Jason and Jenn Byers
Jason and Jenn Byers have lived in Thailand with their 3 children for the past 12 years.
Contact: Jason: lukafour@gmail.com Jenn: mrs.jenn.byers@gmail.com Instagram updates: thaibyersfam
Ministry Verse:
“…the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives…” Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Early years in NE Thailand (Isaan):
After 6 months of studies in Sisaket, Thailand in 2006, Jenn felt burdened for the Isaan (NE Thailand) people. Taking a honeymoon and vision trip to Thailand in 2007, Jason soon felt called to the same region. 5 years later, Jason, Jenn, and their 2-year-old daughter left the States for Thailand in 2013. After a year of Thai language school, they moved to the province of Kalasin in the region of Isaan. The majority of people who live in the area are Thai-Lao, speak the Isaan/Lao dialect, and adhere to Buddhism/Animism. For the next several years, Jason participated in various ministries, including church planting, English camps, teaching in a rural church, tutoring students at the local university, and evangelism. During those years, they added two more children to their family, another daughter and a son.
While in Isaan, Jason developed a burden for training local churches in caring for those in their community addicted to drugs and alcohol. He began working on his Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling (emphasis on Addiction and Recovery) in 2019 with the hope of using what he learned to train those in the local churches. He finished his degree in the summer of 2022 and received certification with the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) in 2025.
Current work in Northern Thailand (Chiang Rai):
In 2020, the Byers family said goodbye to Isaan and moved to Northern Thailand to pursue more social and educational opportunities for their children. They live in the city of Chiang Rai, which is home to the Lahu, Tai Yuan (Northern Thai), Akha, Isaan, Burmese, and many other minority people groups.
Jason partners with The Way Foundation in Chiang Rai, a foundation made up of mostly Lahu believers. Along with his local Lahu colleagues, he helps train pastors, evangelists, and lay people in the Bible as well as Biblical counseling. With the idea that counseling is discipleship, Jason believes that the church can be a place where soul care and healing happens. He also serves on the leadership team for The Way. Jason provides counseling in their community when needed.
With Isaan people still on our hearts and minds, the Lord led us to Isaan communities in the Chiang Rai province. Jason teaches English part-time in a primarily Isaan village and rents a small ministry house. A Thai family from their “language school days” has joined their family in the Isaan work. They are mainly using sports ministry and music ministry to engage the community.
Jenn takes care of the administrative side of the ministry, manages the home, and has mostly homeschooled her kids full-time or part-time over the last several years. She enjoys helping new missionaries, supporting homeschool families, and promoting Gospel centered materials (English and Thai).
Prayer requests:
Please pray for the Isaan community they are working in. Please pray for wisdom as they go about serving the community, building relationships, and that the village would be reached for Christ!
Please also pray for Jason’s counseling work. He is still in the process of writing materials for future trainings.
Family:
Jason & Jenn married in 2007 in Newport Beach, California. Jason is from Park City, Utah, and Jenn is from Mission Viejo, California. They have 3 children, ages 14, 10, and 7.
Education:
Jason received his B.A. in Biblical Studies (2010) from Southwest Baptist University (SBU) and his Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling (Addictions and Recovery) from Liberty University (2022). He is now a certified Biblical Counselor through the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) (2025).
Jenn received her B.A. in Intercultural Studies (2007) from Southwest Baptist University with a Minor in Spanish. She completed her teaching certificate from SBU in 2010.