Transcript: Grit and Grace: Building a Thriving Mission Culture That Lasts // Scott Chin, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission

Flourishing Culture Leadership Podcast

“Grit and Grace: Building a Thriving Mission Culture That Lasts“

February 17, 2025

Scott Chin

Intro: What if the key to transforming lives, both for those who serve and those in crisis, lies in two simple profound words: grit and hope? In this episode, we'll sit down with Scott Chin, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, to explore the life-changing power of Christ-centered recovery and the secret to sustaining leadership in a demanding mission and why a flourishing workplace is essential for lasting impact. If you're passionate about leadership, faith, and making a real difference, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Welcome: Welcome to the Flourishing Culture Leadership Podcast, your home for open, honest, and insightful conversations to help develop your leadership, your team, and build a flourishing workplace culture.

Al Lopus: I am Al Lopus, the co-founder of the Best Christian Workplaces and author of Road to Flourishing. And my passion is to equip Christian leaders like you create engaged, flourishing workplaces, where people thrive and organizations make a Kingdom impact. And if you'd like to learn more about me, my book, or opportunities to have me speak at an event, this podcast, or recent articles I've written, I invite you to visit allopus—that’s A-L-L-O-P-U-S—dot org. Let’s journey together toward building workplaces where your faith, leadership, and organization flourish.

I’m delighted to welcome Scott Chin to the podcast today. He’s the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. In today's podcast, you'll hear Scott share about how grit and hope rooted in Christ fuel real-life transformation for those overcoming homelessness; the key strategies Seattle's Union Gospel Mission uses to build a thriving, Christ-centered workplace; practical ways to prevent burnout and sustain leadership in high-demand ministry roles; and how intentional leadership and employee care lead to greater impact in serving others. Whether you're a leader, a ministry worker, or someone passionate about making a difference, this episode will inspire and equip you.

I think you're going to love this interview with Scott Chin. But before we dive in, this podcast is proudly sponsored by the Best Christian Workplaces’ Employment Engagement Survey. Don't wait. This month is a perfect time to gather vital insight from your employees to assess the health of your workplace culture. Today’s guest, Scott Chin, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, puts it this way: “Honestly, we’d be blind without it.” For five years, his team has used the Survey as an essential tool to guide strategies; strengthen leadership; and create a thriving, even flourishing, Christian-centered workplace. Ready to transform your culture? Well, visit workplaces.org to learn more and to start your journey to becoming a flourishing workplace today.

And hello to our new listeners, and thanks for joining us as we honor your investment of time by creating valuable episodes like this.

So, let me tell you a little bit more about Scott. Scott’s been the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission for six years. He has deep leadership experience in both ministry and marketplace organizations, including six years in the progressively more-responsible leadership positions at World Vision and five years previous to that at Microsoft. Scott grew up in Seattle and is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Business. Seattle's Union Gospel Mission has been serving people for more than 90 years. In fact, in 1932, local clergy and business leaders opened a soup kitchen during the Depression. And today, in addition to serving meals, they have an entire array of services and programs to meet the needs of their homeless neighbors, including long-term recovery programs.

So, here’s my conversation with Scott Chin.

Scott, it’s great to have you back on the podcast. I’m looking forward to our conversation today.

Scott Chin: Well, thanks, Al. It’s great to be back. I’m so grateful to be on today’s podcast as we focus on how to care for those that we have the honor to lead and look after.

Al: Oh, man. And for many of us, we feel a sense of hopelessness when we consider the multi-layered issues related to homelessness. And this is something you know a lot about. So share an example of how someone’s life has been transformed over time with the support of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission.

Scott: There are so many stories that come to mind, but the two things they all have in common are grit and hope. As we all know, our hope is centered in Jesus. Taking that first step, though—to come in from the streets—is not easy. However, we can meet our homeless neighbors right where they're at in our shelters. The hope for a new life that we find in Jesus combined with the grit to finish our year-long recovery program results in the life transformation that we all want to see. To see someone make that journey is inspiring. And at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, we have over 25% of our staff who at one point came through the front doors of the mission. In fact, two of my VPs are program graduates themselves. Al, hope is real.

Al: That’s great, Scott. Yeah. Hope is real. Hallelujah. Yeah. So, grit and hope to get through these programs.

Well, Scott, I know you're a strategic thinker, and as you consider the work of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission and other rescue missions around the country, what do you see has changed over the past few years in terms of the needs of the people who are coming to you?

Scott: Yeah. Some of the presenting issues are a little different. For example, as fentanyl is so prevalent now. With that said, the main approach is still the same: we must address the individual’s core issues that can lead to things like addiction. Yes, people certainly need housing and jobs, but we need to address the root causes, and that takes time. That's why our recovery program is a year long.

The good news is that even if the presenting issues change, the core approach stays the same. And it works. Our two-year success rates for our recovery programs are some of the best in the nation.

Al: And having a Christ focus in that recovery program, that's really a key, isn't it?

Scott: It is the difference maker, Al. Other programs might have similar classes like boundaries or relapse prevention, but that's centering on Christ. That, as you know, is the difference maker.

Al: So, you and your team have been using the Best Christian Workplace Employee Engagement Survey now for several years. And we were just talking a little earlier about our first interactions. You're coming up on your sixth anniversary. Fantastic. So how does the information that you receive from the Survey help guide strategy and action plans for the organization overall and even down to the team or department level?

Scott: We've been using Best Christian Workplaces’ Engagement Survey for five years now, and it has really become a part of our DNA. We take the Survey each spring, and it provides actionable insights for one of our top priorities, which is organizational health. The specific insights are, then, fully integrated into our annual strategic-planning process. Every organization has room to improve, but the Survey helps us know where to focus our energies to become even better. Honestly, we'd be blind without it. It is such a powerful tool to know what's working and what's not.

Al: And, also, to help you prioritize what to focus on the next year. Yeah. Wow. I love that. Thanks for sharing.

And one of the areas that you’re particularly strong in is inspirational leadership, one of our eight keys to employment engagement and a flourishing culture. And your staff feels like there’s a strong sense, a strong level of Christian fellowship and that your organization reflects Christ and puts Christ first in decision making. I mean, those are key, what I consider, Christian character issues for any organization. So are there some particular practices that you can share with us or even processes that are behind that feeling of Christian community that you've got as part of your mission? How do you continue to focus on and create an atmosphere of connecting among your staff?

Scott: Well, coming out of the isolation brought on by COVID, it hasn't been easy, and it requires great intentionality. At the mission, we use a three-pronged approach to both nurture community and connection. The first prong is simply being together. We are spread across nine locations, but our monthly chapel and fellowship service is a mainstay. To nurture community, you have to be together in person, at least some of the time. We provide a meal afterward to not only take care of our staff, but to allow for communication and connection to happen between the sites. There is no substitute for quality time together.

Second is communication. We are only as good as what we all know and can remember. I know we are far from perfect, but we place a high premium on keeping ongoing communications. We use a myriad of different tactics from regular emails, newsletters, and townhalls to employee-engagement tools. In today's distributed world, it is way too easy to under communicate. Repetition and frequency are important. Believe it or not, people do not read everything that is sent out.

And third, simply keeping the main thing the main thing. We start every new year with a day of prayer. It's a time of prayer, worship, and fellowship. It is so unifying as we begin a new year, and it sets the tone. This is His ministry. And without each other, the body of Christ, the Mission simply will not work.

Al: Well, those are great things to consider, Scott. You get together. Nine different locations—I didn't realize you had nine different locations. You get together on a monthly basis. Everybody gets together on a monthly basis. So that is an effort right there. And you have chapel once a month. That's great. You know, and then, when you talk about communication—I used to think—I'm kind of efficient oriented—and I used to think, “Well, as a leader, if I said something once, that's all I needed to do because I'd be disrespecting the listener if I repeated myself.” But I quickly learned, and as you said this, repetition is really important, isn't it? Yeah. So leaders, take that advice as you're listening. One and done is not the way to communicate effectively in your organization. Yeah, Scott, that's great.

So, as you and your leadership team equip and support your staff, how do you care for your employees to prevent burnout? You know, workers in a mission like yours, they're thinking of others. They're not necessarily thinking of themselves. And to prevent burnout, that's really a key. So how do you support people with this significant issue? And particularly now, mental illness and mental health is so important. So tell us a little bit about how you do this.

Scott: Yeah. To your point, rescue-mission ministry is not easy. It can be very draining. Secondary trauma is a real thing. And if leaders don’t focus on staff care, you will see the ramifications in higher staff turnover, poor morale. So with that in mind, we do three main things to help care for each other. First is adequate time away. We start people at the Mission with four weeks of vacation. This may not be common in our industry, but people simply need time away. I know how dedicated and passionate they are about the ministry, but we all need rest and rejuvenation.

Second is investing in our managers. Good managers help nurture fantastic teams. We have developed a manager's essentials training for all of our managers to equip them to care for their teams well. As you know, good managers are a must have.

And then, third, specialized training. We developed specific employee trainings for key topics like what you just mentioned, burnout prevention. We start by listening to see what our deepest training needs are, and then we bring focus resources to help in the most critical areas.

Al: And Scott, you talked about, again, investing in your managers and manager-essential training. So tell us a little bit more about that. Give us some insight into what that is.

Scott: Yeah. So it has eight modules, and we really thought about in order to have a fantastic team, it starts really with great managers. And so after a survey of what was most important, we prioritized that. And the great thing is it's had so much impact and made such a difference, we're now working on part two, some additional modules, again, really driven both by managers that have gone through the training, but also staff just saying, “You know what? Really appreciative of those eight modules. But our managers could be even better,” and soliciting their input for the next sessions.

Al: Healthy communication, so seeking input, and then, acting on it. And that’s great. So, listening. Fantastic.

Well, you know, of course, as leaders we can only lead what we built in our own character and foundation. It starts with leadership. And as we've talked about, leading a rescue mission can be draining. So how do you deal with leadership fatigue? Are there some specific practices or habits that you've built both for you and your leadership team to keep on track, and particularly as you hope to follow Jesus as a leader and be filled up to lead? If we don't have anything to offer, then we're vacant. We don't have anything to lead. So how do we fill up as a leader?

Scott: Well, I just try to keep it simple because honestly, that enables me to be more consistent in my approach. So personally, I focus on three simple practices. The first one is just taking Sabbath, a day of rest. Each weekend I take 24 hours to rest, not think about work, and I spend time with family and friends only. I have to refuel. Otherwise, as you mentioned, I will eventually run out of steam.

The second is I take regular prayer walks. I do my best to do that every day. Not only do I get exercise and fresh air, but it allows me to pray for others out loud. It's simple, but it has so many benefits. I highly recommend doing something that is both active and centered on others’ needs.

And third, surrounding myself with many counselors. I am so grateful to have a number of different coaches in my life that remind me that I don't have to do this on my own and that I'm not alone. Leadership can be lonely, but with a group of trusted advisers, it helps keep the mantle of leadership light.

Al: Well, those are three great ways for us to keep filled up as leaders. So, Sabbath, prayer walks. I just had one this morning myself. And I can sit in my chair and have a good quiet time, which is always a part of my morning routine, but boy, when I get out and I'm walking, and particularly prayer walking, I feel like, okay, now we're actually making progress. It changes my whole attitude as I start the day. That's great advice, Scott, so thanks so much.

You know, we've learned so much from our conversation. And I really like what you said about the transformation, the life transformation that you're seeing in your clients as you're serving the least of these in our Seattle community. And, you know, homelessness is still a big issue even after the changes that have happened since COVID. And the Best Christian Workplace Survey. I love the way that it's become part of your DNA. So it's an annual process that's just integrated into the way you do your planning and strategic planning for the next year and to focus on, help you focus on the important things. And they are inspirational leadership as a leadership team, as you build community and connection. Those are three great things. Thanks for sharing that. As well as the way your staff focuses on mental health and how you even focus and your leadership team focuses on being filled up as a leader and your stories about Sabbath, prayer walks. And yeah, for leaders, many counselors, you know, it's a proverb to start with, isn't it? But we can't be alone. And when we find ourselves alone, then that's when things can go south. So, this has been just a great conversation, Scott.

So, is there anything you’d like to add that we’ve talked about?

Scott: I guess the last thing is just be intentional. Care for yourself. Be aware if you're operating out of a full tank or an empty one. Your ability to serve and care for others well is directly related to how you show up each and every day. And also, care for each person within your organization, both intentionally and specifically. Pray for them by name. Take time to acknowledge something special that they did, notice when they're hurting, and in so doing, you are deeply caring for all your program beneficiaries. Employees who are well cared for can care for others well, too.

Al: That's the value chain, the way I look at it. Cared-for employees can care for others, and that's what we need. Yeah.

Scott, this has just been a great conversation. And I really appreciate your commitment to equipping your team to serve people through the transforming love of Jesus and the best practices that you're doing in recovery. So thanks so much for taking time out and speaking into the lives of so many listeners.

Scott: Well, Al, it’s been my deep honor to be with you today. Glory to God.

And I also want to just thank you for doing this flourishing podcast. These types of resources are priceless.

Al: Oh, thanks, Scott.

Thank you so much for listening to my conversation with Scott Chin. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

You can find ways to connect with him and links to everything we discussed in the show notes and transcript at workplaces.org/podcast.

And if you have any suggestions for me about our podcast or have any questions on flourishing-culture workplaces, please email me, al@workplaces.org.

Finally, as a Christian leader, your ability to serve others starts with how you lead and care for your team. Are you building a culture of hope, resilience, and Christ-centered leadership? Well, take a step today. Be intentional in how you support and engage your employees because a flourishing workplace leads to greater impact for God's Kingdom.

And keep listening to our weekly podcast as we continue to learn from leaders who have proven inspirational leadership, exhibiting Christian character and excellence in their leadership. And next week, we're going to hear from Jesse DeYoung with Flatirons Community Church, one of the largest in the country.

Outro: The Flourishing Culture Leadership Podcast is sponsored by Best Christian Workplaces. If you need support building a flourishing workplace culture, please visit workplaces.org for more information.

We'll see you again next week for more valuable content to help you develop strong leaders and build a flourishing workplace culture.