Vision Fellowship Church Lampang

Lampang City, Lampang

Location

The church building is located on Highway 11 as you come into Lampang city from Chiang Mai. It is currently the fifth building location in the life of this church.

The Lampang church is quite active in gathering for worship and fellowship, using this space to it's fullest. They utilize it for preparing evangelism teams for their own community as well as for outreach in Phrae. As well, it serves to house Pastor Jan when he is in town for ministry.

Pastor- Jan Wilai

Jan became the guardian for his younger siblings at the age of 16 when his father passed away. In the small, mountain village of Huay Dtaat, he worked hard to care for his siblings. He began to hear the gospel from Tia Saenwinchai when Tia would come into his village to share the gospel with other Khmu people. Eventually God would capture his heart and his life began it's transformation.

Alongside farming, Jan would serve in the ways he could. Gifted in evangelism and shepherding, he began to use his voice, care and influence to lead people to Christ and disciple them in their young faith.

In 2022 the Lampang church's founder and planter moved back to his village and they found themselves without a pastor. Jan was entrusted with this responsibility and he has been caring for the congregation since.

The "Church"

The church is a mixture of people from many different cities and villages that moved into Lampang to find work. Most of them discovered their faith after moving to Lampang and connecting with one of our church members through work or social circles.

Most of the group is Khmu with some Kharen and ethnic Thai in the congregation. They worship in many languages depending on who is in attendance, finding the most fluent and common language of who is there. They are zealous for God and sacrifice deeply for their faith.

History

Context

Worship Services

In 2017 Kamon Raksawon was commissioned to plant a church among Khmu people in Lampang city. That year, Jon Esau began doing weekly outreaches with Kamon and Phuu Yomratchawong, who intentionally came to Lampang to find work amongst Khmu for the purpose of evangelism.

Within the first year, five families had come to faith, establishing the foundation of evangelists needed to plant a church!

In 2022, after successfully planting a healthy church, Kamon Raksawon moved back to his village in Chiang Rai to be near family. At that point Jan Wilai was commissioned to pastor the church, and in June 2024 the church ordained their elders and was commissioned as a church under the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand.

The church is situated in an urban setting with predominantly people that come from rural settings. They are in Lampang for work reasons and are navigating a cultural preference for rich community, as experienced in their rural backgrounds, but within the demands of an urban pace and lifestyle.

The church meets together in rich and meaningful ways while rarely being able to all meet together at the same time due to differing work schedules. Despite this, the Lampang church has a depth of unity that is a reflection of their oneness in Christ.

The church gathers for worship on Sunday mornings. The services have a blend of Thai and Khmu worship songs, a time of praising God through witness, preaching, prayer, and fellowship around a meal.

Joining them in worship you will feel like you are part of a family that loves God together. All generations join together throughout the service. Afterwards many will fellowship well into the afternoon together, speaking together of life, faith and ministry.