Not Done Yet

By Kimberly Rae Thigpen

What God Did When One Family “Happened” to Visit SLM for the Day…

Brian and Kimberly Thigpen had served in Asia for nearly three years. They had learned the language, studied the culture, built relationships, and planned to stay long term. They wanted to raise their children with a love for international people and culture, and a heart for God’s global kingdom work.

Why was God shutting them down? So many people weren’t willing to go. Why would God close the door to ones who were?

Kimberly was sick. She had been for years, but doctors did not know why. They had packed and were ready to return to Asia after a furlough when Kimberly ended up in ICU needing major surgery to save her life. She was finally diagnosed with Addison’s disease and a few other life-altering conditions and was told emphatically by one doctor that she could not live or even travel overseas any longer. 

They had to step away from missions. For a time, each struggled with what this new path meant. They were limited in so many ways, from big ministries in their church down to having people into their home. Brian got a job teaching high school math. He sought to be faithful where God had placed him, teaching character to his students and trying to be a godly influence to both students and teachers, but felt more and more stifled by the restrictions placed on him regarding anything that was considered religious. He tried to be content where God had placed him, even as he prayed and waited for an opportunity to be in full-time ministry again.

Kimberly felt shelved. With so many flare-ups and setbacks, she felt useless and guilty over being the cause of them being shut down. God had much to teach her (see page 19) about where she had been finding her identity and worth. She had to narrow her energies to being a wife and mommy, but then God allowed her the ministry of writing, something she could do from home with her unpredictable health and schedule.

They Prayed and They Waited

God makes all things beautiful in His time. After ten years, the Thigpens “happened” to take a one-day trip to Source of Light Ministries. They wanted to show their children the huge rolls of paper used in the printing presses, and let them volunteer for a few hours in the Braille ministry (since the director of the Braille ministry “happened” to be a lifelong friend).

Little did they know what God had planned! As they toured SLM, Kimberly was flooded with ideas—a ministry sending words to the world would be a dream to her. Then the director (who “happened” to have been connected with them for years and knew of Brian’s particular skills and Kimberly’s limitations) presented a ministry opportunity that could only be crafted by God, one that needed Brian’s missions experience as well as math and problem-solving skills.

They were stunned. After all these years of praying, thinking a return to missions was impossible, was this really happening? When they asked their children what they thought of the idea of moving and uprooting to Georgia, the first thing eight-year-old Hope said was, “Daddy would get to talk about God whenever he wanted.” He had been limited in his public school but now could be part of a ministry that goes into public schools around the world sharing the Gospel and discipling hundreds of children. Kimberly would be able to be involved as her health allowed, even on her computer from home, using words to reach the world.

After much prayer, within just a few short weeks, Brian resigned his teaching job and the Thigpens had a big moving sale, said their goodbyes, and packed for their new life at SLM! In the beautiful way that only God can orchestrate, Brian and Kimberly will be able to reach more people from Madison, Georgia, than they ever could have had they remained on the field where they were. They love that they will be raising their children among people willingly giving their time and resources to kingdom work, and are excited to become part of a ministry that gives the Good News of Christ to people all across the globe every single day.

Please pray for the Thigpens as they begin their new life and ministry with SLM!