No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions

Trendy new missions strategies are a dime a dozen, promising missionaries monumental results in record time. These strategies report explosive movements of people turning to Christ, but their claims are often dubious and they do little to ensure the health of believers or churches that remain. How can churches and missionaries address the urgent need to reach unreached people without falling for quick fixes? In No Shortcut to Success, author and missionary Matt Rhodes implores Christians to stop chasing silver-bullet strategies and short-term missions, and instead embrace theologically robust and historically demonstrated methods of evangelism and discipleship—the same ones used by historic figures such as William Carey and Adoniram Judson. These great missionaries didn’t rush evangelism; they spent time studying Scripture, mastering foreign languages, and building long-term relationships. Rhodes explains that modern missionaries’ emphasis on minimal training and quick conversions can result in slipshod evangelism that harms the communities they intend to help. He also warns against underestimating the value of individual skill and effort—under the guise of “getting out of the Lord’s way”—and empowers Christians with practical, biblical steps to proactively engage unreached groups.

Publisher: Crossway
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781433577758

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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.

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“I love this book! Some people will find it disturbing, but Rhodes does not provoke for provocation’s sake. His key ideas challenge many core presuppositions that underlie modern missions. He says, ‘The Protestant missionary enterprise was born when William Carey wrote of our obligation to use “means” to lead people to Christ. Today, as in Carey’s day, the “means” are in danger of being despised.’ While critical of popular contemporary shortcuts to ministry, Rhodes’s proposal is careful and constructive. His practical suggestions deserve serious consideration. Even if one disagrees with Rhodes, this book will sharpen our thinking about missions practice. The church desperately needs to read this book.” Jackson Wu, Professor of Theology, ‎International Chinese Theological Seminary; Editor, Themelios