needs are able to be met rapidly in a way that preserves dignity and shows love and compassion.

Work With Us

Vision Statement

Two men with serious expressions look down, one wearing a baseball cap and the other with white hair and beard.

“To Solve The Root Cause of Homelessness, One Soul At a Time. ”

Mission Statement

Two women hugging outdoors, one wearing a purple puffer jacket with the hood up, and the other wearing a white T-shirt with text that reads 'JESUS IS KING'.

“To Accomplish The Vision of Solving The Root Cause of Homelessness, One Soul at a Time, Through The Gospel of Jesus Christ, Discipleship and Sobriety in Community.”

Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is One God, eternally existent in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
We believe that Jesus is Lord.
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His Miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in Power and Glory.
We believe that for the Salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the born again Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
We believe in water baptism in obedience to scripture, and in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit that He gives to every born again Christian.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of Life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of the damnation.
We believe that God has the Power to change lives.
We believe in the Healing and Deliverance ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation to everyone who believes. That the Gospel of Christ offers forgiveness of sins, transformation of life, and eternal life to everyone who believes.

Our Team

Joseph Riverson

Founder and Executive Director

After a successful 21-year career in sales and marketing in the technology and the mortgage industries, Joseph answered the Call of God to found Samaritan Worldview. With a strong passion to see people saved, delivered, and made right with God and Society, Joseph leads the organization to fulfill its vision of helping the poor, homeless, destitute and forgotten of society get well and go through the process of becoming dignified members of society.

Niccole Riverson

Finance Director

For over 3 decades, Niccole has been a strong pillar in accounting and finance, having built a reputation as a sage in all things accounting. An expert at quickbooks, she heads the finance department at Samaritan Worldview. Niccole is passionate about efficiency, helping others, and using her expertise to help advance the mission and vision of Samaritan Worldview in seeing lives restored.

Ben Curtis

Ben has spent the last two decades working with the poor and homeless in the greater Seattle area. He is passionate about seeing people set free from addiction and walk in their God-given purpose. He has extensive experience in homeless outreach, nonprofit management, discipleship, fundraising, and telling the stories of those on the margins of society.

Development Director

Partners

Our partners are so important and we accomplish a lot together. We would love to partner with you and your organization. Contact us and join our team. Together we can make a big difference to the lives of those on the margins.