Jason and Jenn Byers
Byers’s family past updates: www.jasonandjennbyers.blogspot.com
Jason and Jenn Byers have lived in Thailand for the last 10 years.
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)
Past work in NE Thailand (Isaan):
Jason and Jenn left the States for Thailand in 2013. After a year of Thai language school, they moved to the province of Kalasin in the Northeastern region of the country, also known as Isaan. The majority of the people that live in the area are Thai-Lao, speak the Isaan/Lao dialect and follow Buddhism/Animism. For the next several years, Jason did various ministries, including church planting, English camps, teaching in a rural church, tutoring students at the local university, and evangelism.
While in Isaan, Jason developed a burden for helping to train local churches in caring for those in their community addicted to drugs and alcohol. He began working on his Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling (emphasis on Addiction and Recovery) in 2019 and finished his degree in the summer of 2022.
Current work in Northern Thailand:
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 Tai Yuan (Northern Thai), Lahu, Akha, and many other minority people groups.
Jason has partnered 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 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 of The Way Foundation. With Isaan people still on our hearts and minds, the Lord led us to Isaan communities in the Chiang Rai province. Jason has started teaching English part-time in a primarily Isaan village and has rented a small ministry house.
Prayer requests:
We are just beginning work in an Isaan village in our province of Chiang Rai. Please pray about how we might appropriately engage this community and possibly other Isaan communities in the coming years.
Family:
Jason & Jenn married in 2007 in Newport Beach, California. Jason is from Park City, Utah, and Jenn is from Mission Viejo, California. 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. They have 3 children, ages 12, 8, and 5.
Education:
Jason received his B.A. in Biblical Studies (2010) and Jenn a B.A. in Intercultural Studies (2007) from Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, Missouri). Jenn completed a teaching certificate from SBU in 2010. Jason then completed his Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling (Addictions and Recovery) from Liberty University in 2022.