Stephen Rathjen

For the past 14 years, I've had the privilege of living and working in the Downtown Eastside neighborhood of Vancouver, a community facing many challenges. I’ve served as the program director for a nonprofit offering free music lessons to low-income families and, more recently, as a technology consultant. In these roles, I've helped nonprofits utilize innovative tools to enhance their missions.

Currently, I work at Salesforce as a Solution Architect.

For the last seven years, I've served on the board of Strathcona Vineyard, our small, mission-focused church. This experience has strengthened my belief in the power of God’s love and relationships to bring about change. As a gay and affirming individual, I strive to bridge gaps on divisive issues within the Christian community, holding on to the hope of unity across all parishes, inspired by 1 Corinthians 1:10.

On Fridays, or “FIMBY Fridays,” I dedicate my time to the FIMBY project (visit fimby.ca for more info). This initiative connects Christians in neighborhoods, encouraging us to come together as one body in Christ, beyond our divisions.