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.
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The letters reaffirmed words Zoe Hill heard countless times in person at First Baptist 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.’”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Sue Sprenkle and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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