ABOUT US
Reaching Beyond Ourselves (RBO) is a California non-profit organization (501(c)3, that focuses on serving its global partners through advocacy and the power of presence. We hope to create awareness for their causes and to show support by walking alongside them. RBO believes that we serve each other mutually through learning and meaningful relationship with one another.
Our organization engages in social project support and immersive mission trips around the world as well as hosting advocacy events and participates in fundraising campaigns in coordination with its partners in the United States. Currently, RBO is focusing its efforts supporting its friends in Ukraine & hosting annual immersion trips to Kenya. We echo what our dear friend, Christian Mungai, always reminds us: People are the Wealth.
Our Moses logo, inspired by Exodus 17:10-13, is an image core to our belief that we play no more than a supporting role with all of our partners. We are here to help hold up the arms of our friends through the challenges and battles their communities face, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and surrendering to His will.
WHO WE ARE
Meet our passionate Co-Executive Directors, dedicated to advancing RBO’s mission through global advocacy, immersive mission trips, and meaningful partnerships.
MILA BIRTCHER
Co-Executive Director
Mila Birtcher is a global citizen, having lived and worked in Latvia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ukraine, and currently, Orange County, California. She knows Latvian, Russian, and English, and is currently learning Ukrainian.
In her early twenties, Mila’s first trip to Kenya profoundly impacted her life direction. She joined Pastor Steve Rutenbar’s mission, dedicated to sharing God’s love and providing aid to displaced and suffering individuals. Initially volunteering with Reaching Beyond Ourselves, she later became Steve’s assistant. Under his mentorship, he empowered Mila to activate her talents and advocate for people in need in Ukraine and Kenya.
Mila holds degrees in photography and in culinary arts. Her life experience includes over 100 outreach missions to locations such as West Pokot, the Rift Valley, Naivasha, Kisumu, Kitale, Kampala, Kiev, Mariupol, and Orange County.
RYAN BIRTCHER
Co-Executive Director
Ryan has helped lead immersive mission trips to Africa and eastern Europe for almost 20 years. His passion is advocating for his friends and inspiring others to do the same. In the field, leans on his creative and business background to help support RBO’s partners. Professionally, he is founder of the award winning digital content studio Media Stranger and is an experienced media production, live event, and music industry professional. He specializes in producing and directing content, digital strategy, live event production & marketing as well as business & brand development. He has worked with many of the world’s largest touring acts & athletes, been a principal and marketing director for the global apparel brand Tavik Industries, co-founded Pacific Festival: OC alongside Steve Aoki, and helped reopen the historic Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY
Reaching Beyond Ourselves was originally founded by Pastor Steve Rutenbar of Saddleback Church in the mid-2000s, that began with a focus on global social projects and immersive mission trips to places like Kenya, Uganda, and Ukraine. Also known for his disaster relief efforts, Steve was affectionately called the ‘Pastor of Disaster.’ He led large trips that profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of participants over the years, inspiring many to a life of service and advocacy. Mila and Ryan Birtcher were two of those people. After Steve's passing in 2021, they accepted the honor of continuing Steve's legacy. In 2022, amidst the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, RBO shifted its primary focus to supporting the communities of New Life Church (Kyiv), and the Church of Good Changes (Mariupol).
The organization has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief, aided its partners front line service efforts and committed to helping rebuild their communities. RBO continues to conduct annual immersion trips in both Kenya and Ukraine.
Reaching Beyond Ourselves remains dedicated to empowering the most marginalized communities around the world as well as those affected by conflict and disaster, fostering global understanding through hands-on experiences and the power of presence. They hope their work reflects God’s love for all of us and not only honors Steve Rutenbar's vision, but also expands upon it, ensuring that RBO continues to make a meaningful impact in the global world in the areas it serves.
STEVE RUTENNBAR
Founder Emeritus
Afterwards, Steve shifted his emphasis at church to missions.. He took teams to Ukraine to create opportunities that would expand others' worlds in such a meaningful way as his had been. Later, another friend introduced him to Kitale, Kenya and even more trips and teams began to go there as well. Also serving in Disaster Relief at church, Steve continued to lead many teams around the world, always with the motto of; ‘We are here to serve, not to solve.’ There was nothing he loved more than serving others here and around the world.
As Steve was organizing teams from home, around the country, and even internationally, he began Reaching Beyond Ourselves. The organization’s name represented what reflected his own life in two ways. Steve wanted to continue to encourage others to look beyond their own circle of life as he had found so meaningful. And he also thought others might feel like he did - limited in resources or abilities and by what others may have done that they feel inadequate to pursue. But it’s realizing that it really isn’t about us, it’s about God, who can reach far beyond anything we could ever think or accomplish, experiencing where He is working, and just joining in.
Steve Rutenbar grew up in Texas as the older son of a Pastor. He so admired his Father that he didn’t feel he could ever follow in his footsteps. However, he did graduate from two Christian colleges, Biola University with a degree in Communications, and with his Masters in Journalism from Wheaton College. After graduation, Steve went into business and successfully owned retail locations for ten years.
God opened an opportunity in 1989 when Pastor Rick Warren asked him to join the ministerial staff at Saddleback Church, where he and his family had been attending for five years. While serving in ministry, out of loyalty to a longtime college friend, Steve accepted an invitation to join a mission trip to Kiev, Ukraine. On that trip, Steve’s heart was captured and it changed his life!