My name is Scott Hayden. I grew up in the woods of Northeast Pennsylvania, graduated from a public school, and earned my B. A. in elementary education with minors in Bible and music from Cedarville College.
My wife Christine and I came to Bangkok, Thailand in 1996 to teach with International Community School (ICS). After the woods of my upbringing and the cornfields around Cedarville, city life was more culture shock than Asian life.
After seven years teaching middle school and serving in various leadership positions, we took a sabbatical in the USA 2003-2004. During that time, I finished my M.S. in education with Philadelphia Biblical University and, even more importantly, was introduced to the teachings of Peacemaker Ministries. What else was a sabbatical for? After attending the basic seminar at Salem Alliance Church in Oregon, I signed up for mediation study, and finally particpated in the intense Reconciler Course. Upon returning to Bangkok in 2004, I brought peacemaker teachings and materials with me for both our school and our church, Evangelical Church of Bangkok (ECB).
In 2007 ICS adopted The Young Peacemaker as part of our required 5th grade instruction. We have also written peacemaking principles into our K-12 Bible curriculum standards and benchmarks.
At ECB the peacemaker teaching is also spreading its roots. Five classes of adults have studied the principles including a study of how to take peacemaking from "me to we."
Christine and I have four daughters and continue serving in Bangkok with ICS.