Bio

Simon & Jo moved to Vancouver in 2008 from the UK with 3 boys and had a 4th boy shortly after arriving. Having left a career in project management in London in 2004 to be ordained as a minister in the Church of England, Simon claims to never quite have got used to the change: “It always makes me laugh to think that I am a pastor, it’s certainly not something that I or anyone in their right mind would have predicted when I was in my teens! However I do count it is as a huge privilege to be able to serve God and his people in this way.”

Neither Simon, Jo or any of their parents grew up with a Christian faith and that has a huge impact on the vision they have for Immanuel. “We’ve always felt a little awkward around church; don’t get me wrong, we love church, we think it’s beautiful, but we just never felt like we knew the right words or when to stand or sit. Now we see that as a bit of a gift. We never want to forget what it’s like to feel as if you don’t belong. We want to do all we can to let people know that they are welcome and valued, whether they say the right stuff or not.”