thinkSMALL STORY (5-minute version)
Our Leadership
thinkSMALL is guided by experienced leaders who provide strategic oversight, financial accountability, and regional expertise across the nations we serve.
EXECUTIVE Leadership TEAM
Gary Hays
President & Founder
Read Bio
Gary was born in Everett, Washington, and attended the University of Washington in Seattle, where he majored in business. He founded thinkSMALL Global in 2007 and provides vision and leadership for thinkSMALL teams across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He also coaches international leaders in strategic planning and leadership development.
Prior to thinkSMALL, Gary served as a National Manager for a global food company, overseeing 22 sales teams.
Gary is an ordained minister who speaks internationally at conferences and churches. He is the author of Fishing for the Future: How to Anchor and Grow Your Church Through the Youngest Generations.
Gary lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Paula Hays
Vice President & Co-Founder
Read Bio
Paula graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. She co-founded thinkSMALL Global with Gary in 2007 in Thailand, where they lived for 15 years. She helps oversee thinkSMALL’s international operations.
Prior to thinkSMALL, Paula served as President of Symposium, Maui, which sponsored educational conferences for physicians. She also worked for 15 years as an Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist.
Paula lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kelsey Donahue
Executive Assistant
Read Bio
Kelsey earned a master’s degree in Administration from Western Illinois University. She worked for several years organizing conventions for a global company.
She helps manage finances, communications, and administration for thinkSMALL.
Kelsey lives in Spokane, Washington.
International Advisory Board
Sathit Sutancharoen
Southeast Asia
Read Bio
Sathit earned his MBA and law degree from Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok, Thailand. He serves as a pastor at Our Home Chapel Church in Bangkok.
Sathit lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Raj Mondal
South Asia
Read Bio
Raj is an ordained minister with a master’s degree in Divinity and Theology. He has served with the Billy Graham organization, Teen Challenge, and as District Education Director for the Nazarene denomination in South Asia.
Raj lives in Kolkata, India.
Serges Nsabimana
Africa
Read Bio
Serges is an ordained minister with a degree in Education and Social Health Services. He previously served as Director of the Burundian government’s land office and currently oversees 300 churches in Burundi.
Serges lives in Ngozi, Burundi.
Brandon Brazee
Europe
Read Bio
Brandon graduated from Whitworth University with degrees in Theology and Philosophy. He is an ordained Foursquare minister and has served in pastoral roles for more than 20 years.
Brandon lives in Cologne, Germany.
Alex Chai
Philippines
Read Bio
Alex is an ordained minister with an M.A. in Cross-Cultural Studies from Fuller Seminary. He and his wife, Debbie, have planted and pastored three churches.
After transitioning from their lead pastoral roles December 2024, they launched Missions & Ministry Coaching in January 2025. Alex divides his time between Billings, Montana, and Cebu, Philippines.
Our Values
We proclaim that God the Father is the Creator and Owner of thinkSMALL
- For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. (Col 1:16)
We submit fully to God’s will, His ways and His purpose for His thinkSMALL ministry
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
We commit to DAILY absorbing His words, especially the words of Jesus
- Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalms 25:4-5)
We strive to follow Jesus in our life and our service to Him
- To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
We strive to model ourselves as servant leaders as reflections of Christ
- Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6)
We build up one another in love and encouragement
- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thes 5:11)