Separate Paths Converging
Jon and Bonnie began their journey towards missions in 2009 with an exploratory trip to discern vocational missions. After training, support raising, and preparations, they landed in Thailand in 2011 to begin their language studies.
Esaus to Thailand
Saenwinchais into ministry
Chaloerm grew up watching his dad do ministry his whole life as a lay evangelist and church planter. His dad, Tia, compelled him to evangelize from an early age. In 2014 he and Baeng married and started formally pastoring the church that Tia planted in his home village.
Meeting Under a House
After moving from central Thailand to the north in late 2014, Jon and Chaloerm met under a stilted house in Chiang Rai. Jon was coming to hear Chaloerm present a vision he had to see a church planted in Chiang Mai for the unreached Khmu people group in that city. They were sent away together to get lunch for the group of missionaries and pastors there and they quickly began joking with one another, realizing they were more similar than they were different.
Friendship
In 2015, Jon began visiting Chaloerm in Mae Phrao and their friendship began. Meeting on the side of the highway for noodles, joining their church for worship on a Sunday, long talks about faith, family and ministry. Before serving together, Chaloerm and Jon became friends.
Ministry emerges
Shortly after, they planted a church in Chiang Mai together and began to see more ministry and churches emerge. Lampang city was next, mobilizing a young Khmu church planter fresh out of bible school. Next came Mae Chan, until 5 years after beginning to serve together, there were 6 churches ministering to their communities.
A Heart-wrenching Goodbye
2021 was a good and sad year. It was good to see the health of the churches and ministries in northern Thailand, but also sad in hearing God direct the Esau family to move back to Canada. It took many conversations, much prayer and waiting to be confident that we were hearing God correctly. Both the Saenwinchai's and the Esau's were sad to part, not knowing what God had planned for the future and not fully understanding why God was directing in this way. The picture below is of both families (along with Tia and Jan, Chaloerm's parents) at the farewell for the Esau's in Mae Phrao village.
Reunions and Visitations
Part of the "conditions of release" that were given to bless the Esau's to return to Canada, was the agreement that Jon would return to visit yearly. Consequently, frequent trips back to Thailand began. Not as a missionary anymore, but simply as a friend that loved and cared for Chaloerm and all those that he served with over the years. Sometimes coming alone, sometimes leading a short term team to serve a community. It was in this desert time that they realized the synergy and harmony that God created between them.
A New Vision. . . As Partners
2023 contained a season of vision and discernment. . . a long season. Both Chaloerm and Jon felt God was stirring in their hearts for something new to emerge, but discerning what that was took time. After nearly three quarters of the year spent in prayer, dialogue and discernment, God made it clear what was about to emerge. Partners in Vision was established as a society in December 2023 and the beginning of this part of the journey commenced. Partners in Vision formally launched in operations in June of 2024. The english name was derived from it's Thai name (created by Chaloerm, Nimit Samphan, or นิมิตสัมพันธ์. It means a Vision(s) (given from God) that is connected together, associated with one another, linked together. To be connected to one another's vision, and to participate in one another's vision. . . to be partners.
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