Retired Mississippi missionary couple share tips for life on mission

By Sue Sprenkle
International Mission Board

The 20-something held up a fistful of letters. Inside the old-fashioned style of communication were words of encouragement and advice for the new International Mission Board missionary. 

The letters reaffirmed words Zoe Hill heard countless times in person at First Church, Columbia, Mississippi, from retired IMB missionaries Tom and Gloria Thurman: 

1. The call of a believer is about abandoning everything the world offers to follow Jesus.

2. His Word is better and true. 

Hill’s favorite advice, though, came when 91-year-old Tom pulled her aside before she left for missionary training. She planned to serve in an area of the world where Christianity is not always welcome. He knew tough days were coming, so he advised: 

3. When they hate you; tell you to reject Jesus; throw rocks and dirt in your face and don’t want anything to do with you, remember, Jesus is better. You are there to sow the seeds of the gospel. Let the Holy Spirit work in His timing.

“Here’s this man who was a missionary in a country with civil wars, sin and a lot of hate giving me something to cling to,” Hill said. “It means so much because he and Miss Gloria lived it, and they continue to hold so tightly to the fact that ‘Jesus IS better.’” 

For Hill, it’s important for her generation to learn from the missionaries who went before them. She sat for hours picking the Thurmans’ brains and absorbing information that might help down the road. “I’m not the only [missionary candidate] they’ve invested in,” she said. “You should go…get this advice firsthand.” 

Columbia, Mississippi

Smells of home cooking wafted down the new wooden ramp in the Thurmans’ carport in Columbia, Mississippi. Remnants of 30-plus years in Bangladesh fill this red brick home — framed photos of friends and their kids are scattered throughout meticulous needlepoint scenes of life in South Asia. 

Tom pointed to a seat next to a cabinet filled with trinkets and vases from around the world. “What has Miss Zoe gotten us into?” he joked.  

With a twist of his cane, Tom became serious. “I hope we aren’t wasting your time. We don’t mentor anyone.” Gloria stuck her head out of the kitchen, spoon in hand, to add, “We just answer questions and talk.” 

But even when trying to divert attention to the church across the street where Tom serves as senior adult minister, they dropped a grain of wisdom. 

4. A missionary is never alone in their endeavor. The all-in support of Southern Baptist churches is paramount to the health and longevity of its missionaries.

“We realized along the way that this is a Southern Baptist effort,” Gloria explained. “If a lot of people didn’t do a lot of things, we wouldn’t be where we were.” 

Churches pool their resources through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® to send missionaries to the nations. But support goes beyond financial gifts. Churches disciple and train potential missionaries. Churches offer emotional and physical support, walking side-by-side with their IMB missionaries.  

The Thurmans’ connection with First Church, Columbia, was so strong they retired across the street from their support system. Now, this couple does whatever they can to support the next generation of missionaries.  

NextGen Advice

Gloria lovingly touched a photo on the refrigerator as she scurried around the kitchen making breakfast. “This little girl is special,” she said touching her heart. The missionary kid and retired missionary share a special bond and talk despite the distance. 

On the next pass, she touched a photo of Zoe Hill. Photos of missionaries they are directly connected to are plastered on three sides of the refrigerator. Ministries from all over the world are represented in this collage, and Gloria can tell you a story about each person.

Tom has a similar display in his office at the church. For Gloria, it’s a visual reminder to pray. For Tom, the display helps spark conversations about missions. 

“When a college student comes to me and expresses some interest in missions, the first thing I ask is, ‘How many people did you tell about God today?’” Tom said. “Because… 

5. Missions starts at home. Be involved where you are. The Great Commission starts from there.

Gloria gave Tom a look to keep him from preaching an entire sermon before 7 a.m. as she picked up her phone. She smiled. Hill’s text to tease the couple about “giving good advice” couldn’t have been timed more perfectly. The three messaged back and forth as Hill caught them up on the latest about her ministry and life in Africa. 

The Thurmans keep up with their refrigerator collage of people via text, Signal, WhatsApp, various social media outlets and even email. Instant communication with “home” wasn’t possible for most of their time in Bangladesh. Gloria pointed out this has benefits. 

6. Keep your church and prayer network informed. There’s nothing comparable to thousands of Southern Baptists praying.

But at the same time, she warned new missionaries of being “too connected to home” and missing out on what’s right in front of them. 

7. Get involved in the local community. It will bring a sense of belonging and opportunities to share the gospel.

Living in community with those who have never heard Jesus’ name is one of the best ways to share the gospel. This means being involved in a local church, whatever that might look like. It means sharing life and burdens with neighbors.  

“One of the best things we did for our ministry and quality of life in Bangladesh was to be active in our community,” Tom said. Remembering what it took to live through a rough civil war, he added, “Your friends in that community will give you wise counsel. They want you to succeed.” 

Speaking of succeeding, Gloria held up her phone to show a picture that came from Europe that morning. A young missionary smiled at the camera with a group of women around the table. The missionary shared her excitement for studying stories from the Bible.

8. Celebrate the highs! Remember why you are excited and write it down. You won’t remember it later, but you will need it on the low days.

“Make it a habit to thank God for one positive thing for the day,” Gloria added to her advice.

Missions DNA

The Thurmans, still convinced that they “don’t mentor,” walked across the street to First Church, Columbia. Gloria spotted a young mother who came to the church for help with food for her children. As the two women walked to where food vouchers were issued, they spoke quietly. 

Tom beckoned Brett Frazier, the church’s lead pastor, to come join the discussion about advice. Frazier remembered that when he was a summer missionary in college, Tom and Gloria taught a class on spiritual warfare. 

“I’ve never forgotten the advice and mentoring they gave us,” Frazier said with a smile. “It’s what they do.” 

The pastor explained the Thurmans, along with another retired IMB couple and missionaries staying in the church’s missionary home, mentor their community about missions in an organic way. They sit at the dinner table talking to youth. They teach Bible classes and participate in activities. They keep the Great Commission task at the forefront. 

Frazier glanced at Tom and offered one final tip. 

9. Churches, host missionaries and partner with them. That missions DNA rubs off. It opens a biblical worldview with a heart for the nations. It won’t be long until you are a church that sends.

Some names have been changed for security reasons.