About Steve Chang

Steve Chang and his family are grateful to call Fairfax City home. For more than seven years, they have been proud to be part of this wonderful community and have come to appreciate the values that make the City of Fairfax such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

His wife, Jie Sook Chang, devoted many years to operating a preschool, caring for and nurturing children from many families throughout Northern Virginia. Their two sons attended Woodson High School and went on to graduate from the College of William & Mary and Carnegie Mellon University. Today, one is a practicing attorney, and the other is an entrepreneur who, like his father, chose to build his own business. Watching his family grow and succeed in the City has strengthened his appreciation for the opportunities that America and this community have provided.

Steve Chang’s own journey began when he came to the United States as an international student to pursue doctoral studies in theoretical elementary particle physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. Later, after feeling called to Christian ministry, he continued his education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina.

Over the years, he has been blessed with opportunities to serve in many different roles. While still a graduate student, he started several businesses, including a fine jewelry store in Alexandria and an information technology company serving both businesses and government agencies. He also became involved in nonprofit and community leadership, organizing conferences for international graduate students, participating in advocacy efforts, and serving on the boards and committees of charitable organizations, including InterAction and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

One of the most meaningful chapters of Steve Chang’s life was founding Global Mission Church of Virginia. What began as a small congregation grew into a vibrant church community that welcomed and served thousands of people over the years. Through that experience, he learned the importance of listening, building trust, bringing people together, and serving others with humility.

Along the way, he also experienced leadership opportunities during economic downturns and financial challenges that tested organizations and families alike. Those experiences reinforced his belief in careful stewardship, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability—values that remain important to him today.

Although Steve Chang is retired from full-time ministry, he continues to advise leaders in churches, businesses, and public life. He also has the privilege of serving as majority owner and CEO of The Independent News Press, a locally owned independent newsroom dedicated to informing and serving the community.

Steve Chang is running for the Fairfax City Council because he believes in giving back to the community that has given so much to his family. Fairfax is a city with a strong sense of community, excellent schools, vibrant neighborhoods, and engaged residents. He wants to help preserve those strengths while working thoughtfully and collaboratively to address the challenges that lie ahead.

If elected, he will listen carefully, work respectfully with fellow council members, the mayor, city staff, and residents, and always strive to make decisions that serve the best interests of the community. 

Steve Chang’s goal is simple: to help ensure that Fairfax remains a welcoming, thriving, and financially responsible city for current residents and future generations. He respectfully asks for your vote on Nov. 3 for City Council. It would be an honor for him to earn the trust and serve the people of the City of Fairfax.