Where It All Began
About fifteen years ago, Sean's brother and best friend, Trey, and his wife, Kiki, moved to Thailand to serve as missionaries. Through their ministry, the Lord began drawing our hearts toward His work among the Thai people. Over the past fourteen years, we have visited Thailand nearly every 12–18 months, spending as much as seven months at a time living in community, serving alongside local church plants, and building meaningful relationships. During one extended stay in Chiang Mai, we even shared a home with a Thai roommate—an experience that deepened both our love for the culture and our desire to serve there long-term.
Somewhere along the way, Thailand ceased to be simply a place we visited. The Lord gave us a deep affection for its people and a growing conviction that He might be calling us to invest our lives there.
While God graciously provided fulfilling careers for us in Colorado and later Georgia, that quiet call never faded. Instead, over many years, it steadily grew. What began as a desire eventually became a conviction that the Lord might be asking us to lay down the lives we had built in America and follow Him into cross-cultural ministry.
A Brief Timeline
In 2018, we believed that calling had arrived. We sold nearly everything we owned, secured jobs in Thailand, and prepared to move permanently. Yet the Lord, in His wisdom, redirected our steps, bringing us back to the United States in 2019—just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking back, we can see His providence. During that unexpected season, Trisha began studying biblical counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, equipping her in ways we could not have anticipated. As she neared the completion of her degree and we once again began asking the Lord what was next, Thailand returned to the forefront—but this time with greater clarity.
Previously, we had envisioned serving through business-as-mission. Now, we sensed the Lord leading us toward long-term missionary service, supported through fundraising and serving under the leadership of the MTW Thailand church planting team.
2025: The Oldest Summer Interns
Last summer, we joined the MTW Thailand team as interns. Although the internship officially lasted two months, we remained for an additional two months to serve alongside the team, deepen relationships, and enter into an extended season of mutual discernment.
Those four months became a tremendous gift. We were able to experience everyday ministry, invest in the local church, and allow the team to know us well while we sought the Lord together. Through that process, God confirmed this calling in numerous ways, providing both us and the team with confidence that He is leading us into long-term ministry in Thailand.
Our Calling Confirmed
As we've prayerfully discerned our role, one theme has remained constant: we are called to strengthen those who are already laboring in the harvest.
Our hearts are drawn to behind-the-scenes ministry—coming alongside church planters, pastors, and local believers with practical service, encouragement, biblical counseling, training, administration, worship, and whatever else is needed to help the ministry flourish. We often think of Aaron and Hur, who held up Moses' arms so that God's people could continue the battle (Exodus 17). That picture beautifully captures our desire: to serve faithfully, often quietly, to minister to the local church and the Thai people through the ministry of presence and hospitality, and to support the continuing proclaimation of the gospel in Thailand.
Our longing is to invest deeply in the life of the local church, strengthen indigenous leadership, care for missionaries and their families, support English-speaking outreach, love our Thai neighbors well, and help cultivate healthy churches where disciples are making disciples—all for the glory of Christ and the advance of His kingdom among the nations.
Here’s a short video about the church plant and where we will be serving.
What Is Clear
As we look back over this journey, one truth stands out above all else: God does not need us, but in His grace He has invited us to participate in the work He is already accomplishing. What a privilege it is to join Him in proclaiming Christ among the nations.
Even in the past year and a half, we have seen encouraging reminders that the Lord is building His Church. Two young Thai men have come to faith in Christ, and two English-speaking Muslim families have been brought into the fellowship of the local church. These stories are not a testimony to extraordinary missionaries—they are a testimony to an extraordinary Savior who continues to draw people to Himself.
We go with confidence not because of what we bring, but because Christ is faithfully building His Church. Our prayer is simply to be faithful servants, willing to offer our lives in whatever ways He sees fit for the flourishing of His people and the advancement of His kingdom.
Join Us in This Work
As we prepare to go, we would be honored if you would prayerfully consider partnering with us in one or more of these ways.
Pray.
Above all, we ask for your prayers. Please pray that the Lord would continue to open hearts to the gospel in Thailand, strengthen the local church, sustain the missionaries and Thai leaders serving there, and give us humility, wisdom, and endurance as we prepare for this next season of ministry.
Give.
Cross-cultural ministry is only possible through the generosity of God's people. We are trusting the Lord to provide both one-time gifts and ongoing monthly partners who share in this vision of seeing Christ proclaimed and His Church strengthened in Thailand. If you feel led to partner financially, you can visit our giving page here.
Connect.
One of the greatest gifts you can give is an introduction. If you know a family, church, small group, or individual who may be interested in praying for or partnering with our ministry, we would be deeply grateful if you connected us. A simple group email is often all it takes to begin a conversation. You can reach Sean at sean.adams@reliant.org.
Stay Connected.
We'd also love to keep you updated. We send a monthly newsletter sharing ministry updates, fundraising progress, and stories from Thailand as we prepare to go and, Lord willing, once we're on the field. If you'd like to receive these updates—or even read some of our previous newsletters—just let us know.
Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and consider partnering with us. We are humbled by the ways God uses His people to accomplish His purposes, and we are grateful for every prayer, every gift, every introduction, and every word of encouragement.
Our desire is not simply to go to Thailand, but to see Christ known, loved, and worshiped among the nations. Whatever part the Lord invites you to play in that work, we thank Him for your partnership in the gospel.
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness."
—Psalm 115:1
In Christ,
Sean & Trisha Adams
