| Format: | Paperback |
| Page Count: | 208 |
| Size: | 5.5 in x 8.5 in |
| Weight: | 9.0 ounces |
| ISBN-13: | 979-8-8749-0486-9 |
| ISBN-UPC: | 9798874904869 |
| Published: | January 06, 2026 |
Understand Why God Allows Suffering and How That’s Good News for Christians Facing Hardships
For more than a decade, Matt Rhodes has been a church planter in unreached Muslim countries. In that time, he’s risked illness, difficult living conditions, and physical danger. He’s also stood with new believers who were attacked for their faith in Jesus. Scripture tells Christians to expect trials in life. For missionaries, knowing God’s good purpose for pain is essential for enduring harsh conditions on the field.
Persecution in Missions: A Practical Theology presents a scriptural view of suffering, including its role in the Christian life and in the missionary task. Rhodes tackles challenging topics, such as when to flee or face risk, how to minister to those suffering for Christ, and the dangers of downplaying or romanticizing persecution. Reassuring readers with God’s promises of redemption, this compelling study equips missionaries to face suffering and endure with joy.
- A Biblical Theology of Suffering: Explains why it’s necessary for believers to suffer and how God redeems pain for his glory
- Written for Missionaries, Pastors, and New Christians: Supports readers as they fulfill the Great Commission, provide pastoral care, and pursue personal spiritual growth
- Practical: Offers realistic, gospel-centered answers to the issues missionaries face
Author:
Matt Rhodes grew up in San Diego, California, and has lived in North Africa since 2011. He and his wife, Kim, serve as part of a church-planting team to a previously unengaged people group.
Product Details
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Separateness, Suffering, and Joy
Chapter 2: Suffering, Slavery, and the Rule of Satan
Chapter 3: The New Exodus
Chapter 4: The Promised Land
Chapter 5: Suffering as Ministers of the Gospel
Chapter 6: Discipling Persecuted Believers and Churches
Chapter 7: Poverty, Wealth, and the Missionary Calling
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Endorsements
“Persecution was used by God to forge the early church, and it continues as an ever-present reality in much of the world today. Rhodes is ideally equipped to handle this subject. His missionary credentials are impeccable, his love for the church is evident to all who know him, and he fearlessly calls out poor theology that manifests in missiology. May this work edify the church and encourage those pilgrims who walk on, longing for their true homeland.”
Brooks Buser, President, Radius International
“Some books highlight the challenges of suffering and persecution, but few apply it to the missionary life. With the mind of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and the experience of a missionary, Matt Rhodes thoughtfully addresses the opposition and hardship that so many missionaries face. While many are initially naive to the hazards of Great Commission service, this book will help missionaries and those who send them to think biblically and prepare wisely for persecution in the task of missions. This book is much needed for any missions training.”
E. D. Burns, missionary in Southeast Asia; Professor, Asia Biblical Theological Seminary; Executive Director of Training and Development, ABWE
“If you’re looking for a book that valorizes missions and romanticizes suffering, this isn’t it. Instead, Matt Rhodes provides a realistic perspective on persecution that’s both joyful and sobering. Yes, the Bible teaches that persecution is a path to reward. But it’s also an evil to be avoided. And these twin truths have plenty of practical implications for missionaries and those they serve.”
Elliot Clark, author, Evangelism as Exiles and Mission Affirmed
“In Persecution in Missions, Matt Rhodes has proven yet again that he possesses both biblical wisdom and practical application for missionaries and churches as they navigate the modern missions world. Each chapter is packed with helpful insights. If you were helped by Rhodes’s No Shortcut to Success and its call for missionary preparation, I know that you’ll be encouraged by this fantastic new resource.”
Ryan Robertson, President, Reaching & Teaching International Ministries
“For many in the Western world, persecution is a faraway concept. For many of our brothers and sisters in the majority world, however, persecution is a daily possibility. And in the places most in need of the gospel, persecution is an almost inevitable experience for a new convert. In this book, Matt Rhodes offers us a thorough, biblical, compassionate, and challenging perspective on persecution for the gospel. His work highlights what Scripture says about persecution and gives practical implications for how it should shape our discipleship, our missions, and our prayer to be more biblically attuned.”
Matt Bennett, Associate Professor of Missions and Theology, Cedarville University; Director of Long Term Ministries, Reaching & Teaching International Ministries