Rafi Ashamalla
Integration and Youth Director
Rafi was born in Egypt but came to Canada with his family when he was a year old. He grew up in a Christian home with godly, loving parents who planted in him a desire for God’s Word. However, it wasn’t until he turned eighteen that the Holy Spirit convicted his heart of his sins and showed him his need for forgiveness. After Rafi repented and put his faith in Christ, he felt a call to ministry. He got a Bachelor of Religious Education from Tyndale and a Master of Theological Studies at McMaster Divinity College. Two years after he was saved, he got baptized.
Rafi is married to Danielle and they have three children, Isaac, Alexandra and Abigail. He served in pastoral ministry at the church he grew up attending in Markham for over three years.
Rafi is a lifelong Raptors enthusiast and was fulfilled as a fan when the Raptors won the title in 2019, after waiting through many disappointing seasons and knowing it’ll probably never happen again.
One of Rafi’s favorite verses is Romans 4:5 “to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness”. It’s a reminder to him that at the end of the day, because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God is always for him and not against him, and that gives him abiding reassurance. God’s acceptance of him is not based on his works (he is ungodly) but based on the righteousness of Christ.