Meet the Coaches
ELCA Pastors & ICF Associate Certified Coaches
coaching on: wellbeing-relationship-performance
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Chienyu Jade Yi (she/her)
MDiv, MA TESOL and Intercultural Studies (Bilingual: English & Mandarin)
ELCA Pastor — Interim Pastor, NW Washington Synod, WA
ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
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Session Options: Zoom, phone, or in-person
Contact: pastor.yi.jade@gmail.com
Bio: Jade is a dedicated missionary and evangelist at heart. Since 2010, she has actively practiced coaching through the Intentional Impact Group, integrating its methods into her pastoral leadership development. Her journey includes a series of formative milestones: ELCA Segment 1 in 2018; Segment 2 (Discipleship) in 2019; Segment 2 (Vitality) in 2022; and certifications in Team Coaching, Mental Health Coaching, and Professional Life Coaching (2022–2023). She earned ICF ACC certification in 2024 and is currently pursuing the PCC certification, along with specialized training in Coaching at the End of Life to deepen and refine her coaching competencies. Jade believes coaching is a form of ministry—essential in daily life and leadership alike—and is committed to empowering others through authentic, full presence and transformative dialogue.
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Hector Garfias-Toledo (he/him)
MDiv, MEd (Bilingual English & Spanish)
Lead Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and Schools, Lynnwood, WA
ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
Session Options: Zoom, phone, in person
Contact: pastorhector@tlcs.church
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Bio:
Hector is a missionary and evangelist at heart. He has been involved in coaching since the early 2000’s. He has served as mission developer in Mexico and Illinois, and as a missionary pastor to the English-speaking population in Taiwan. He has been using coaching practices to develop leaders in congregations. He served as Associate to the Bishop and DEM of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod for eleven years. During that time, he coached pastors and lay leaders in the areas of church planting and leadership development. He received training by the Intentional Impact Group on reproducing leadership. He took the ELCA Levels 1 and 2 coaching training, and he is working toward his accreditation by the ICF as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He has worked on implementing a coaching culture initiative in the congregation to create a culture of accompaniment, mutual accountability, and coaching as a way of ministry and leadership coaches informally and promotes coaching among leaders in congregations.
We treasure every moment we get to spend together as a family. Married on 5/25/1995, we have a daughter and now a son-in-law, making our family even more complete.
The 1st photo:
Hector (my husband) and Jade (me).
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The 2nd photo taken on 4/28/2023:
From left to right: Jade (me), Sofia (daughter), Paul (son-in-law), Hector (my husband).
About Yi.kigai
The Story
Welcome to Yi.kigai
I’m Jade Yi—an ELCA-ordained pastor and Associate Certified Coach (ICF). Born in Taiwan and rooted in the U.S. since 1993, I’ve journeyed through love, ministry, and motherhood with my husband, Hector, and our daughter, Sofia. After years of prayer and discernment, Yi.kigai came to life in 2021.
The name blends ikigai—the Japanese concept of “reason for being”—with the sacred path of Christian discipleship. Yi.kigai is where these two journeys meet: faith and daily life, purpose and presence.
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My Call Story
Serving alongside Hector, I felt a deeper call to pursue my Master of Divinity. After ordination, I was often drawn into sacred conversations with those hurt or excluded by the Church. These moments revealed a ministry of presence—where sorrow and joy, forgiveness and grace, love and healing all converge.
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I’ve learned:
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Joy is sweeter because we’ve known sorrow.
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Forgiveness is powerful because we’ve caused harm.
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Love heals because we’ve felt the sting of hate.
Like many, I am both wounded and healed—again and again. This shared humanity makes us all candidates for grace.
What Fuels You?
What is your ikigai? Your call story? How is your faith shaping your mission?
As you explore this site, I invite you to reflect. May you discover what fuels you—and know you are held in prayer as you do.
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With deep gratitude to Sofia and Hector, whose insights and love shape this space daily. And in all things, I give thanks to God.
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You may learn more about my credentials on LinkedIn.
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