René Dekker, lead pastor at the Evangelical Church of Bangkok, felt God releasing him from his pastoral role in early 2024. But God didn’t make it clear what was next.

“Who is waiting for someone from the Netherlands, with 20 years in international business, followed by seven+ years as a pastor of an international church?” René asked himself.

As it turned out, Global Disciples was looking for a CEO who possessed deep multicultural understanding, international business experience, pastoral experience, and a willingness to relocate to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It sounded impossible from both perspectives, but God was building a bridge from Thailand to the U.S.

In October 2025, René was commissioned as Global Disciples’ CEO, with Founder and former CEO Galen Burkholder speaking Colossian 1:9-12 over him:

And so, from the day [I] heard, [I] have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

About seven years ago, Galen sensed it was time to start preparing for his predecessor. In June 2024, Galen stepped out of operations and leaned into a new role as ambassador with Global Disciples. Josh Keefer came on board as Interim CEO. And, half a world away, René began his own transitional journey.

René’s journey started after he moved to Bangkok, Thailand in 2016 for an international business position. He invested 20 years as an international business leader working in finance, strategy, business development, and organizational leadership for international companies. Then God surprised him—calling him out of business into pastoral ministry. It was about the same time that Galen started planning his transition out of the CEO role.

When René and his wife, Gonneke, sensed God saying their time in Thailand was coming to an end, they were fairly sure that God was calling them back to the Netherlands. René set out on a fact-finding mission but felt “deeply unsettled” as soon as the wheels touched down in the Netherlands.

“All I knew was that I had this strong desire to use what I am able to offer in strategic, executive, and spiritual leadership to announce Jesus in places where it is still dark,” says René. Then someone suggested he explore ministry opportunities in the U.S. It didn’t make sense: “Are there not plenty qualified ministry leaders in the U.S.?”

When René saw the job description for Global Disciples CEO, he was amazed at how God had opened a door to an organization with a focus on reaching the least-reached and where the required experience matched his own unique resume. “My heart resonated deeply with what I read and that connection has only deepened ever since joining Global Disciples.”

As René stepped into his new role as CEO this past October, he made this pledge:

I stand before you today with a firm commitment to lead you well. This is my pledge to you:

With God’s help, I pledge to lead faithfully, serve sacrificially, and finish well. Let it be so, Lord, for the sake of Your glory and Your Kingdom. AMEN.