No Shortcut to Success

A Manifesto for Modern Missions

By: Matt Rhodes, Mark Dever

Narrated by: Chuck Badger

Avoid “get-rich-quick” missions strategies and invest in effective, long-term ministry.

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.

• Biblical Ministry Advice: Examines the work of respected missionaries throughout history
• Encourages Professionalism in Missions: Rhodes teaches missionaries to invest in theological education, communication, and technical skills
• A Great Resource for Ministries: Includes specific advice for singles, parents, and other groups
• Insightful: Examines strengths and weaknesses of recent missionary movements

©2021 Matt Rhodes, Mark Dever (P)2022 One Audiobooks

Top Notch

Excellent work on missions! Biblically and historically grounded and eminently practical and pastoral. Challenges problematic trends while providing robust recommendations and missions paths.

Will be giving this book to my pastor.

Balanced and Helpful

This book has many perspectives on missions that help balance the idea in the protestant church. Over the years a lot of misconceptions have crept into missions. The author does a fair job of presenting an objective view that can reshape missions strategies, prioritize goals, and encourage healthy decisions.

I would recommend this book to a person who it thinking deeply about committing to a life of missions work.

Evenhanded and encouraging

The author does an excellent job at laying out a clear defense of missions from scripture. He also carefully quotes the authors and theologians that need to adjust their teachings to be more in line with those scriptures. He also takes care to consider consequences of these modern perspectives on missions, in addition to being encouraged by this book and the author set a very good example of how to approach conflict by treating your opponents with respect

Great Read for Those Interested in Missions

Enjoyable read and I learned a lot from the author. Helpful as someone who wants to be a missionary!

Great advice for mission

Great advice for mission. With both encouragment and warnings.
God Bless, Daniel (Vicar in the Church of Sweden).