When I began this work two years ago, I would have never imagined that it would lead to coaching leaders in several different countries, all due to a long friendship of over 30 years with someone who serves as a Vice President for Asia Pacific of a large ministry organization.  Kelsey and I were invited to come to a summit of Young Life’s Asia Pacific division, which encompassed nearly 250 people joining from 23 different countries.  Besides the extraordinary natural beauty of Thailand, and its delicious food(!), several things struck me:

1. When I led a seminar on coaching for leaders, and mentioned “leadership is lonely,” I saw many heads nodding.  As translators finished translating to their group, I saw even more heads nodding.  It seems that no matter the culture, language, or context, there is something about being in a leadership position that feels lonely.  Having someone to listen, ask questions, and challenge our thinking and assumptions is crucial to mitigating that loneliness.  I spent 45 minutes sharing what coaching is and isn’t.  I opened up the time for questions, and one leader asked a good question.  I responded by asking what he had already tried in the situation (a coaching question), and after a couple of rounds of doing this, the group started to laugh.  They got what I was doing!  I was giving an example of me not being “the expert,” but turning it back to the leader to see what they would do.  It was amazing to watch 25 people from a variety of languages and cultures interact with the material, “getting it,” and seeing how it practically could help their teams and the youth they served.  
2. There is something about the way that Young Life has done its work that is lasting, and transcends culture.  When I was a sixteen-year-old kid in Seattle, I went to gatherings that had roughly the same format as what I just experienced last week in Thailand.  There is abundant laughter and joy, and there are skits, music, and messages of hope.  I am fascinated by organizational culture, and it was incredible to see how Young Life’s culture has carried through over 60 years, and now encompasses so many nations, cultures, and languages.  
3. This is more personal.  Most of you know that I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 10 years ago, which requires me to be completely gluten-free in eating.  I was a bit nervous about traveling to a foreign country, being able to communicate that need, and what I would get to eat!  Most of the time, when attending a large pastors’ lunch here in the US, I get a bland piece of chicken breast, and some overcooked vegetable.  I’ve gotten used to it.  Well, in Thailand, it seemed that asking the chef for “gluten free” meant that they got to work exploring all kinds of dishes.  It was almost embarrassing for Kelsey and me (who also eats gluten-free now) to be served dish after dish after dish of amazing food.  (see the pic below)

Will You Support This?

Now even more of your giving goes directly to my personal support.  My work with Standing Stone is my main source of income, and some family costs, like college tuition, have increased recently. That is why I am trying to raise an additional $1,000 each month in support.  The number of my coaching relationships is increasing, and more leaders are wanting to receive coaching through Standing Stone because their budget does not allow for them to pay for coaching.  If you already give, and have margin this year to increase your gift, I would love to talk with you!  If you, or your organization you work with have budgets for giving, I’d love to talk with you as well.  I cannot do this work without the generosity of others!  

I am serving with a ministry called Standing Stone, which has aimed for over twenty years to provide a space for free, confidential coaching and care for pastors, ministry leaders, and leaders of every sphere. Standing Stone believes that healthy leaders need companions on their leadership journey, and that healthy leaders will lead healthy organizations that help transform their communities. You can learn more here: https://standingstoneministry.org/shepherd/burke-david/