1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

only American Christians think tough times are strange. It has been the common lot of believers through the centuries to suffer persecution and prosecutions in most other countries. We are swiftly losing our Bible foundations and moral integrity; this opens our society to demonic empowering of the anti- Bible, anti- churches, anti-Christ, anti- preacher mentality. It gapped all through history. It is not strange, but Gods way of correcting and chastening His people, and revealing His Righteousness in judging the world.
Matt. 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Jer. 46:28
Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Jer. 31:17
And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
Jer. 31:20
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

I am so blessed to have my son in fellowship with me and that he is in fellowship with The Lord also. In this world of sin and Satan it takes the continued application of grace to maintain a healthy and spiritual relation ship within the family of God, also.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater † joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I have been dragging about with some heart problems. 2nd cardiologist now and several tests are finished. I now wait for the Dr's plan of attack. I will see if the Dr gets in as big a hurry to work on me as he was to get me thru all these tests.

Good schedule coming in for next year,
Working on my visa for India trip in Feb into March.

Missions report, 2012
God Bless you and Keep you till Jesus assembles us all in Heaven!
I want to report my work for the year and my expected work in reference to the coming year, and the wisdom that the church exercises in examining the missionaries in whom you are investing your financial and prayer support. May God Bless you for what we have done together in the past few years and grant you folks clear leadership in your missions decisions.
I , like the apostle Paul, happily answer for myself in this matter. My wife, Christine, and I are not financially independent and receive no retirement, pensions, government support or aid. I am a dependent Baptist, though I am Independent Baptist in doctrine and practice. We have little health insurance and few but faithful supporting churches and individuals. I travel profusely, averaging 60k business miles per year. Approximately 1/2 of all income goes toward the fuel, motels, maintenance, airlines tickets and office expenses for the ministry. I do not have any staff or help; my purpose was to NOT be a burden on my sending church or my Pastor. My wife and I are purchasing and rebuilding a foreclosed house in Edinburgh, IN. It is convenient to the interstate and places us 1/2 way between my parents and my son in case either need my help. We are making a little progress since we bought it 4 years ago.
God has called me to the New Testament office of Evangelist. It is a gift to the local churches, pastors, and to the churches and schools of the prophets in other lands. My office is to be exercised without borders of nationality. Churches in the Philippines or India or United States are equal to God. I promised I would go anywhere He leads me as long as He provided the means to do it. I promised I would go whether or not I received an offering or expense check. All I needed to know was that it is the will of God. He has not failed to supply for these ten years, because of His leadership and care in directing folks like you to support us. In every place and for every help I have been, you have received the beneficial reward also. The Lord has granted my 37 years of ministry to be one of investing in churches I started, restarted, or rebuilt by supplying my own work as my financial support. I taught 3years freely at a Bible institute before I became professor and Dean of Men 16 years at Heritage baptist University. Again I did this freely so the college could pay its full time staff, since I had a local church which covered my expenses as their mission support for that school. My wife does several part time jobs, and I help her when available, to supply the money for extras such as food, plane tickets, and hotels while in foreign countries. We never take anything from missionaries who are sacrificing their families to be on foreign soil. Again the reason I can do this is because of a few small churches that sacrifice to give financial support each month. The lord allows me to preach revivals and conferences in churches and locations that could never afford to have an evangelist otherwise and to spend much time counseling and instructing through the day because of the fact that I am free of charge. I average two lengthy calls a week from my many preacher boys (men) about guidance and scriptural principles they need to face the demands laid upon them. If I charged, so many isolated preachers or there problemed people could not receive my help. But because of your giving, they may. I am also on boards of other ministries and advisery boards of missionaries, like Solid Rock and Happiness Hill there in Mississippi, again, without compensation. And those who support me get the just reward for their investments.
It is one of my greatest privileges to have a ministry of prayer and intercession every day for hundreds of preachers anbd churches. I am able because I do not have to work a full time job in order to pay for my needs. God has given me the responsibility of the ministry of intervention in local churches and ministries. I go only where I am invited and go to mediate between brethren. There are some well known ministries which are still going because by His grace, I was able to go, spend some time, investigate the issues and help all sides to yield to the Spirit for reconciliation. I can stay under the radar and so can those in trouble because of support fom God's people. Many times I am able to go to churches when the pastor and teachers have been confronting strange doctrines or heresies. Though I am not the smartest, I have been around and not much shocks me any more. Sometimes I can help by just being there and teaching a few days. During the day I receive phone calls with Bible questions or requests for prayer, and I have worked quietly behind the scenes to be help in counseling pastoral or leadership contentions. Several pastor- wife separations heading for divorce have been quelled by the support you send through me. God knows! This is part of what I do year in and year out. What an honor to serve with you.
2012 has been a busy year, comparitively; I will have been in 44 different churches by the end of December. At last count, 40 known professions of faith have occured during our meetings. Pastors sometimes do not let me know if others followed. Very rarely am I called upon to preach strictly for souls to be converted, but of course I give the Gospel in every message. I am blessed to realize God is still saving souls. I received word that after two meetings I took part in 12 were converted in one and 14 in the other. One was in Sandersville, MS, the other in Carrolton, KY. Just last week one was saved the last night of revival in Garrettsville, OH. I am sent to also recruit for God, membership and discipleship into the local churches. The Spirit has blessed also with 5 men surrendering to the Call of God to give their life to the ministry of the word. I helped in two ordinations where I was available. I did not go to India this year where I teach in the college and preach in the chapel and in some of the churches. I also preach the graduation at the community center in downtown Bangalore, India to a 1000 , but instead brought my missionary, Dr. Joseph Athyalil (whom you have met at Ebenezer as he testified of his work there with you) to America and got him into 23 churches to present his work and raise additional support during April till June. God blessed. I was able to get him in some churches that would never support me or even have me preach. Praise God! I have helped to put churches without pastors together with preachers without a church 3 time this year. I am not Gods matchmaker, but so far, I have seen churches take my recommendations 9 times just since going into Evangelism. God opened the door for 10 Revival meeting of at least 4 days in 2012, two Evangelistic meetings, 3 Jubilees, 3 prophecy conferences, 3 mission conferences, and four camp meetings. The rest of the year were Sunday or week end meetings. what a blessing that a nobody can preach about Somebody, named JESUS!
2013 again will be similar. I do expect my wife and I to be in India 3 weeks at least, to labor in Tabernacle Baptist Theological Seminary, both to the church, the staff, and the preachers studying there. It is our twelfth graduation with over a hundred expecting to complete their course this year.. I hope to go to Japan and work a week or two with my preacher man, Duane Wilhite, just to encourage if nothing else. My heart is always on the Philippines and the many preacher friends there holding the fort! I will go any where as long as it is not a one way ticket, that is except Heaven. I have 10 revivals scheduled for 2013 at this time and a few special days at other local churches. I find it difficult to just show up at a church because of scheduled opportunities. I would come down there for a service on any Sunday I have unscheduled, even if I have to drive right back the ten hours. I want to personally tell you my thanks for your support. My quarterly letters seem so enemic.
God's blessing and guidance be upon all of you, and provide that all your dreams to glorify God would come to pass. Thank you for your friendship Bro. Ricky and thank you Pastor and church for the precious love and prayers.

Evangelist Michael J Thurmond and my wife Christine send our heartfelt thanks.

Psalm 118:7
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
1 Chron. 4:10
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

2 Cor. 1:11
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
2 Cor. 8:4
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Phil. 4:16-17
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once † and again unto my necessity.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
I am trusting The Lord to bless all of you which gave of your substance to make it possible for my ministry to be successful in the service of the King. He called, He sent, He supplied through His loving people. I say thank you. Now, with the end of the year and the need to balance the financial books, please pray for us. The need for my mission trips and the extended travel next year looks like an overwhelming burden until I compare the need to His riches in Glory by Christ!
Pray for His will to be accomplished in our lives and the Word of God to go forth with Power! MJT

You cannot take the mild approach to weeds in your garden. You've got to hate weeds enough to kill them. Weeds are not something you handle; weeds are something you devastate. Jim Rohn
You cannot take a mild approach to the sins in your life. You've got to hate them enough to kill them. Sins are not something you handle; sins are something you devastate.
You cannot take a mild approach tto the debts in your finances. You've got to hate debts enough to kill them. Debts are not something you handle; debts are something you devastate.
You cannot take a mild approach to enemies ( those who want to destroy us) in your country. You've got to hate their intents enough to kill them. Enemies are not something you handle; enemies are something you devastate.
No one has a problem with a principle until you make the application. MJT